PaulJDavies
#1My last post did not appear, so here goes again with a shorter intro. If you don't have time to read all this, the gist of it is that Thomas Griffin, handcuff maker of Birmingham died in 1816 and asked his friends, Isaac Hill and James Nichols to carry on his business for the benefit of his wife and daughter. Having only the one daughter makes it harder to prove that Thomas Griffin and Thomas Griffin Hiatt were related because the daughter married a Joseph Hunt.
This may or may not help in dating your Griffin, Nichols or Griffin & Nichols cuffs depending on whose makers stamp you think they might have been using.
Paul Davies
This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas Griffin of Digbeth Street in the town of Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Steel Collar maker. I give and bequeath to my son in law Joseph Hunt hereafter named the sum of twenty pounds to enable him and his family to provide a mourning and direct the same to be paid to him immediately or as soon as conveniently can be after my decease. I give and bequeath unto my Wife Mary the sum of fifty pounds and direct the same to be paid to her after end of twelve calendar months not after my decease. Also I give and bequeath all my Ale, beer, wines, liquors and provision of every species unto my said wife to her and for her own use and benefit. Also I give and bequeath all my ready money securities for money debts outstanding Stock in hand household furniture, Goods Chattels and personal estate of what nature or kind soever of or whereto I shall be possessed or entitled or have power to dispose at the time of my decease and not herein by use otherwise bequeathed unto my friends Isaac Hill of Digbeth Street Birmingham aforesaid Anvil Maker and James Nichols of Ashted in the Parish of Aston near Birmingham aforesaid Lock Maker their executors and administrators upon trust to permit and suffer my said wife to have hold and enjoy my household furniture, implements and utensils of household during the term of her natural life and upon trust to sell and dispose of such parts of my said Goods, Chattels personal estate and effects as shall not be held and enjoyed by my wife and not required in my trade which I have hereinafter directed to be carried on so soon as conveniently can be after my decease and collect and receive all debts and sums of money which shall be due or owing to me at the time of my decease and with and out of my ready money and the money to arise from such sale to pay debts which shall be justly due and owing from me at the time of my decease my funeral expenses and the costs and expenses of the Probate and execution of this my Will and the legacy by me herein given and bequeathed to my said wife and to hand of the surplus of the said money(if any) upon the trusts and for the interests and purposes hereinafter declared and I direct my said trustees to carry on my Trade and to employ therein my present capital, stock, tools, implements and utensils of Trade and during the life of my said wife to pay the gain and profits of my said Trade to her for her support and maintenance and from and after her decease then to pay the gains and profits of my said trade unto my daughter Mary Hunt wife of Joseph Hunt of Birmingham, Clerk to and for her own sole and separate use and benefit independent of every husband which she shall marry who shall not inherit the therewith not shall the same or any part thereof be subject or liable to his or their debts control and engagements and from and after my decease of my said wife I direct any said Trustees and the survivor of them his Executors or Administrators to stand possessed of my said household furniture, implements and other utensils of household upon trust to permit and suffer my said daughter Mary Hunt to have hold use and enjoy the same for and during the time of her natural life and from and after the decease of my said daughter Mary Hunt then as to my ready money Stock in hand implements of Trade and the gains and profits thereof in the mean time and my said household goods implements and utensils of household and other my personal estate upon trust that they my said Trustees or the survivor of their his Executors or Administrators do and shall stand and be possessed thereof respectively upon trust for all and every the present and future Children of my said daughter Mary Hunt equally to be divided between them if more than one share and share alike and if but one for such only child his or her executors or Administrators and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Isaac Hill and James Nichols joint executors of this my last Will and Testament and my Will is and I do hereby declare that one of my said Trustees and Executors shall not be answerable for the other or for his acts deeds receipts disbursements and defaults only and that each of them shall and may reimburse himself and allow to his Co Trustee and Executor out of the trust money and effects which shall come to their respective hands by virtue of this my Will all losses, damages and expenses which he may suffer or be put unto in the execution of this my Will or any matter relating thereunto set my hand and seal the third day of May One thousand Eight Hundred and Sixteen Thomas Griffin.
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Griffin the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who as well in his presence as in that of each other have subscribed our names as witness thereto the alterations throughouot the first side of the said Will having been previously made and ready over to the Testator Edward Cheney, Samuel Wakefield.
