I William Storey Featherstone of Featherstone Lodge Hampton Hill Hampton in the county of Middlesex Esquire do hereby publish and declare this to be my last will and testament And I hereby appoint my friends William Wreford Major of Mincing Lane in the City of London Colonial Broker and George Hensman of No 25 College Hill in the said City of London Gentleman Executors and Trustees of this my will and I give to each of them should he act in the execution of the trusts of this my will the sum of nineteen pounds and nineteen shillings and I hereby authorize and empower the said George Hensman or any firm in which he may for the time being be a partner to make all professional charges the same as if the said George Hensman had not been appointed an executor and trustee and as if he or his firm had been employed by my said trustees and executors to act as solicitor or solicitors in the winding up of my estate and effects I bequeath to my cousin Eliza Bryson who now resides with me the sum of one hundred pounds for her sole and separate use independently of her husband [if any] for the time being and of his debts control and engagements and her receipt alone shall be sufficient discharge for the same and I hereby declare that the said Eliza Bryson shall be at liberty to continue to reside in the house in which I shall be living at the time of my decease for the space of three calendar months after my decease rent free and at the expense in all things of my estate thereinafter bequeathed I give and devise my said residence Featherstone Lodge in which I now reside of whatsoever tenure the same may be at the time of my decease with the gardens stables outbuildings and land thereto respectively belonging and their respective appurtenances together with all my plate and pictures in and about the same unto the said William Wreford Major and George Hensman their heirs executors and administrators in trust for my son in law Charles Massinger Major he paying ground rent if any and premium on Insurance for and during his life or until he becomes a Bankrupt or makes any deed for the benefit of his creditors or does any act whether by mortgage or otherwise by means whereof he deprives himself of the enjoyment of such property and I declare my will to be that [ if my said son in law Charles Massinger Major shall survive me ] an inventory of the sad plate and pictures hereinbefore bequeathed shall be made as soon as conveniently may be after my decease and signed by my said son in law Charles Massinger Major and that such inventory shall be kept in the custody of the said trustees or trustee and that they or he after taking such inventory and procuring the same to be signed by my said son in law Charles Massinger Major shall not afterwards be in any way liable for or concerned to see to the custody insurance or preservation of the said plate and pictures or any or either of them and from and after the decease of my said son in law or his becoming a bankrupt or making any such deed as aforesaid or doing any such act as aforesaid whichever event shall first happen then I direct and declare that the trustees or trustee for the time being hereof shall stand possessed of Featherstone Lodge with the various stables and outbuildings and land thereto respectively belonging with their respective appurtenances and the said plate and pictures upon trust for such one of my tree grandsons Albany Featherstonhaugh Major Mark Buonavent Featherstonhaugh Major and Charles Hamilton Featherstonhaugh Major his heirs executors administrators and assigns who shall be living at the happening of such event and who shall be the eldest or elder absolutely and if but one such grandson only shall then be alive then upon trust for such only grandson his heirs executors administrators and assigns absolutely I give the sum of three hundred pounds apiece to each of my grandsons the said Mark Buonavent Featherstonhaugh Major and Charles Hamilton Featherstonhaugh Major if living at the time of my decease if however either of my last mentioned two grandsons shall then be my eldest grandson then I direct that the legacy or sum of three hundred pounds shall fall into and form part of my residuary estate I give devise and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my real and personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever and whether in possession reversion remainder or expectancy or over which I may at the time of my decease having any disposing power [except estates vested in me as trustee or mortgage] unto and to the use of the said William Wreford Major and George Hensman their heirs executors administrators and assigns respectively according to the nature and quality thereof respectively upon trust that they my said trustees or the survivor of them their or his heirs executors administrators or assigns or other the trustees or trustee for the time being of this my will shall and do in their or his sole and absolute discretion either permit my said real and personal estate and effects or any part thereof respectively to remain in the state of investment in which it may be at the time of my decease or at such times or time as they or he may think proper to collect receive and get in all my monies out at interest and otherwise owing to me and sell and absolutely dispose of and convert into money all my said residuary real and personal estate and effects or all such parts thereof respectively as may be saleable either together or in parcels by public auction or private contract subject or not to such stipulations relative to the title or the evidence of title or to any other matters connected with the sale thereof as the trustees or trustee for the time being hereof shall judge expedient or as their or his Counsel shall advise with full authority to fix reserved biddings and to buy in any lot or lots at any auction or to rescind or vary any contracts for sale without being liable for any consequential loss and to act with regard to such sales in such manner in all respects as my said trustees or trustee for the time being shall think fit and proper and do and shall convey and assign the same to the respective purchases thereof or as they respectively shall direct and do and shall stand possessed of all the monies so as aforesaid to be collected and got in and received by from or in respect of my said personal estate and by or from such sales or dispositions of my residuary real and personal estate and effects as aforesaid after payment of all costs charges and expenses of or