What follows is some research that I did back in April 2003. I had helped someone across the pond with their research simply because their ancestors had lived next door to my ancestors years ago. The journey through their family tree, rather strangely, lead me to finding that some of their ancestors had the same surnames as mine. I never found a connection between the two though.
I am posting because I am trying to get over Mytreeitus (self diagnosis after listening to Ron Tanner's Rootstech 2014 speech). Ron explained that when people keep research to themselves (for whatever reason) it runs the risk of work being duplicated. There is little point in these will transcriptions being hidden away in my files as there may well be someone else out there researching the people mentioned in them. Also, I don't believe that this information is available online yet.
The
transcripts that follow were taken from Birmingham Library Archive
transcripts in 2003.
=======================================================
Clara
Southall
This
is the last will and testament of me Clara Southall of 13 Wattis
Road, Bearwood in the County of Stafford Widow. I appoint George
Gittus of 143 Gillott Road, Edgbaston in the City of Birmingham
Builder and my son Arthur Southall of Winson Green Road in the said
City of Birmingham Gas Meter Inspector Executors and Trustees of this
my will. I devise and bequeth all my estate both real and personal
unto the said George Gittus and Arthur Southall upon trust to convert
the same into money and after payment of my debts funeral and
testamentary expenses to divide the proceeds equally between the
survivors of my children the said Arthur Southall, Mrs Eliza Ann Roche, George Henry Southall, Agnes May Southall and Thomas Southall and the
issue of such children as may have died in my life time such issue to
take equally among them per stirpes the share or shares which their
parents or respective parents would have taken if living at my
decease. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 30 day
of September one thousand nine hundred and twenty one.
Clara
Southall
Signed
by the said Clara Southall in the presence of us present at the same
time who in her presence at her request and in the presence of each
other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.
C
W Holcroft Solicitor )77 Colmore Row Birmingham
A
T Morrison )
Proved
at Birmingham 28 March 1929
The Will Index showed the effects as
Effects
£3751 6s 7d
Resworn
£4551 6s 7d
====================================================
Clara's husband's will follows:
George
Henry Southall
This
is the last will and testament of me George Henry Southall of no 119
Aberdeen Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick Grocer. First I
direct the payment of all my just debts funeral and testamentary
expenses and subject there to I give devise and bequeath all my real
and personal estate and effects of which I may be possessed of at the
time of my decease or over which I may have a disposing power and
wheresoever situate unto my dear wife Clara Southall and I hereby
appoint my said wife sole executrix of this my will. In witness
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and name this first day of
December One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety One.
George
Henry Southall
Signed
and acknowledge by the said testator George Henry Southall as and for
his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request
in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto
subscribed our names as witnesses.
Joshua
Howell - Solicitor Birmingham
Sidney
Stuart Memzies - Clerk to Mr Joshua Howell
On
the 7 day of September 1921 probate of this will was granted at
Birmingham to Clara Southall widow the sole executrix.
Will
Index showed the effects as
Effects
£1596 16s
Trade directories show that George Henry Southall was at Aberdeen Street 119 and later 44 from 1884 to 1921.
=====================================================
George Gittus
This
is the last will and testament of me George Gittus of 143 Gillott
Road in the City of Birmingham retired Builder. First I direct the
payment of all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses
including estate duty on my real & personal property by my
executors hereinafternamed I appoint my sons William George Gittus
and Arthur Archibald Gittus (herein after called "My Trustees")
Executors and Trustees of this my will I devise and bequeath all my
real and personal estate upon my trustees upon trust to pay the
income thereof to my wife Elizabeth Isobel Gittus during her life and
after her decease in trust to sell the same by public auction or
private contract and after payment of all expenses to divide the
proceeds equally between my two sons the said William George Gittus
and Arthur Archibald Gittus and in case only one of them shall be
living at the time of my said wifes death then my remaining son shall
take the whole of my estate absolutely. And I declare that my
trustees shall be at liberty to let or devise my real and personal
property from year to year or for any form of years at such rent and
subject to such covenants and conditions as they shall think fit to
accept surrenders of leases and tenancies and expend money in repairs
and improvements and general to manage the property according to
their absolute discretion and I further declare that the powers of
appointing new trustees confirmed by statute shall for the purposes
of this my will be vested in my said wife during her life. In
witness whereof I have to this my last will set my hand this seventh
day of January One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty One.
George
Gittus
Signed
by the testator George Gittus as and for his last will and testament
in the presence us who at his request in his presence and in the
presence of each other have here unto subscribed our names as
witnesses.
William
Thomas Gaunt no occupation 12 Laxey Road Edgbaston
Sidney
Edwin Edmonds toolmaker 12 Laxey Road Edgbaston
On
the 27 July 1929 probate of this will was granted at Birmingham
=====================================================
Here is a link to part of the family tree I put together for this family group.
