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Facts and Events
Martha Tasker's origins have yet to be established. Her first sighting is in 1764 when she was living at Hatfield in Hertfordshire with William Walby, a butcher. He wrote his will on 5th March 1764 and was buried just four days later, aged 42. In his will, William described Martha as his 'kinswoman', implying they were related, although it has yet to be established how. He left her some freehold property on Batterdale, a street in the centre of Hatfield. He also left property to several other relatives, including a relative also called William Walby, who had also been living with the elder William Walby in Hatfield.
On 28th October 1765 Martha married the younger William Walby, who was also a butcher. He was nineteen years old when they married. They went on to have three children baptised at Hatfield between 1766 and 1769: Martha, William, and George.
Martha's husband William died in 1770, aged just 24. Martha was left raising their three young children. She continued running the butcher's business in Hatfield, describing herself as a butcher when she wrote her own will in 1792. She was able to continue to expand the property that she owned, noting in her will some freehold properties in Hatfield that she had purchased from a Thomas Perry.
In her will she left five pounds to her son William, noting that she had "assisted him already". The remainder of her estate was split between her other two children, Martha and George. She specifically mentioned some of her possessions in her will, including a pair of silver candlesticks, a silver teapot, a damask table cloth and napkins. She also noted her desire that her son George should be allowed to carry on the family business "without hindrance or molestation".
Martha died in 1795, being buried at Hatfield on 10th June 1795. Her age is not specified, although it was nearly thirty years since she had married.
References
- ↑ Church of England. Hatfield Parish Registers. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies).
Buried 1795 / June 10 Martha Walby a Widow
- Church of England. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, and Ancestry.com (comp.). England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 [database]. (Provo, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, 2013)
PROB11; Piece 1267.
In the Name of God Amen I Martha Walby Sen[io]r of Bishops Hatfield in the County of Hertford Widow and Butcher being of sound and disposing mind and memory Praised be God for the same do make this my Last Will and testament in manner and form following that is to say First and Principally I resign my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping for pardon and Remission of my Sins through the merits of my Blessed Saviour and redeemer Jesus Christ and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently Buried at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter Named and as to such Worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bestow upon me I dispose thereof as followeth Namely I give and devise unto my Eldest Son William Walby the sum of five pounds to be paid him out of my Effects within one Month next after my decease I having assisted him already Item I give devise and bequeath unto my Daughter Martha Walby to her and her heirs for ever All those my Freehold Messuages or Tenements with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging situate in the town of Hatfield and adjoining on the North side of the house and yard wherein I now dwell w[h]ich said Estate I purchased of Thomas Perry and are now in the Possession of the said Thomas Perry Rawley and others I also devise unto my said daughter Martha Walby one pair of Silver Candlesticks and Silver Teapot, one Pair of Holland Sheets One Damask Table Cloth Six Damask Napkins with all my Wearing apparel and one white Quilt Item I give and devise unto my youngest Son George Walby and unto my daughter Martha Walby aforesaid All the remainder and residue of my Estate Money Book Debts Goods Chattels and Effects of all kings whatsoever or wheresoever or what sort king or nature soever (Subject to the Payment of my Funeral Expences and just Debts) to be equally divided between my said Son George Walby and my said Daughter Martha Walby share and share alike but if any dispute should happen between them about dividing the Tan Yard I desire the same may be Sold and the Money arising therefrom may be Equally Divided between them And of this my Last Will and Testament I make ordain nominate Constitute and Appoint my aforesaid daughter Martha Walby my Full and whole Executrix hereby revoking all former Will or Wills declaring this my Last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Martha Walby the Elder have hereunto set my hand and seal this first Day of March in the year of Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Ninety Two - Martha Walby (LS) Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Martha Walby the Elder as and for her Last Will and Testament in the Presence of us who at her request have Subscribed our Names as Witnesses hereto - John Palmer - John Waby - Fran[ci]s Palmer
And my further wish and desire is that my Son George Walby may continue in the house where I now live after my decease Pursue the business which I follow without hinderence or Molestation
This Will was proved at London the twenty seventh Day of October in the year or Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Ninety Five before the Worshipful George Harris Doctober or Laws and Surrogate of the Right Honorable Sir William Wynne Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury Lawfully Constituted by the Oath of Martha Walby spinster the Daughter of the deceased and sole Executrix named in the said Will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first sworn duly to adm[iniste]r
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