APPENDIX II
Richard Atkinson’s will was the mechanism by which he hoped to spread his wealth among his family and closest friends; this is how he envisioned it would work.[1]
An Abstract of the Will of Richard Atkinson, Esq., of Fenchurch Street in the City of London, made on 23 December 1782.
The remainder of the purchase money for the Bogue & Dean’s Valley Estate to be paid out of the Personal Estate. The said Estates given to Trustees for the following purposes, vizt.
1st. To carry on the Cultivation & Improvement thereof.
2nd. To pay the following Annuities, vizt.
£700 per annum to Lady Anne Lindsay – To commence at my decease
£700 per annum to Lady Margaret Fordyce – ditto
with £300 continued after her death to Mr. Fordyce – ditto
£700 per annum to John Robinson – ditto
£50 per annum to Thomas Hogg – ditto
£1,800 per annum to nine Nieces – To commence as they come of age
£200 per annum to Geo. Fordyce’s 2 Daughters – ditto
And for the five first years during which the Estates may hardly come to their full yielding, the Personal Estate to make good all deficiencies.
3rd & 4th & 5th. To raise a fund out of the overplus of the produce of the Real Estates, which is to stand as a security against accidents to the Estates and to make good all such, and to accumulate till the year 1803 when my youngest nephew will come of age. And at that time if the Fund does not amount to £15,000, it is to be continued till it does. If it amounts to more, then £15,000 is to be reserved for the purpose herein after mentioned, and the overplus to be added to the balance of the Personal Estate, and if both shall be sufficient to give £4,000 a piece or more to each of my nieces & each of Lady Anne Lindsay’s Daughters (after paying the Legacies of £3,000 a piece to my nephews out of such balance) then the whole is to be so divided; but if the Fund is not sufficient it is to be continued till it becomes sufficient.
6th. If the Savings & Personal Estate added together shall have raised the Fund of £15,000 and paid the Nephews & Nieces as in the last article, before the annuities are reduced to £2,500 per annum the further savings till such Reduction happens to be added to the £15,000.
7th & 8th. When the annuities shall be so reduced to £2,500 per annum, to pay Lady Anne Lindsay £5,000, and all the savings above £15,000, or in case of her death as she shall by Will appoint, and to convey my half of the Bogue Estate to my Brother George’s Male Heirs.
9th. Thence forward to pay the annuities out of Dean’s Valley and the £10,000 remaining in the Fund, & pay the future Savings to my Brother Matthew’s Male Heirs.
10th. When the annuities are reduced to £2,000 per annum, to pay Lady Anne Lindsay out of the Fund £5,000 more.
11th. When reduced to £1,500 per annum, to pay her the remaining £5,000.
And lastly, when all the annuities cease, to convey Dean’s Valley Estate to my Brother Matthew’s Male Heirs.
All Estates the property of the Partnership of which the legal Title may happen to be vested in me given to the Partnership.
The Sums of £4,500 lent to Lord Wentworth & £15,653 to the Bentinck Estate declared to be Lady Anne Lindsay’s property, and all accounts settled with her to the time of my death.
All Sums advanced to Mr. Nevill given to John Robinson.
All Sums due by Mr. Fordyce given to Lord Balcarres.
House in Fenchurch Street and all loose scattered Effects left to the Partnership and the Balance directed to be settled at £75,000.
Out of the Personal Estate the future payments for the purchase money of the Bogue and Dean’s Valley to be made.
Also £10,000 to be laid out on those Estates.
And £5,000 set apart for Lady Margaret Fordyce.
And to pay £200 per annum annuity to my Brother Matthew & his wife
£200 per annum to Mr. & Mrs. Taylor
£200 per annum to my Brother George’s widow
£200 per annum to Wm. Bentinck till his mother dies
And to pay £3,000 a piece to my nephews as they come of age. And at the Division of the Personal Estate in the year 1803 as above mentioned to pay them £3,000 a piece more and then divide the remainder as before mentioned.