This Discharge of Legacy is for my 6 x great grandfather Cozens Read’s daughter Jane who married Richard May in 1766.
For several years I researched Richard Mayo because that was how his name was shown in various records and then when I found this Discharge of Legacy, it too shows his surname as Mayo. But May is the correct name. Perhaps it really was Mayo but pronounced May??
It is also interesting that this document is not actually signed!! And no Witnesses shown! So what does that mean? Was the money paid to Richard for his wife Jane? Did something happen just when the money was paid that prevented anyone signing the document?
I photocopied original document which was in a private collection - copyright 2010
Transcript of Discharge of Legacy
June 1783
Reced then by me Richard Mayo one hundred and fifty pounds of and from Michael Read and Edward Read the Sons and Executors of Cozens Read deced being the legacies left to my wife Jane one of the daughters of the said Cozens Read in and by his last Will and Testament and Codicil thereto annexed as Witness my hand the day and year above written.
Witness.
