Catalogue description Probate and copy of the will of Abraham Darby of Coalbrookdale, Madeley, ironmaster, proved 26 July 1763

To his friend Thomas Goldney of Clifton, Glos, Esq., and to Thomas Beesaley of Worcester, glover, John Young of Shrewsbury, shopkeeper, Robert Gilpin of Coalbrookdale, and his kinsman John Brooke of Bridgnorth, all his shares and interest in the several ironworks at Coalbrooke Dale, Horsehay, Katley Lawley, Dawley, Benthall and elsewhere in Salop and Great Britain, and all his leasehold premises, railways, liberties and ready money at his death except his household goods and furniture in the house in which he now lives called Sunnyside, and in the cutbuildings, malthouse and garden, and except horses, cattle, deer, chaise, waggons, implements of husbandry, stock of malt and utensils and debts in that trade, on trust to carry on all the works in which he is concerned in the best manner they can and others they may engage for his family's benefit, and out of the profits of the works and premises yearly pay to his wife Abiah Darby for life an annuity of £300, paid quarterly with power to enter the property if it is unpaid.

On trust to pay his wife yearly during the minorities of his 4 children, Mary, Abraham, Sarah and Samuel and until they attain 21, £35 a piece for each of them to be applied by her for their maintenance, education and pocket money. The surplus is to be used to pay off mortgages.

To John Young £200 out of his personal estate.

To the Society of the Monthly Meeting of the People called Quakers in Shropshire £200 to discharge a debt they owe onthe meeting house and other houses at Shrewsbury.

To Robert Gilpin and John Brooke £100 each.

To his 4 children Mary, Abraham, Sarah and Samuel £2,000 each at 21, charged on the works by assigning to them shares in the works, at the election of the trustees. The dividends to be 5% p.a.

Before the marriage of his late daughter Hannah Darby, deceased, with Richard Reynolds jnr. Abraham Darby agreed with Richard Reynolds his father that he would on the marriage assign to Richard Reynolds jnr. several shares in the coal and iron works, which he did to Richard Reynolds, and would leave Hannah or her children at his death an equal share with the other daughters, provided Richard Reynolds jnr. should pay into Abraham Darby's estate at Abraham's death £2,000. Hannah is since dead, leaving a son William and daughter Hannah. Abraham ratifies the agreement so made, and gives to his grandchildren William and Hannah Reynolds, if Richard Reynolds jnr. pay the £2000 at such time as the youngest of Abraham's 4 children, Mary, Abraham, Sarah and Samuel is entitled to receive his legacy, £1,000 each, to be paid to his grandchildren William and Hannah at 21 or sooner, assigning to his grandchildren shares in the works of equal value to the legacy.

To his wife £2,000 to dispose of by her will, and if not, to be divided equally between his 4 children.

As soon as his sons Abraham and Samuel attain 15, the trustees are to set them apprentices to some trades or businesses for 7 years. He directs his trustees to advance out of his effects a sum not over £200 a piece for the placing out of his sons apprentices.

His trustees, when the children Mary, Abraham, Sarah and Samuel are 21 shall, subject to the yearly rent charge of £300 to his wife, assign 4/5 of all such coalworks, ironworks, furnaces, forges, stock and leasehold premises of which the trustees are possessed by this will equally among the children, the remaining 1/5 to the children of Hannah, if Richard Reynolds pays £2,000. Richard Reynolds may manage his children's share. If Richard Reynolds does not pay £2000 the other 1/5 is to go to Abraham's children. Provisions in case of the death of a child under 21.

To his wife his household goods, plate, linen, china, furniture, horses, cattle, deer, hay straw, chaise, waggons and implements of husbandry, stock of malt and debts in that trade due to Abraham, with power to dispose of them at her death.

As it is very uncertain of what value the stock of malt and debts in that trade may be when he dies, by the constant fluctuation there is therein, now if at his death the stock of malt and debts is not of the value of £500, the trustees to pay so much out of the personal estate to his wife to make up the value.

