IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN ~ I ~ Sally now the wife of the Reverend George Turner 
in the County of Oxford clerk being of sound and disposing mind memory and 
understanding (praised be God for the same) do this second day of January one 
thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven make and ordain this my last will and 
testament in manner following ~

Whereas in and by a certain Indenture of Settlement bearing ____ on or about the 
fourth of June now last past, and made between me the said Sally, by then the name of 
Sally Clifton of the first part, the said George Turner of the second part and John Hilton, 
John Peyto Shrubb and the Reverend John Roberts herein named of the third part and 
made previous and in order to my marriage to the said George Turner my now husband 
diverse freehold leaseholds and copyhold ___ ___ lands and tenements and ____ 
annuity or yearly ____ ____ or joint stock of five per cent _____ annuities and other 
monies of me the said Sally are hereby granted and released bargained sold and 
assigned and ____ to  be surrendered and transferred respectively unto them the said 
John Hilton, John Peyto Shrubb and John Roberts their heirs executors administrators 
and assigns in manner herein expressed in trust….

   (SNIP --- This tedious document goes on at great length about what the 
trustees are to do with some large sums of money in the event there are children 
of the marriage. There were none, so I have deleted that part.) She continues…. 

…..and in case there shall be no issue living at the time of the decease of the survivor of 
us as aforesaid, I direct…. the sum of five hundred pounds of lawful money of Great 
Britain to be raised….(snip) unto and for the benefit and disposal of my cousin 
Charlotte, one of the daughters of the Reverend Dr. James Weller her executors…(snip)

I do hereby give and bequeath …. One thousand and seventeen pounds and eleven 
pence halfenny due on mortgage and all other monies (..snip..) unto and between my 
said husband and my cousin Cary Hampton Weller their heirs…. (snip)

(The next few paragraphs are too painful to read… no new names are 
mentioned). It concludes…..

In testimony whereof I the said Sally the wife of the said George Turner, have to this my 
last will and testament contained in this and the last two preceding sheets of paper to 
each sheet set my hand and to this last sheet my seal the second day of January in the 
year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven. SALLY TURNER. 
Signed, sealed .. etc etc… Mary Clifton Joseph Pickstone Charles C. J. Worsley


ON the 7th June 1841 Admin?/with Will Annexed/ of all and singular the goods chattels 
and credits of Sally Turner (Wife of the Reverend George Turner, Clerk) late of 
Spelsbury in the County of Oxford, deceased was granted to Ellen Meliora Turner 
widow the relict and the sole executrix of the will of the said Reverend George Turner 
deceased whilst living one of the principal or residuary _______ named in the said will 
she having been first sworn duly to administer ______ .

There not being any executor named in the said Will, the said Reverend George Turner 
and also Cary Hampton Weller the other principal or residuary ______ named in the aid 
will having respectively survived the said deceased, and the said Carey Hampton Weller 
having also since died, the said Reverend George Turner being the lawful husband of 
the said deceased and as such entitled to all her goods and chattels over which she had 
no disposing power and ______ which she is dead intestate, and the said deceased not 
having left any issue of her marriage with the said Reverend George Turner.




Conclusion – Unfortunately, this will was an exercise in futility, with the Rev. George 
Turner’ second wife getting everything. There were no children, and Sally’s cousin Cary 
was dead as well. If Sally’s cousin Charlotte was still alive in 1841, then she might have 
gotten her 500 pounds. “Letters of Administration with Will Annexed” probably means 
that the intent of a defective will is be carried out.