Will of Richard Betham of North Marston, yeoman, 1731

Bucks Archives, D/A/Wf/78/228

In the Name of God Amen I Richard Betham of North Marston in the County of Bucks Yeoman being indisposed in Body but of sound and perfect mind and memory praised be Almighty God therefore and considering the certainty of death and the uncertain time thereof do this eighteenth day of August anno dni 1731 make and ordained this my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say) first and principally I commend my soul Into the hands of Almighty God who gave it and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently Buried at the discretion of my executrix herein after named and as for such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with I give and dispose thereof as followeth Impri(mi)s I give will devise and Bequeath all that my messuage or tenement in North Marston aforesaid which is now in the occupation of Joseph Harris and the appertenances belonging to the same and also my close of pasture ground in North Marston aforesaid which I purchased of John Woorrall and the cottage commons and appertenances thereto belonging and also my five Ridges of arable land and One Ley of sweard ground lying in the common fields of North Marston aforesaid which I likewise purchased of the said John Woorrall and the commons and appertenances belonging to the same and also my Quarterne yard land and half Quarterne yard land lying in the common fields of North Marston aforesaid which I purchased of Thomas Grace and the appertenances thereto belonging (Except the two Butts of Ley ground parcel thereof that lye next my said Close of pasture ground which I purchased of John Woorrall) unto my loving wife Sarah Betham for and during the term of her natural life and from and after her death then unto my daughter Anne Dancer for and during the term of her natural life and from and after the death of the survivor of them the said Sarah Betham and Anne Dancer then unto Robert Dancer my Grandson and his heirs forever Provided always and upon this condition nevertheless that if the said Robert Dancer or his heirs do and shall out of the same well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto my Grandchildren Mary Eeles Elizabeth Dancer and John Dancer fifty pounds each of lawful money of Great Britain as they shall respectively attain the age of one and twenty years or within six months next after the death of the survivor of them the said Sarah Betham my wife and Anne Dancer my daughter which shall last happen and do also (in case any or either of them the said Mary Eeles Elizabeth Dancer and John Dancer my Grandchildren shall happen to depart this life before his her or their fifty pounds hereby appointed to be paid shall be due and payable) well and truly pay or cause to be paid the said sum or sums of fifty pounds hereby appointed for him her or them so dying unto and amongst the survivors of them each of them an equal share thereof as they shall respectively attain the age of One and twenty years or within six months next after the death of the survivor of them the said Sarah Betham my wife and Anne Dancer my daughter or of the death of such of my said Grandchildren which shall so happen to die which shall last happen But in case the said Robert Dancer my Grandson and his heirs shall neglect or Refuse to pay unto my said Grandchildren Mary Eeles Elizabeth Dancer and John Dancer or any or either of them the sum or sums of money I have herein before appointed to be paid unto them or any part or parcel thereof when due and payable then I give will devise and Bequeath the said messuage or tenement Closes lands Commons and premises aforesaid with their and every of their appertenances (Except as is herein before Excepted) unto the said Mary Eeles Elizabeth Dancer and John Dancer my Grandchildren and their heirs forever Item I give will Devise and Bequeath all that my One yard land lying in the parish of North Marston aforesaid which I purchased of Thomas Stevens and the Commons profits and appertenances belonging to the same unto the said Sarah Betham my loving Wife for and during the term of her natural life and from and after her death then unto the said Robert Dancer my Grandson and his heirs forever Provided always and upon this Condition nevertheless that if he the said Robert Dancer my Grandson or his heirs do and shall out of the same yearly and every year during the natural life of Sarah Dutton my daughter well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto