Letters of Administration

John Archbishop of Canterbury to Susanna Sandford, spinster daughter and one of the next of kin of Elizabeth Sandford widow, formerly wife of Humphrey Sandford, Esq., late of the Isle, Salop, decd. Alledged before John Fisher, Doctor of Laws surrogate of the Rt. Hon. Sir William Wynne, knt., Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury constituted on behalf of Susanna thatin indentures of lease & release of 23 & 24 May 1759 the release made between Humphrey Sandford & Elizabeth Sandford (1); the Rev. Thomas Evans, Clerk (2); Thomas Bayley, gent (3); 2 pieces of land called the Upper bottom Piece alias the Feggy Piece and the lower bottom Piece in the Isle of Up Rossall were released & conveyed to Thomas Evans on the uses & trusts therein mentioned; to the use of such persons & for such estates & uses as Humphrey & Elizabeth should jointly appoint; and in default thereof to the use of Humphrey for life & after his death to the use of Thomas Bayley for 500 years with divers remainders over and above the trust of the term of 500 years is declared to be that Thomas Bayley should out of the rents & profits of the pieces of land or by demise, sale or mortgage of them raise £600 & pay the sum to such person(s) and for such uses as Elizabeth Sandford should whether sole or covert by any deed or by her will direct, limit or appoint. Further alledged Humphrey and Elizabeth did not jointly execute any deed; further alledged that in other indentures of lease and release of 29 & 30 September 1789, the release between Thomas Butler and Edward Butler (1) John Butler eldest son and heir at law of Richard Butler late of Priest Weston deceased (2) Humphrey Sandford and Elizabeth Sandford his then wife (3); Folliot Sandford, Esq eldest son and heir apparent of Humphrey Sandford by Elizabeth (4); Edward Sandford Esq., one of the younger sons of Humphrey Sandford by Elizabeth (5); Edward Harries, Esq (6) John Scott, draper and the Rev. Edward Blakeway, clerk (7) all those tithes of corn, grain, hay, herbage & all other great & small tithes yearly arising and growing in the township of the Isle alias Upper Rossall in the Parish of St. Chadd in the liberties of the town of Shrewsbury were granted to John Scott & Edward Blakeway to the following uses: to the use of such person(s) and for such purposes as Elizabeth Sandford notwithstanding her present or any future coverture should in any deed or by her will direct or appoint. Further alledged that Elizabeth Sandford survived Humphrey, her husband, & died in November last having goods, chattels or credits in divers dioceses or jurisdictions within the Province of Canterbury sufficient to found the jurisdiction of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, but whilst living while of sound mind, memory & understanding during her coverture with Humphrey in pursuance of the powers vested in her by the 2 indentures of lease & release made her will giving the sum of £600 and the tithes of the Isle, and appointed Humphrey Sandford, her husband and the Rev. John Newling, Clerk, executors but the will has not been proved in any Court; lastly alledged that since the death of Humphrey Elizabeth came into the possession of certain other goods, chattels and credits and concerning which she has died intestate & the said Susanna Sandford, spinster, is the daughter & one of the next of kin of Elizabeth; and whereas the Surrogate having duly considered the premises did at the prayer of Susanna decree letters of administration of the goods, chattels and credits of Elizabeth except the sum of £600 and the tithes, to be granted to Susanna on giving sufficient security; and the Archbishop being desirous that the goods etc. be well administered according to law, grant full power and authority to Susanna to administer & faithfully dispose of all the goods, chattels & credits of Elizabeth & demand & receive whatever debts and credits belonging to Elizabeth's estate, except as aforesaid, & pay whatever debts she owed at her death so far as such goods, chattels and credits will thereto extend and the law requires Susanna having been already sworn by Commission well and faithfully to administer the same & to make an inventory of the goods etc. & to exhibit it in the Registry of the Court on or before the last day of June next and to render a true account of it on or before the last day of December 1793, and by these presents nominate and constitute Susanna Administratrix of the goods, etc. of Elizabeth.

Signed: Geo: Gostling, James Townley, Rt Dodwell, Deputy Registers.

Extracted by Stevens & Dodwell, Proctor Doctors Commons.

Docketed: Administration granted to Miss Susanna Sandford to the Effects of Mrs. Eliz Sandford & c 17th Decr 1792

Seal of the prerogative Court of Canterbury, between paper.