Index

Will of Richard Boswell Beddome


This is the will of Richard Boswell Beddome, a prosperous London solicitor. I have broken this up into paragraphs to make it (slightly) more readable. The original wills had no separate parapraphs as that would make it easier for other people to interpolate other words to change the meaning.


Will - 13/11/1872

This is the Last Will and Testament of me Richard Boswell Beddome of No. 27 Nicholas lane, Lombard Street in the City of London, and of Clapham Common in the County of Surrey Esquire. I revoke all Wills and Codicils by me heretofore made and declare this to be my only true and last Will.

I desire to be buried in Norwood Cemetery and in my own family vault by the side of my late beloved wife.

I give, devise and bequeath to my son The Reverend John Arthur Beddome clerk of Pembroke College Oxford Master of Arts, and to my son in law The Reverend Samuel Beddome Charlesworth Clerk Rector of Limehouse in the County of Middlesex their heirs executors administrators and assigns All Estates real and personal vested in me In trust or on mortgage To hold to them their heirs executors administrators and assigns according to the nature and properties of the same estates, respectively subject to the trusts rights and provisions for the same respectively and as any mortgage or mortgages belonging to my own Estate subject as to the monies produced by the same to the trusts and provisions of this my Will

I appoint my eldest son Richard Henry Beddome a Major on the Madras Staff Corps and Conservator or Inspector of Forests in the Madras Presidency, my second son the above named John Arthur Beddome, my son-in-law the above names Samuel Beddome Charlesworth and my daughter Martha Ann Beddome of Clapham Common aforesaid Spinster Executors and Trustees of this my Will and I direct that whenever any one of my four executors and Trustees shall from time to time be out of the United Kingdom he or she may depute any one of the others of them by Power of Attorney to act for him or her in the matter of this my Will or the majority of the four may act in all matters in the absence of the other one and the acts deeds and signatures of three of them shall be at all times binding unless the fourth of other of them shall by an order or decree of a Court of Equity prohibit or stop any matter from being done or executed and wherever in this my Will I shall use the term or expression "my Trustees" such two words shall apply to or mean my four Trustees above named or any three of them, whilst all are living or the survivors or survivor of them or the executors of the last survivor or any person or persons appointed to be their successor or successors under the clause or power for that purpose hereinafter contained or set forth.

I direct housekeeping at my house at Clapham Common to be carried on and rent and texes and texes for the said House to be paid at the expense of my general estate until the second quarter day after my decease for the comfort and quietness of my single daughter, and of any other or others of my children, whom it may suit to be or reside or visit at my said House during that period.

I direct that no debts demands payments or sums of money that I shall have advanced or paid to or for any of my children shall be called for or required by my executors as I shall have duly considered the same in the provisions made by this my Will and my dear children will please to consider that in such provisions I have acted adviseably and with due and just consideration in my own mind as to what I may have done for each

I leave all legacies bequeasts and devises in my Will (except my residuary bequests) free of duty and I direct all legacy and succession duies to be paid out of my general estate before the divison of the ultimate residue thereof.

I leave to my eldest son Richard Henry Beddome (as heirlooms) my large silver waiter foremerly presented to me by my late Uncle Samuel Favell of the Corportation of the City of London, and the smaller silver waiter presented to me by the late William Slater Bartlett Esquire, and the silver bread basket presented to my father by the Tanners of England, and my gold repeater which I wear at the present time with its chain and seals.

And I leave to my second son John Arthur Beddome my smallest silver waiter and a silver inkstand, presented to me by the direction of the Late John Rogers and a gold repeating watch which belonged to King George the third

And I leave to my third son Charles Edward Beddome my Chronometer watch and six large and six small silver forks and six silver table spoons, and six silver dessert spoons, and six silver tea spoons

And I give out of my general personable estate to my eldest son Richard Henry Beddome Two hundred pounds absolutely, and to my Trustees for the benefit of my youngesr son Charles Edward Beddome two hundred pounds upon trust as hereinafter specified as to monies or bequests for his benefit, such two bequests of Two hundred pounds each to be in lieu of any share by my said last named sons in any portion of my furniture plate or household effects except the articles given to them, as above specified.

