This transcript is where possible the full transcript but in some cases may be edited if parts are illegible.

The purpose of the transcript is to give an accurate indication as to who the beneficiaries are, and if available an insight to the lifestyle of the deceased, by way of any peculiar comments in the will, and of course inventories of personal effects where available.

Will of John Priestnall of Rochdale – Died 14th January 1899 at Rochdale.

Date of will - 20th April 1899

Gross value of estate - £3129:6s:3d
Net value of estate - £3117:14s:0d

Administration

Be it known that John Priestnall of Melbourne Cottage, Broad Lane, Rochdale in the County of Lancaster deceased, who died on the 14th January 1899 at Melbourne Cottage, aforesaid and who at the time of his death had a fixed place of abode at Melbourne Cottage, aforesaid within the district of Rochdale in the County of Lancaster, made and duly executed his last will and testament and did therein name his wife Martha Priestnall and Edmund Blomley (who died in his lifetime) Executors and Residuary Legatees In Trust and the said Martha Priestnall Residuary Legatee for life; that the said Martha Priestnall, Widow, the Relict of the said deceased died without having proved the said will.

AND BE IT FURTHER KNOWN, that at the date hereunder written, Letters of Administration with the Will annexed of all estate which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representative of the said John Priestnall, deceased, were granted by Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice at the District Probate Registry thereof to Mary Hall of Melbourne Cottage aforesaid, Spinster and Betty Hall of the same place, Spinster, the sister of the said Mary Hall, in the said Will erroneously called the Nieces of the said deceased, the Residuary Legatees substituted in the said Will.

Sureties
John Blomley of 6 Glenn View Terrace, Shipley in the County of York, Schoolmaster and Simon Hall of Broad Lane, Rochdale, aforesaid, Wheelwright.

Will

This is the last Will and Testament of me John Priestnall of Melbourne Cottage, Broad Lane, Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, retired Joiner. I declare that all moneys and securities for moneys which aat the time of my decease shall be invested in the name of my dear wife Martha Priestnall all her own property and belong to her for her sole and separate use and benefit absolutely. I give devise and bequeath all my real and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto my Trustees hereinafter named upon trust after payment out of my personal estate of all my just death funeral and testamentary expenses. To permit my said wife to have the use and enjoyment during her lifetime of my dwelling house known as Melbourne Cottage aforesaid with the furniture fixtures and other household effects in about or belonging to the same at my decease she insuring and keeping insured against loss by fire in the names of my Trustees and also keeping the same in good repair and condition reasonable wear and tear excepted and also to pay to or permit my said wife during her lifetime to receive the net annual income ensuing from my said real and the residual of my personal estate for her own use and benefit absolutely.
And from and immediately after the death of my said wife I direct my Trustees to stand possessed of my said real and residuary personal estate. Upon the trusts following namely as to my said dwelling house with the furniture fixtures and other household effects therein in trust for my niece Mary Hall the daughter of my said wife’s brother Abraham Hall of Morefield, Rochdale aforesaid absolutely and as to the rest residue and remainder of my said real and personal estate upon trust to sell and convert into money, the same or such part thereof as shall not consist of money and to stand possessed of the produce thereof including any ready money. In trust to pay and divide the same equally between and amongst my nieces the said  Mary Hall and her sister Betty Hall share and share alike as tenants in common provided always that if either of my said nieces shall die in the lifetime of the survivor of myself and my said wife leaving a child or children living at the death of  the survivor or myself and my said wife and being a son or sons shall attain the age of twenty one years or being a daughter or daughters shall attain that age or marry under that age then and in every such case the last mentioned child or children shall take (and if more than one equally between them) the share which his her or their parent would have taken under the bequests hereinafter contained, if such parent had survived me and my said wife and in case either of my said nieces should die in the lifetime of myself or of my said wife without leaving issue as aforesaid then I direct my Trustees to stand possessed of the share and interest hereinafter given to her, in trust for the other of them absolutely and in case there shall be no person who shall acquire and absolute vested interest under or by wishes of my Will then I direct my Trustees to hold my residuary trust estate in trust for such person or persons who at the decease of my said shall be of kin to me and under the statutes for the distribution of the personal estate of intestates would be entitled to my personal estate if I were to die intestate immediately after the decease of my said wife, such persons to take in the possessions prescribed by the same statutes. I appoint my said wife and my friend Edmund Blomley of Roach Place, Rochdale aforesaid, Retired Mill Manager, Executors and Trustees of this my will. I revoke all former wills and Testamentary dispositions by me at anytime heretofore made and declare this to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have herewith set my hand this thirteenth day of July one thousand eight hundred and ninety one.

Signed by the said John Priestnall, the Testator, as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us present together at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.