A note from the Editors:
Recent research by Dan shows Oliver being 3 in the 1901 census, making him just 19 when he made this Will...
NOTE: We do not know his date of birth yet, but he joined the OTC in Sept '15, and we assume that was when he turned 17. )
The Wishes of O.C. Pearson Supposing he be killed
"This has been made out not because I have any intention or thought of dying but because “In the midst of life we are in death” & because accidents will happen & because an aimans death is such a sudden one & may happen anytime."
13.3.17
1. That the letter enclosed herewith be delivered to his father & mother.
2. That all the following be subject to his father & mothers own wishes.
3. That his father and mother keep anything they may wish to as a memento of him.
4. That if possible he be buried in Gonalstone churchyard by the Rev Canon Ferris.
The service to be an entirely family one. His headstone to be a rough granite boulder untrimmed except where his name etc is put on it. This to be an emblem of what he tried to be but often failed. This grave he wishes to be kept as bright as possible with growing flowers all the year round with nothing imitation on it & with a plant of ivy to grow up the headstone.
5. He would like a momento out of his very own belongings, however trivial, to be sent to all his friends who would care to have one, & and would value it.
6. His eggs & butterflies & all to do with them go to his brother.
His stamps go to his cousin Donald Pearson.
Betty & Carina can have anything they like but he does not know what to allot to them now as he does not know what they value among his stuff.
His flying gloves go to his father.
He cannot give his mother anything definitely for the same reason as his sisters.
7. No mourning (Black dresses etc) are to be bought on purpose. He considers this a waste of money expressing nothing & doing him no good so if his relations have no black he would like them to wear white or any other colour as wearing black is simply a fashion & expresses nothing.
8. His pipes are to go to Holland.
9. He would like the following people to be told of his death
Mrs Veronica Hinkley
Edward Brown
(address) c/o R Hampton Clucas Esq
Lindene
Lingfield Avenue
Kingston on Thames
Miss B Gibson
All of the above he considers as his 4 best friends & would like them to remember him.
10. The money that stands to my credit at Coxs to be used to defray the expenses of my burial. Anything over goes to the Lowdham District Nursing Assoc. or some such institution of which mother is Sec &Treasurer.
11. My coffin is to be taken to church on a J.R.P. dray : (anything not in a hearse). The dray to be drawn by a J.R.P. horse.
This has been made out not because I have any intention or thought of dying but because “In the midst of life we are in death” & because accidents will happen & because an airman's death is such a sudden one & may happen anytime.
This is very incomplete & will be amended as I think of things by notes on the back of the sheets.
Signed
O.C. Pearson 2nd Lt R.F.C.
Recent research by Dan shows Oliver being 3 in the 1901 census, making him just 19 when he made this Will...
NOTE: We do not know his date of birth yet, but he joined the OTC in Sept '15, and we assume that was when he turned 17. )
The Wishes of O.C. Pearson Supposing he be killed
"This has been made out not because I have any intention or thought of dying but because “In the midst of life we are in death” & because accidents will happen & because an aimans death is such a sudden one & may happen anytime."
13.3.17
1. That the letter enclosed herewith be delivered to his father & mother.
2. That all the following be subject to his father & mothers own wishes.
3. That his father and mother keep anything they may wish to as a memento of him.
4. That if possible he be buried in Gonalstone churchyard by the Rev Canon Ferris.
The service to be an entirely family one. His headstone to be a rough granite boulder untrimmed except where his name etc is put on it. This to be an emblem of what he tried to be but often failed. This grave he wishes to be kept as bright as possible with growing flowers all the year round with nothing imitation on it & with a plant of ivy to grow up the headstone.
5. He would like a momento out of his very own belongings, however trivial, to be sent to all his friends who would care to have one, & and would value it.
6. His eggs & butterflies & all to do with them go to his brother.
His stamps go to his cousin Donald Pearson.
Betty & Carina can have anything they like but he does not know what to allot to them now as he does not know what they value among his stuff.
His flying gloves go to his father.
He cannot give his mother anything definitely for the same reason as his sisters.
7. No mourning (Black dresses etc) are to be bought on purpose. He considers this a waste of money expressing nothing & doing him no good so if his relations have no black he would like them to wear white or any other colour as wearing black is simply a fashion & expresses nothing.
8. His pipes are to go to Holland.
9. He would like the following people to be told of his death
Mrs Veronica Hinkley
Edward Brown
(address) c/o R Hampton Clucas Esq
Lindene
Lingfield Avenue
Kingston on Thames
Miss B Gibson
All of the above he considers as his 4 best friends & would like them to remember him.
10. The money that stands to my credit at Coxs to be used to defray the expenses of my burial. Anything over goes to the Lowdham District Nursing Assoc. or some such institution of which mother is Sec &Treasurer.
11. My coffin is to be taken to church on a J.R.P. dray : (anything not in a hearse). The dray to be drawn by a J.R.P. horse.
This has been made out not because I have any intention or thought of dying but because “In the midst of life we are in death” & because accidents will happen & because an airman's death is such a sudden one & may happen anytime.
This is very incomplete & will be amended as I think of things by notes on the back of the sheets.
Signed
O.C. Pearson 2nd Lt R.F.C.
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