A transcription of his will:
This is the last Will and Testament of me James Bradshaw of Forsbrook in the parish of Dilhorn in the County of Stafford farmer first I direct that all my just debts and my funeral expences may be paid as soon as conveniently may be after my decease and subject to the payment thereof I give and bequeath all my household goods and furniture a? the ready money securities for money and all other Personal estate and effects now belonging to me for an Estate in possession and not in reversion or expectancy as after mentioned unto my wife Elizabeth Bradshaw for her own use and benefit and I hereby give and devise all that my freehold dwellinghouse situate at Forsbrook aforesaid now in my own possession with the Garden stable Cowhouse Barn and all other appurtenances thereto belonging and all other my real estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto and to the use of my nephew George Bradshaw of Cheadle in the said County Gentleman and my Son Thomas Bradshaw their heirs and assigns for ever upon the following [___ so] trusts (that is to say) In trust that they or the survivor of them [or the heirs or assigns of such survivor] do and shall as soon as conveniently may be after my decease absolutely sell and dispose of in such way as they of he may deem best and by and out of the monies thereby arising and from the rents and profits until the Sale do and shall in the first place pay the expences of proving and carrying into effect this my will and then the yearly sum of twenty pounds to my said wife Elizabeth Bradshaw either by half yearly quarterly of any other payments that they or he may think fit during her natural life or until the whole of the said trust monies shall be _____ exhausted and in case any money shall remain at her decease then in trust to pay and divide the same equally amongst my five Children Thomas, Mary, Catherine, James and Sarah as tenants in common to be vested interests in them respectively immediately on my decease and in the meantime and until such final division shall take place I will and direct that my said trustees shall husband the said trust money to the best advantage that they can so as to obtain some interest for the same or for so much as it shall not be necessary to keep in hand to answer the said annual payment to my wife and whereas I am entitled to one half share of the residue to arise from the real and personal estate of my late brother Mr Edward Bradshaw deceased under and by virtue of his Will but the same will not be payable until his widows decease Now I do hereby give devise and bequeath all property and monies coming to me under my said late Brother's will whether the same shall fall into possession during my lifetime or after my decease unto my said trustees George Bradshaw and Thomas Bradshaw their heirs executors administrators and assigns In trust that they or the survivor of them his executors or administrators do and shall set apart out equal third part of share of the net amount thereof and invest the same in their or his own names or name upon the parliamentary stocks or public funds of Great Britain or upon mortgage or other real security and from time to time alter and transpose the securities as circumstances shall require and upon trust to pay the interest dividends and yearly proceeds thereof when and as the same shall be received unto my said wife Elizabeth Bradshaw for and during her natural life and subject to the trust hereby declared in favour of my wife as to one third part thereof for her life I hereby will and direct that my said trustees shall stand possessed of all the said property and monies coming to me under the will of my said late Brother In trust for all my said five Children in equal shares as tenants in common to be vested interests in them immediately after my decease and I hereby will and direct that the receipt or receipts of the said George Bradshaw and Thomas Bradshaw or the survivor of them or of their or his heirs or assigns or of the trustees or trustee for the time being acting in the execution of this my will for the purchase money for any part of my real estate hereby made saleable shall be good and valid releases acquittances and discharges to the purchasers thereof who after paying their purchase monies to them or him and obtaining such receipt or receipts shall not be required to see to the application thereof nor be answerable or accountable for any misapplication or nonapplication thereof and further that neither out of them my said trustees shall be answerable or accountable for the other of them but each one for this own acts receipts and defaults only and that they shall not be answerable for any losses that may happen to my Estate unless occasioned by their own willful negligence and that it shall be lawful for them to deduct and reimburse themselves and each other all reasonable costs charges and expenses which they may incur in executing this my Will and lastly I hereby nominate and appoint the said George Bradshaw and Thomas Bradshaw Executors of this my will hereby revoking and making void all former wills and Codicils by me made In testimony whereof I the said James Bradshaw the Testator have to this my last will and Testament subscribe my name and affixed my seal this twenty second day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six The mark of X James Bradshaw /SS/ Signed sealed published and declared by the said James Bradshaw the testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses John Laseby Cheadle--- James Holmes Senr Cheadle --- James Holmes Junr Cheadle
Proved at London 31st July 1843 before the worshipful Frederic Thomas Pratt Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the Oath of Thomas Bradshaw the Son the surviving Executor to whom Admon was granted having been first sworn duly to administer.
