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Précis of the WILL of Scroll graphic
THOMAS CROMPTON
of Bridlington Gentleman - 19 February 1822

Commentary

There are many references to the date ‘21 December 1832’. The significance of this is not known. It is not:

However, it is:

Although Thomas Crompton could not sign his name, there is evidence of his business acumen and dealings. He had invested in:

However, his Executors declare that the 'Goods Chattels & Credits of the said deceased within the Province of York, do not amount in balance to the sum of Six Hundred Pounds'. Fact or tax evasion?

The will favours his second wife Mary and their daughter Mary, who appears to be well provided for, and his grandchildren. However, the legacies to the grandsons are not distributed in seniority. James, his third grandson born 1807, receives little in his own right.

Thomas Crompton had one son, Thomas richardson Crompton, by his first marriage. However, his only son appears to out of favour. He received

On 12 June 1944,Thomas Crompton, born 1867, wrote of his grandfather ‘[Thomas] Richardson Crompton who lived at Nafferton in Crompton's Yard after living at and farming Great Houndales which he had bought and lost in a Law Suit.’ The exact details of this law suite are unknown. However, it may have some significance on the legacies in the will.

Separate provision is made for his daughter-in-law Martha, the wife of Thomas richardson Crompton. She received:

This final sentence may imply that Thomas richardson had ‘serious debts’ or it was a means of making Martha independent. It is also possible that Thomas richardson had established his own wealth so Thomas decided to make provision for the next generation.

He left his Trustees to look after his wealth. They, not his son, were charged to:

1783will1822precis, sheet 2

My great, great grandfather James, Thomas’ third grandson, should have inherited:

In 1841 he was an agricultural labourer on his brother’s farm. He was variously a landlord, groom and shepherd, dying in the workhouse. He experienced a life of poverty, but may have squandered his small inheritance (equivalent to £12 600 in 2010).

It can be argued that my great grandfather Thomas edmund should have inherited the properties in Bridlington because, under the terms of the will:

Thomas edmund, a market gardener, committed suicide the day after his father died in the workhouse. My grandfather had a hard upbringing. There was never any evidence or hearsay of the Bridlington properties being passed to ‘son of my Grandson James Crompton’ and his assigns.

It is interesting to read that Thomas’s will allowed:

Were funds misappropriated?

Glossary:

Properties mentioned

Bridlington: a close situated near the Pinfold (See 1738info2)
Bridlington: two houses and premises in the Bail
Bridlington: ‘the remainder of my real Estate and premises’
Nafferton: real estate and premises at Nafferton

The Executors

William Johnson of Bridlington – Grocer
James Smith of Bridlington – Farmer
Michael Hardy of Bridlington – Farmer

The witnesses

William Smith of Bridlington – Attorney at Law
William Carter of Bridlington – Yeoman
John Warley of Bridlington – Tailor
John Nightingale of Bridlington - Common Brewer
William Woodstock of Bridlington - servant of John Nightingale
Robert Nightingale

1783will1822precis, sheet 3

Any additional information about these signatories is purely speculative. The only known facts are their age and their occupation at the time of the will.

There is no obvious record for William Johnson in the 1841 census. The nearest possibility is a 47 year old knife grinder of Sewerby Street, Bridlington, married to Mary aged 27. It is possible that William Johnson died in the third quarter of 1847 (GRO ref: Bridlington 23 14) or in the first quarter of 1851 (GRO ref: Bridlington 23 19) Neither are in the 1851 census.

In the 1841 census James Smith, aged about 69, was a farmer living at Market Place, Bridlington with his wife Mary???it Smith aged about 60. It is possible that James Smith died in the third quarter of 1846 (GRO ref: Bridlington 23 24) He is not in the 1851 census.

There is no obvious record for Michael Hardy in the 1841 census. The nearest possibility is that he was a 70 year old agricultural labourer living in Woodmansy, Beverley with his wife Elizabeth aged 60.

In the 1841 census William Smith, aged 50 and born about1791, was a solicitor living in St John’s Street, Bridlington, with his wife Mary, aged 48. In 1851 Mary Smith, a landed proprietor of St John’s Street, was a widow. It is possible that William death occurred in one of:

In the 1841 census William Carter, aged about 80 and born about 1761, was an agricultural labourer living in Flamborough with his son George Carter. It is possible that William Carter died in the second quarter of 1846 (GRO ref: Bridlington 23 17) He is not in the 1851 census.

In the 1841 census John Warley, aged about 68 and born about 1773, was a tailor living in Nungate, Bridlington with his wife Ann Warley aged 67. It is possible that John Warley died in the third quarter of 1845 (GRO ref: Bridlington 23 13) He is not in the 1851 census.

In the 1841 census John Nightingale, aged about 55 and born about 1784, was a spirit merchant living in Market Place, Snaith with his wife Mary, aged about 50. In 1851, John Nightingale, born Preston Lancashire, was still a wine and spirit merchant in Snaith near Goole.

In the 1841 census William Woodcock, aged about 45 and born about 1796, was a carter who lived in High Street, Bridlington, with his wife Mary, aged about 45 and their seven children aged between 20 and 5 years. In 1851 William Woodcock was a widowed agricultural labourer still living at High Street, Bridlington. It is possible that William Woodcock died in the second quarter of 1860 (GRO ref: Bridlington 9d 182)

There is no obvious record of Robert Nightingale in the 1841 or 1851 census. There is no record of his death up to 1851.

1783will1822precis, sheet 4

Précise and interpretation

In view of the complexity of the original will, this précis and interpretation is offered. It is intended to retain the facts of the inheritances, whilst simplifying the legal and archaic language. Additional factual information, such as dates, have been included in the text in italics. Text coloured grey was not implemented under the terms of his will.

This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas Crompton of Bridlington in the County of York Gentleman where by I give devise bequeath and dispose of my real and Personal Estates and Effects in manner following – that is to say

1783will1822precis, sheet 5
1783will1822precis, sheet 6
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Crompton, as a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence, at his request, and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto -
John Nightingale
Wm Woodcock
Rt Nightingale
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