Page 1
    001   Lich 26 Feb
    002   1844
    003   I? Hannah Jones
    004   ? Darlaston
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    005   This is the last Will and Testament
    006   of me Hannah Jones of Darlaston in the County of
    007   Stafford Widow First I will direct that all my
    008   just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses be
    009   fully paid by me Executors hereinafter named
    010   out of my personal Estate I give and divise unto
    011   my Sons Thomas Steatham Joseph Steatham Moses
    012   Steatham Samuel Steatham children by my
    013   first husband Robert Steatham deceased All
    014   and every my messuages tenements
    015   dwellinghouses buildings lands hereditaments
    016   and real estate whatsoever and wheresoever and
    017   whether in possesion ? ?
    018   expectancy with their appurtenances to hold the
    019   same unto and to the use of my said Sons their
    020   heirs and assigns for ever equally share and
    021   shall alike as tenants in common and not
    022   as joint tenants Also I give and bequeath
    023   all my household goods and furniture money
    024   securitird? for money and all other my personal
    025   estates and effects of every nature and discription
    026   unto all my said Sons to be devided amongst
    027   them absolutly And Lastly I do hereby nominate
    028   constitute and appoint my said Sons Thomas
    029   and also upon trust to ? and suffer? my said Wife
    030   to use and enjoy all my Household furniture and
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    031   and Joseph joint Executors of this my Will and
    032   hereby revoking and amking void all former and
    033   other Wills by me made I do declare this
    034   to be my only true Will and Testament In
    035   witness whereof I the said Testator Hannh Jones
    036   have herunto set my hand and seal this Fifth
    037   day of April In the year of our Lord One thousand
    038   eight hundred and thirty seven.
    039   Signed Sealed Published and
    040   Declared by me the said Testatrix Hannah
    041   Jones as and for her last Will and
    042   Testament in the presence of us who
    043   at her request in her presence and
    044   in the precence of each other have
    045   hereunto subscribed our names
    046   as Witnesses
    047   W? Adams
    048   John? Adams
    049   Henry Morris
    050   The mark and seal of
    051   X
    052   Hannah Jones
Page 4 Probate
    053   At Lichfield 26 Febuaury 1844
    054   Let probate of this Will be made
    055   to Thomas Steatham and Joseph
    056   Steatham the Joint Executors
    057   named herein
    058   Testatory died
    059   28th Febuary
    060   1843
    061   They being first duly
    062   sworn and also that the
    063   personal Estate will not
    064   amount to the sum of
    065   20£
    066   Before me
    067   Joeseph Taylor
    068   Surrogate
Page 5 Probate continued
    069   Will
    070   In this Bishops Court of Lichfield
    071   In the Goods of Hannah Jones
    072   Deceased.
    073   Appeared Personally Thomas Steatham of
    074   Insert the Name,
    075   Residences of the
    076   Person Making
    077   the Affidavit.
    078   if one or more Codicals, state so
    079   Appeared Personally Thomas Steatham of
    080   Darlaston in the County of Stafford
    081   Gunlock Filer and Joseph Steatham
    082   of Wednesbury in the County of
    083   Stafford Gun Lock Filer the
    084   Executurs named in the last Will and Testament of the said Hannah
    085   Jones late of Darlaston
    086   in the County of Stafford
    087   Widow Deceased; who died on or about the
    088   twenty eight day of February One Thousand
    089   Eight Hundred and Forty three and made Oath, that the Estate and Effects of the
    090   said deceased, for or in respect of which, a Probat of the said Will
    091   is to be granted, exclusive of what the said Deceased may have
    092   been possessed of, or entitled to, as a Trustee for any other person or persons, and not
    093   benifically, but including the Leasehold Estate or Estates for Years of the Deceased,
    094   if any, whether absolute or determinable on Lives, and without deducting any thing on
    095   account of the Debts, due and owing from the said Deceased, are under the value of
    096   Twenty
    097   Pounds, to the best of this Deponent's knowledge, information and belief.
    098   Sworn on the 26Th
    099   day of Febuary 1844
    100   before me
    101   Joseph Taylor
    102   Surrogate
    103   His
    104   X
    105   Thomas Steatham
    106   Joph. Steatham [signed]


Please Note - Deciphering this will is still ongoing...

[1] In Law the term messuage equates to a dwelling-house & includes outbuildings, orchard, curtilage or court-yard & garden.

[2] In a legal context, an appurtenance could for instance refer to a back-yard that goes with the adjoining house.
     The idea being expressed is that the back-yard "belongs" to the house, which is the more significant of the two.

[3] A codicil is a document that amends, rather than replaces, a previously executed will.
     Amendments made by a codicil may add or revoke small provisions (e.g., changing executors),
     or may completely change the majority, or all, of the gifts under the will.

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