The Will of Sir George Ivison Tapps, Baronet
Signed 18th July 1832
Probate granted 22nd August 1835

This is the last Will and Testament of me, Sir George Ivison Tapps of Hinton Admiral in the County of Southampton and of Great Cumberland Place in the County of Middlesex, Baronet;

I will and desire that all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses may be paid and satisfied;

And I give and bequeath unto the person or persons who at the time of my decease shall be the heir or coheirs at the Common Law of Joseph Jarvis Clarke late of Hinton Admiral aforesaid Esquire deceased the sum of two thousand pounds sterling to be paid within twelve calendar months after my decease to and for his her or their own absolute use and benefit And if there shall be coheirs the same to be divided between them as tenants in common and not as joint tenants and in the same shares or proportions (equally or inequally) as they would be entitled to a real estate descending from the said Joseph Jarvis Clarke and vesting in them at the time of my decease by descent from him as coheirs;

And as to for and concerning all my leasehold messuages or tenements, lands and premises holden for years, and all my household goods, furniture, plate, linen, china, ready money, money in the funds, and all the rest and residue of my personal chattels, personal estate and effects whatsoever nature and or sort the same may be or consist, after and subject to the payment of my said debts, funeral and testamentary expenses, and the legacy hereinbefore bequeathed, the same unto my only son George William Tapps, his executors administrators and assigns to and for his and their own use and benefit absolutely;

And as to for and concerning all my freehold hundreds, liberties, manors, lordships, messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever and all my copyhold messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments whatsoever and all and singular other my real estates of what nature kind or tenure soever and wheresoever situate and whether in possession reversion or remainder or expectancy with their and every of their rights members and appurtenances including any leasehold estates held by me for any life or lives I give and devise the same and every part thereof unto my said son George William Tapps his heirs and assigns to and for his and their own proper use and benefit absolutely and for ever;

And I do hereby constitute my said son George William Tapps sole Executor of this my Will hereby revoking all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made;

And it is my wish that my said son and his issue shall after my decease take and use in all deeds, letters, accounts and other writings whereto or wherein he or they shall be a party or parties, or which he or they shall sign, the name of "Gervis" in addition to the name of "Tapps" and quarter and use the Arms of Gervis (argent six ostrich feathers sable) with those of Tapps, and shall as soon as reasonably may be apply for and endeavour to obtain a proper licence from the Crown or take such other means as may be proper and requisite to enable or authorise him and them to take the said surname of "Gervis" and to use and quarter the Arms of Gervis with those of Tapps upon all future occasions, my object in the expression of the above wish being to mark my respect for the memory of Lady Mews who was one of the daughters and coheiresses of George Jarvis otherwise Gervis Esquire deceased, a descendant of the ancient family of Gervis of the County of Devon;

In witness whereof, I the said Sir George Ivison Tapps the testator have to this my last Will and Testament written and contained in two sheets of paper set my hand and seal in manner following, that is to say, my hand to the first sheet thereof and my hand and seal to this second and last sheet, the eighteenth day of July one thousand eight hundred and thirty two [Geo: I Tapps] Signed sealed published and declared by the said testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto: T.D. Philipps, Gentleman, Office of Woods, Whitehall, William Green, John Gardner, Salisbury Square, London.

Proved at London 22nd August 1835 before the Worshipful William Calverley Curtois[?] Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oath of Sir George William Tapps Bart., the son the sole Executor to whom Admon was granted having been first sworn only to administer.