THOMAS RAW OF KIRKBY STEPHEN

Will of Thomas Raw of Kirkby Stephen, Yorkshire. Transcript from Trevor Littleton. Made --------. Proved 1855. (Ravenstonedale Line)
This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas Raw of Kirkby Stephen in the County of Westmoreland, husbandman. After payment of all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses, I give, devise and bequeath unto my niece Margaret Raw daughter of Robert Raw of Dobbs Hall Grayrigg the sum of seventy pounds of lawful British money. And as to the residue and remainder of all my personal estate and effects I give, devise and bequeath the same unto my Brother Robert Raw of Dobbs Hall in Grayrigg aforesaid, And my niece Agnes Raw daughter of the aforesaid Robert Raw share and share alike and I hereby appoint Robert Raw my brother sole executor of this my last Will and Testament, as witness my hand this twenty sixth day of October one thousand eight hundredth and fifty three. Signed and acknowledged by the said Thomas Raw the Testator, as and ----- his ------- for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us, being present at the

Thomas X Raw

same time, who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each ------ mark ------ other, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses :

Agnes Hodgson
Thomas Gibson

Granville Harcourt Vernon, Master of Arts, Commissary and Keeper General of the Exchequer and Prerogative Court of the most Reverend Father in God, THOMAS, by Divine Providence, Lord Archbishop of YORK, Primate of ENGLAND, and Metropolitan, To our well-beloved in Christ, The Reverend John Septimus Sisson, John Rowlandson and George Frederick Weston, Clerks jointly and severally, GREETING: Whereas, Thomas Raw late of Kirkby Stephen in the County of Westmorland Husbandman, deceased having whilst living, and at the time of his Death, Goods, Chattels, or Credits in divers Dioceses or Jurisdictions did make his Will (hereunto annexed) and did therein name his Brother, Robert Raw sole Executor, who now resides at a distance from us, and, by reason thereof, cannot without great Expence come to our Prerogative Court of YORK, for the Purposes herein after-mentioned. We therefore in Aid of Law (Justice so requiring) do authorize and empower you jointly or severally to Administer the Oath below to the said Executor and further to do in the Premises as shall be needful; requesting that (such Oath being administered) you duly transmit to us or our lawful Surrogate, the said Will and the whole Proceedings thereon subscribed with the proper Hand or Hands of one or more of you, immediately after the Execution hereof, together with these Presents, so that Justice may be administered in the Premises. Given at YORK, the Eighth Day of September in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Five.

Wm Hudson
Josh Buckle
Deputy Registrars

The Form of the Oath to the Executor laying his Hand on the Bible or New Testament.

YOUR Oath is, that the above named Thomas Raw deceased died on or about the nineteenth day of June in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty five and that the writing hereunto annexed contains his true last Will and Testament as far as you know or believe, that you are the sole Executor named in the said Will and that you will truly perform the same, by paying fist his Debts, and then the Legacies therein contained, as far as his Goods, Chattels, and Credits, will thereto extend and the law charge you; and that you will make a true and perfect Inventory of all the said Goods, Chattels, and Credits, and exhibit the same into the Registry of the Prerogative Court of YORK, at the Time assigned you by the said Court, and render a just Account thereof when lawfully required, that the Whole of the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased (within the Province of YORK) do not amount to the Sum of Two hundred Pounds, and that the Contents of the annexed Affidavit to which you have subscribed your Name were and are true.

So help you GOD.
Robert Raw
Farmer, Grayrigg near Kendal
Commission for Will.

Transcribed from the original by Trevor Littleton