THREE ANCIENT WILLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19962, 2 June 1928, Page 12

THREE ANCIENT WILLS.

ONE 800 YEARS OLD. DISCOVERY IN MELBOURNE. Historical interest attaches to the chance discovery, by a dealer in antique furniture, at Fitzroy, Melbourne, recently, o£ a secret receptacle in an old bureau containing ancient documents. These include three wills, one about 800 years old, another about 300 years old, and the third more than 100 years old. The dealer did not appreciate the value of his discovery until he received a visit from a wealthy customer. This man, a resident of Toorak, with grazing interests in New South Wales, who is a collector of antiques, bought the papers and the bureau, all of which are now in his home. The wills are in Latin, written on parchment in quaint old English characters, but they have been deciphered with some difficulty, and appear to relate to an English family, members of which are still living at the Manor House, where, in all probability, two of the wills were written."It is one of the most astonishing and interesting historical discoveries ever made in Australia," said Mr. P. M. Carew Smyth, an authority on antique furniture. "The documents are well preserved and, despite the quaint old English lettering, are quite readable. The first one seems to have been written during the reign of.Henry 11., the first of the Plantaganet kings, who succeeded Stephen in 1154, and reigned until 1189. The second will was made when Oliver Cromwell was Protector of England (1653-58), and the third during the reign of Georgei 111. (1760-1820). , '

"All the wills relate to the same family, descendants of which, according to records, are still in possession of the estates mentk led in the wills. I cannot disclose the name of the family, as it is possible that the wills may have some effect on persons now living." It was interesting -Vf> note that by the will made in the 17th century £5 was left to each of the writer's sisters, and the opinion was expressed that such a sum should be sufficient to provide for their needs for the remainder of their days. Apparently £5 was then a great sum. Mr. Carew Smith addeJ that it was highly improbable that the existence of the receptacle could not have been known. It seemed unlikely that it had been opened since the last of the three wills was made in George lll.'s reign.