In the Name of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost  -  I Edmund Steer of Higher Combe in the Parish of Diptford in the County of Devon Yeoman being of sound and perfect mind and memory do hereby make this my last Will and Testament dated this twelfth day of October one Thousand eight hundred and thirty seven and in the first year of the reign of her Majesty Queen Victoria    First I will and direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses are to be paid by my executor   I give and bequeath to my beloved wife one clear annuity or sum of fifteen pounds per annum during her natural life to be paid by equal quarterly payments the payment thereof to be made on the first full Quarter day after my decease    I also subject all my real Estate in the parish of Diptford to the payment of the said annuity with full power to distrain for the same after demand having been made   I also give my Wife the choice of a bed and all necessary furniture thereto      I give and bequeath unto my son Philip eight hundred Pounds of lawful Money to be paid within one Year after my decease with Interest after the rate of 4 per cent per annum but if my son Philip should happen to die before myself or marry and leave a Child or Children in that case my said son Philip is at liberty to dispose of the said eight hundred Pounds after my decease in such way as he may think right amongst his said Children and my Will is that it shall not lapse to the Devisee or Executor   I give and bequeath one hundred Pounds and Interest to be equally divided between the four Children of my late daughter Mary Heath to share and share alike as they shall attain their respective age or ages of twenty one years but if either one of the said children should be married before attaining the age of twenty one years and leave a child or children the said Child or Children shall be entitled to the Father or mothers portion so given or bequeath and not to be a lapsed Legacy to the Executor    I also give and bequeath to my four aforesaid Grand  Children one hundred Pounds of lawful Money to be paid seven years after my decease and I subject my real Estate in Diptford to the payment of the said  two Hundred Pounds   I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Heath Seventy three Pounds of lawful Money to be paid one year after my decease but if my said daughter should die before she is entitled at the aforesaid year’s end then in that case her Child or Children (if any) are to be entitled to the said Seventy three (here in the will the words ‘one Hundred’ have been crossed out in swirling writing and a note in the margin states ‘so in original’) Pounds to share and share alike   I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann Parnell Seventy Pounds of lawful Money to be paid within one year after my decease but if my said daughter should died before she is entitled to the said seventy Pounds then in that case her Child or Children / if any / are to be entitled to the said seventy Pounds to share and share alike   I give and bequeath unto my daughter Alice Two Hundred Pounds of lawful Money to be paid her as soon as she shall attain the age of twenty one years or at my decease   I further subject my real Estate in Diptford aforesaid liable and bound to pay and discharge the aforesaid annuity and legacies.    Edmund Steer    Witnesses :-   John Hingston, Mary Clapp, The mark of X William Damrell (sic)

I also give and bequeath all the rest and residue of my real and Freehold Estates namely called higher Coombe Lower Coombe Pepper hill and Oldaway in the said Parish of Diptford Devon together with all my leases mony (sic) goods Stock of Cattle Corn Pasture and all other property not heretofore given or bequeath unto my son John Steer and his heirs and assigns for ever and I also constitute nominate and appoint my said son John Steer whole and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament with full power to sue for all debts due to the said Estate both at Law and in equity and I hereby revoke all other Will or Wills by me made   In Witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal the day and year before Written on the first sheet and signed by me in both sheets    Interlined in the thirteenth line the sixteens line and twenty second line with the words of seventy three and an erasure      Edmund Steer
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names in his presence and in the presence of each other as Witnesses : Jno Hingston and Mary Clapp and The mark X of William Damrell

[Edmund Steer died on 15th March 1839 and the will was proved at the Archdeacon¹s Court of Totnes on the 20th April 1839 : John Steer is described as ‘of Higher Coombe’ and ‘Yeoman Sole’]

The only Philip Steer death that Jack Steer can find that would explain him missing the 1851 census took place in Q2 1848 in Crediton district, Devon (GRO X 49)

died 1832-1834