And all the rest of my household furniture fixtures plate linen china books pictures wines liquors and other personal effects in and about my dwelling house and primeses at Clapham Common (except money and securities for money and deeds and documents of title) I give and bequeath in equal shares or portions or to be equally divided to and amongst my other three children, John Arthur Beddome, Maria Amelia Charlesworth and Martha Ann Beddome and to be equally divided amongst them by the judgment and division of my Executors who may perform that duty by valuation and selection or sale by auction or bid or competition between such three children or otherwise as they shall see fit and with full powers to sell by auction by valuation to a broker or otherwise, as they shall see fit, and for the Benefit of such three children all such articles as neither of them shall wish to have or take

I again direct that no debts advances or monies that might be considered as debts shall be called for or received by my executors from my children or any of them or from my son in law Samuel Beddome Charlesworth as I have considered all such matters in framing my Will

I give to each of my executors one hundred pounds for the trouble they may have about my affairs and to each of my five children one hundred pounds for any immediate necessity.

I give to each of my dear sisters in law Amelia Seagood Brown and Susannah Brown one hundred pounds and to my old and valued friend Ann Dennis one hundred pounds and to Eliza Cavendish the daughter of my old Nurse one hundred pounds and to my Nephew The Reverend James Hoare Masters and my Niece Mary Jane Nicholson each One hundred pounds and to my faithful and valued servant Sarah Devenish One hundred pounds and to my faithful and valued servant Caroline Emma Maskell one hundred pounds and to each of my other servants residing under my roof at the time of my decease Nineteen guineas

I give out of my personal estate applicable to charitable bequeasts the sum of One hundred pounds to the Treasurer of the Bible Society and the sum of One hundred pounds to the Treasurer of the Church Missionary Society such two legacies to be applied respectively for the general purposes of the said respective Societies

I give to my Minister the Reverend Aubrey Charles Price of Saint James's Church Clapham Park the sum of One hundred pounds

I give and devise to my eldest son Richard Henry Beddome his hiers and assigns All that my freehold house or tavern formerly called the Ship and Sun but now called the Prince Alfred situate in Crosby Row Walworth in the County of Surrey together with the four houses next adjoin [?]in succession southwards of the same and the four houses on the North side of East Lane otherwise East Street and immediately in the rear of the two most southerly of the Houses in Crosby Row lastly above mentioned. Also my freehold house called Rye Lodge situate in Peckham Rye in the said County of Surrey and now let or occupied as a Lady's School and the two small shops at the end of the garden of the said Houses. And also my freehold House No. 4 Russell Street Covent Garden in the County of Middlesex let or lease to Mr. Jacobs as an Orange Merchant To hold all the above freehold house and property to my said son Richard Henry Beddome his hiers and assigns for ever but subject to the existing underleases of the same respectively all which houses and property are those devised to me by the Will of my late cousin John Favell of Kensington deceased

And I also give and bequeath to my said son Richard Henry Beddome for his own absolute use and benefit the sum of Two thousand eight hundred and thirty five pounds fifteen shillings and eleven pence share of New three per cent part of a sum of Eight thousand eight hundred and thirty five pounds fifteen shillings and eleven pence of the same stock standing in my name in the Bank of England or however otherwise my new three per cents shall exist and appear, and if there are not enough of such stock to supply such bequest I desire that a like sum be purchased for him to fufil such a bequest

I give and devise for my second son John Arthur Beddome his hiers and assigns all that my freehold messuage No 61 Dean Street Soho in the County of Middlesex being the North West Corner House of Dean Street and Compton Street and occupied by Mr Harrod Grocer as a Grocer's House and shop to hold the same to my said son John Arthur Beddome his heirs and assigns for ever subject to the existing lease of the same

And I further give and bequeath to my said son John Arthur Beddome for his absolute use and benefit the sum of Six Thousand pounds stock the remaining partof my above named sum of Eight thousand eight hundred and thirty five pounds fifteen shillings and eleven pence New three per cents and if at my decease there shall be no adequate sum of New three per cent stock standing in my name to supply such Six thousand pounds New three per cents I direct that a like sum of such stock or sufficient to make up the same be purchased out of my general personal estate