attending every such sale or conversion and getting in Upon the trusts following that is to say I direct that the trustees or trustee for the time being of this my will do stand possessed of and interested in my residuary real and personal estate and effects and the stocks funds and securities in or upon which the same may for the time being be invested all of which for the sake of brevity is hereinafter called “ my said trust estate “ Upon trust as to one equal third part of my said trust estate to pay and apply the dividends interest and annual income thereof into the proper hands of my granddaughter Geraldine Henrietta Featherstonhaugh Major and otherwise permit and suffer her to receive the same for her natural life and for her sole and separate use and benefit independently of any husband and so as to be free from his debts control or engagements and without power during coverture to alienate or anticipate the same and I direct that the receipt in writing of my said granddaughter when covert and whether under the age of twenty one years or not shall be sufficient and only discharges to the trustees or trustee for the time being hereof and from and immediately after the decease of my said granddaughter Geraldine Henrietta Featherstonhaugh Major I direct that the trustees and trustee for the time being hereof shall stand possessed of such equal third part of my said trust estate upon trust for such child or children or other remoter issue within the limits allowed by law of my said granddaughter and subject or not to any trusts or powers as my said granddaughter whether convert or sole by any deed or testamentary document may appoint and in default of such appointment and subject to any partial appointment upon trust for all and every her children or child who bring sons or a son shall attain the age of twenty one years or who being daughters or a daughter shall attain that age or marry under share and share alike as tenants in common and not as joint tenants Provided always that no child of my said granddaughter who or whose issue shall take any part of the aforesaid one third of my said trust estate under any appointment made in exercise of the power aforesaid shall in default of an express appointment to the contrary take any further part thereof without bringing the share appointed in hotchpot and accounting for the same according and as to another equal third part of my said trust estate I direct that the trustees or trustee for the time being hereof shall stand possessed of the same upon the like trusts and subject to the like powers in favor of my granddaughter Dorothy Wickham Featherstonhaugh Major for life and afterwards for her children or issue as are hereinbefore declared in favor of my said granddaughter Geraldine Henrietta Featherstonhaugh major and her children or issue the same as if such trusts and powers were again repeated And as to the remaining equal third part of my said trust estate I direct that the trustees or trustee for the time being hereof shall stand possessed of the same upon the like trusts and subject to the like powers in favor of my granddaughter Emily Mabel Featherstonhaugh Major for life and afterwards for her children or issue as are hereinbefore declared in favor of my said granddaughter Geraldine Henrietta Featherstonhaugh major and her children or issue the same as if such trusts and powers were again repeated And I hereby declare that in case any of my said granddaughters shall die in my lifetime leaving a child or children my will shall be read and construed the same as if such deceased granddaughter had survived me and after wards died and I hereby further declare that in case any one of my said granddaughters shall die in my lifetime or afterwards without leaving a child or children or leaving a child or children but who shall not live to attain a vested interest or vested interests under the trusts aforesaid then I direct and declare that the trustees and trustee for the time being hereof shall subject to any appointment which my deceased granddaughter shall have made under the power in that behalf hereinbefore contained stand possessed of the share of my said deceased granddaughter in my said trust estate as to one moiety thereof upon the like trusts and subject to the like powers in favor of one of my said granddaughters her child children or other issue as are hereinbefore declared concerning the original share of such granddaughter and as to the other moiety of such share upon the like trusts and subject to the like powers in favor of the other of my said granddaughters her child children or other issue as are hereinbefore declared concerning the original share of such other granddaughter and in case any two of my said granddaughters shall die in my lifetime or afterwards without leaving a child or children or leaving a child or children but who shall not live to attain a vested interest or vested interests under the trusts aforesaid then subject to any appointment which such deceased granddaughter or either of them shall have made under the power in that behalf hereinbefore contained I direct and declare that the trustees or trustee for the time being hereof shall stand possessed of the whole of my said trust estate upon the like trusts and subject to the like powers as are hereinbefore declared concerning the original share of the third of my said granddaughters her child children or issue and in case no child children or other issue of any of my said three granddaughters shall live to attain a vested interest or vested interests in the whole of my said trust estate then I direct the trustees or trustee for the time being hereof shall stand possessed of the whole or any undisposed portion of my said trust estate in trust for such of my said three grandsons as shall be alive at the time of my decease share and share alike as tenants in common and if only one such grandson then in trust for such only grandson Provided always and I hereby declare that until any infant taking any interest under this my will being a male attains the age of twenty one years or being a female attains that age or marries under the trustees or trustee for the time being hereof shall be at liberty at their or his entire discretion whatever other source of maintenance any such infant may have either to pay the income or any part thereof of the presumptive share of such infant to the guardian of such infant whether such guardian be hereby appointed or not and that without being obliged to see to the application of such income