Introduction

Abraham Anker is my 3 x great-grandfather. I have always been intrigued by his story which told of a family falling on hard times and eventually making good on the land. It was his entry in the 1881 census and the fact that he was listed as a farmer in the Post Office directory for Whittlesey that made me consider the possibility that Abraham was more than just a tenement farmer. Abraham died in 1886. I applied to the York Probate Registry for a search to see if Abraham Anker left a will and sure enough he did, leaving everything to his wife. His will is recorded here.

You can read a full account of Abraham's life and a history of the family here: Whittlesey Ancestors - The Anker family (Part 1) .

The life and times of Abraham Anker

Abraham Anker was born in 1819 in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. He was the youngest son and was named after his father who died around the time of his birth. Abraham married Mary Wilkins in May 1840 and over the course of the next 25 years they had nine children, six boys and three girls, all of whom lived to adulthood and survived him. The Ankers had been living in Lattersey Field since at least 1844 but shortly after their sixth child was born, the family fell on hard times. Through no fault of his own, Abraham found himself out of work and any savings they had were soon exhausted. Abraham was left with no choice. He and his family reluctantly entered Whittlesey Union Workhouse where they were resident for about two years. After they moved out, their circumstances progressively improved and by the 1871 census he was farming 19 acres.

Abraham made his will on 30 October 1886. Since he was illiterate he dictated his last will and testament in the presence of Bowker Weldon, solicitor of Whittlesey and his assistant clerk John Boyce who transcribed the will. A mark in place of the signature made it official. Abraham appointed his wife Mary and his sons Joseph and Henry Anker as executors of his will. Joseph was also appointed trustee. The will stated that all debts, funeral and testamentary expenses would be charged to his estate and he left instructions concerning the farming business, tenancy and livestock.

Abraham died in November 1886 of heart disease. His death was reported by his eldest daughter Mary. He was buried in the cemetery in the town. As can be seen from the will below, his estate was not particularly great (£11,300 in 2010 terms (1)). As was common of the day, the proceeds of the estate were for the benefit of his wife Mary during her lifetime, and were then passed in equal measure to his children.

The transcript

This is the last Will and Testament of me Abraham Anker of Whittlesey in the Isle of Ely in the County of Cambridge Farmer as follows (that is to say) I hereby revoke all testamentary dispositions hereforeto made by me and declare this to be my last Will and Testament. I appoint my dear Wife Mary Anker to be Executrix and my sons Joseph Anker of Eastrea in Whittlesey aforesaid Railway Plater and Henry Anker of Whittlesey aforesaid Labourer to be Executors of this my Will and I appoint the said Joseph Anker and Henry Anker to be Trustees of my Will and appoint them there and each of their executors and administrators or other the trustee or trustees for the time being hereof hereinafter called my Trustees to be the Trustees for all the purposes of the settled land Acts and also for all the pureposes of Section 42 of the Conveyancing Law and Property Act 1881. I charge all my real and personal estate with the payment thereout of my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses and subject thereto I empower my wife to carry on my farming business and for that purpose to continue tenant of the Farm which I shall use at my decease or to hire or use any other farm and employ my live and dead agricultural stock and such part of my personal estate as she and my Trustees shall think fit with liberty for her at any time to admit and Son or Sons of mine to a share thereof and to lend him or them the capital employed or requisite to be employed therein or any part thereof upon such security and such terms as she and my Trustees shall think reasonable. I give and bequeath all my household goods and furniture unto my said Wife for her use during her life And I give to her all the income of so much of the personal estate to which I shall be entitled at my decease as shall be in anywise employed or invested (inclusive of the profits of the said business) and also the use of the residue thereof And I give to her for her life the rents of all my real estates I devise all the real estate of or to which I shall die beneficially seised (*) possessed or entitled unto my Trustees Upon trust to permit my said Wife to receive the rents and income thereof during her life And from and after her decease Upon trust to sell my said real estate by public auction or private contract And to convert collect and get in my personal estate which shall at the death of my said Wife vest in my Trustees And to receive the proceeds thereso arising and after payment thereout of the costs of the execution of the trusts of my Will to pay the residue and the interest dividends and accumulations of income (if any) thereon to my children Mary Oldfield Alice Fordham Abraham Anker Charles Anker the said Joseph Anker Fanny Searle George Anker David Anker and the said Henry Anker or such of them as shall be then living share and share alike absolutely But if any child of mine shall die before the period of distribution leaving lawful issue such issue shall take the share of shares which his her or their parents would have taken if living in equal shares so that no beneficiary object under this my Will shall take part in any distribution until he she or they shall have attained twenty one years of age In witness whereof I have hereunder set me hand this thirtieth day of October One thousand eight hundred and eighty six.

Proved at Peterborough the 6th day of January 1887 by the Oaths of Mary Anker Widow the Relict (*) and Joseph Anker and Henry Anker the Sons the Executors to whom administration was granted.

The Testator Abraham Anker was late of Whittlesey in the Isle of Ely and County of Cambridge Farmer and died on the 7th day of November 1886 at Whittlesey aforesaid.

Under £200. Gross £196.6.0
Bowker Weldon, Solr, Whittlesey

* Glossary

RELICT: surviving partner
SEISED: having ownership of

Continued in column 2...

The cover

On the Sixth day of January 1887
the Will of Abraham Anker late of Whittlesey
in the Isle of Ely and County of Cambridge
Farmer
deceased, who died on 7th day of November 1886
at Whittlesey aforesaid
was proved in Her Majesty's High Court of Justice in the District Registry attached to the Probate Division thereof at Peterborough by the Oaths of Mary Anker of Whittlesey aforesaid Widow the Relict (*) and Joseph Anker of Eastree in Whittlesey aforesaid Platelayer and Henry Anker of Whittlesey aforesaid Labourer the Soms of the Deceased the
Executors named (in the said Wills) he having been first sworn duly to administer

Personal Estate: Gross £198.6.0
Under £200
Leaseholds
(Initials JB) Extracted by Bowker Weldon, Solr, Whittlesey

The Will

References

1. "Convert old money into new". Find out how yesterday's prices compare with today's: Currency Converter at The National Archives

Page added: June 10th 2010
Last updated: April 21st 2012

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