Following previous messages re the GILLAM family, I have been transcribing the will of Cornelius GILLAM made in 1797 and proved by PCC in 1801. I thought i’d mention key people, properties and a few other details mentioned in the will in case any of you are related to the mentioned families. Cornelius GILLAM of City of Bristol, gentleman.... to my dearly beloved wife Elizabeth GILLAM fifty eight pounds per annum annuities (from investment in bank of England) if she should die the same to Joseph MAURICE son in law....to be used for the education of my children Sophia and Louisa... also the interests produce and improvements of all my freehold messuages gardens and lands ...being in the parish of St John the Baptist in the Borough of Devizes... if both daughters should die before reaching 21 years ..pass to my sister Susanna GILLAM. To my trustee Joseph MAURICE all my five leasehold messuages.....being in Lamb St in the parish of St Augustine in the City of Bristol and now in the tenure or occupation of John WARREN, Thomas FOX, John BATTLE, John ACKLAND and William BIGWOOD and which I hold under lease from Samuel WORRALL Esq... instructions to sell the leasehold estate and give my sister Susanna GILLAM the sum of 406 pounds and 8 shillings with interest due... also to Elizabeth GILLAM freehold house & garden in Somerset Street, parish of St Paul, Bristol.. to my sister in law Sarah COPE (sister of my dear wife)... 16 pounds annual rent, tax free He also made provision that no husband of either daughter could take over the wealth he had left his daughters (which I thought was quite modern thinking!) I suspect 58 pounds per annum was extremely wealthy in that day and age, but I wonder why he left his sister such a strange amount? Perhaps he owed her. This will was about 4 pages long. I also have the will for Benjamin GILLAM (Cornelius’ brother) which spans 13 pages and is much poorer condition to read. Amanda Kerby NZ