I give and bequeath to my Trustees the sum of Four thousand pounds sterling to be raised out of my general personal estate and to be invested by them in any of the investments authorised in the general clause for investments under this my Will or (together with a fifth share of the residue of my property hereinafter bequeathed for the benefit of my said son Charles Edward Beddome) in the purchase of a farm or farms houses or lands to be purchased in their names in any part of the world they should see fit and to apply the income half yearly for the benefit in any way they shall please of my said son Charles Edward Beddome his wife and child or children but without the power of anticipation sale or mortgage, and if such monies shall be invested in any sort of farming lands to permit my said last named son to have the use occupation and enjoyment of the same free of rent or charge of any kind so that he may earn gain or enjoy an income or livelihood thereby he paying or discharging all outgoings in respect of the same. And on his death bankruptcy or Insolvency to use employ and apply the same for the benefit of his wife and child or children with power to sell or exchange the same property and invest the proceeds or value in other lands or houses and with all powers for selling leasing and exchanging the same houses lands and property that I myself might have received if I had still been living

I give and bequeath to my Trustees the sum of Seven Thousand pounds stock part of Eight thousand eight hundred and three pounds sixteen shillings and ten pence three per cent reduced stock standing in my name Upon Trust to continue the same or sell and invest the proceeds in any of the securities or investments authorised in the general investment clause of this my Will and half yearly to pay the interest or income of such sum of Seven thousand pounds stock or of the investments in which the same shall stand invested half yearly to my dear daughter Maria Amelia Charlesworth or her separate receipt, and so that she shal not mortgage or anticipate the same. And on her decease to pay the income in like manner to her Husband the Reverend Samuel Beddome Charlesworth if he should outlive her, for his life. And on the decease of the survivor of them to divide and pay the said trust fund and the interest thereof equally to and amongst the children of the said Samuel Beddome Charlesworth and Maria Amelia Charlesworth on their respectively attaining the age of twenty one years or previously marrying with the consenting Parents or Guardians and if there shall not be sufficient three per cent reduced stock at the time of my decease standing in my name to make up the last mentioned bequest I desire that the said Seven thousand pounds stock or so much as shall be wanting to make up that sum shall be purchased, by and out of my general personal estate the rest of the Eight thousand eight hundred and three pounds sixteen shillings and ten pence reduced stock of it (if still in my name at my decease) is to be part of my general residuary estate.

I give and bequeath the sum of Eight thousand eight hundred and three pounds three shillings Consolidated Bank annuities standing in my name to my Trustees upon trust to continue the same as invested or sell the same or any part thereof at their united discretion or the direction of the majority of them, and invest the proceeds from time to time in the purchase of freehold or leasehold lands or houses or invest the same or any part thereof in any other of the investments by the General Clause for investment under this my Will And from time to time half yearly to pay the dividends of such stock or other proceeds of any such investments to my daughter Martha Ann Beddome during the term of her natural life or permit her to receive the same, but without power of anticipation, and so that she shall not have power to mortgage sell or otherwise assign or incumber the same, And if she shall marry and have children to be in trust for all her children from and after her decease who shall attain the age of Twenty one years, and if she shall have no children who shall attain that age then upon trust for each person or persons as she shall by Will appoint, and in default of any such appointment In trust for the next of kin, according to the Statutes of Distribution of the personal estate of intestates. And if on my decease there shall be no such sum of three per cent Consolidated Bank annuities in my name or an insufficient quantity to satisify the last mentioned legacy then I direct that the said legacy shall be purchased and made good out of my general personal estate.

I have not forgotten my blessed and beloved and only surviving sister Jane Stevenson, one of God's choice ones on this Earth. She having ample means of her own, I only leave her one hundred pounds sterling as a token of love and affection, but, had she needed it I would have left her thousands.

