 |
Text of Document (Doubtful and illegible words are
indicated by '*'s and '[]'s)
THIS WILL was proved at London with a codicil the
second day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
and eighty two before the worshipful George Harris *** of *** *** of
the right worshipful ***[whole line illegible]*** of the perogative
court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by by the oath of Elizabeth
Oldershaw widow the relict of the deceased and sole Executrix named in
the said will to whom administration was granted of all and singular
the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased having been first
sworn duly to administer.
APPEARED PERSONALLY Easter Oldershaw of the City of
Rochester and Martha Oldershaw of the same place spinster two of the
daughters of James Oldershaw late of the same place deceased and made
an oath by *** of having very often seen their said late father write
and also write and subscribe his name the became intimately aquainted
with his manner and character of handwriting and subscription and that
having now with care and attention viewed and perused the codicil
written at the foot of the last will and testament of the said
deceased hereunto annexed beginning thus, "I also give to my
daughter Elizabeth Wood one hundred pounds now which I lent her
husband" ending thus, "this makes her fortune equal to her
sisters as you may see above in witness hereof I have set my hand
again" and thus subscribed "James Oldershaw["] they
these appearors do verify in their consciences believe the whole ***
or contents of the said codicil beginning ending and subscribed as
aforesaid to be of the proper handwriting and subscription of the said
deceased & Easter Oldershaw and Martha Oldershaw *** *** the said
Easter Oldershaw and Martha Oldershaw were only sworn as [the usual]
before me, Geo. Harris ***, present Mark [Holman] *** [Ex O]
|
|
Probate to James Oldershaw's Will
Probate was granted by George Harris on 2nd May 1782 to James
Oldershaw's wife, Elizabeth. Clearly she was alive on this date.
Appearances of Easter and Martha confirm that they were also living
in Rochester on that date.
Main Issues Arising from the Will and Probate
The main issues in this study of James Oldershaw's life is to
determine the exact relationship and parentage of Margaret Martha
Whiteman Douglas the daughter of Margaret Douglas (neé
Oldershaw) and her husband James Douglas, the nature of their presence
in Rochester in 1792 and other family members that may have been
present when Turner painted his first oil painting. The sequence of
events that are clearly ascertained around the time that the will was
written is:
- 25th October 1780
James Oldershaw wrote his will. It is not clear whether or not
there were previous wills. It is clear that he was living in
Rochester but he does not say which family members were living with
him. The only indication of his address, College Yard, is from
Jessop when he writes of Douglas' location around the time of his
marriage [Jessop page 25]
Elizabeth Wood and Margaret Douglas according to the
will both had no children at this date because James Oldershaw makes
provision for the division of the estate in respect of their future
children, if any, as follows:
- "child or children of hers as shall by any writing or
writings signed with her hand direct or appoint & in case my
said daughter Elizabeth should die without issue"
- "and in case my said daughter Margaret Douglas
should die without issue"
In both of these extracts the daughters are specifically named
and these 'without issue' clauses cannot apply to the other
daughters. However, Elizabeth Wood had Charlotte age 10 months when
the will was written.
Provision for the other two daughters, Easter and Martha,
appeared earlier in the will. Martha (according to John Nichols in
'Illustrations of the Literary History of the Eighteenth Century')
was Margaret's twin.
Easter and Martha are not given without issue'
clauses. Nor is there any provision for their children. The will is
completely silent in the matter of any children being children of
Easter and Martha.
- 2nd May 1872
The grant of Probate (at which Easter and Martha appeared and
probate was granted to Elizabeth Oldershaw) was given on 2nd May
1782. James had been buried according to the linked record on 15th
April 1782 at
St.
Margaret of Antioch at Rochester. Easter and Margaret had
clearly been living with their father. However, the will and probate
give no clear indication of the whereabouts of his sons or daughters
Elizabeth and Margaret.
- 29th June 1792
The baptism of Margaret Martha Whiteman Douglas. Not at St.
Margaret of Antioch where James Oldershaw had been recently buried
but at The Cathedral Church of Christ.
The Cathedral Church of Christ is now Rochester Cathedral and
the baptism is recorded in the
Cathedral
register.
|
|
