Richard John Cowley, 1887

German 
1887 
160
This is the last will and testament of me Richard John Cowley of Knockbane
in the parish of German Yeoman.
I revoke all other testamentary writings by me heretofore executed and
declare this only to be my last will and testament.
I give and bequeath the following legacies viz to my daughters Eleanor
Margaret Cowley, Christiana Ann Cowley, Elizabeth Jane Cowley and
Letitia Louisa Cowley and to my sons Thomas Henry Cowley and James Edward
Cowley legacies of three hundred  pounds each
Dto my sons Jonathan Walter Cowley and Robert Charles Cowley legacies
of two hundred pounds each.
I give to my wife Margaret Cowley the whole of the residue of my
personal estate after payment of my funeral and testamentary expenses and
debts and the said legacies which legacies are to be paid by her to
each of my said children at the expiration of one year from the day of my
death in case any of such children shall die before such legacies become
payable and without leaving issue living when such legacies become
payable I direct that the legacy which would have been payable to such
child  if such child had lived until the time of payment shall be equally
divided amongst the children where in before named who shall be living at
the expiration of me - year from the date of my death other than my then
heir at law. But in case, any of my said children who may die within one
year from the date of my death shall leave issue living at the expiration
of such period such issue shall take equally the original and accrued
legacy the parent would if living have taken. And as to my real estate, I
declare that for a period of seventeenth years calculated from the
twelfth day of November 1885 my dwelling house cowhouse buildings
lands and premises called "The Croft" being parts of Knockbane and Moaney
Moar and consisting of five fields lying  South of the High Road from
Michael to Saint John's and containing about ten acres of land and being the
whole of the premises formerly in the occupation of Walter
Caine shall be occupied and enjoyed free of rent as a home of the personals
use and benefit of such of my children (other than my heirs at law for the
time being ) as shall for the first being be unmarried and
shall choose to reside in such dwelling house and it is hereby expressly
declared  that the foregoing provisions are made for the express purpose of
providing my children with a home and it is hereby made a condition
that no child shall be entitled to the benefit of this provision if he or
she cease to have his other usual place of residence and cultivate the
said lands at the Croft aforesaid for a continuous space of six months. And
upon the expiration or sooner determination of the said term of seventeen
years I give devise and bequeath the said lands to my son Richard Watterson
Cowley his heirs and assigns subject to the dower of
my said wife and I do hereby declare that the children for the time being
entitled to the benefit of the said property during the said term of years
shall as against the parties for the time being entitled thereto in
remainder be bound to keep and at the expiration or sooner determination of
the said term leave the said dwelling house cowhouse buildings land
and premises in reasonable order and repair fair wear and tear and accidents
by fire excepted and shall also farm the said lands in a course
of good husbandry and according to the following rotation of cropping namely
out of the lea land one white crop after such white crop the following year
a green crop well and sufficiently manured the following
year a white crop well and sufficiently sown down with good rye grass
and clover seeds and the land then to remain lea for two years at least
and to be cut only one of such two years for the purpose of carrying out the
foregoing provisions for the benefit of my unmarried children I
declare and hereby appoint my said wife Margaret Cowley to be a trustee of
the said premises called "The Croft" for the benefit of any and such of my
children as shall for the time being be under age and entitled to
participate in the benefits arising in from the foregoing provisions as to
"The Croft" property it being hereby declared that her trusteeship  shall
cease as to each child upon his or her attaining the age of twenty one years
or ceasing before that age to be entitled to the benefit of the provisions
hereinbefore made and whilst acting as such trustee my said wife shall be
bound by the foregoing conditions as to repair and cropping. And as to the
residue of my real estate including my estate of
inheritance of Knockbane aforesaid I give the same to my said wife until the
twelfth day of November 1892 for the benefit of herself and to maintain and
do the as she shall think fit  all my children for the time
being living or the issue for the time being living of such of my children
as may be dead and from and after  the twelfth day of November 1892.
I give devise and bequeath the same to my son Richard Watterson Cowley his
heirs and assigns subject to the dower of my said wife and subject
to the payment (upon his obtaining possession) to my sonšs Thomas Henry
Cowley and James Edward Cowley of fifty pounds each such sums until
paid to be a lien and charge upon my  real estate.
I declare that my wife as her option may either let the said estate of
Knockbane until the twelfth day of  November1892 or farm the same as
she may deem best.
I appoint my said wife executrix of this my will .
In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of March
1885.
Richard J. Cowley
Witnesses:
Walter Caine
William E. Cowley

At a District Probate Session holden at Peel on the 7th November 1887.
Margaret Cowley sworn executrix  with pledges being Richard W. Cowley and
Thomas H. Cowley.


James Edward Cowley and Letitia Louisa Cowley of  Ballacottier Lezayre
received  three hundred pounds sterling each 19 Dec 1896.
Elizabeth Jane Cowley spinster received 300 pounds  28 Dec 1892.
Robert Charles Cowley received 2000 pounds  28 Dec 1892.
Thomas H. Cowley received 300 pounds 6th day of September 1890. Jonathan
Walter Cowley  the sum of 200 pounds 10 March 1888. Christiane Ann Cowley
spinster received 300 pounds 21 Sep 1889.
Eleanor Margaret Cowley received 300 pounds  6 Oct 1888.