Will of Peter Goldsworth the elder, gentleman, 1747/8 (proved 1748)

National Archives, PROB 11/764/236

NB Many of the repetitive expressions have been omitted in the transcription after their first occurrence

In the Name of God Amen I Peter Goldsworth the Elder of Winslowe in the County of Bucks Gentleman being indisposed in Body but of Sound and perfect mind and memory praised be God therefore and considering the certainty of death and the uncertain time thereof do make and ordain my last Will and Testament in manner following that is to say First and principally I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it trusting through the Merits and Intercession of Jesus Christ my Saviour to be made a partaker of Everlasting Life and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried by my Trustees and Executors herein after named And my Will and desire is that my Trustees and Executors herein after named do manage matters so that all the Charges of my Funeral do not exceed the sum of Twenty pounds And as for such Worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with or which I shall be entitled to at the time of my death I give and dispose thereof as followeth First I give and bequeath unto William Dudley my Son in Law the Two Hundred and Fifty pounds and interest which he ows me on Bond and I do hereby direct my Trustees ... to give him up the Bond I had for the same within two months next after my death Also I give and bequeath unto the said William Dudley my Son in Law the Fifty pounds and Interest which he and his Uncle Joseph Dudley of Shendly owes me on Bond and also so much money as will make up the said Fifty pounds and Interest <to> Threescore pounds And I do hereby direct that my Trustees ... do within two months next after my death give and deliver up to the said William Dudley the Bond I had for the same and also to pay to the said William Dudley his Executors or

[f.2] Administrators out of my Personal Estate hereinafter bequeathed unto them so much money as will make up the Principall and interest money then due on the said Fifty pound Bond the sum of Threescore pounds in case ... William Dudley his Executors or Administrators do and shall within the said two months ... give and deliver unto Peter Goldsworth my son his Executors or Administrators a legall discharge for all Debts Dues and Demands whatsoever which ... William Dudley claims or which he his Executors or Administrators can or may claim to be due and owing to him as Executor to Benjamin Dudley his late Father deceased or on the account of what was due and owing to ... Benjamin Dudley ... from Mary Dudley his Grandaughter the now Wife of the said Peter Goldsworth ... for her Board and other matters She had of the said Benjamin Dudley her Grandfather for which ... I think her Grandfather in his lifetime received ample satisfaction by the Rents and Profits of his ... Grandaughters Estate which he received during the time that she lived with him but in case ... William Dudley ... shall neglect or refuse to give or deliver unto ... Peter Goldsworth ... such discharge as aforesaid within the time aforesaid Then and in such case my Will and Intent is that the said William Dudley ... shall not have the said Fifty pounds and interest due on the said Bond or the money to make the same up Sixty pounds or any part thereof But that then and in such case ... William Dudley and Joseph Dudley and either of them their and either of their heirs Executors and Administrators shall be liable to Answer and pay the said Fifty pounds ... unto my Trustees and Executors hereinafter named when required so to do Also I give and bequeath unto Rebecca Dudley my Daughter (the Wife of the said William Dudley) for her own separate Use Yearly and every Year during the term of her natural life one annuity or yearly sum of Twenty pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain to be paid unto her and into her own hands and not otherwise by my Trustees ... out of my Personal estate and the Rents and Profits of my Real Estate herein after bequeathed to them by half yearly payments (that is to say) ten pounds on each of the two most usual Feasts or days of payment in the Year (to wit) the feast days of St Michael the Archangell and the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary and without any deduction or abatement for Taxes or otherwise howsoever the first payment thereof to become due and payable at such of the said feast days as shall next happen after my death And I do hereby direct and declare that the Receipt or Receipts Acquittance or Acquittances signed by my said Daughter alone for the same shall be a sufficient discharge to my Trustees ... for so

