Quaker Family History Society

Will of James Birch EVENS, Linen Draper of Brighton, Sussex

Will 8 October 1852   Probate 22 November 1852

Summary.

Biographical Notes.

·         Parents: Robert Evens (1784-1828) and Mary (née Heald) (1793-1869) of Chelmsford, Essex, Linen Draper.

·         Date of Birth: 5 November 1820 at Chelmsford, Essex.

·         Profession: Linen Draper of 4 Bartholomews, Brighton, Sussex.

·         Meetings:  Witham MM then possibly Brighton MM.

·         Date of Death: 18 October 1852 at Brighton, Sussex.  Entry in The Annual Monitor.

·         He was one of six children of Robert and Mary with siblings: Maria (1819-1854), who married Alfred Whiting Pollard (1827-1903), in 1852, Edward (1823-1823), Caroline (1824-1894) who married Thomas Crews (1825-1865) in 1850 and then George Goldsbury (1813-1899) in 1868, Marianne (1826-1888), who married Richard Noakes (1812-1893) in 1878, and Robert (1828-1893).  His mother Mary died in 1869.

Highlights of Will

·         Name of Executors:  Mary Evens, his widowed mother, Alfred Whiting Pollard, and Charles Clayton.  All three were Quakers.

·         He left Mary Evens, his widowed mother, the interest on his residual estate for her lifetime.

·         He left Maria Pollard, his sister, a quarter of his residual estate, after the death of Mary.

·         He left Caroline Crews, his sister, a quarter of his residual estate, after the death of Mary.

·         He left Marianne Evens, his sister, a quarter of his residual estate, after the death of Mary.

·         He left Robert Evens, his brother, a quarter of his residual estate, after the death of Mary.

Transcriber’s and Editor’s Notes

The surname Evens is also spelled Evans in some documents relating to the family.  This is one of a series of linked family wills including his father Robert Evens (1828), his mother Mary Evens (1869), and his sisters Maria Pollard (1869), Marianne Noakes (1889) and Caroline Goldsbury (1895).

Will as transcribed from a copy of the original document

(Original line and page breaks preserved as far as possible)

This is the last Will and Testament

of me James Birch Evens of Brighton Linen Draper I direct that

my business shall be disposed of by my Executrix and Executors and

all the rest of my property be converted into money as soon as conven-

iently can be after my decease And the proceeds thereof I direct to be

invested by my Executrix and Executors in Government or other securities

that to them shall seem best Upon trust to pay the dividends or interest

thereof to my dear Mother for her life And after her decease I direct the

principal to be divided into four equal shares one of such shares to be

invested in Government or other security in the names of my trustees

Alfred Whiting Pollard and Charles Clayton for the sole and separate

use and benefit of my Sister Maria Pollard and to pay her the divi-

dends or interest thereof for her life and at her decease to be disposed

of as she may by Will appoint one other of such shares to be inves-

ted in like manner for the benefit of my Sister Caroline Crews and at

her decease to be disposed of as she may by Will appoint one other of

such shares to be invested in like manner for the benefit of my Sister

Marianne Evens and if she shall happen to marry then in the same

way as I have before directed with regard to my other two Sisters

shares with power whether single or married to dispose of the same

as she may think proper by Will and their receipts alone to be

good discharges to my trustees and the remaining share I give to

my Brother Robert Evens And I appoint my Mother Mary Evens

Alfred Whiting Pollard and Charles Clayton Executrix and Executors

and Trustees and if the said Charles Clayton shall be deceased before

the said trusts come into operation or be fully farmed out then I give

power to my two next eldest Sisters to appoint a new trustee in his

place who shall have the same powers as if herein appointed As

witness my hand this eighth day of tenth month (Oct) one thousand

eight hundred and fifty two - James Birch Evens – Signed

     [page break]

by the said James Birch Evens in the presence of us who in his pre-

sence and in the presence of each other have set our names as Wit-

nesses thereto at his request the word “equal” being first interlined on

the twelfth line – Arthur Wallis – Bookseller 5 Bartholomews

Brighton – George Homewood Bookseller 56 Queens Road Brighton

Proved at London the 22^nd day of November 1852 before the

Worshipful Thomas Spinks Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by Alfred

Whiting Pollard and Charles Clayton two of the executors to whom

administration was granted having first made a solemn and sincere

declaration or affirmation according to act of Parliament duly to admin-

ister Power reserved of making the like grant to Mary Evens Widow

the mother the other executor when she shall apply for the same.

Go to Glossary