I have just received (by return of post - well done the Birmingham Probate Office) the will of James Malt, a clock-maker of Wisbech, who died in 1895. As he married a relative of mine, Eliza Malt (sic), I was interested to find out whether he was previously related to her and so I was hopeful that his will would refer to his family. However, the will gave nothing away but it contained this extraordinary injunction:
".... it is my wish that Mrs Emma Neville [his housekeeper] should receive all moneys [about £1,000] and pay off all debts and that not a shilling or a shilling's worth of goods or money should be given to any person by the name of Malt or to any person that ever had the name of Malt ... ".
I am not very familiar with wills (too many ag labs in my line) but this does seem very odd. I also wonder whether it was strictly legal since his wife, Eliza, was still alive (though living elsewhere) and she might have a claim on the property. Has anyone else seen the like?
Peter
".... it is my wish that Mrs Emma Neville [his housekeeper] should receive all moneys [about £1,000] and pay off all debts and that not a shilling or a shilling's worth of goods or money should be given to any person by the name of Malt or to any person that ever had the name of Malt ... ".
I am not very familiar with wills (too many ag labs in my line) but this does seem very odd. I also wonder whether it was strictly legal since his wife, Eliza, was still alive (though living elsewhere) and she might have a claim on the property. Has anyone else seen the like?
Peter
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