Quaker Family History Society

Will of John GODLEE, Gentleman of Lewes, Sussex

Will 31 July 1840   Probate 12 August 1841

Summary.

Biographical Notes.

·         Parents: Thomas Godlee (1725-1781) and Ann (née Harris) (17??-17??), of London, Mariner.

·         Date of Birth: 1762 in London. 

·         Baptism: 22 August 1762 at St. George in the East, London.

·         Education: He attended a school for Navy Employees in Greenwich, London.

·         Apprenticeship: At the age of 14 he was apprenticed to Captain Charles Lea of the ship “Daniel” and sailed for New York in the 10^th month 1776.

·         Profession: Grocer and later Coal Merchant of Lewes, Sussex.

·         Marriage: Mary Rickman on 24 February 1796 in Friends’ Meeting House, Lewes, Sussex.

·         Meetings: Lewes & Brighton MM.

·         Date of Death: 23 May 1841 at Lewes, Sussex.  Entry in The Annual Monitor.

·         Burial:  May 1841 in Friends’ Burial Ground, Lewes, Sussex.

·         He and Mary had eleven children: Mary Ann (1796-1870), Sarah (1798-1866), who married John Rickman (1780-1835) in 1828, Caroline (1800-1812), Burwood (1802-1882), Rickman (1804-1871), Rebecca (1805-1884), Lucy (1808-1903), twins Margaret (1810-1810) and Susanna Rickman (1810-1812), Caroline (1812-1813), and John (1815-1891). His wife Mary died in 1851.

Highlights of Will

·         Name of Executors:  Burwood Godlee, his son, Merchant of Lewes, Sussex, and Rickman Godlee, his son, Barrister at Law of Lincolns Inn, Middlesex.  They were both Quakers.

·         He left his wife Mary Godlee the interest on all his residuary property for her lifetime.

·         He left his son Burwood Godlee money to cover any advances he had made to John Godlee, and any money needed to wipe off John’s debts.  He was also left a seventh part of the residual property after the death of Mary.

·         He left his son Rickman Godlee £1,000.  He was also left a seventh part of the residual property after the death of Mary on condition he put the £1,000 into the account.

·         He left his son John Godlee a seventh part of his residual estate after the death of Mary on condition that the amount expended in writing off his debts was deducted.

·         He left each of his surviving daughters Mary Ann Godlee, Sarah Rickman, Rebecca Godlee and Lucy Godlee a seventh part of the residual property after the death of his wife Mary.

Transcriber’s and Editor’s Notes

This is one of a number of linked family wills including his sons Burwood Godlee (1883) and Rickman Godlee (1871), and daughters Mary Ann Godlee (1870), Sarah Rickman (1866), Rebecca Godlee (1884), and Lucy Godlee (1903).  His son John Godlee emigrated to Australia in the mid 19^th century.

Will as transcribed from a copy of the original document

(Original line and page breaks preserved as far as possible)

I John Godlee of Lewes in the County of Sussex

Gentleman hereby revoke all former Wills & Testamentary instruments whatsoever

and declare this to be my last Will and Testament I appoint my sons Burwood

Godlee of Lewes in the County of Sussex Merchant and Rickman Godlee of

Linclons Inn in the County of Middlesex Barrister at Law Executors of this

my Will I bequeath to my said son Burwood Godlee a sufficient sum to repay

to him the amount of any advances which he shall at the time of my decease

have made either on his own account or at the request & on the account of any

other Member or Members of my Family to or for the benefit of my son John Godlee

(and which shall not for the time being have been repaid to him) together

with compound interest with annual costs on all such advances at the rate

of Five pounds per Centum per Annum But I declare it to be a condition of

this present bequest to my sd. son Burwood Godlee that he shall relinquish

all Claim on my said son John Godlee in respect of such advances and shall

also procure his discharge from the Claims in respect thereof of any person or

persons who may have guaranteed the payment of the same or any part

thereof to my said son Burwood Godlee I bequeath to my said son Rickman

Godlee the sum of one thousand pounds I bequeath all my Residuary

Property to my said sons Burwood Godlee and Rickman Godlee In Trust to

permit my dear Wife Mary Godlee to receive the annual produce of all my

said residuary Property during her life And I declare that my said Executors

and Trustees shall stand possessed of and interested in all my said residuary

Property after the decease of my said Wife In Trust for my said sons Burwood

Godlee Rickman Godlee and John Godlee and my daughters Mary Ann Godlee

Sarah Rickman Rebecca Godlee and Lucy Godlee in equal shares & to be divided

amongst them accordingly Provided nevertheless and I hereby declare that my

said sons Rickman Godlee and John Godlee shall not be entitled to receive

any part of my said residuary property without first bringing unto hotchpot (as to

my said son Rickman Godlee) the said legacy of one thousand pounds and (as

to my said son John Godlee) the amount of such debt or debts if any as he

shall be discharged from in consequence of the conditional bequest hereby

given to my said son Burwood Godlee I authorize my said Executors and

Trustees from time to time to make such sales conversions and investments of

the whole or any part of my Property as they in their uncontrolled discretion

shall think necessary or desirable I declare that the receipts in writing of my

said trustees and the survivor of them for any money payable to them or

him by virtue of this my Will shall be sufficient discharges for the money

therein acknowledged to be received and that the persons paying the same

shall not be answerable for any loss misapplication or nonapplication or be

bound to see to the application of the money in such receipts acknowledged to

be received or to enquire into the necessity or propriety of any sale which may be

made under or by virtue of this my Will In Witness whereof I the said

John Godlee to this my last Will and Testament contained in two sheets

of paper have to each of the said sheets set my hand this thirty first day of

the seventh month in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty

John Godlee – This Will contained in two sheets of paper was signed

on each of the said sheets by the said Testator John Godlee in the presence of

us present at the same time and we have hereunto subscribed our names in the

presence of the said Testator John Godlee Henry Browne – Samuel Rickman

Proved at London 12^th August 1841 before the Worshipful John

Daubeny Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by Burwood Godlee and Rickman

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Godlee the Sons the Executors to whom Admon was granted having first made

a solemn and sincere declaration or affirmation according to Act of Parliament

duly to administer.

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