the said Sarah Dutton my daughter into her own hands and for her own separate use within the parish of North Marston aforesaid in case she shall appear there in person to receive the same the sum of nine pounds of lawful money of Great Britain at four quarterly payments the first payment thereof to be due and payable three months next after the death of the said Sarah Betham my Wife and also out of the same in case the said Sarah Betham my Wife and the said Sarah Dutton my daughter shall both of them happen to depart this life before my Grandsons Betham Dutton and William Dutton shall have attained the age of One and twenty years we’ll and truly pay or cause to be paid unto each of them the said Betham Dutton and William Dutton my Grandchildren the sum of four pounds and ten shillings a year of lawful money of Great Britain until they shall respectively have attained the age of One and twenty years and the same to become payable to them from the time of the death of the survivor of them the said Sarah Betham my Wife and Sarah Dutton my daughter and do also out of the same well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto my said Grandchildren Betham Dutton and William Dutton as they shall respectively attain the age of One and twenty years or within six months next after the death of the survivor of them the said Sarah Betham my Wife and Sarah Dutton my daughter which shall last happen the sum of fifty pounds each of lawful money of Great Britain and do also (in case either of them the said Betham Dutton and William Dutton my Grandchildren shall happen to depart this life before his fifty pounds hereby appointed to be paid shall be due and payable) well and truly pay or cause to be paid the said sum of fifty pounds hereby appointed for him so dying unto the survivor of them the said Betham Dutton and William Dutton my Grandchildren at such time as such survivor shall have attained the age of One and twenty years or within six months next after the death of him so dying or of the death of the survivor of them the said Sarah Betham my Wife and Sarah Dutton my daughter which shall last happen and do also out of the same well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto and amongst my Granddaughters Hannah Clarke Sarah Clarke and Mary Clarke the sum of One hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain Each of them an equal share thereof as they shall respectively attain the age of One and twenty years or within six months next after the death of the said Sarah Betham my Wife which shall last happen and do also out of the same well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto and amongst my said Granddaughters Hannah Clarke Sarah Clarke and Mary Clarke the further sum of One hundred pounds of like lawful money of Great Britain Each of them an equal share thereof as they shall respectively attain the age of One and twenty years or within six months next after the death of the survivor of them the said Sarah Betham my Wife and Sarah Dutton my daughter which shall last happen and do also (in case any or either of them the said Hannah Clarke Sarah Clarke and Mary Clarke my Grandchildren shall happen to depart this life before her or their share of the sum or sums of money herein before appointed to be paid unto them shall be due  and payable) well and truly pay or cause to be paid the share or shares of her or them so dying which shall remain unpaid unto and amongst the survivors or survivor of them  (If more than one) Each of them an equal share thereof as it shall become due and payable and if but One then the whole to such child when due and payable But in case the said Robert Dancer my Grandson and his heirs shall neglect or Refuse to pay unto the said Sarah Dutton my daughter the said nine pounds a year in manner as aforesaid or shall neglect or Refuse to pay unto my said Grandchildren Betham Dutton William Dutton Hannah Clarke Sarah Clarke and Mary Clarke or any or either of them the sum or sums of money I have herein before appointed to be paid unto them or any part or parcel thereof when due and payable then I give will Devise and Bequeath the said One yard land which I purchased of Thomas Stevens and the Commons profits and appertenances belonging to the same unto the said Sarah Dutton my daughter the said Betham Dutton William Dutton Hannah Clarke Sarah Clarke and Mary Clarke my Grandchildren and their heirs forever Item I Give will Devise and Bequeath all those my