[f.3] much money as they or either of them shall so pay And in case the said Rebecca Dudley my Daughter shall happen to depart this life before the Youngest of her Children as shall be living at the time of her death shall have attained the Age of two and twenty Years then and in such case I give and bequeath Yearly and every year after the death of the said Rebecca my said Daughter until such time as the youngest of her Children as shall live to attain the Age of two and twenty years shall have
attained the said Age of two and twenty Years one Annuity or Yearly sum of Twenty pounds ... to be paid by my Trustees ... out of my Personal estate and the Rents and Profits ... of my Real Estate ... unto such person or persons who shall have the care of the children of ... Rebecca ... during such time to the intent that the same may be employed by them during such time towards the maintainance Education and bringing up of such Children or for their Use and benefit by half yearly payments (that is to say) Ten pounds on each each of the two most usual Feasts or  days of payment in the Year ... the first payment thereof to become due and payable at such of the said feasts as shall next happen after the death of the said Rebecca ... or after my death which shall last happen Also I give ... unto and amongst such of the Children of ... Rebecca ... as shall be living at the time of her death and at such time as the Youngest of her Children ... shall have attained the Age of  two and twenty Years ... the sum of Four hundred pounds ... to be paid unto them by my Trustees ... each of them if there shall happen to be more than one of them living an equall Share thereof at such time as the youngest of them ... shall have attained attain the ... Age of two and twenty years or within twelve months next after my death or the death of ... Rebecca ... which shall last happen and if it shall happen that there shall be but one of them that shall be living at such time as the said four hundred pounds shall be due and payable then I give and bequeath the whole four hundred pounds unto such Child to be paid to him or her by my trustees ... immediately after He or She shall have attained the age of two and twenty years or within

[f.4] twelve months next after my death or the death of ... Rebecca ... which shall last happen But in case ... Rebecca ... and all her Children shall happen to depart this life before the said Legacy or sum of Four Hundred Pounds shall be due and payable then in such case I give and bequeath the said Four hundred pounds ... unto such of the Children of my son Peter Goldsworth as shall be then living each of them if more than one an equal share thereof as they shall respectively attain the Age of two and twenty years And if it shall happen that there shall be but one of them that shall be living at such time as the ... Four Hundred pounds shall be due ... Then I give ... the whole Four Hundred pounds unto such Child to be paid to him or her by my Trustees ... immediately after He or She shall have attained the said Age ... or within twelve months next after the death of the Survivor of the Children of the said Rebecca ... or within twelve months next after my death which shall last happen  But in case ... Rebecca ... and all her Children and all the Children of ... Peter Goldsworth ... shall happen to depart this life before the said Legacy or sum of Four Hundred pounds shall be due ... then ... I give ... the ... Four Hundred pounds and the Profits that shall be made thereof after the death of ... Rebecca ... and all her Children and all the Children of ... Peter Goldsworth ... in manner following to wit one Moiety or half part thereof unto the said Peter Goldsworth ... and the other Moiety or half part thereof unto Ann Hilliard my Housekeeper and such of my Trustees and Executors ... as shall be then living each of them an equal Share of such Moiety Also I give ... unto ... Rebecca Dudley... my Silver half pint and three of my large Silver Spoons marked as is herein after mentioned one marked  R:H: another marked W:G: and the other marked M:G: to be delivered unto her by my Trustees ... within one month next after my death  Also I give and forgive unto ... Peter Goldsworth ... all such sum and sums of money as shall be due and owing to me from him at the time of my death and I do hereby direct my Trustees ... to give him a legal discharge for the same within one month ... Also I give ... to ... Peter Goldsworth ... my Silver Tankard and my watch and all my Law Books to be delivered unto him ... within one month. Also I give ...