All the rest and residue and remainder of my estate and effects whasoever and wheresoever real and personal I give devise and bequeath to my Trustees Upon trust by sale valuation agreement or arrangement of any kind that they or the majority of them shall agree upon to divide the same into five equal parts

And I hereby direct and declare that the trust funds hereinbefore bequeathed for the benefit of my said yungest son Charles Edward Beddome his wife and child or children if more than one may be invested in Houses buildings and lands in any part of the World and if in lands for him to be suffered to work or use the lands for his own benefit free of all rent or charge for the same. And if such houses houses buildings and lands shall not be leased or taken or worked or occupied by him, then the income or annual produce of the same is to applied half yearly for the benefit of himself and his wife and family and if not invested in Houses buildings or lands, the said trust funds may be invested in any other securities or investments authorized generally in this my Will, and the income applied in like manner for he benefit of my said son Charles Edward Beddome his wife and family and for the general investent of all other the trust funds under thiws my Will and of the last named trust funds also so far as may be consistent with the last before mentioned trusts for my said youngest son

I direct and declare that my Trustees may continue the investments left by me as long as they might see fit or may from time to time sell and invest the same or any part thereof in the purchase of freehold or long leasehold houses or lands or upon Government or real securities in England or Wales or in or upon the stocks or funds of India or other British Colony or in or upon Bank stotck or freehold or long leasehold mortgages or in or upon the preference stock or debentures or any Company under Charter or Act of Parliament and having dividends with power for my Trustees to vary the saod purchases and funds and securities at their discretion. And I give my executors power to settle all accounts disputes and questions under my estate by arbitration arrangement or otherwise as they may think best. And I declare that the receipts of my executors and of my Trustees respectively for any monies stocks funds or securities or property under or connected with my Will shall be effectual discharges to the parties taking such receipts. And I further direct and declate that if my Trustees hereby appointed or any or either of them or any future Trustees or Trustee to be appointed under this power shall die or go to reside abroad or desire to be discharged of or from ore refuse to decline to act in or become unfit to act in the trusts of this my Will before the same shll have been fully performed then, and in any such case, it shall be lawful for the surviving or continuing Trustees or Trustee for the time being of this my Will (and for this purpose any retiring Trustee shall, if willing to act be considered a continuing Trustee) or the executor or administrator of the last surviving Trustee to appoint from time to time any other person or persons to be a Trustee or Trustees in the place of the Trustee or Trustees so dying or going to reside abroad or declining to be discharged or refusing or becoming incapable or unfit to act, as aforesaid, and upon every such appointment the trust estates funds properties and effects shall be property conveyed assigned or transferred accordingly and every such new Trustee or Trustees shall and may act assist in the executions of the trusts and powers of this my Will as fully and effectively in all respects as if he or they had been originally appointed under the same. And in addition to the protection given by any Statute or Statutes I declare that my Trustees shall be chargeable only with such monies or property as they shall respectively receive and shall not be answerable the one for the other or other of them nor for the actions receipts deeds or defaults of the others of other of them nor for any Banker Broker Agent or other person in whose hands any of the trust monies or property under this my Will shall be placed nor for the insufficiency of any stocks funds or securities nor for any involuntary losses whatsoever. And that it shall be lawful for my Trustees to reimburse themselves and to allow for each other out of the monies that shall come to their hands by virtue of this my Will all costs and expenses incurred by them in and about the execution of the trusts hereby in them reposed.

And hereby again revoking all formed Wills and Codicils I declare this to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof the said Richard Boswell Beddome have set my hand to this and the seven preceeding sheets of paper forming this my will, this thirteenth day November one thousand eight hundred and seventy two.

Richard B. Beddome

Signed published and declared by the said Richard Boswell Beddome as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request and in the precence of each other have at the same time hereunto signed our names as witnesses - A. Burcombe, Wm. Geo. Hill, Clerks to Messr.s Pitman and Lane Solrs, 27 Nicholas Lane London EC