two Closes of pasture and meadow ground in the parish of Quainton in the said County of Bucks which lye next North Marston field and are called or known by the name of Carters Closes and also all the hedges ditches freeboards and appertenances whatsoever to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining unto the said Sarah Betham my loving Wife for and during the term of her natural life and from and after her death then unto my Daughter Elizabeth Stevens for and during the term of her natural life and from and after the death of the survivor of them the said Sarah Betham my Wife and Elizabeth Stevens my daughter then unto my Grandson Richard Stevens and his heirs forever paying \thereout unto Robert Stevens my Grandson Fifty pounds within six months next after he or they shall be possest thereof/ Item I Give Will Devise and Bequeath  my other two Closes of pasture and meadow ground in the parish of Quainton aforesaid which are also called Carters Closes and the hedges ditches freeboards and appertenances belonging to the same unto the said Sarah Betham my loving Wife for and during the term of her natural life and from and after her death then unto Robert Stevens my Son in Law and his heirs forever Provided always and upon this Condition nevertheless that if the said Robert Stevens or his heirs do and shall out of the same yearly and every year during the natural life of Hannah Plomer my daughter well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto my Grandsons John Plomer and William Plomer and unto my Granddaughters Sarah Plomer Hannah Plomer and Elizabeth Plomer fifty pounds each of lawful money of Great Britain But in case the said Robert Stevens my Son in Law and his heirs shall neglect or Refuse to pay unto the said Hannah Plomer my daughter the said ten pounds a year in manner as aforesaid or shall neglect or Refuse to pay unto my said Grandchildren John Plomer William Plomer Sarah Plomer Hannah Plomer and Elizabeth Plomer or any or either of them the sum or sums of money I have herein before appointed to be paid unto them or any part or parcel thereof when due and payable then I Give Will Devise and Bequeath the said two Closes of pasture and meadow ground last mentioned lying in the parish of Quainton aforesaid which are called Carter’s Closes and the hedges ditches freeboards ways profits and appertenances belonging to the same unto the said Hannah Plomer my daughter for and during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after her death then to the said John Plomer William Plomer Sarah Plomer Hannah Plomer and Elizabeth Plomer my Grandchildren and their heirs forever Item I Give Will Devise and Bequeath my four Ridges of arable land lying in the parish of North Marston aforesaid which I purchased of William Cripps and the appertenances belonging to the same unto John Dutton my Grandson and his heirs forever Item I Give Will Devise and Bequeath my said two Butts of Ley ground that lye next my said Close of pasture ground which I purchased of John Woorrall and the appertenances belonging to the same unto the said Sarah Betham my loving Wife for and during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after her death then to the said Betham Dutton my Grandson and his heirs forever Item I Give Will Devise and Bequeath all that Barne which is now in my own occupation and that heretofor belonged to the messuage or tenement now in the occupation of the Widow Willis and the ground and soil whereon the same doth stand and now laid thereunto and also that part of the said Close of pasture ground which I purchased of Thomas Grace which is herein before Excepted and is now laid to the Rick yard belonging to the messuage or tenement wherein I now dwell unto the said Sarah Betham my loving Wife and her heirs forever Item I Give Will Devise and Bequeath all and every my Goods Stock Chattells and Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto the said Sarah Betham my loving Wife she paying my debts and Funeral Expences and I do hereby make ordained and appoint the said Sarah Betham my loving Wife Full and Sole Executrix of this my last will and testament And Lastly I do hereby Revoke and make void all former Wills by me before made and do declare this to be my last Will and Testament  In Witness whereof I have to this my Will Contained in four sheets of paper to the three first sheets thereof set my hand and to the last sheet thereof my hand and seale this Eighteenth day of August anno dni 1731

