Ann Watson willed her house, 'White House' in Stoneferry to be for ever appropriated to a college for Clergymen's widows and daughters of the Church of England faith. However,

by 1794 doubts were being raised as to the true meaning of a further clause in the original will which stated '...that in case of any of my kindred, of full or half blood, being either wife, maid or widow, although not clergymen's widows or children, she and they being of the Communion of the Church of England, shall have the first preference of this my intended charity, to be placed and settled in my said College and Charities in Stoneferry'

It was claimed that only relations of the Testatrix were being admitted to the College so that no Clergymen's widows or daughters were benefitting from the Charity. Counsel's opinion was sought on the true meaning of the clause and it was declared that the particular clause in question should only apply to her relatives living at the time of her death and not to be applied ad infinitum. In view of this an information was filed in the Court of Chancery about 1796 by the then Vicars of Holy Trinity, Sutton and Hedon.

The following series of records relate to the dealings in Chancery and the subsequent rulings relating to the appointment of Trustees.