[f.5] unto ... Ann Hilliard my Housekeeper in case she shall live with me at the time of my death the sum of Ten pounds of lawfull money ... to be paid unto her within one month ... out of my Personal Estate and the Rents and Profits of my Real Estate ... Also I give ... unto ... Ann Hilliard my Housekeeper in case she shall continue so to be to the time of my death Yearly ... during the term of her natural life one Annuity ... of Ten pounds ... (for her great Care She took of me during the times of my Ilness) to be paid unto her ... by half Yearly payments (that is to say) Five pounds on each of the two Feasts or days of payment ... without any deduction or abatement ... the first payment therof to become due ... at such of the ... Feast days as shall next happen after my death  Also I give ... unto ... Ann Hilliard my housekeeper in case she shall continue so to be ... my Gown and all my Wearing Linnen (to wit my Shirts Stocks Caps and Pocket Handkerchiefs to be delivered to her ... within one month ... Also I give ... to Thomas Church my Horse Keeper in case he shall continue so to be to the time of my death Yearly ... One Annuity ... of Five pounds ... (for the care he hath taken of my affairs) to be paid unto him ... by half Yearly payments (that is to say) Fifty shillings on each of the two Feast days ... without any deduction or abatement...the first payment ... payable on such of the ... Feast days as shall next happen after my death Also I give ... Thomas Church my Horsekeeper in case he chall continue so to be \all my Woollen Cloaths/ (to wit) my Coats Waistcoats and Breeches and also all my Shoes Boots Stockings and Hats to be delivered unto him ... within one month ... Also I give unto John Dublois my Barber in

[f.6] case he continues so to be to the time of my death yearly ... one Annuity ... of Twenty Shillings ... to be paid him by ...by half yearly payments ... Also I give ... unto Mary Goldsworth my Daughter in Law the white Sattin Gown which was my Son John’s wife’s and the Diamond Ring which I promised She should have to be delivered unto her ... within one month after my death  Also I give ... all the rest of my Household Goods and Implements of Household whatsoever unto ... Peter Goldsworth ... and Rebecca Dudley ... to be equally divided between them share and share alike and if any dispute or difference shall arise between my ... Son and Daughter or her Husband concerning the division of the ... Household Goods then my desire is that my ... Son and Daughter and her Husband  will refer the division thereof to my Trustees...and that they...will abide by such Division as shall be made thereof by my Trustees ... and that each of them shall have their Share thereof delivered unto them ... within one month next after such Division shall be made thereof  Also I give ... unto my well beloved Friends Robert Neale of Aylesbury in the County of Bucks Schoolmaster and John Barton of Winslowe in the ... County of Bucks Staymaker their Executors and Administrators all and every my Goods Chattels and Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever not herein before bequeathed In Trust for such Uses Intents and Purposes as are in and by this my Will mentioned and declared concerning the same  And I do also hereby make ordain and appoint the said Robert Neal and John Barton Executors of this my last Will and Testament In Trust likewise for the purposes in and by this my Will mention'd and declared  Also I give ... all and every my Freehold Lands and Tenements whatsoever lying and being in the Parishes of Aylesbury and Beirton in the ... County of Bucks or either of them and the Appurtenances belonging to the same unto ... Robert Neale and John Barton and their Heirs and Assigns in Trust and to the intent

[f.7] that they the said Robert Neale and John Barton and the Survivor of them and their Heirs Executors and Administrators of the Survivor of them shall and will receive and take the Rents Issues and profits thereof until such time as my Funeral Expenses Debts Legacys Annuities Executors Charges and Disbursements shall be paid and Satisfied and from and after such time ... Then I give ... all and every my Freehold Lands and Tenements lying in the ... Parishes of Aylesbury and Bierton ... unto Peter Goldsworth ... for and during the term of his natural life and from and after the determination or forfeiture of that Estate then unto ... Robert Neale and John Barton and their Heirs during the natural life of ... Peter Goldsworth ... upon Trust only for the preserving the Contingent Uses and Estates herein after limitted from being defeated or destroyed and to make Entries for the same (if needfull) Yet neverthe<le>ss to permit and suffer the said Peter Goldsworth ... to receive and take the Rents and Profits of the said Premises during the term of his natural life and from and after the decease of ... Peter Goldsworth Then to John Goldsworth my Grandson for and during the term of his natural life and from and after the decease of the survivor of them ... then to the Heirs of the Body of ... John Goldsworth...lawfully begotten or to be begotten and for default of such Issue then to the Right Heirs of ... John Goldsworth ... for ever And as to for and concerning my Goods Chattells and Personal Estate bequeathed unto them and the Rents and Profits of my Real or Freehold Lands and Tenements likewise bequeathed unto them I do hereby declare that the same are bequeathed unto them In Trust for the Uses Intents and purposes herein after mentioned and declared (that is to say) In Trust and to the intent also that they ... Robert Neale and John Barton ... shall and will make the best Advantage they can of the same by placing or continuing from time to time so much thereof as they can conveniently spare out at Interest for the benefit of such person or persons who shall be entitled by this my Will to the overplus of my Personal Estate and the Rents and Profits of my Real or Freehold Lands and Tenements ... And also upon this further Trust and Confidence in them ... Robert Neale and John Barton reposed and to the Intent also that they ... Robert Neale and John Barton and the Survivor of them and the Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns of the Survivor of them shall and will out of my Personal Estate herein befor [sic] bequeathed unto them and the Rents and Profits of my Real or Freehold