or otherwise to apply the same for the maintenance and education of any such infant or to withhold such income for such time and for such reasons as the trustees or trustee may in their or his absolute and uncontrolled discretion think fit and accumulate the income of such presumptive share by way of compound interest as they or he can or may think fit and also to apply such accumulated income [if any] for or towards the future maintenance and education of such infant in respect of whose share the same may have been accumulated I devise and bequeath all estates vested in me as trustee or mortgagee with their appurtenances unto the said William Wreford Major and George Hensman their heirs executors administrators and assigns according to the nature and quality thereof respectively subject nevertheless to the trusts and equities affecting the same respectively And I direct the trustees or trustee for the time being of this my will to invest in their or his names or name all such trust monies as shall come into their or his hands or hand by virtue of this my will in or upon the parliamentary or public stocks funds or securities of Great Britain or in any East India Stock whether old or new or guaranteed or not by the Home Government or upon mortgage of freehold copyhold with five certain or leasehold estates in the United Kingdom of Great Britain such leasehold estates being held for a term of whereof not less than sixty years shall be unexpired and without investigating the title of the lessor with power for the trustees or trustee for the time being hereof at their or his discretion from time to time to alter vary and transport any of the aforesaid securities for any other or others of the like nature and I declare that every receipt given by the trustees or trustee for the time being under this my will for any monies funds or securities to become payable or transferable to them or him under the trusts or provisions hereof shall be a legal and conclusive discharge for the same and shall exonerate all purchasers and other persons paying or transferring the same from all obligation to see to the application thereof and from all responsibility by reason of any misapplication or nonapplication thereof and I hereby declare that it shall and may be lawful to and for my said son in law Charles Massenger Major during his life and after his decease then for the trustees or trustee for the time being hereof to demise and let Featherstone Lodge with the gardens stables lands and appurtenances held therewith or thereto belonging for any term of years not exceeding seven years in possession and not by way of reversion at the best rent that can be reasonably had for the same and so that no fine premium or foregift be paid for or in respect of any such lease or letting And I hereby direct and declare that in case the trustees hereinbefore appointed or either of them or any future trustee or trustees to be appointed in pursuance of this clause or proviso shall die [ and as regards the trustees hereby appointed or either of them whether in my own lifetime or afterwards ] or shall disclaim ab inctio ? or go to reside beyond seas or shall desire to be discharged from or decline or become incapable or unwilling to act in the trusts of this my will before the same shall be fully performed then and in everysuch case it shall be lawful for the surviving or continuing trustees or trustee for the time being [ and for this purpose any trustee or trustees retiring from or declining to act in the aforesaid trusts shall if willing to act in the exercise of this present power be considered a continuing trustee or continuing trustees ] or for the acting executors or executor or administrators or administrator of the last surviving and continuing trustee for the time being by any writing or writings under their or his hands or hand to nominate and appoint [ at the expense of the said trust estate] any other fit person or persons to be a trustee or trustees of and for my said estates monies stocks funds securities and premises for the purposes aforesaid in the place of the trustees or trustee who shall do die go to reside beyond the seas desire to be discharged or decline or become incapable or unwilling to act as aforesaid and so from time to time as often as any such occasion may require when and so often as any new trustee or trustees shall be nominated as aforesaid the said trust estates monies stocks funds securities and premises respectively or so much thereof as shall be then subject to the trusts of this my will shall thereupon [ at the like expense ] with all convenient speed be conveyed transferred and assured so as the same shall and may be legally and effectually vested in the surviving or former trustees or trustee jointly with such new trustees or trustee or in such new trustees or trustee only or otherwise as the case may require Upon the trusts hereinbefore declared thereof or such of them as shall be then subsisting undetermined and capable of being performed and that such new trustee or trustees shall and may act and assist in the management and execution of the trusts powers and provisions aforesaid in conjunction with the other or others of them or solely as the case may require in as full and ample a manner in all respects as if he or they had hereby originally nominated and appointed a trustee or trustees for the purposes aforesaid Provided always and I hereby declare that until the appointment in manner aforesaid or continuing trustees or trustee for the time being to act in the execution of all and every of the trusts and powers herein contained And I do hereby further declare that every trustee of this my will shall have and enjoy the fullest incucinuties? And indemnities which are incident to the office of trustee And I hereby revoke all former wills and codicils by me made In witness whereof I the said William Storey Featherstone the testator have to this my last will and testament contained in eight sheets of paper set my hand this twenty first day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy two WS Featherstone Signed published and declared by the above named William Storey Featherstone 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 all being present together at the same time have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses HJ Nicholson Solr 25 College Hill London Archibald Donaldson his clerk
Proved at London 29th September 1873 by the oaths of William Wreford Major and George Hensman the executors to whom Admon was granted