The Will of William Cracroft Fooks QC

William Cracroft Fooks QC was a barrister and prominent Dartford citizen. Information about his life is at https://dartfordhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/William%20Cracroft%20Fooks%20QC%20%281812-99%29%20%3A%20Barrister%20at%20Law. 

He died on August 2^nd 1899 at his home, The Bowman’s Lodge, Dartford.

William’s will was signed on January 24^th 1897. It appointed his wife Julia and his sons William and Courtenay to be executors. He left his law books to his sons William and Courtenay, who were both barristers. The residue of his property was left on trust for his wife Julia Shears Fooks, for life. When she died, his six surviving children would each receive one seventh of the residue. They were

-          Ellen Cracroft Gibson (b 1838), who had married Frederick George Gibson in 1860

-          William Cracroft Fooks (b 1840)

-          Isabel Georgina Homewood (b 1844), who had married William Henry Homewood in 1867

-          Agnes Edith Holt White (b 1851), who had married Rashleigh Holt White in 1879

-          Julia Letitia Newton (b 1859), who had married Arthur William Newton in 1885

-          Courtenay Cracroft Spurrell (b 1860)

The remaining seventh share was divided equally between the four children of his deceased son, Walter Pemberton Fooks (b 1842).

The value of the estate was initially assessed as £11,513 7s 10d but later re-sworn as £13,341 1s 6d. This is equivalent to about £5,400,000 now (estimated in relation to the wage of the average worker).