To his wife the dwelling house where he now lives called Sunnyside, with the other dwelling houses, malthouses, outbuildings, gardens and lands belonging. To her for life; his wife to have immediate possession after his death of the lands he now holds belonging to the late William serjeant at Law, and Thomas Stanley both deceased, in the parish of Little Wenlock and Madeley, and a piece of land which the testator holds of Brooke Forester, Esq., called Cockswood.

To his son Abraham Darby his undivided half share in the capital messuage and farm called the Hay Farm and lands in Madeley, which he bought of Thomas Bell; and the house and farm and lands in Madeley (Awdley Bowdler) which Abraham bought from Thomas Worral and Elizabeth his wife, and Richard Worral their son, and immediately after the death of his wife, his house in which he lives with the malthouse etc. subject to mortgages, except the two dwellinghouses with the schoolroom buildings belonging (John Story, John Barrow, John Evans and Benjamin Luckcock) to his son Abraham Darby and his corporate heirs, in default to Samuel and his corporate heirs, in default 2/3 equally between his daughters Mary and Sarah and their heirs forever as tenants in common; the other 1/3 equally between his grandchildren William and Hannah Reynolds and their heirs forever as tenants in common, provided Richard Reynolds pays the £2000, otherwise the other 1/3 is to go to the testator's daughters.

To Thomas Goldney, Thomas Beesley, John Young and Robert Gilpin and their heirs the building at Coalbrook Dale now used as a Quakers' Meeting house, with liberty for them to take in so much land out of a piece of land adjoining to it, called the Whales Back, as there may be occasion of to make an addition to such building for a meeting house and for a burial place for such Friends who choose to be buried there; on trust to let the Friends of the Meeting use the building for the same purpose as now, with the piece of land for a burial ground or for enlarging the meeting house. Several houses, gardens and lands which Abraham lately bought from the assignees of Richard Ford, a bankrupt, and the buildings thereon erected by Abraham, subject to a mortgage now thereon (except the building used as a meeting house and piece of land for burial etc., to his son Samuel Darby and his corporate heirs. In default to his son Abraham Darby and his corporate heirs, in default 2/3 to his daughters as tenants in common and the other 1/3 to his grandchildren, if Richard Reynolds pays £2000,otherwise to his daughters.

After the death of his wife, to their 2 daughters the 2 dwelling houses with the school room buildings at Sunnyside (John Story, John Barrow, John Evans and Benjamin Luckcock) to them for their lives and that of the survivor, then to his son Abraham Darby and his corporate heirs, in default to his son Samuel and his corporate heirs, and in default to the heirs of the survivor of the daughters forever. The rents and profits of the estate, except Sunnyside during his wife's lifetime, and those after her death until the sons are 21, are to be used to pay interest of sums which which the premises are charged, any overplus to be used towards paying off the principal.

The Trustees are to raise £500, half of £1,000 secured by a mortgage on his premises at Sunnyside, to Richard Case, Esq., and to discharge the premises from payment of £500 and interest during the life of his wife, and his son Abraham is to take the premises at the death of his wife charged only with £500. He impowers the trustees if any sums charged on the estate are called in, by assignment of mortgage & c to raise enough to pay them off, except the £500.

The testator is, with Thomas Goldney, possessed of coalworks, ironstone works, cottages, & c in the Lordship of Lawley, and Littlehales Tenement in Great Dawley by lease granted them by Robert Burton, Esq. for 99 years, and a lease of the town mills of Bridgnorth for 41 years granted to them in trust for them and the partners in the Coalbrookdale Co. He appoints the trustees to assign their interest in the leases as partners in the Co. direct for the better advantage and carrying on of the trade of the Coalbrook Dale Co. during the rest of the term of the leases.

Executors: the said trustees. To his wife the custody and tuition of his children during their minorities.

Witnesses: Richard Watts, John Story, Robert Horton.

Probate - P.C.C., 26 July 1763, to trustees.