Comments:
First there seems to be two groups of people appointed - John Beddome and Samuel Charlesworth, and the trustees, Richard H. Beddome, John Beddome, Samuel Charlesworth and Martha Beddome.
The pair may be the executors of the will, who will sort out the immediate arrangments. They are the second son and the son-in-law. The oldest son is likely to be out of the country when Richard B. Beddome dies, as he works in India. The remaining daughter cannot, of course, be trusted with money affairs (!) and she is unmarried. The son-in-law is actually Richard B. Beddome's nephew as well, but I doubt that's relevant. He merely represents his wife.
The trustees are three of his five children, and the husband of one of the remainder. They have to look after the money and everything else for the people who are not bequeathed the money directly, but only the interest. Obviously the capital has to be looked after by someone, and that's the trustees job. Note that a daughter CAN be a trustee, while not being considered as an executor. She is really representing her own interests, as she is one of the people benefitting from the trust funds. The son-in-law represents his own interest, and that of his wife, and children. But all the trustees are siblings or close family, so the hope is that they will work together. There are arrangments for if they don't!
The oddity is the youngest son, Charles Edward Beddome. He is about 33 years old at this point, and in Australia. And he is NOT a trustee! It could be that since he is in Australia, his father felt that he could not do a reasonable job as a trustee. However, unlike his two brothers, he is not left money or property to use as he wants. On the contrary - there are quite explicit arrangments that the trustees (his brothers, sister and brother-in-law!) should buy house and land, perhaps for a farm. If the youngest son wants to work this farm, he can do so rent free. However "And on his death bankruptcy or Insolvency to use employ and apply the same for the benefit of his wife and child or children..." It really sounds as if his father didn't trust Charles Edward Beddome to manage his own affairs!
Richard B. Beddome also insists that any money he had lent his children (presumably) should not be recovered by his trustees after his death. He had made allowances for these unpaid debts in his bequests. He doesn't mention which son he is talking about.
Another point is that if a Trustee "go to reside abroad" then it seems that they should give up being Trustee. The oldest son Richard H. Beddome would be residing abroad, in India. When his father died, he left his employment there and returned to live in England permanently. It could be that having inherited enough money from his father, he decided to take early retirement! But perhaps this will more-or-less forced him to do so. He didn't benefit from the Trust himself, but he might feel that he should be involved in the administration of it.


First Codicil - 1/12/1872

This is a Codicil to the last Will and Testament of me Richard Boswell Beddome of No 27 Nicholas Lane Lombard Street in the City of London and of Clapham Common in the County of Surrey Esquire, which Will bears date the Thirteenth of November 1872 and was duly signed and published by me.

I give and bequeath to the four persons in my said Will designated as my Trustees their executors administrators and assigns All that my Policy of Insurance in the Royal Insurance Office effected by me on the life of myson Charles Edward Beddome for the sum of Two thousand pounds and number 10,816, Upon trust to hold the said Policy and uphold the same and during the life of my said son Charles Edward Beddome by and out of the same of the monies or property I have by my Will left for his or his families' benefit to pay from time to time the annual premium on the said Policy and on his decease to receive the amount of such Policy and all additions thereto and invest the monies received in or upon any of the securities authorized by my Will and receive and pay the income of he same half yearly in any manner they shall see fit for the maintenance (during the widowhood and until she shall marry again) of the wife of my said son and also of his children or child if only one, and whlly for the benefit of such children and child from an after the death or second marriage of my said sons Widow and the principal to be divided equally amongst such children or paid to such one child on attaining the age of twenty one years and the income applied half yearly for their benefit meanwhile or for the benefit of such one child if only one, and if no child of the said Charles Edward Beddome shall live to attain the age of twenty one ears subject to the provisions aforesaid I direct my Trustees to divide the proceeds of the said Policy and any accued interest thereon (not before appropriated and paid away) to and amongst all my other children equally, the children of any deceased child to stand in the Parents place, and take the Parents share. But if the wife and child or children of my said son Charles Edward Beddome shall all die in his lifetime then notwithstanding the trust aforesaid my trustees are to assign the said Policy at once to him or to whom he shall direct and my Trustees are to be free from all further duty or responsibility in respect of the same or of the payment of the premiums thereon. All the sums or amounts of my said sons portion which I shall in my Lifetime have received at the India Office will have been applied by his direction and approval in payment of the premiums which will have yearly accrued on the said Policy and the balance or remainder will have been applied with his like direction and approval in or towards payment of the interest from time to time on the advances as I have made for him, and such sums or annuities are to be taken and agreed and assented to as so applied or else he and his family are to have no benefit under my Will or this Codicil, but all sums that I shall not have received of the said pensions and all such as may accrue due after my decease are to be received by him for his own use and benefit or dealt with as he may see fit.

