kerbent on Family Tree Circles

Thomas Jacka and Elizabeth Gilbert are my 5 x great grandparents
Thomas Jacka was christened on 15 Aug 1733 and married in 1760 to Elizabeth Gilbert, both events took place.in St Buryan.

Elizabeth Gilbert was born 9 July 1732 in St Buryan (sources: IGI, collaborated by The Jelbert Society in ?Thomas Gilbart (Morvah & St Buryan)?, this assertion is support by the custom of the day that marriages took place in the brides's church.

Thomas and Elizabeth are both buried in St Erth (source: Dee?s St Erth, Cornwall, UK Genealogy Page)). It is thought that Thomas?s father, John Jacka, originally came from St Erth so perhaps this is why Thomas returned there, before he died, perhaps there was some family connection there that drew him back.
Establishing the links between different family members
Transcription of the Probate/Death Duty Register entry for Thomas Jacka
(Source Citation: IR 26/339, EXETER: Cornwall Archdeaconry, Repository The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU)
(Note this is not the original will, but instead a copy made by the clerk.(source:CORNISH PROBATE RECORDS))

Date of the Probate or Admin & Sum Sworn
- 1796, May 4th, Under ?300
Name and description of Testator or Intestate
-Thomas Jacka of St Erth, Yeoman
Names & places of Abode of the Exeors or Administrators
? John, Joseph & James Jacka, Residuary Legatees, sons of John Jacka, The remainder of his goods
Auxiliary Legatees -
- Abraham Jacka, son, One hundred Pounds
- Elizabeth Jacka, Daughter, Fifty Pounds
- Ann Jacka, Daughter, Fifty Pounds

(Note - A 'yeoman' described as such in a nineteenth century census or directory was someone who owned his own land. This could be a big or a small landowner, especially when the term is used in a directory, but the census might more usually describe a big landowner as a 'landed proprietor'. A yeoman might in other contexts be described as a 'gentleman'source:- Index of Old Occupations)

All the children (see list below) except the two eldest sons, Thomas and William, are included in the Will. Both sons had already married so perhaps their father had already given them their inheritance while he was still alive?

Cornish Will Abstract for Thomas Jacka, St Erth yeoman
written - 04-Apr 1796
proved - 04-May 1796
pages - 421/422

son - Abraham
daughters - Elizth, Ann Jacka
3 sons - John, Joseph, James
witnesses - Thomas Ellis, James Otey

(Source:- Cornish Will Abstracts 1793 ? 1797, Microfilm #0090202, Barons ? Morishe Reference found on.Dee?s St Erth, Cornwall, UK Genealogy Page))
Note yet to be sighted, may contain further information that maybe of interest

Thomas Jacka and Elizabeth Gilbert?s children:
1. Thos (Thomas) JACKA 1760-1833) who married Anna Moyse in 1790
2. William JACKA (1763- ?) who married Margaret Wood in 1790
3. John JACKA (1764- ?) who married Mary Lambrick in 1800
4. Elizabeth JACKKA 1766-1849) who married William Jelbart in 1800
5. Abraham JACKA 1769- ?)married ?
6. Joseph JACKA (1771- ?) who married Charity Berryman in 1798
7. James JACCKA (1774- ?) who married Eleanor Hammill in 1800
8. Ann JACKA (1777- ?)

Interested in making contact with anyone also researching the Jacka and/or Gilbert names in Cornwall.

Sandra

Thomas Jacka is my 5 x great grandfather, so I was very excited when I found the listing of his will in the A2A archives. But now I realise locating the will is one thing but understanding is entirely another. If any one can shed any light on the context and meaning of the will that would be great. Below is a summary of my musings so far.

Transcription of the will entry
[Source Citation: IR 26/339, EXETER: Cornwall Archdeaconry, Repository The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU]
Date of the Probate or Admin & Sum Sworn - 1796, May 4th, Under ?300
Name and description of Testator or Intestate - Thomas Jacka of St Erth, Yeoman
Names & places of Abode of the Exeors or Administrators ? John, Joseph & James Jacka, Residuary Legatees, sons of John Jacka, The remainder of his goods
Auxiliary Legatees -
- Abraham Jacka, son, One hundred Pounds
- Elizabeth Jacka, Daughter, Fifty Pounds
- Ann Jacka, Daughter, Fifty Pounds

Notes
- Wills beginning in 1715, are not original wills, but are instead the copies made by the clerk.CORNISH PROBATE RECORDS

- that of all the children (see list below) the two eldest children Thomas and William are not included in the Probate. Both sons had already married so perhaps their father had already given them their inheritance while he was still alive.

Thomas Jacka and Elizabeth Gilbert?s children:
1. Thos (Thomas) JACKA1760-1833) who married Anna Moyse in 1790
2. William JACKA(1763- ?) who married Margaret Wood in 1790
3. John JACKA(1764- ?) who married Mary Lambrickin 1800
4. Elizabeth JACKKA1766-1849) who married William Jelbartin 1800
5. Abraham JACKA 1769- ?)married ?
6. Joseph JACKA(1771- ?) who married Charity Berryman in 1798
7. James JACCKA(1774- ?) who married Eleanor Hammillin 1800
8. Ann JACKA(1777- ?)


My questions
1. Is 300 pounds a lot of money for this era
2. Is it common for the oldest children to be left off the will etc; and if they could have been given their inheritance before the father died. What laws applied at the time etc, etc.
3. There are three "exeors" or administrators are John, Joseph and James Jacka.
a. Why isn't Abraham one of these, when he gets the biggest amount of money??
b. He doesn't seem to be married ? as yet I have found no such record?
c. Why aren't Thomas and William administrators? If they had already received their inheritance, couldn't they still have been administrators, especially seeing they are the eldest 2 sons??
d. Are Thomas and William living in the same town - perhaps they are living too far away to be involved?