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- This is the last Will and Testament of Ann Barlow, widow of the late Henry Barlow of Darlington in the county of Durham.
Firstly, I direct that as soon as may be after my decease, my debts and funeral and testamentary expenses to be paid by my trustees hereinafter named.
Secondly, I give devise and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Barlow, her executors administrators or assigns all the rest and remainders of my personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever for her own use and benefit absolutely.
Thirdly, I give and devise unto my executors where(?) Trust all my two cottages, tenements and appurteneances situated in Post House Wynd, Darlington for the use and benefit of my daughter Elizabeth Barlow during the term of her natural life, my said daughter Elizabeth Barlow to keep the said premises in good repair and to insure them against damage by fire, and after the decease of my daughter Elizabeth Barlow the said two cottages tenements and appurtenances with all rights and interests therewith belonging, be sold by auction or otherwise to the best advantage and the moneys or proceeds of such sale after all legal expenses of such sale shall have been paid, shall be divided equally between and given to my son Thomas Barlow and my son Samuel Barlow, their executors, administrators or assigns, for their own use and benefit absolutely.
Fourthly, I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Barlow his administrators, executors or assigns all my premises comprising Houses Shops and appurtenances together with all rights and interests thereunto belonging, situated at Cheapside, Chapel Row Shildon, in the county of Durham, for his absolute use and benefit on condition that within 6 months after my death he or his executors, administrators or assigns do pay unto my son Samuel Barlow his executors, ads or ass, the sum of thirty pounds, I cancelling all other debts owing to me by my son the said Samuel Barlow whether by promisory note or otherwise and by son Thomas Barlow paying likewise to Mary Crosby her ex, ad, or ass the sum of one hundred pounds for money received by me from her the said Mary Crosby.
Fifthly, Whereas I advance as part purchase money of the premises in Blackwellgate, Darlington, now being occupied by my daughter Ann Gibson, the sum of two hundred and thirty three pounds as loan chargeable and charged unto my said daughters Elizabeth Barlow and Ann Gibson, I hereby remit and discharge one hundred pounds of that sum on behalf of and for the interest and benefit of the said Ann Gibson her ex, ad, ass. And further the remaining one hundred and thirty three pounds of the sum first aforesaid I give bequeath and devise to my daughter Elizabeth Barlow, her ex, ad, ass for her use and benefit, saving only and except that she or her ex, ad, ass pay a cause to be paid to Ann Jobling(or Gosling) or her ex, ad, ass the sum of sixty pounds owing by me Ann Barlow to her the said Ann Jobling.
Sixthly. I nominate, constitute and appoint my aforesaid son Thomas Barlow as my Rsiduary Legatee, who shall to the best of his judgement dispose of any legacies or bequests which may be made to me or my ex, ad, ass for the equal benefit and interest of my children aforesaid or their ex, ad, ass.
Lastly I nominate constitute and appoint William Coor Parker of Darlington and William Veitch of Shildon and Coundon to be the trustees and executors of this my last will and testament as witness my hand this sixth day of September one thousand eight undred and sixty six.
Ann Barlow
Witnessed William Riley and Alfred Evans
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A Testimony of Darlington Monthly Meeting, concerning Ann Barlow, a Minister, deceased.
While we have not, in recording the decease of our dear friend Ann Barlow, to speak of long and arduous journeys as a preacher of the Gospel, she never having traveled in that capacity, or to allude to extended services of this character in our religious meetings, we believe that she was enabled to exercise a ministry amongst and around us which ought to be had in grateful remembrance to the praises of the grace of our God in Jesus Christ.
Ann Barlow was born of parents not in profession with us, but of whose pious care she often spoke, and it would appear that through the divine blessing she was led from childhood to view the dear Saviour as the one object of her love, and religion as the only think to afford present as well as eternal happiness. With deepening views of the sinfulness of sin and the value of that redemption which comes by Christ, she early became a member of the Wesleyan Methodist body, and was the first to commence the work of Sabbath-school teaching in Darlington, a labour of love in which she ever retained a lively interest.
Her connexion with the Wesleyans continued until she became solemnly convinced that the future of her religious life should be in conformity with the principles and practices of the Society of Friends. After much heart-searching and various trials, she applied for membership, and was received by this Monthly Meeting in the year 1842. Having taken this step in the obedience of faith, her peace flowed, and her zeal for her Master's cause was great. She soon felt constrained to speak as a minister amongst us, and was acknowledged as such in the year 1850. Her public engagements in ministry and prayer were not frequent, but earnest and fervent, accompanied by a remarkable evidence of a devout and largely experienced mine, we believe uniformly to the comfort of Friends. In connexion herewith our dear friend had or cordial love and esteem; her sincere piety, tender sympathizing spirit and deep religious exercise in our meetings greatly endeared her to us, and we sensibly feel her vacant place.
Ann Barlow's position in life led to her having the direct care of her children and considerable share in the management of her husband's business, and, as he was truly religious man, they ever maintained a character for great integrity, and, through watching unto prayer, much christian circumstance. Our dear friend was the sympathizing visitor of the sick, the afflicted and the dying, in which duties she had great service.
Having endeavoured, by Divine aid, to fulfil the varied duties of a long life, and been favoured to know her beloved husband and more than one of their descendants brought to see eye to eye with her religious faith and practice, and having arranged her temporal affairs, she retired, in her widowhood, a little way into the country, in the rich enjoyment of the pardoning love of God and her Saviour's peace. She still frequently attended out meetings, but when un able to do so, would gather around her a few neighbors, and read and labour with them for their souls' good. Many were the deeply instructive interviews with her friends which she had during her last illness, in which divine support was manifestly near. Upon one occasion she appeared much tried, saying, "I feel I have been so unfaithful, a sense of my great weakness and want of ability has often closed my mouth, and I have withheld what He gave me for others." Then her faith and hope revived, and she was enabled to rest solely upon Christ as her all-sufficient Saviour, often exclaiming, "Nothing but love fills my soul." The Holy Scriptures had ever been her delight, and now she felt the force and comfort of them. Reference being made to the mansions prepared for the disciples of our Lord, she said, with some other remarks, "Yes, I see his beaming face, and shall soon see it for ever, but I must not be too anxious for comfort. I want perfect resignation - my will entirely lost in the will of God."
After about three weeks' illness, in which she had given such evidence of the Christian faith, the disease attacked the head, producing much physical and mental depression, but her calmness and patience were often very instructive.
We reverently believe that she was one of those servants who are accepted as followers of the Lamb, and that, in robes washed and made white in his blood, she is with Him in the presence of God for ever.
She died on the 10th of Third Month, 1867, and was interred in Friends' burial-ground at Darlington on the 14th of the same; aged eighty years; an acknowledged minister above seventeen years.
Source: Extracts from the minutes and proceedings of the yearly meeting of Friends held in London 1868.
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