Transcription of the will of John Hook Hann dated 13 July 1889 (Dorset Record Office PPR/CW:1898-1899)
This is the last Will and Testament of me John Hook Hann of Stoke Abbott in the county of Dorset Builder
(1) I appoint my brother William Wallace Hann of 61 Benwell Road Holloway London Joiner and my friend Richard Rendall of Stoke Abbott aforesaid Surveyor (hereinafter referred to as my Trustees) to be the Executors and Trustees of this my will
(2) I give all my plate linen china glass books pictures prints furniture and other household affects unto my dear wife Mary Ann Hann absolutely. And I give to her the sum of Twenty pounds to be paid within one calendar month after my decease
(3) I devise and bequeath all my real and personal estate not hereby otherwise disposed of unto my Trustees Upon trust that my Trustees shall sell call in and convert into money the same or such part thereof as shall not consist of money and shall with and out of the monies produced by such sale calling in and conversion and with and out of my ready money pay my funeral and testament expenses and debts and shall with the consent in writing of my said wife during her life (or until she shall marry again) and after her death (or remarriage) at the discretion of my Trustees invest the residue of the said moneys with power for my Trustees from time to time with such consent or at such direction as aforesaid to vary such investments. And shall stand possessed of the said residuary trust monies and the investments for the time being representing the same (hereinafter called the residuary trust funds) Upon the trusts following (that is to say) in trust to pay the income thereof to my said wife during her life or until she shall marry again and from and after the decease or remarriage (whichever shall first happen) In trust for all my children who being sons should attain the age of twenty one years on being daughters shall attain that age of marry under that age in equal shares and if there shall be only one such child the whole to be in trust for that one child
(4) It shall be lawful for my Trustees with the consent in writing of my wife during her widowhood and then at their own discretion to raise any paid or parts not consisting together one moiety of the expectant share of any child under this my will and apply the same for his or her advancement preferment or benefit as my Trustees shall think fit
(5) I declare that my Trustees may postpone the sale and conversion of my real and personal estate or any part thereof for as long as they shall think fit and that the rents profits and income to accrue from and after my decease of and from such part of my estate as shall for the time being remain unsold and unconverted shall after payment thereout of all residential expenses and outgoings be paid and applied to the person or persons and in the manner to whom and in which the income of the moneys produced by such sale and conversion would for the time being be payable or applicable under this my will is such sale and conversion had been actually made
(6) All moneys liable to be invested under this my will may be invested in or upon any stocks funds or securities of or guaranteed by the Government of the United Kingdom or of any British colony or dependency or in Stock of the Bank of England or the debentures or debenture stocks or guaranteed or preference stock or shares of any railway or other company in Great Britain or India incorporated by Act of Parliament or Royal Charter and paying a dividend on its ordinary stock or shares or upon real or leasehold securities in England or Wales but not elsewhere such leasehold securities being held for a term whereof sixty years at least shall be unexpired at the time of such investment. And in lending money or any mortgage security my Trustees may accept whatever title or evidence of title shall appear to them sufficient and in particular may in the case of leasehold securities waive the production of the lease title without being answerable for any loss arising thereby. And my Trustees may release any part of the property comprised in any mortgage security if satisfied that the remaining property is a sufficient security for the money owing thereon
(7) I declare that the power of appointing new trustees conferred by Statute shall for the purpose of this my Will be vested in my said wife during her widow hood.
In witness whereof I have thereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of July One thousand eight hundred and eighty nine..... John Hook Hann
Signed by the said John Hook Hann as his last Will in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto our names as witness..... Fiennes Trotman , Edwin Allen