Will of William Giles, labourer, 1786

Herts RO 225AW5

In the Name of God Amen I William Giles of Winslow in the County of Bucks Labourer being somewhat indisposed in Body but of a sound and disposing Mind and Memory for which I bless God and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs whilst I have strength and capacity for so doing do therefore make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) I give and bequeath unto my Brother in Law \John Hall/ (after payment of my just Debts and Funeral Expences) All and singular my ready Money Debts Securities for Money Chattels Rights Credits Personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what Nature or kind soever the same may be whereof or wherein I shall be any ways possessed of interested in or intitled unto at the time of my decease To hold the same unto the said John Hall his Executors Administrators and Assigns And I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said Brother in Law John Hall full and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made and do publish and declare this only to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said William Giles the Testator have to this my Will set my hand and seal this Twenty fourth day of June in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and Eighty six

The mark      x     of William Giles

Signed sealed published and declared by the said William Giles
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 presence of each other.
Joseph Dudley
John Rose

The 4th Day of December 1786 the within named John Hall Sole Executor to the within mentioned William Giles deceased was duly sworn before me Jonathan Brigges surrogate.

Notes

It's not clear if this William Giles was a member of the Baptist Gyles family of Winslow. It's possible that he was the grandson of Daniel Gyles (d.1750), but it seems unlikely that a member of that family would be unable to sign his name (in the marriage register as well as on his will). He is probably the William Gyles of Padbury, labourer, who married Elizabeth Gilbert at Winslow on 15 Feb 1767. In 1771 and 1775 he was recorded in the court book as "late" the occupier of William Burrell's messuage in Great Horn Street and 27 acres of land.

The relationship with John Hall is also unclear: they could have been stepbrothers rather than brothers-in-law in the modern sense. John Hall of Winslow, mason, owned property in Winslow. He was one of the trustees of the Baptist Meeting House in 1747 and 1774, and probably its pastor. His wife was Esther or Hester Stevens (married 1758). This would support the idea of William Giles belonging to the Baptist family.