James Field, will proved 1849. (Age 74)
Postmaster.
After all debts and funeral expenses paid everything to his dear wife Sarah. She sole executor.
Witnessed by Robert Footitt, druggist of Great Marlow and Henry Salmon, ironworker [he also was of Marlow. Ironmongers shop in High Street].
Sarah Field, will proved 1855.
Says she of sound mind.
£100 each to nephew William James Caffall, niece Sarah Ann Caffall and niece Ellen Crake. [I believe Sarah Ann Caffall was née Crake].
£5 each for the purchase of mourning to Robert, Ellen, Henry and Anne Caffall. The relationship Sarah had to them is not given.
Rest of property to nephew William Crake who is the executor of the will.
Witnessed by Robert Colbourne, surgeon and James Low [two Marlow men].
For some reason Robert Colbourne was asked when it came to the probate court to give an affidavit that the signature on the will was Sarah's. He said he witnessed the signature in street, on the other side.
Notes:
James was 74 years old when he died. The Reading Mercury reported 12th May 1849 [accessed November 2020 from the British Newspaper Archive. Original copy held by the British Library] how the shops in Marlow closed for the day as a mark of respect on the day of his funeral. The postmaster general was an important person in town. James who had been postmaster since at least 1829 was replaced by William Tyler. James was also a tailor and ran a school on his premised so he was a busy man!
The post office premises were in the High Street in Field's day. James and Sarah lived on site. Robert Footitt's chemist shop was then on the other side of the road.
Read more about Marlow post services in the Fields day - here and their school here
I transcribed these wills which I obtained from the National Archives and then summarized them here.
All mentions of an individual on this blog can be found on the Person Index.
More wills can be found under the Will Transcriptions option on the menu.
©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to use these summaries for family and local history purposes if you credit this blog.
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