Will of John Taylor, 1789
From The Muniment Room, a resource for social history, family history, and local history.
John Taylor (ob.1789) was Park Keeper at North Stoneham Park in the late 18th century. He came originally from the Willis family estates at Whaddon in Buckinghamshire.
Transcription
In the Name of God Amen I John Taylor of the Parish of North Stoneham in the County of Southampton late Park Keeper to John Fleming Esquire being weak in Body but of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding praised be God for the same do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say)
I commend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executor and Executrix hereinafter named
Also I give and direct that all my just Debts and Funeral Expences be paid by my Executor and Executrix as soon as may be after my decease
Also I give and bequeath to Mrs Tabitha Wood Widow the sum of Fifty pounds and to my Godsons William Cox and James Channell the Sum of ten pounds a piece to be paid to them respectively within one year after my decease
Also I give and bequeath to William Gaskins otherwise Taylor Cordwainer natural Son of Mary Gaskins late of Whaddon in the County of Bucks but now deceased all my wearing apparel together with my Watch and Silver Buckles to be delivered to him as soon as possible after my decease
Also I give and bequeath unto my dear Wife Susannah Taylor all and singular my Household Goods Furniture Linen and China together with my three Cows for her own use and disposal and I give devise and bequeath all and singular my Freehold and Copyhold Lands Tenements Barns Stables and Hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever the same are situate or may be found unto my said dear wife Susannah Taylor to hold to her the said Susannah Taylor for and during the term of her natural life to her own sole use and Benefit and from and after her decease I give devise and bequeath the same unto my Nephews Thomas King of Nash in the County of Bucks Yeoman and John King of Bam hill? in the same County yeoman and to their Heirs and Assigns for ever as Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants
And Whereas I am now entitled to the Sum of Five Hundred Pounds Stock in the three Per Cent consolidated and reduced Annuities and also to sum of thirty three pounds Per Annum or thereabouts short annuities payable at the Bank of England Now I do hereby give and bequeath the said Sum of Five Hundred Pounds Stock and also to sum of Thirty Three pounds per Annum or thereabouts short Annuities and each of them and all my Right therein unto the said Thomas King his Executors Administrators and Assigns upon Trust nevertheless to and for the several uses Intents and purposes hereinafter expressed concerning the same (that is to say) Upon Trust in the first place with the soonest convenience after my decease to sell and dispose of so much or such part of my share of and in the Capital or joint Stock of the said Short Annuities as shall be sufficient to make up any deficiency that may happen in the produce of the Rest and Residue of my personal Estate hereunder mentioned and by me directed to be applied according to the Extent thereof in the payment of my just Debts Legacies and Funeral Expences and the Costs attending the Execution of this my Will and also to raise such Sum or Sums of Money as may be necessary to purchase from Mr Lowman of Winslow in the County of Bucks aforesaid cordwainer the Residue of all such Time of Service of the said William Gaskins otherwise Taylor as the said Lowman shall be then entitled to under certain Indenture of Apprenticeship now subsisting between him and the said William Gaskins otherwise Taylor and from and after such Sale Then upon Trust to permit and suffer my said wife Susannah Taylor to receive and take the Interest and proceed of the then Residue of the said shol1 annuities and also of the said Five hundred pounds Stock to and for her own use during the term of her natural Life and from and after her decease Then upon Trust to pay or transfer the said Sum of Five hundred pounds Stock unto the said William Gaskins otherwise Taylor to and for his own use and disposal and also the Sum of One hundred Pound in the said Capital or joint Stock of the said short Annuities parcel of the aforesaid residue of the same unto my nephew Edmund Taylor or in case of his decease to his legal Representatives to and for his or their own use and disposal and from and after such payment or Transfer of the said two last mentioned Sums of Five hundred pounds and one hundred pounds Then upon Trust to retain to his or their own use the Residue of any of the said short Annuities and to for or upon no other use Trust or purpose whatsoever But if it happen that the said William Gaskins otherwise Taylor shall depart this Life before he shall be entitled to the aforesaid Five hundred pound Stock then and in such case it is my Will and Meaning that the same shall go and be divided between the said Thomas King and John King or in case of their death between their legal Representatives in equal Moieties All the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Estate real and personal not herein before disposed of together with all and singular my Monies and Securities for Money and all such debts as shall be due and owing to me at the time of my decease I give devise and bequeath the same unto the said Thomas King and my wife Susannah Taylor and to the survivor of them their his or her Heirs Executors Administrator and Assigns for ever Upon Trust nevertheless with the soonest conveniency after my decease to sell and dispose of the said Rest and Residue of my said real and personal Estate and to collect get in and receive all and singular my said Monies and Debts and thereafter pay and apply the produce of the same in the payment and discharge of my aforesaid Debts Legacies and Funeral Expences and of the Costs attending the executing this my Will or as far forth therein as such produce will extend unto and to for or upon no other Trust Intent or Purpose whatsoever And l do hereby make constitute and appoint the said Thomas King and my said Wife Executor and Executrix of this my Will and l do hereby direct that my said Executor and Executrix shall be answerable for his or her own Acts and Deeds only and not the one for the other or for the acts or deeds of the other and that they or either of them shall not be answerable for any Loss that may happen to all or any part of the aforesaid Trust Estate unless the same be through their his or her wilful neglect or default and that they and each of them shall retain or receive out of the aforesaid Trust estates all such Costs Charges and Expences as they or either of them shall necessarily expend or be put unto touching the Execution of this my Will and Lastly I do hereby revoke all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof I the said John Taylor have to this my Will contained in two Sheets of paper set my hand to the first and to this last my hand and Seal the twentieth day of July one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine
The Mark of John Taylor Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator John Taylor as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our Names as Witnesses hereto Jas. Bradby, John Smith, Is. Galpiney
This Will was proved at London the twenty ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine before the worshipful John Nicholl Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Honourable Sir William Wynne Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oaths of Thomas King and Susannah Taylor Widow the Relict of the deceased the Executors named in the said Will to whom administration of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased was granted they having been first sworn duly to administer.
