Description:

Documents:
1. Will dated 16 December 1836 .
Beneficiaries: To all his children, Eneas, Thomas, Elizabeth, Charlotte, William, John, Noah and Mary Ann, £5 apiece. Eneas is forgiven all his debts to his father.
To Nathaniel Cobb of Michaelchurch Eskley, farmer, 'all my copyhold messuage, tenement and lands in Michaelchurch Eskley called Kevenkyst with all my household goods, stock, crops money and personal estate upon trust to let my dear wife Elizabeth enjoy the same for her life as long as she remains unmarried'. She is to make an inventory and valuation and 'give security for the same'. After her death or second marriage, or 'if she shall not make such an inventory the trustee is to assign the same for the benefit of my four children, William, John, Noah and Mary Ann'.
When the lives on Kevenkyst fall in the trustee shall renew the lease selling whatever are necessary for that purpose. The renewal to be to for the benefit of the wife and the four children.[ It seems likely that these 4 children were the 4 youngest of the 8]

Executors: his wife Elizabeth and Nathaniel Cobb.

Signed by testator.

Witnesses: J Spencer, Thomas Lewis of Hay and Thomas Lewis of Kevenkyst.

Date of probate: 17 August 1837 .

2. Inventory: none but the value was sworn under £200.

Observations:

The documents include:
a. A sworn statement dated 17 August 1837 by the executors as to the value of the estate being under £200.
b. A letter from James Spencer of Hay dated 17 August 1837 in which he sends the original will of Thomas Jones; he has heard there is a caveat entered but asks to receive probate as soon as possible if not objected to.
c. Sale notice for sale of Turnpike tolls from toll gates in Breconshire Turnpike Trust, with list of gates and annual rents, ( September 1837.
4 documents.
Further comments from the transcriber who knew and recognised James Spencer's handwriting.
James Spencer was a solicitor in Hay who got his clients' money mixed up with his own, was bankrupted and died in Hereford Gaol aged over 80. The Hereford Record Office has some of papers, ref N44, including a very rude letter written whilst in gaol, cursing 'Hell-Fire' Bodenham a rival solicitor whom he felt responsible for his downfall.