The Will of Robert Henry Roe 1816 - 1891   Dated 14 November 1881
(Note: Some Punctuation, Highlighting, and space added for clarity.)


THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ME ROBERT HENRY ROE late Admiralty Agent of the Royal Naval Hospital at Plymouth in the County of Devon, but now retired from that office and resident at number 2 Hillsborough, Mannamead, near Plymouth, aforesaid.

  1. I GIVE devise and bequeath my freehold house number 2 Hillsborough Mannamead aforesaid together with all furniture, plate, linen, china, glass, and other household effects therein at the time of my decease unto my dear wife Eliza Jane Roe for her separate use for the term of her natural life and from and immediately after her decease, I give and bequeath the same to my daughter Thomasine Jane Gifford Mayne, widow of the late William Townson Mayne, for her sole and separate use, free from the control of debts or engagements to any husband with whom she may intermarry.

    1. I GIVE and bequeath to my said wife Eliza Jane Roe, the sum of One hundred pounds, in trust, for my youngest son Alfred John Septimus Roe, a minor, to be applied as she may think proper to complete his medical education, but should his medical education be completed before my decease, this bequest to be cancelled, and have no effect.

    2. I GIVE devise and bequeath all the rest, residue, and remainder of my real and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto my dear wife Eliza Jane Roe, her executors, administraters, or assigns, and I give her full power to dispose of the same by Will or otherwise, as she may think proper.

    3. I HAVE ALREADY PROVIDED for my sons: Thomas Alexander Roe, Doctor of Physics; Richard George Roe, Navigating Lieutenant, Royal Navy; William James Lyon Roe, Royal Naval Reserve of the local Marine Board, Liverpool; and Arthur Legge Roe, Surgeon, Royal Navy; by giving them, and each of them, a good education and a proper start in life, in their respective professions.

    4. THEREFORE, these, and each of these, my said sons, Thomas Alexander Roe, Richard George Roe, William James Lyon Roe, and Arthur Legge Roe, are not to have any claim, whatever, upon my estate, or upon my executrix, aforesaid, at my decease.

  2. IN CASE my said wife, and sole executrix, Eliza Jane Roe, should not make a Will after my death, in the event of her surviving me, then and in such case, it is my Will that the residue of my estate shall be disposed of as follows, at the decease of my said wife, or proportionately should there not be sufficient funds left, at her death:

    1. To my son Alfred John Septimus Roe, within one year after his mother's death, the sum of Five Hundred pounds.

    2. To my son Arthur Legge Roe, within same period, the sum of Five Hundred pounds.

    3. To my daughter Sarah Ann Clark, the wife of Francis Mallard Clark, within the same period, the sum of Two Hundred pounds, for her own seperate use from the control of her husband.

    4. To my son William James Lyon Roe, within same period, the sum of Two Hundred pounds.

    5. To my daughter Thomasine Jane Gifford Mayne, within the same period, the sum of Two Hundred pounds, In Trust for my grandson Richard George Tennant Roe, son of Lieutenant Richard George Roe, Royal Navy, to be disposed of as she may think proper towards his education and advancement in life.

    6. To my daughter Thomasine Jane Gifford Mayne, all the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate and effects, whatsoever and wheresoever, on the decease of her said mother Eliza Jane Roe, and appoint her, the said Thomasine Jane Gifford Mayne, widow of the late William Townson Mayne,, sole executrix on the decease of her said mother, Eliza Jane Roe, should her said mother also die without making any Will.

    7. Nothing herein contained shall prevent my said wife and sole executrix Eliza Jane Roe, from making a Will, which she is hereby empowered to do and also to alter or revoke by her Will, should she execute one after my death, any of the bequeasts above mentioned after Clause number 2, or to appoint any other Executrix, Executor, or Executors, instead of my said daughter Thomasine Jane Gifford Mayne.

IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand this Fourteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighty one.

Robert H. Roe

 SIGNED by the said Testator, as his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses:

R. E. Newberry, Chief Clerk, Bank of England, Plymouth
E, J, Newberry, Spinster, 22 South Devon Place, Plymouth, Solicitor, Sunderland

Proved at Exeter the Sixteenth day of July 1891 by the oath of Eliza Jane Roe,
Widow, the relict, the sole Executrix, to whom adminisration was granted.
The Testator Robert Henry Roe was late of:
2 Hillsborough, Mannamead, Plymouth, in the County of Devon,
retired Admiralty Agent of the Royal Navy Hospital at Plymouth
and died on the Twenrt-Third day of June 1891, at the Mannamead aforesaid.

Gross Value £1168 5s 10d
Net Value £1113 11s 10d
(T. Wolferstan, Solicitor, Plymouth)