The Corker Family: Clock & Watch Makers of Staffordshire and London

Transcribed Will
Sarah CORKER, widow of Forebridge, Staffordshire,
PCC (Prerogative Court of Canterbury) will,
The National Archives, London, images online at the Ancestry website.

Will dated: 4 August 1823; codicil dated: 21 April 1826;
probate date: 1 February 1828.

Sarah Corker, aged 83, was buried at St Mary’s Church, Stafford on
9 January 1828 (Staffordshire Burials, FindMyPast database).

This is the last Will and testament of me Sarah Corker of Forebridge in the county of Stafford widow made the fourth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twen[ty] three   I give my cloaks and watch to my daughter Rosamond Matthews and subject to the payment of my debts and funeral and testamentary expenses I give all other my goods monies and personal property whatsoever in equal shares between my said daughter my sons John Thomas Joseph and Daniel and the children of my late son Nathaniel or such of them as shall be living at the time of my decease the said children of my said late son Nathaniel taking the share only between or amongst them as their father would have done if he had survived me and been named in this my will as one of my said children and in case any of them my said daughter and sons shall die in my lifetime leaving lawful issue then I give the share or shares of him her or them so dying unto his her or their respective issue who shall be living at the time of my decease to be equally divided between them if more than one and if only one then the whole to such only one only and in case any one or more of my said daughter and sons shall die in my lifetime without leaving such issue who shall survive me then I give and bequeath the share and shares of him her or them so dying unto and between the survivors of my said sons and daughter and the issue of such of them as may be dead leaving issue the issue of each such deceased child taking a parents share only between or amongst them if more than one in equal shares and I appoint my said sons Thomas and Daniel and my son-in-law William Matthews executors of this my will   In witness whereof I the said testatrix have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first before written.   [signed by Sarah Corker and witnesses] April 21, 1826   A Codicil to my Will     My daughter Rosamond Matthews I give my silver coffee pot silver tea pot silver cream boat silver stand and all my china tea urn [mahogany] tea board the large glass in the parlour with that in my room my son Thomas Corker I give my white bed with every thing belonging to it with the pair of sheets the furniture in the parlour all but the large glass my son Daniel Corker I give my work bed [with] every thing belonging to it with two pair of sheets my son Joseph Corker I give my bed in the little room with every thing belonging to it with 2 pair of sheets with the chest of drawers in my room and the leather trunk with the [mahogany] dining table in the house place with the wardrobe in the house [and] the looking glass 2 silver table spoons 4 tea spoons my 4 plated candlesticks my grand daughter Sarah Matthews I give 2 silver table spoons my grand daughter Sarah Corker I give 2 silver table spoons my grand daughter Sarah Corker daughter of Daniel Corker I give my silver bow tea tongs with 6 silver tea spoons with the drake on them what linen there is in the house I wish to be equal divided among you all if my son John wishes for any pictures I wish him to have what he likes. Sarah Corker. Appeared personally William Shaw of the borough of Stafford in the county of Stafford yeoman and Catherine Bullock of Forebridge in the parish of Castle Church in the same county spinster and made oath that they knew and were well acquainted with Sarah Corker late of Forebridge in the county of Stafford widow deceased for some time before and to the time of her decease and also with the manner and character of handwriting and subscription having frequently seen her write and subscribe her name and having now carefully viewed perused and inspected a certain paper in writing hereunto annexed purporting to be a codicil to the last will and testament of the said will beginning thus "April 21st, 1826 a codicil to my will my daughter Rosamond Matthews I give my silver coffee pot" ending thus "what linen there is in the house I wish to be equal divided among you all if my son John wishes for any pictures I wish him to have what he likes" and thus subscribed Sarah Corker and those deponents further say that having carefully viewed the said paper writing or codicil above referred to and observing the word "pot" written and interlined in the said codicil and also the word or name of "Corker" written and interlined in the said codicil they those deponents say they verily and in their conscience believe that the beginning ending body series and contents and interlineations and subscriptions to be all of the proper handwriting of the said Sarah Corker widow deceased.     On the 26th day of January 1828 the said William Shaw and Catherine Bullock were duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit. Proved at London with a codicil 1st Feb 1828.

Transcribed by Diana Whistler, January 2016.