Ancient, Curious, and Famous Wills

by Virgil M. Harris

“Fourthly: To pay to my second son, Lord Charles Wellesley, the sum of one thousand pounds per annum for his life, besides what he will be entitled to under my Marriage Settlement and by the operation of the Acts conveying the Parliamentary Grants to my family. In case he should marry or when he will be thirty years of age, he is to have the option of continuing to receive this annuity or the sum of twenty thousand pounds sterling which is to be paid to him out of the funds aforesaid.

“Fifthly: To purchase a freehold estate in England with the whole money aforesaid or such part thereof as they the said trustees may think proper, charging it with the provisions above specified for the Duchess of Wellington and Lord Charles Wellesley.

“Sixthly: To give to my eldest son Arthur, Marquis of Douro, and the heirs male of his body the use of the House in Piccadilly, of the furniture thereto belonging, and to pay him and the heirs male of his body the annual interest which may be received for such money in the funds in Exchequer Bills or wherever it may be and the rent arising from any estate which the trustees may think proper to purchase with the said money. In case of the death without heirs male of my eldest son Arthur, Marquis of Douro,

“Seventhly: I give to my second, The Lord Charles Wellesley, and the heirs male of his body the use of the said house in Piccadilly and of the furniture thereunto belonging, and to pay him The Lord Charles Wellesley and the heirs male of his body the annual interest which may be received for such money in the funds in Exchequer Bills or wherever it may be and the rent arising from any estate which the trustees may think proper to purchase with the said money. In case of the death without heirs male of my sons, Arthur, Marquis of Douro and Lord Charles Wellesley,

“Eighthly: To give my nephew, Arthur Wellesley, the eldest son of my brother The Hble. and Revd. Gerald Wellesley, by Lady Emily his wife, and the heirs male of his body, the use of my house in Piccadilly and the furniture thereunto belonging, and to pay him the said Arthur Wellesley and the heirs male of his body the annual interest which may be received for such money in the funds in Exchequer Bills or wherever it may be and the rent arising from any estate which may be purchased by the trustees with the said money. In case of the death of both my sons Arthur, Marquis of Douro, and Lord Charles Wellesley and of my nephew, Arthur Wellesley, aforesaid all without heirs male,

“Ninthly: To give to my nephew, Gerald Wellesley, the third son of my brother, The Honble. Henry Wellesley, by Lady Charlotte his wife, and the heirs male of his body, the use of my house in Piccadilly and the furniture thereunto belonging, and to pay him the said Gerald Wellesley and the heirs male of his body the annual interest which may be received for such money in the funds in Exchequer Bills or wherever it may be and the rent arising from any estate which may be purchased by the trustees with the said money. In case of the death without heirs male of both my sons and both my nephews aforesaid Arthur Wellesley and Gerald Wellesley,

“Tenthly: To give to my nephew Henry Wellesley, the eldest son of my brother, the Honble. Henry Wellesley, by Lady Charlotte his first wife, and the heirs male of his body, the use of my house in Piccadilly and the furniture thereunto belonging, and to pay him the said Henry Wellesley and the heirs male of his body the annual interest which may be received for such money in the funds in Exchequer Bills or wherever it may be and the rent arising from any estate which may be purchased by the trustees with the said money. My son Arthur, Marquis of Douro, will have all that has been granted to me by Parl^t., the Estate granted to me by the Cortes and King of Spain, the Pension granted to me by the King of Portugal and the Estate granted to me by the King of the Netherlands, and in case of his death without heirs male, my second son, Lord Charles Wellesley, will succeed to the same. In case of the death without heirs male of my two sons above mentioned, I leave and bequeath to my nephew Arthur Wellesley, the eldest son of my brother Gerald Wellesley, by Lady Emily his wife, and the heirs male of his body all the money which has been granted to me by Parl^t. and the estates purchased with the said money. In case of the death without heirs male of my sons aforesaid and of my nephew, the said Arthur Wellesley, I leave and bequeath to my nephew Gerald Wellesley, the third son of my brother Henry Wellesley, by Lady Charlotte his first wife, and the heirs male of his body all the money which has been granted to me by Parl^t. and the estates purchased with the said money. In case of the death without heirs male of both my sons and nephews aforesaid, I leave and bequeath to my nephew, Henry Wellesley the eldest son of my brother Henry Wellesley, by Lady Charlotte his wife, and the heirs male of his body all the money which has been granted to me by Parl^t. and the estates purchased with the said money.

“I request the trustees appointed by Parl^t. to carry into execution the objects of the different Grants made to me, to be the Guardians of my sons. I wish them both, as well as my nephews above mentioned, to serve the King in his Army and that they should receive the best education which can be given to them in order to qualify them to do so with advantage to the King and honour to themselves. They should therefore finish their studies at Eton and at one of the Universities, besides obtaining a knowledge of the Sciences necessary for those who enter the Military Profession.

“I wish my Secretary, Col. Hervey, to take charge of my Private papers at Paris and to burn such as he may think proper.

“Wellington (LS).