The

last will and testament A will or testament is a legal document that expresses a person's (testator) wishes as to how their property ( estate) is to be distributed after their death and as to which person ( executor) is to manage the property until its final distributi ...

of Frederica Evelyn Stilwell Cook, who died 9 January 1925, age 68, is thought to be the longest will ever filed for probate.

The will

The will was 1066 pages (95,940 words) and occupied four gilt-edged, leather-

bound Bound or bounds may refer to: Mathematics * Bound variable * Upper and lower bounds, observed limits of mathematical functions Physics * Bound state, a particle that has a tendency to remain localized in one or more regions of space Geography *B ...

volumes Volume is a measure of occupied three-dimensional space. It is often quantified numerically using SI derived units (such as the cubic metre and litre) or by various imperial or US customary units (such as the gallon, quart, cubic inch). The defi ...

. It was entered into probate at Somerset House, the then home of the Principal Probate Registry in London, on 2 November 1925. Of the four volumes in which the will was bound, two contain 702 pages each, and the other two 406 pages each. The paper is gilt-edged and the bindings are of leather with heavy corners and canvas covers. Aside from the pages containing the introductory clauses, the pages are ruled with a single column and contain a priced inventory of laces, jewellery, furs, embroideries, dressing bags and objects of art. A large number of the articles are explained in footnotes. A large part of the will is in Cook's own handwriting. It is dated 17 October 1919, but there is a codicil dated 2 March 1924. Probate of the will was granted to Cook's brother and son, both of them Londoners, the latter a racing motorist. Practically all of her bequests were to her children, and her two executors were directed to burn her diaries, to bury her wedding ring with her, and to see that her age is not inscribed on her tombstone. She is buried in

Richmond Cemetery Richmond Cemetery is a cemetery on Lower Grove Road in Richmond in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England. The cemetery opened in 1786 on a plot of land granted by an Act of Parliament the previous year. The cemetery has been expande ...

, then on the outskirts of London; section J, grave 1289.

Frederica Evelyn Stilwell Cook

Frederica Evelyn Stilwell Cook was the daughter of F. J. Freeland, and married Wyndham Francis Cook, younger son of Sir

Francis Cook, 1st Viscount of Monserrate Sir Francis Cook, 1st Baronet, 1st Viscount (23 January 1817 – 17 February 1901) was a British merchant and art collector. Early life Cook was born on 23 January 1817 in Clapham, London. He was the son of William Cook and Mary Ann (née Lainson ...

, and Emily Martha Lucas, on 22 November 1887. Her children were: *Humphrey Wyndham Cook (March 1893 – 1978). Racing driver. His stepson David Blakely was murdered by Ruth Ellis, who became the last woman in Britain to be executed. *Cecil Emily Freda Wyndham Cook b. 1 Jul 1896 *Ursula Maud Wyndham Cook b. 20 Nov 1900

References

{{Reflist Wills and trusts in the United Kingdom 1925 in England Cook, Frederica Evelyn Stilwell