And I give my Trustees power to act in all matters contained in this Codicil in all respects as they in their united judgement and discretion shall think best to be done and they are not to be made amenable or responsible for any course they shall take or any matter or thing they shall honestly and justly do in the premises.

Witness my hand to this Codicil this Second day of December one thousand eight hundred and seventy two.

Richard Beddome

Signed published and declared by the said Richard Boswell Beddome as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Tstament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have at the same time and at his request subscribed our names as witnesses Alan Burnett A Burcombe Clerks to Mess Pitman and Lane Solrs, 27 Nicholas Lane London EC


Comments:
Richard B. Beddome seems to have forgotten about this insurance policy when writing his will. A little hard to disentangle what is going on, but it seems that Charles Edward Beddome (who had been in the Indian Navy at one point) had signed over his pension to his father, partly to set up this insurance policy on Charles' life, and partly to pay interest on the money that his father had lent him. Richard intends the money to benefit Charles' family, which seems fair enough. However, it seems that there is a threat that if Charles objects to what is going on or makes false claims about what has happened in the past, he and his family might get disinherited. There is strong support for whatever the Trustees decide to do, and the Trustees do not include Charles, but do include Richard's children (one daughter is represented by her husband).
It seems as if Richard B. Beddome really does not trust Charles Edward Beddome at all.


Second Codicil - 21/6/1876

This is a Codicil to the last Will and Testament of me Richard Boswell Beddome of Nicholas Lane Lombard Street in the City of London and of Clapham Common in the County of Surrey Esquire, which Will bears date the Thirteenth of November 1872.

Whereas since the date of my said Will namely on the Twentieth on the Twenty fourth say of February last, my dear son John Arthur Beddome departed this life, Now in consequence thereof I revoke all devises and bequeasts in my Will made in his favour and in lieu thereof in the first place I give and devise to my eldest son Lieut. Colonel Richard Henry Beddome his hiers and siigns All that mt freehold messuage with its appurtenances situate and being No 61 Dean Street Soho and now occupied by Mr. Hawood a Grocer. And I give to my said son the two pieces of plate and the watch I have given to my late son John Arthur Beddome.

And I give to each of three Nieces Elizabeth Caswell of Cambridge, Maria Louisa Charlesworth of Nutfield and Sophia de Berque of Kensington Palace Gardesn the sum of One Hundred pounds free of legacy duty and to Frank Constable my Coachman who has been with me about a dozen years the sum of One hundred pounds instead of the Nineteen guineas in my Will, and to Mrs Finden who so devotedly nursed my John Arthur and my daughter Martha Ann and also myself, the sum of One hundred pounds, such two legacies also to be free of duty, all of which legacyduties are to be paid out of my general personal estate.

I direct that the expenses of my House and Establishment shall be continued and paid out of my general personal for the benefit and comfort of my daughter Martha Ann Beddome for any period she may please not exceeding Twelve months from the date of my death.

All the residue of my Estate and efforts real and personal I give devise and bequeath to my said Trustees, their heirs, executors, administrators and asssins, according to the nature and quality of the same respectively to be sold or directed, and made into four equal parts

And I hereby notice that I have hereby given my residuary estate and effects in four parts instead of the five parts mentioned in my Will because of the death of my said son John Arthir Beddome, but in all other respects that are relevant and suitable except as altered in this Codicil I desire the same trusts to be followed as to the shares of all except my eldest son as directed in and by my said Will. And in all other respects except as allowed in this Codicil confirm my said Will As witnessed my hand this Twenty first day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy six

Richard Beddome

Signed published and declared by the said Richard Boswell Beddome as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Tstament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other at the same time have subscribed our names as witnesses Edwin Charles Gregory Clerk to Mess Pitman and Lane, 27 Nicholas Lane, John Carpenter Clerk to Mess Pitman and Lane, 27 Nicholas Lane,


