This is the last Will and Testament of me, Samuel Joseph Sheldon of
Middleton By Wirksworth in the County of Derby Barmaster and Mineral Agent
made this fifth day of December One Thousand Nine Hundered and Sixteen.
I revoke all Wills and other Testamentary dispositions herefore made by me,
and I appoint my dear wife Jane Sheldon and William Killer of The Fields
Middleton By Wirksworth aforesaid Book Keeper (herein after called my
trustees) to be Executors and Trustees of this my will.
I give the following legacies free of duty and direct that the same shall
be paid within six calendar months from the time of my decease..(namely )
To the said William Killer for his agreement in acting as such Trustee the
sum of Five Pounds
To my cousin (unreadable) daughter of Phillip Spencer of Holloway
the sum of Twenty Five Pounds..
To my nephew John Walker the sum of Thirty Pounds
To the Weslyan Sunday School Middleton By Wirksworth aforesaid the sum of
Twenty Five Pounds and to the Weslyan Methodist Local Preachers horse hire
fund (Matlock Circuit) the sum of Twenty Five Pounds. I direct that the
interest of the sum of Twenty Five Pounds so given to the Weslyan Sunday
School shall be placed to the credit of the Sunday School funds on each
Anniversary Day and that the interest of the sum of Twenty Five Pounds
given to the horse hire fund shall be credited to that fund on the same
day or on same other convenient day as it is my will that the interest
only shall be used year by year and the principal sums kept intact..And
I direct that the receipt of the Treasurer or Secretary of the Sunday
School and the Horse Hire Fund shall be a sufficient discharge to my
Trustees for each of the said figures respectively
And subject to the payment of my debts, funeral and testamentary expenses
and the aforesaid Legacies I give and bequeath all the rest residue and
remainder of my personal estate unto my said wife Jane Sheldon for her
own absolute use and benefit..
I give and devise all my real estate
whatsoever and wheresoever unto my Trustees upon Trust to pay unto or
permit my said wife Jane Sheldon to receive and take the rents and profits
therefore and during the term of her natural life..
And from and after
the decease of my said wife I give and devise all that my dwellinghouse
and premises at The Lanes Middleton By Wirksworth aforesaid and now in
the occupation of Isaac Doxey and unto and to the use of my cousin
John William Sheldon his heirs assignees for ever , and from my decease
my trustees pay unto or permit my said nephew John Walker of The Fields
Middleton By Wirksworth aforesaid to receive the rents and profits of the
Dwellinghouse and premises adjoining in the occupation of Richard Batterley ..
And the Allotment on Middleton Moor in the occupation of John Frederick
Doxey and the remainder (if any) of my real estate for and during the term
of his natural life And from and immediately after the decease of my said
nephew John Walker I direct the Trustee or Trustees for the time being of
this my will to sell the same real estate and after payment of all incidental
expenses to stand possessed of the residue of such sale moneys, in Trust for
such of the children of my said nephew John Walker as many as shall be
living in equal shares as tenants in common .. In witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand the day and year before within
Signed by the said hand of Samuel Joseph Sheldon
Witnesses to the will being Andrew Macbeth Wirksworth and Gladys Macbeth
Footnotes (by Stuart Flint)
The Isaac Doxey mentioned was the son of John and Harriett Doxey nee Rains
The John Frederick Doxey was the father of Councillor Leslie A Doxey who
in my youth built the bungalows at Rise End Middleton where one of the
Grandchildren of John and Harriett Doxey now lives Phillip Spencer of
Holloway married twice first wife being Martha Spencer of Middleton
second wife Mary Fox widow of Henry Fox nee Sheldon Mary being sister
in law to Samuel Joseph Sheldon Phillip Spencer was I believe a
Lead Smelter at Alsop's Lead Works Lea Bridge living at Holloway
Samuel Joseph Sheldon was Deputy Barmaster at Middleton son of Joseph
and Elizabeth Sheldon nee Sheldon they being 2nd cousins S.J.Sheldon
owned at one time Upper and Nether Golgonda Lead Mines also known as
Hopton Mining Company now known as Viaton Industries..Sheldons I believe
sold out to George Henry Key whose family still own Viaton Industries
Samuel Joseph Sheldon also owned Snake Lead Mine Hopton Wood and Bold
Lead Mine Middleton Moor He was General Manager and Director at
Bradley Mineral Works which consisted of a lead mine and quarry,
the quarry being also known as Redhills situated opposite Middleton
Top Cycle Hire Depot and a shareholder of Mill Close Lead Mine Darley
Bridge also a Director of Wensley Mining Company..He was Secretary to
Wirksworth Old Age Pensioners Association founded I believe to pay a
subsistence pension in the late 1890/early 1900s to miners/quarrymen
who were injured during their employ..He also served on Ashbourne Board
of Guardians... In the early 1900s he lost a foot when on walking down
the Incline (Cromford & High Peak Railway) from Redhills Quarry Middleton
Top a loaded wagon on the down side on the rope ran him down his foot
amputated by the wheel of the wagon..I have the
Derby Mercury report of this accident..
He was out of Derbys. Royal Infirmary and back at work
sporting a wooden club foot within two months of the accident
He died in his 80s at Middleton his wife preceeding him My Grandfather
John Walker gained Manor Fields built by Sheldons in the 1780s whilst
my mother and her sisters gained two houses on The Lanes Middleton
which they sold to Albert Sheldon a heir of John William Sheldon
I have the original will and S.J.Sheldons mining maps from when he was
a Barmaster ..
Regards Stuart G Flint
.
All Rights Reserved.