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FH Documents and Artefacts / Unusual bequest in a will
« on: Monday 20 April 15 21:37 BST (UK) »
I have recently bought the will of Robert Smith Sayers who died in Sussex in 1881. I'm puzzled by the contents and wondered if someone could suggest a reason for his actions.
Robert had three sons with his first wife Selina, and after her death he married Mary Lane who was a widow and already had five children, they had no children together.
In the will Robert stipulates that his wife Mary should inherit his wearing apparel, and that his executors should convert all his remaining 'property and effects' into cash. He then goes on to say that if his wife Mary is still alive, then the money should be divided equally between his three sons. If however his wife Mary had already died, then the proceeds of his estate should be divided equally between Mary's five children who are all named in the will.
Mary did not die until 1898, so Robert's sons would have inherited from their father, but I can't understand the reasoning behind leaving his estate to Mary's children if she had already died, thus denying his own three sons of any inheritance.
As Mary was not provided for in the will, I'm assuming that she had private means, she was by profession a dressmaker, so could have supported herself that way. She died in 1898, but I'm unable to locate a will for her to confirm that she had any estate to leave.
I'd be interested to know if anyone has come across anything like this before, or has any ideas as to the reasoning behind it.
Robert had three sons with his first wife Selina, and after her death he married Mary Lane who was a widow and already had five children, they had no children together.
In the will Robert stipulates that his wife Mary should inherit his wearing apparel, and that his executors should convert all his remaining 'property and effects' into cash. He then goes on to say that if his wife Mary is still alive, then the money should be divided equally between his three sons. If however his wife Mary had already died, then the proceeds of his estate should be divided equally between Mary's five children who are all named in the will.
Mary did not die until 1898, so Robert's sons would have inherited from their father, but I can't understand the reasoning behind leaving his estate to Mary's children if she had already died, thus denying his own three sons of any inheritance.
As Mary was not provided for in the will, I'm assuming that she had private means, she was by profession a dressmaker, so could have supported herself that way. She died in 1898, but I'm unable to locate a will for her to confirm that she had any estate to leave.
I'd be interested to know if anyone has come across anything like this before, or has any ideas as to the reasoning behind it.