Transcription of will Abraham Beck, 1829

In the name of God Amen I Abraham BECK of Old Brentford Parish of Ealing county of Middlesex being of sound & perfect mind & memory do make this my last will & testament hereby revoking all former Wills by me made

first I direct all my just debts & funeral expenses to be paid I then direct all my copy-hold property in Union Court situate in Old Brentford at present in the possession of my brother John BECK & which at his decease comes to me to be sold as soon as conveniently can after my executors or administrators come into possession of it either by public auction or private sale as to they? may deem best

the proceeds of which to be placed in Government Securities and the interest or dividends as they arise to be added to the principal till such time as my Grandchild John Stone BECK attains the age of twenty four years I then direct it to be sold out reserving five hundred pounds Sterling money of Great Britain for my Grandchild Ann Zipporah BECK whatever may remain over the sum above mentioned I give and bequeath to my aforesaid Grandchild John Stone BECK to and for his absolute use and disposal the aforesaid sum of five hundred pounds Sterling money of Great Britain will then again be placed in Government Securities and the interest or dividends as they arise to be added to the principal till such time as my Grandchild Ann Zipporah BECK attains the age of twenty four years when I give and bequeath to her for her absolute use and disposal

Now if my executors or trustees herein after named should think it would be for the benefit of either or both of my Grandchildren John Stone BECK or Ann Zipporah BECK that the property should be divided before either of them attain the age of twenty four years they have my consent to do so

In case of the death of either or both of my above named Grandchildren before the age of twenty four years or before any division has taken place I then direct that their share or shares to be equally divided amongst all my Grandchildren in equal proportions

I give and bequeath to my dear wife Ann BECK all my household furniture plate linen or china or whatever may appertain thereto to and for her absolute use and disposal the remainder of my property consisting of freehold copyhold and leasehold houses or land or any other description of property I may die possessed of

I direct the rents interest and proceeds thereof to be received by my dear wife for the term of her natural life only at her decease I give and bequeath all my freehold copyhold and leasehold houses or land or any other description of property save and except my property the Copyhold in Union Court already disposed of to my beloved son John BECK of Down Barns parish of Northolt County of Middlesex to and for his absolute use and disposal to do with as he thinks proper

I hereby appoint my dear wife executrix and trustee and Mr George OSBORNE of Old Brentford County of Middlesex and my son John BECK of Down Barns parish of Northolt County of Middlesex executors and trustees to this my last Will and Testament

In witness thereof I have this twelfth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty seven set my hand and seal Abrm BECK (signed) Signed sealed published and delivered by the said Testator in the presence of William HOWARD, J. Hy BOLAND, Thomas Henry OSBORNE

This Will of Abraham BECK late of Old Brentford Parish of Ealing county of Middlesex deceased was proved at London on the 1st day of May 1829 before the Worshipful John DANBERRY Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oaths of George OSBORNE and John BECK the son of the deceased the executors to whom administration was granted having first sworn duly to administer.

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The testator

Key points from the will:

Abraham Beck had a wife, Ann, a brother John, a son John and two grandchildren, John Stone & Ann Zipporah.

He had a copyhold property on Union Court, Old Brentford where his brother lived. Union Court ran off the south side of the High Street (between numbers 24 and 25, at the eastern end of Brentford) towards the River Thames.

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The witnesses & executor

William HOWARD: there are three HOWARD household heads in the 1841 census but none were called William

John Henry BOLAND: no reference found in Brentford so far

Thomas Henry OSBORNE: related to George below?

George OSBORNE: a person of this name occupied a property at around 28 High Street at the time of the tithe enumeration (1839/41) and in the 1841 census a person of this name lived on the opposite side of the High Street, near no. 309.

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Published December 2010