This is the last will and testament of me, Samuel Mort of the township of >Pennington in the parish of Leigh, widowerer. I order and direct that as soon after my decease as is convenient my executors hereinafter named, shall sell by public auction all my household furniture, silver plate and effects, together with all my farming stock and produce of whatever name or description, and also the two several yearly ground or Chief Rents arising from land built upon in or near to Wigan Field in Pennington amounting to the sum of five pounds sixteen shillings and ten pence half penny and one pound eighteen shillings and three half pence respectively. And that they my executors shall collect and get in as far as is practicable, all money and moneys owing or due to me at the time of my decease from any person or persons or deposited in any savings or other bank, and the moneys arising from such sale or sales together with the moneys so collected and got in or any money which may be in my possession at the time of my decease, after paying and deducting all reasonable charges and expenses incurred. I give and bequeath in the following manner. One sixth part or share thereof I give and bequeath unto my son James Mort. One sixth part or share thereof unto my daughter Martha Short, wife of John Short. One sixth part or share thereof unto my daughter Mary Hurst, wife of James Hurst. One sixth part or share thereof unto the three children of my late son Richard Mort deceased to be equally divided amongst them share and share alike. One sixth part or share unto the children of my late son John Mort, deceased to be equally divided amongst them share and share alike, and the remaining one sixth part or share I give and bequeath unto my executors in trust to be placed out at interest upon good and valid security or in some trust bank, and pay the yearly interest thereof unto my son Samuel Mort weekly or otherwise as they shall deem most proper during the term of his natural life, and at his decease to call in the said trust money and divide the same equally amongst his lawful children, but if he die without lawful issue surviving him then in such case I order and direct that such trust money shall be divided and distributed in the same manner as my other property, provided that if my son William Mort be then living he shall have an equal part or share in the same along with my other sons or daughters, or if he be dead and left lawful issue such issue shall take the part or share so intended for him equally amongst them or the surviving thereof. I also give and bequeath unto my executors the yearly ground or chief rent of five pounds four shillings and four pence, belonging to me arising and accruing from land situate in Wigan Field in the said township of Pennington upon which the Primitive Methodist Chapel now stand. In trust to pay the said yearly rent unto my son William Mort, weekly or otherwise as they may deem most prudent, during the term of his natural life, and at his decease to sell the same either by private contract or public auction, and to be divided amongst his lawful children, if any. And I do hereby nominate and appoint my said son James Mort and my two sons in law, John Short and James Hurst to be the executors of this my last Will and Testament, I set my hand this twentyeighth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty one. He made his mark with an X

Notes attached to the will state: On the twentieth day of February, eighteen hundred and fiftysix, James Mort John Short and James Hurst, the executors, were sworn in common form, and they further made oath that the personal estate and effects of the testator within the diocese of Chester were under the value of £500, before me Alfred Hewlett, Surrogate. The testator was a farmer and died twenty first September eighteen hundred and fifty five. Probate issued 23 Feb 1856