Last Will & Testament of John Woodward (1839)

"This is the last will and testament of me John Woodward of Cooks Court Farm in the parish of Handborough in the county of Oxford, farmer, who am of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding. In the first place I direct that all my just debts funeral expenses and the expenses of proving this my will be paid out of my estate by my executor hereinafter named. I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth the wife of George Merry of Handborough aforesaid the legacy or sum of £40 to be paid to her at the expiration of 12 months after my decease by my executor hereinafter named out of my personal estate. I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Woodward the legacy or sum of £40 to be paid to him at the expiration of 12 months after my decease by my said executor out of my personal estate. All the rest and residue of my estate and effects whatsoever and of what nature or kind soever and wheresoever. I give and bequeath the same unto my son John Woodward his executors and administrators absolutely and I appoint my said son John Woodward sole executor of this my will hereby revoking all former wills by me at any time heretofore made and do declare this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of July in the year of our Lord 1839." From Marilyn Stack

Elizabeth Merry in 1841 England & Wales Census

Gender: Female

Birth: Between 1797 and 1801

Oxfordshire, England

Residence: 1841

Pug Lane, Long Handborough, Oxfordshire, England

Age: 40 - 44

Husband (implied): George Merry

Children (implied): John Merry, Harriett Merry, George Merry, Thomas Merry, Esther Merry, Elizabeth Merry

Census

Parish: Long Handborough Registrar's district: Ensham Folio: 1\16

County: Oxfordshire Superintendent registrar's district: Witney Family: 81

Date: 1841 Enum. District: 8 Line: 4

Roll: HO107-0890 Image: 4

Household Relation to head of household was not recorded in this census. However, MyHeritage has developed technology to imply the relations based on surname, gender, age and position in the household. Though not perfect, the implied relations are often correct.

Relation to head Name Age

Head (implied) George Merry 40 - 44

Wife (implied) Elizabeth Merry 40 - 44

Son (implied) John Merry 21

Daughter (implied) Harriett Merry 20 - 24

Son (implied) George Merry 13

Son (implied) Thomas Merry 7

Daughter (implied) Esther Merry 4

Daughter (implied) Elizabeth Merry 2

Elizabrth Merry in 1871 England & Wales Census

Gender: Female

Birth: Circa 1801

Oxfordshire, England

Residence: 1871

Witney Road, Handborough, Oxfordshire, England

Age: 70

Census

Ecclesiastical district: St Peter Registrar's district: Eynsham (Or Ensham) Family: 85

Parish: Handborough Superintendent registrar's district: Witney Line: 23

Borough: Woodstock Enum. District: 5 Image: 16

County: Oxfordshire Roll: RG10-1450
Date: 1871 Folio: 81

Household

Relation to head Name Age

Head Elizabeth Merry 70

We’re very indebted to this online family tree http://gw.geneanet.org/wsa?lang=en&v=MERRY&m=N created by Worth-Anderson for the data linking George Merry to Eynsham Oxfordshire, and providing details of his parents & grandparents; and for that establishing a link back for Elizabeth Merry to the Woodwards and beyond.

Without the data for additional children than were alive or present in the 1841 census, we would have remained unsure that there wasn’t another George and Elizabeth Merry. We have used Worth Anderson's baptismal date, and burial place for Elizabeth; as well as info about her parents. We have used the baptismal date for George.

We have also been able to correct some of his data:

• the date for Elizabeth’s death that Worth took from a crumbling tombstone shows in records as 1885 and not as 1865. (This also solves his puzzlement as to why she is still in the 1871 census)
• the death date for George in records for Hanborough Witney disrict suggests 1858, not 1855
• their residence in 1841 is listed as PuG, not PuY Lane
• On balance of info, I have removed the child, Henry Merry, that Worth has born in 1831 - because he doesn't appear in the household in the 1841 census, and he should as he was only 10 yrs old then; added to this the fact that his death record for the 1905 date occurs in the USA, this suggested, for the moment, that he is a mash up from another Henry Merry.
• On balance of info, the same may be true for the child, Anne Merry, who Worth has born in 1825. She is also absent from the 1841 census, but, as a 16 yr old perhaps there might have been a reason.

We hope to contact Worth with this info so we can share our research… Sharon Doubell & Tony Leach April 2014.

http://gw.geneanet.org/wsa?lang=en;pz=worth+shipley;nz=anderson;ocz...