Signed sealed published and declared in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names \or markes/ as Wittnesses in the presence of the Testator and of Each other. \And these Words (Paying thereout unto Robert Stevens my Grandsonn Fifty Pounds within six montehs next after he or they shall be Possest thereof) being first Interlined betweene the Nineth and Tenth lines of the Third sheet hereof/ \And alsoe the Word (John) in the fourth line of the last sheete hereof being first struck out and the Word (Betham) Interlined in lieu thereof.
The Marke of Elizabeth Willis Widdow
The Market of Dorothy Horwood
[signed] Peter Goldsworth

[added] 4o Decembris 1731
Jurat’ Executrix Supranominata
Coram me [signed] Gul. Mason surr
null: Inv:

[probate in Latin] Probate 4 December 1731 before William Mason clerk surrogate of the Venerable John Bettsworth LLD Commissary and Official of the Archdeaconry of Bucks.  Execution and administration committed to Sarah Betham the widow and executrix. No inventory exhibited.

Will of Sarah Betham of North Marston, widow, 1732/3 (proved 1734/5)

Bucks Archives, D/A/Wf/80/114

In the name of God Amen I Sarah Betham of North Marston in the County of Bucks Widow Being in good health of Body and of sound and perfect mind and memory praised be Almighty God therefore do make and declare my last will and testament in manner following First and principally I recommend my soul Into the hands of Almighty God my maker trusting through the merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour to obtain a full remission of my sins my body I commit to the earth from whence it was extracted to be decently interred at the discretion of my executor herein after named and as for such worldly estate as it hath or shall please God to bless me with at the time of my decease I give devise and dispose the same as followeth Imprimis I Give devise and Bequeath unto my four daughters Sarah Dutton Anne Dancer Hannah Plomer and Elizabeth Stevens all my Wearing Apparel aswellwoollen as linen to be equally divided between them share and share alike and to be delivered unto them by my executor herein after named within one month next after my death Item I give devise and Bequeath unto the said Sarah Dutton my daughter the bed and bedstead she lyes on and other the furniture belonging to that bed and also all the goods and furniture belonging to that room where she lyes and two pair of sheets to be delivered unto her immediately after my death by my executor herein after named Item I give devise and Bequeath unto the said Anne Dancer my daughter my biggest Bible to be delivered unto her by my executor herein after named immediately after my death Item I give devise and Bequeath unto Betham Dutton my Grandson the bed and bedspread whereon I lye and other the furniture belonging to that bed and also two pair of sheets a dozen of napkins One long flaxen table cloth the least chest in the room where I lye and the cupboard and two boxes in that room and my biggest brass kettle to be delivered unto him by my executor herein after named within one month next after my death Item I give devise and Bequeath unto my Grandson George Clarke the sum of five pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto him by my executor herein after named one year next after my death Item I give devise and Bequeath unto my Granddaughter Hannah Clarke my silver piece of plate called the goblet to be delivered unto her by my executor herein after named immediately after my death Item I give devise and Bequeath unto my Grandson Richard Stevens my little Bible to be delivered unto him by my executor herein after named immediately after my death Item I give devise and Bequeath all those my two half yard lands of arable land meadow ley and pasture ground lying and being in the common fields parish and precincts of North Marston aforesaid containing together by estimation thirty acres be the same more or less and the hedges ditches trees mounds fences freeboards hades Baulks furrows commons profits and appertenances whatsoever to the said two half yard lands or either of them belonging or in anywise appertaining one of which half yard lands was heretofore Gurneys and the other Blackheads and also all that my yerd or rood of meadow ground lying in Mitchell mead in North Marston aforesaid next to the ground of or belonging to the Rectory of North Marston aforesaid towards the south and the appertenances belonging to the same unto my Grandson John Dutton and his heirs forever Provided always and upon this condition that if he the said John Dutton my Grandson or his heirs do and shall within three months next after my death pay or cause to be paid unto Anne Dancer my daughter her executors or administrators all such sum and sums of money as shall remain due and payable to her or them at the time of my death on the bond given by my late husband Richard Betham for that part of the portion of her the said Anne Dancer my daughter as was to be paid after the death of him the said Richard Betham and do also within three months next after my death pay or cause to be paid unto Hannah Plomer my daughter her executors or administrators all such sum and sums of money as shall remain due and payable to her or them at the time of my death on the bond given by my late husband Richard Betham for that part of the portion of her the said Hannah Plomer my daughter as was to be