Comments:
One of the sons of Richard B. Beddome, John Arthur, has died, so there needs to be some redistribution. The oldest son, Richard H. Beddome, gets the property that had gone to John, and there is a certain amount of readjustment of minor bequests. He then divides the residue into four rather than five (as there is now only four children), and seems to suggest that everything else is the same.
However, there is one change, possibly significant. Instead of Maria Amelia Charlesworth getting the proceeds of a trust, she is now given the money for her own use. That sounds like a positive step, but it may have caused trouble. This codicil talks of 'her receipt'. So why could this cause trouble? Well, Maria Amelia Charlesworth died after Richard B. Beddome, but before his will was proved, and so couldn't give anyone a receipt! Maria Amelia Charlesworth's husband was Rev. Samuel Charlesworth, and in the original will, he was specifically the beneficiary of the trust after Maria Amelia Charlesworth died. With this codicil partly replacing the original will, and with Maria Amelia Charlesworth no longer alive, the legal situation sounds confused, to say the least! The executors are now Rev. Charlesworth and Col. Richard Henry Beddome, and there is a certain amount of evidence that they didn't get on. See Darwinism and the Beddome / Charlesworth families.
In 1870 the Married Women's Property Act allowed married women to be legal owners of money that they had earned or inherited. In fact the original will is dated after this (1872), but presumably it took a little time for the idea to work through! Since this was a new idea, it may explain why Richard B. Beddome, although a solicitor, might not be aware of the consequences.


Third Codicil - 26/5/1880

This is a Codicil to the last Will and Testament of me Richard Boswell Beddome of Nicholas Lane Lombard Street of Clapham Common in the County of Surrey Esquire, which Will bears date the Thirteenth of November 1872.

I give and bequeath to my neice Mary Ann Richmond the wife of Captain Thomas Richmond the sum of One hundred pounds free of legacy duty the said legacy to be paid into her own hands on her separate receipts for her own separate use and benefit.

I give to my neice Elizabeth Forbes the wife of Mr. Forbes Senior Tilburton to the sum Nenteen guineas for a ring or other memorial and if she had any need of this world's goods, I would have left her more.

And I leave to each of late wife's two Nephews namely the Revered Frederick Poynton and The Reverend Leopold Poynton the sum of Nineteen guineas each for a ring or other memorial of my regard

And I again state my mind and Will to be that subject to the monied legacies I have given to parties, and subject to the preliminary legacies and bequeasts to my children, I give and bequeath all the residue of my property to be divided into four equal parts for my four surviving children Richard Henry Beddome, Charles Edward Beddome, Maria Amelia Charlesworth and Martha Ann Beddome, the shares of each subject to trusts under my Will or any previous Codicil to be subject to similar trusts as to their respective fourth parts as had been applied to their fifth parts

And as my son Richard Henry Beddome may return from India and be in want of furniture for a House, I direct that besides the Two hundred pounds I have already left him instead of furniture he shall and may have one third of my furnitre and books and plate and wines in common with my two daughters who are to have two thirds but he is in all respects to submit to the opinion judgment and selection of my said two daughters as to such his one third.

And whereas I desire that my daughter Maria Amelia Charlesworth should be an Executor of my Will in conjunction with her Husband, and also in her separate rights if she survives him and in conjunction with her sister Martha Ann and her brother Richard Henry Beddome I therefore hereby appoint her an Executor or Executrix in common with them only urging upon my four executors that it is my wish that they should be as much as possble of one mind and agreement in all points of their judgment and action, and in all points not varied by this Codicil or any othe Codicil, I hereby confirm and establish my said Will. In witness whereof I have to this Codicil set my hand this Twenty sixth day of May one thousand eight hundred and eighty

Richard Beddome

Signed published and declared by the said Richard Boswell Beddome as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other at the same time have subscribed our names as witnesses Elizabeth Northover, Granville House, Broadstairs Lodging, Housekeeper - Charlotte Northover of the same place, her daughter.

Comments:
More rights for women! Maria Amelia Charlesworth is now to become an executor of the will with her husband, Rev. Samuel Charlesworth, and to be a trustee, replacing him. Shame she died...


Proving of Will - 3/2/1882

Proved at London with three Codicils 3rd February 1882 by the oaths of Richard Henry Beddome the Son and the Reverend Samuel Beddome Charlesworth Clerk and Martha Ann Beddome Spinster the daughter the surviving Executors named in the Will to whom admon [?] was granted, Maria Amelia Charlesworth (wife of said Reverend Samuel Beddome Charlesworth) the daughter, also the Executor named in the third Codicil being now dead.