Winslow History | Will of William Blake of Shipton, yeoman, 1793 (proved 1797)

Will of William Blake of Shipton, yeoman, 1793 (proved 1797)

Herts RO 233AW2

In the Name of God Amen I William Blake of Shipton in the
parish of Winslow in the County of Bucks Yeoman being in good Health
of Body and of a sound and disposing mind memory and understanding
(for which I bless God) and being desirous to settle my Worldy Affairs
whilst I have strength and capacity for so doing Do therefore make
and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following (that
is to say) First I will that all such just Debts as I shall owe at the
time of my decease be paid by my Executrix hereinafter named and
my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently interred at the discretion
of my Executrix and as to such temporal Estate wherewith it hath
pleased the Divine Providence to bless me I dispose of the same as follows
First I give and bequeath unto my Niece Mary Blake Spinster one
of the Daughters of my late Brother Thomas Blake deceased the Legacy
or Sum of One hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain
to be paid \to/ her within twelve months next after my decease Also I give
and bequeath unto Robert Coulson and Catharine Coulson the Son and
Daughter of Robert Coulson my Son in Law the Legacy or Sum of
One hundred pounds of like money to be paid to each of them when
they shall severally and respectively attain their several and
respective ages of Twenty one Years in the mean time and until the
said Robert Coulson and Catharine Coulson shall have attained their
respective ages of twenty one years I do hereby order and direct my
said Executrix to pay Interest for their respective Legacies of One
hundred pounds after the rate of four pounds per Cent per Annum
for their better support and maintenance until they respectively arrive
at their said ages of twenty one years and my Will and mind further
is that in case either the said Robert Coulson or Catherine Coulson shall
happen to depart this Life befor their Legacy shall become due and
payable then and in such case my Will is that the Survivor of them
shall take the whole Legacy devised to them aforesaid Also I give
and bequeath unto my Brother Edward Blake the Legacy or Sum of
Eighty Pounds of like money to be paid to him within twelve months
next after my decease Also I give and bequeath unto my Nephew
Gabriel Blake one of the son of my Brother Robert Blake the Legacy
or sum of Eighty pounds of like money to be paid to him within Twelve
monthe next after my decease Also I give and bequeath unto John Blake
another of the sons of my said Brother Robert Blake the Legacy or
Sum of Forty pounds of like money to be paid to him within Twelve

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months next after my decease and I also give and bequeath unto the said
John Blake all such rent that shall be due and owing from Frances
Newman Widow to me at the time of my decease to and for his own
use and benefit Also I give and bequeath unto my Kinsman James
Barton of Winslow aforesaid Taylor the Legacy or Sum of Twenty
pounds of like money to be paid to hi within tweve months next
after my decease Also I give and bequeath unto the said Robert
Coulson and Catherine Coulson all such Household Goods and
Furniture which I had upon the Marriage of my late Wife Ann
Coulson deceased to be equally divided between them share and share
alike And Lastly as to for and concerning all the rest and residue
of my Household Goods Chattels ready money debts and securities for
money plate and all other my personal Estate and Effects whatsoever
and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever the same may
be and not otherwise by this my Will given and disposed of as
aforesaid after payment of my debts Legacies and funeral Expences,
I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said
Niece Elizabeth Blake her Executors Administrators and Assigns to
and for her and their own use and benefit absolutely And I do
hereby constitute ordain and appoint my said Niece Elizabeth Blake full
and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament hereby
revoking and making void all former and other Wills by me at any
time heretofore made In Witness whereof I the said William Blake
the Testator have to this my Will contained in two Sheets of Paper to
the first Sheet thereof set my Hand only and to the second and last
Sheet my Hand and Seal this Tenth day of August in the Year of our
Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Ninety three.

[signed] William Blake

Signed sealed published and declared by the said William
Blake the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament)
in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our Names
as Witnesses thereto at the request and in the presence of the
said Testator and also in the presence of each other.

                              Wm Mayne
                              Mary Burnham
                              James Burnham

The 24th Day of August 1797
Elizabeth Jones, wife of George Jones
late Elizabeth Blake, the full and sole
Executrix above named, was duly sworn
before me Jonathan Brigges Surrogate
and that the Personal Effects do not
amount to one Thousand Pounds

Notes

William Blake was born in 1721. He was buried on 19 April 1797. For full details of his family, see the Blake family page (he is no.9.vi).

Son in Law: i.e. stepson

Frances Newman: According to the Alehouse Recognizances, she kept a pub called the Hare and Hounds (i.e. the Greyhound). It is included in the insurance policy below.

Fire insurance policy, 22 July 1791 (LMA, 11936/379/586320):

William Blake of Shippon [sic] in the County of Bucks, Gent
On his household Goods in his now dwelling house situated as aforesaid thatch’d not exceeding Forty Pounds	40
Household Goods therein only not exceeding eighty Pounds	80
Wearing Apparel thein only not exceeding twenty Pounds	20
Barn separate thatch’d not exceeding eight Pounds	8
Utensils & Stock therein only not exceeding two Pounds	2
House situate at Winslow in the County aforesaid in tenure of Ann Newman, Vict(ualle)r Brick & tiled, not exceeding two hundred Pounds	200
Four Pigsties adjoining separate Timber & tiled, not exceeding five P(oun)ds	5
Six Pigsties adjoining separate Timber & tiled, not exceeding ten Pounds	10
Two Stables & Woodhouse adjoining separate Brick & tiled, not exceed(in)g Forty five Pounds	45
Barn separate thatch’d not exceeding forty Pounds	40
	----
	£450
Another policy of 9 April 1791 refers to The Greyhound by name (11936/376/582136)