Frances CROOKE [7938]

  General Notes:

Frances is thought to have been born on the Island of St Kitts WI, she was recorded as aged 68 at her death.

THE PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
The National Archive
Prob 11/1479
Frances Graham
Extracted from the Registry of the Consistory Court of Canterbury
In the Name of God Amen
I Frances Graham of St Lawrence House in the Borough of Longport near and without the walls of the City of Canterbury in the County of Kent widow and relict of John Graham Esquire Deceased: sometime Lieutenant Governor in the Province (now State) of Georgia in North America being in perfect health and of sound and disposing mind and memory but considering the uncertainty of Human life do make publish and declare this to be my last will and testament
Ffirst I direct that my executors hereinafter named to pay off and discharge as soon as may be after my decease all my just debts shown? in respect to my Estate and Effects as will so be as personal or mixed hereby I direct my said Executors to hold that same together managing that same debt as may seem to them to be most to the advantage of my children until that period arrives that it is to be divided as is hereinafter particularly directed
item my house at St Lawrence now my place of residence I hereby direct my said Executors to hold? up in the same way as it may be in directly before my decease continuing with the same number of servants having a carriage and supporting a suitable stable it being intended by me as a residence for my unmarried daughters and my sons if they chose to live there when? for the purpose of purchasing estates or other activity.
I give to my son Alexander Graham the sum of one Thousand Pounds per annum until my estate is divided then for the same purposes and [APPROX 34,000 POUNDS VALUE 2009]
Item I give the Like sum to my son Charles Clark Graham for the same purposes and
Item I give that like sum to my son Richard Graham for the same purposes and
Item I give the sum of fifty pounds per annum to my daughter Eleanora Graham for the same purposes and
Item I give to my daughter Susan Graham the sum of fifty pounds for the same purposes and
Item I give to my daughter Ann Graham the sum of fifty pounds for the same purposes and
Item I give to my daughter Charlotte Graham the like sum of fifty pounds
Item to my daughter Elizabeth Cage the wife of the Rev Charles Cage for the same use the sum of five? hundred pounds per annum and
I direct all said annuities to be paid half yearly and the first payment thereof to begin and be made at the end of March Quarter next after my decease that it is my Will and intention I do hereby direct that in case any of my daughters who at present are unmarried shall happen to be marryed at the time of my decease or shall afterwards marry then that annual sum to be paid to such daughter or daughters that from the time of their respective marriages be increased from fifty pounds to one hundred pounds a year for that purpose and during that time aforesaid and
it is my Will and Intention that I do hereby direct that my Executors shall balance their accounts and settle them and if after paying their several annuities and discharging all the . . . . . ? intended expenses at my house of St Lawrence to be kept for the purposes aforesaid there shall remain a surplus of the monies? and Interest of my Estate Real & personal and Desired? as aforesaid it is my will and I hereby direct my said Exects. To add this sum to the Capital and to lay out such surplus in the purchase of Land or to lend it out at Interest or to place it in which funds as they shall think proper & or such beneficial for my children or in case it shall not be practicable Then my said Executors to divide the same annually equally amongst my surviving children to
Item I give of such of them now deceased or hereinafter to die and the husbands and wives of such of them dying without 'your . . . . . ? which and as soon as all my Daughters marry or which and as soon as it shall please God to take them from this world and not before/ that is to say/ on the decease or marriage of my last single daughter living which ever shall first happen I do hereby direct my said Executors or the survivor of them or the Heirs Executors or Administrators of such survivor to sell by Auction or private sale as they or he shall judge best? My estate of Saint Lawrence and for which purpose I do hereby desire unto them and their survirs. ? all my freehold estates whatsoever and wheresoever and all my estate and Goods real or personal of whatever nature or wheresoever committing everything into cash and when so converted into cash I direct that the same should be divided into such and so many shares as to give to each of my then surviving children one share to the Children . . . . . living of my late daughter Frances Graham who married Sir Edward Knatchbull, Baronet.
In margin "Fifteen Hundred pounds security? divided by Sir Edward Knatchbull to be invested? for the trust of his children" F Graham
one share to the Reverend Charles Cage if living and his wife should & when I depart this life and share it being my intention that if any of my daughters should marry and die before the time when the division of my estate and effects is divided to take place, each of their husbands shall draw a share if he is alive when my estate is divided whether he has children by her or not and if my four single daughters or any of them marry and die leaving children and their supportive husbands should not be living when the division is divided to take place then any such children living at the time of making such division are to draw out share in the right of their deceased mother
Item I give and Bequeath as a testimony of regard to my old servant Thomas Goodsman the sum of Twenty five pounds to be paid within six months after my decease and I do hereby constitute and appoint my said three sons Alexander Graham, Charles Clark Graham and Richard Graham to be the Executors of this my Last Will and Testament
In margin "I also appoint Edward Knatchbull Esq. Son of Sir Edward Knatchbull, Baronet to be an Executor"
F Graham
And do hereby direct and declare and my will is that my said Executors or any of them shall not be answerable or accountable for any involuntary or accidental loss that shall or may happen at any time or be to my estate and Effects at any time soever and any parts or part thereof or the one for the other of them or for
Will on file transcribed by Jenny Mayne 2011

Frances married Col. John GRAHAM [7936] [MRIN: 2674], son of Rev Alexander PYOT [26811] and Unknown. (Col. John GRAHAM [7936] was baptised on 11 Feb 1732/33 in Dunbar Scotland and died on 11 Feb 1791 in St Lawrence House Canterbury KEN.)