Wills - renounced executorship -why?

[robbieuk]

Hello,

My ancestors the HAMMOND family lived in Marsham. In 1768, farmer Roger Hammond made a Will in which he appointed John Gladdin of Marsham and Thomas Rumpe of Aylsham as his Executors. He assigned the interest from his stock to his wife Mary to raise their four young children (aged from 4 to 13 years); he alloted a sum of money to his stepdaughter Elizabeth Green; he alloted more moneyto be put aside until his children came of age, with his wife able to live on the interest. Both Executors signed the Will.

After Roger's death in 1768 an Inventory was taken - total value of his estate being just over £461.

In December 1768, both Executors 'renounced their Executorship' and his widow Mary 'renounced and refused the Administration' of the Will. Then: 'with the Will annexed and the said John Gladdin and Thomas Rumpe being appointed Guardians Tutors and Curators' to the Hammond children, it appears that these men were granted Administration of the Will.

Widow Mary Hammond was alive in 1788 when her son Roger died at Marsham - she is named as his mother, living in Aylsham, in his Administration document. Roger & Mary's daughter Susannah, one of those children under the Gladden/Rumpe guardianship married my ancestor Christoper Grix in 1778 at Marsham.

Can you help me? Why would two men who have signed a Will then renounce the Executorship? Why would a widow do the same? What does it mean when the Will is 'annexed'? And who would appoint the two men as Guardians to the four children - would their mother have no say in this?

Any light that can be shed on this would be of great interest to me - and at least one other researcher on this forum who shares these ancestors.

Thanks!

Rob Bates

[Geoffers]

Can you help me? Why would two men who have signed a Will then renounce the Executorship? Why would a widow do the same? What does it mean when the Will is 'annexed'? And who would appoint the two men as Guardians to the four children - would their mother have no say in this?
An interesting puzzle which needs a lot of work. Were the nominated executors in business with Roger HAMMOND? Had they been convicted of a felony or were they bankrupts? Were they getting on and about to pop their clogs? Was Mary HAMMOND mentally competent?

As to the comment about 'the Will annexed' is this the start of the sentence? (I appreciate there probably isn't a lot of punctuation so it may be difficult to tell) If it isn't the start of the sentence, what is written immediately beforehand? Is the will a single document, or does it include any codicils or other amendments? Was the will disputed?

Geoffers

[Mythology]

Re "the will annexed".
I have some where this is written on the grant, and it appears to mean nothing more complicated than that the will is attached thereto - they are all perfectly straightforward normal wills.

(Edit)
As I only received this one a few days ago, I haven't managed to lose it yet, so here's an example:
The Will of Sarah Debenham hereto annexed was proved at London 15th February 1878 by the Oath of Mary Elizabeth Rebecca Sweetland Spinster the Niece the sole Executrix to whom Admon was granted

[robbieuk]

Thanks. I haven't found evidence that the men were business partners - Roger was a farmer in Marsham, while Gladdin was also in Marsham and Rumpe in Aylsham. They must have been friends at the very least, I suppose.

I had thought that perhaps it was because Roger's assets wouldn't cover the amounts he stipulated in the Will. But then the two men are granted the Administration of the estate for the benefit of the children who are place under in their care...

So maybe it was the mother who was unfit? But then she is named again in her eldest son's Administration some 20 years later...

The grant states:

John Gladdin and Thomas Rumpe the Executors within named having renounced their Executorship and Mary Hammond Widow & Relict & the Testator and Legatee within named having renounced and refused the Administration of the Goods &c of the said Testator with the Will annexed and the said John Gladdin and Thomas Rumpe being appointed Guardians Tutors and Curators to Roger Hammond a Minor aged thirteen Years Susanna Hammond a Minor aged Eleven Years & upwards and Ann Hammond a minor aged Seven Years and upwards the natural and lawful children of the said Testator and Legatees (sic) within named named to all Effects in Law &c, Administration with the Will annexed of all & singular the Goods &c of the said Testator was granted to the said John Gladdin and Thomas Rumpe for the respective Uses and Benefits and during the respective Minorities of the said Minors and also for the use ansd benefit of Robert Hammond an Infant natural and lawful son of the said testator & also a legatee within named being duly sworn &c. Dec 27th 1768.