Proved at London 18th December 1816 before the Judge by the oaths of Isaac Hill and James Nichols the Executors to whom Admon was granted having been first sworn by Common duty to administer.
This may or may not help in dating your Griffin, Nichols or Griffin & Nichols cuffs depending on whose makers stamp you think they might have been using.
Paul Davies
This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas Griffin of Digbeth Street in the town of Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Steel Collar maker. I give and bequeath to my son in law Joseph Hunt hereafter named the sum of twenty pounds to enable him and his family to provide a mourning and direct the same to be paid to him immediately or as soon as conveniently can be after my decease. I give and bequeath unto my Wife Mary the sum of fifty pounds and direct the same to be paid to her after end of twelve calendar months not after my decease. Also I give and bequeath all my Ale, beer, wines, liquors and provision of every species unto my said wife to her and for her own use and benefit. Also I give and bequeath all my ready money securities for money debts outstanding Stock in hand household furniture, Goods Chattels and personal estate of what nature or kind soever of or whereto I shall be possessed or entitled or have power to dispose at the time of my decease and not herein by use otherwise bequeathed unto my friends Isaac Hill of Digbeth Street Birmingham aforesaid Anvil Maker and James Nichols of Ashted in the Parish of Aston near Birmingham aforesaid Lock Maker their executors and administrators upon trust to permit and suffer my said wife to have hold and enjoy my household furniture, implements and utensils of household during the term of her natural life and upon trust to sell and dispose of such parts of my said Goods, Chattels personal estate and effects as shall not be held and enjoyed by my wife and not required in my trade which I have hereinafter directed to be carried on so soon as conveniently can be after my decease and collect and receive all debts and sums of money which shall be due or owing to me at the time of my decease and with and out of my ready money and the money to arise from such sale to pay debts which shall be justly due and owing from me at the time of my decease my funeral expenses and the costs and expenses of the Probate and execution of this my Will and the legacy by me herein given and bequeathed to my said wife and to hand of the surplus of the said money(if any) upon the trusts and for the interests and purposes hereinafter declared and I direct my said trustees to carry on my Trade and to employ therein my present capital, stock, tools, implements and utensils of Trade and during the life of my said wife to pay the gain and profits of my said Trade to her for her support and maintenance and from and after her decease then to pay the gains and profits of my said trade unto my daughter Mary Hunt wife of Joseph Hunt of Birmingham, Clerk to and for her own sole and separate use and benefit independent of every husband which she shall marry who shall not inherit the therewith not shall the same or any part thereof be subject or liable to his or their debts control and engagements and from and after my decease of my said wife I direct any said Trustees and the survivor of them his Executors or Administrators to stand possessed of my said household furniture, implements and other utensils of household upon trust to permit and suffer my said daughter Mary Hunt to have hold use and enjoy the same for and during the time of her natural life and from and after the decease of my said daughter Mary Hunt then as to my ready money Stock in hand implements of Trade and the gains and profits thereof in the mean time and my said household goods implements and utensils of household and other my personal estate upon trust that they my said Trustees or the survivor of their his Executors or Administrators do and shall stand and be possessed thereof respectively upon trust for all and every the present and future Children of my said daughter Mary Hunt equally to be divided between them if more than one share and share alike and if but one for such only child his or her executors or Administrators and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Isaac Hill and James Nichols joint executors of this my last Will and Testament and my Will is and I do hereby declare that one of my said Trustees and Executors shall not be answerable for the other or for his acts deeds receipts disbursements and defaults only and that each of them shall and may reimburse himself and allow to his Co Trustee and Executor out of the trust money and effects which shall come to their respective hands by virtue of this my Will all losses, damages and expenses which he may suffer or be put unto in the execution of this my Will or any matter relating thereunto set my hand and seal the third day of May One thousand Eight Hundred and Sixteen Thomas Griffin.
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Griffin the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who as well in his presence as in that of each other have subscribed our names as witness thereto the alterations throughouot the first side of the said Will having been previously made and ready over to the Testator Edward Cheney, Samuel Wakefield.
Proved at London 18th December 1816 before the Judge by the oaths of Isaac Hill and James Nichols the Executors to whom Admon was granted having been first sworn by Common duty to administer.