paid after the death of him the said Richard Betham and do also within three months next after my death pay or cause to be paid unto Robert Stevens my Son in Law his executors or administrators all such sum and sums of money as shall remain due and payable to him or them at the time of my death on the bond given by my late husband Richard Betham for that part of the portion of Elizabeth Stevens my daughter the wife of the said Robert Stevens as was to be paid after the death of him the said Richard Betham But in case the said John Dutton my Grandson and his heirs shall neglect or refuse to pay unto the said Anne Dancer my daughter her executors and administrators such sum and sums of money as shall be due and payable to her or them as aforesaid or shall neglect or refuse to pay unto the said Hannah Plomer my daughter her executors and administrators such sum and sums of money as shall be due and payable to her or them as aforesaid or shall neglect or refuse to pay unto the said Robert Stevens my Son in Law his executors and administrators such sum and sums of money as shall be due and payable to him or them as aforesaid then I give devise Bequeath the said two half yard lands lying in the common fields parish and precincts of North Marston aforesaid and the said yerd or rood of meadow ground lying in Mitchell mead and the commons profits and appertenances thereunto belonging unto the said Anne Dancer Hannah Plomer and Robert Stevens and their heirs forever In trust and to the intent that they shall and may sell and dispose of the same so soon conveniently they can at and for the best price they can get for the same and by and out of the money raised by such sale pay and satisfy themselves all such sum and sums of money as shall be due and payable to them their executors or administrators as aforesaid and also all such other sum and sums of money as they shall expend or disburse concerning the management of the trusts aforesaid shall and will pay the remainder of the purchase money which shall be raised by such sale (if any there be) unto the said John Dutton my Grandson his executors or administrators Item I Give devise and Bequeath all that my messuage or tenement in North Marston aforesaid wherein I now dwell and the outhouses Barnes Stables Yards Orchards Gardens Backsides and appertenances whatsoever to the said messuage or tenement belonging or therewith now used occupied or enjoyed and also all that Barne now in my own occupation that heretofore belonged to the messuage or tenement now or late in the occupation of the widow Willis and the ground and soil whereon the same doth stand and which is now also used therewith and also that part of the close of pasture ground which my late husband purchased of one Thomas Grace as is now laid to the rickyard belonging to the said messuage or tenement wherein I now dwell and also all that my close or pightle lying neare and belonging to the said messuage or tenement wherein I now dwell in North Marston aforesaid containing by estimation three roods of ground be the same more or less and the appertenances thereunto belonging and also all that my close or pightle of grass ground in North Marston aforesaid commonly called or known by the name of Little Camplins containing by estimation one acre be it more or less and the appertenances there unto belonging and also all other my freehold lands and tenements in the parish of North Marston aforesaid (not herein before Bequeathed) wherein I have any estate of inheritance and the appertenances belonging to the same unto my said Grandson John Dutton and his heirs and assigns forever And as concerning all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Goods chattels and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever not herein before Bequeathed I Give devise and Bequeath the same unto the said John Dutton my Grandson he paying my debts legacies and funeral expenses and I do hereby constitute and appoint the said John Dutton my Grandson full and Sole Executor of this my last will and testament And lastly I do hereby revoke and make void all former wills by me made and do declare this to be my last will and testament and none other nor otherwise In Witness whereof I have to each sheet of this my last will and testament contained in two sheets of paper set my hand and seale this seventeenth day of March anno dni 1732
[signed] Sarah Betham [seal]
Signed sealed Published and declared by the said Sarah Betham the Testatrix for and as her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as Wittnesses in the Presence of the said Testatrix and of Each other.
The Marke of Mary Willis
[signed] Peter Goldsworth
[signed] John Goldsworth

[added] February 1st 1734
Sworn ye Executor abovenamed
Before me
[signed] Wm Mason sur(rogate)
No Inven(tory) exhibited

Proved the 1st day of February 1734[/5] before William Mason Clerk Surrogate by ye oath of John Dutton Grandson Sole executor to whome Ad(ministra)c(i)on was committed he being first sworn duely to administer

[dorse] The will of Elizabeth [sic] Betham late of Northmarston widow dec(ease)d
Sent out p(er) m(e)
Deverell Dagnall

Notes

Richard Betham of North Marston married Sarah Herbert. Richard had property in Granborough which isn't mentioned in the will. The family had numerous Winslow and Granborough connections through the daughters and grandchildren named in the wills:

Copyright 10 December, 2025