Historical information

Tait collection: item 61 of 62 This document contains details on the Release Debenture drawn up between Emile Manton and other members of her family and Herbert Frederick Manton in 1889. The mother, Caroline Manton, died in 1889 and one of the executors of her will also died the same year. The document released the remaining executor, Herbert Frederick Manton, from his legal duties as executor and finalized his carrying out of the provisions of Caroline Manton’s will. The document was drawn up by the legal firm of Oldham and Chambers in Melbourne and was in the possession of Ernest Chambers who had legal offices in Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Koroit at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The document passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal offices in Kepler Street, Warrnambool and it was located in this building in 2014.

Significance

The document is of interest only in that it was drawn up by Ernest Chambers who later had a legal practice in Warrnambool.

Physical description

This is a document consisting of four white pages, bound with black cord and containing handwritten material (black ink) on seven sides of the pages. The document gives details of the Release Debenture drawn up by members of the Manton family following the death of Caroline Manton of South Yarra and the provisions of her will made in 1887. The document includes two pages of the Executors Accounts and the disbursements made to beneficiaries of the will. There are four green duty stamps pasted on to one of these pages. The signature of seven of the Manton family members have small red seals attached to each signature. The document is somewhat grubby around the page edges.