Will of
William Ashcroft
1804 - 1878

This is the Last Will and Testament of me William Ashcroft the Elder formerly of Wolverhampton in the county of Stafford Auctioneer but now of Islington Liverpool in the County of Lancaster Gentleman. I give and bequeath unto my daughters Ann Duckworth and Hannah Hughes the sum of one hundred pounds each and unto my daughter Esther ___ Bayley the sum of fifty one pounds for their own respective sole and separate use and independently of the control debts or engagements of their present or any future husband[.] And I declare that the respective receipts of my said daughters alone whether covert or not? shall be sufficient discharges for any review payable to them under this my will. I give and bequeath unto my Sons Joshua Ashcroft and William Ashcroft the sum of fifty pounds each and to my grandchildren Hannah Fryer(?), Ann Wheatley and William Wheatley the sum of ten pounds each and to my grandson Joseph Wheatley the sum of twenty pounds the whole of the above named legacies to be paid out of monies to be received under my Life Policy effected with the Norwich Union Life Assurance Company I also give and bequeath unto my said daughter Ann Duckworth the Oil painted portraits of myself and wife with the frames in which they are placed. I give and bequeath to her Son John Lawrence Duckworth my Gold Watch and Chain. I also give and bequeath unto my said Grandson Joseph Wheatley my two volumes of the Imperial Dictionary and my two volumes of the Imperial Gazeteer. I give and bequeath all my other Books unto and equally between and amongst all my said Sons and Daughters[.] And as to all the rest and residue of my personal Estate and Effects I give and bequeath the same to my said daughter Hannah Hughes subject to the payment by her of my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses. And in the event of my said daughter Esther Bayley dying in my lifetime I give and bequeath the money bequeathed to her by this my Will unto and equally between her three children to be payable to them on the youngest Child attaining the age of twenty one years[.] And I empower my Executors to deposit the said monies in some Savings Bank there to accumulate at interest until the youngest of such Children shall attain the age of twenty one years and then to divide the same unto and equally between the three children of my said daughter Esther Bayley for their own respective use and benefit[.] And revoking all former Wills by me made I declare this to be my only last Will and Testament[.] And do appoint my daughters Ann Duckworth and Hannah Hughes to be Executrixes of this my Will[.] In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this Sixteenth day of November One thousand eight hundred and seventy eight ______ William Ashcroft ________ Signed by the said Testator William Ashcroft the Elder as and for his last Will and Testament 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 subscribed our names as witnesses ____________ John Henry ???illings [Stillings??] 2 Christian Street Liverpool ____________________ Thomas Hartley 33 Islington Liverpool.

Proved at London 16th January 1879 by the Oaths of Ann Duckworth (wife of John Lawrence Duckworth) and Hannah Hughes widow the Daughters the executrixes to whom Admon was granted.