[f.8] Lands and Tenements ... pay and discharge my Funeral Expences and just Debts and also the Annuities and Legacies in and by this my Will given and bequeathed at such times and in such manner and to such persons as the same are in and by this my Will directed and appointed to be paid And do likewise ... yearly ... year after my death until such time as the Eldest of the lawfull Issue of the Body of ... Peter Goldsworth ... shall have attained the Age of two and Twenty years lay out and dispose of such sum and sums of money as they shall Judge and think proper and convenient towards the support maintainance Education and clothing of such Issue and Mary Goldsworth their Mother at such times and in such manner as they shall think and see most proper and convenient so that they do not exceed the sum of twenty pounds a year and from and after such time as the Eldest of such lawfull Issue ... of ... Peter Goldsworth shall have attained the said Age ... then upon this further Trust and Confidence in them Robert Neale and John Barton ... reposed that they...shall and will likewise ... well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto such Issue of ... Peter Goldsworth ... as they shall respectively attain the Age of two and twenty years such sum or sums of money as they... Robert Neale and John Barton ... shall judge and think each of their part and share of Four Hundred pounds will amount to but not to exceed the said sum of Four Hundred pounds amongst them all And also yearly ... deduct to themselves five pounds each ... for the Care and Trouble they shall be at in the management of the Trust hereby reposed in them over and above the Charges expences and disbursements which they or either of them shall be at or put unto on the account of any Law Suit Journeys or any other Extraordinary Charges they or either of them shall be put unto concerning the management of the said Trust ... And do also ... well and truly pay ... unto my well beloved Friend John Seamons the Elder of Weedon in the Parish of Hardwick in the County of Bucks Yeoman one Guinea to buy him a Ring And do also deduct to themselves thereout one Guinea each to buy them Rings And also shall and will ...

[f.9] ... pay or distribute unto and amongst such of the poor people belonging to the Parish of Winslowe aforesaid as they shall think proper or be advised the sum of five pounds ... within one month next after my death  And also upon this further Trust and confidence in ... Robert Neale and John Barton ... that they ... shall and will after all my Funeral Expences Debts Legacies Annuities and Executors Charges and Disbursements shall be paid and Satisfied pay all such Overplus money as shall be then remaining in their hands ... unto ... Rebecca Dudley ... if she shall be then living but in case she shall happen to be then dead then unto the Issue of the Body of ... Rebecca ... lawfully begotten ... each of them an equal Share thereof within six months next after the death of ... Rebecca Dudley ... or such time as all my Funerall Expenses ... and Disbursements shall be paid ... which shall last happen  Also I give ... unto ... Peter Goldsworth ... and his Heirs for ever all those my two Acres of Copyhold Land being Sweard Ground lying near Milmead in the Parish of Aylesbury aforesaid and the Hedges Ditches Trees Freeboards and appurtenances belonging to the same  And also all that my Half Acre of Ley or Sweard Ground being Copyhold lying at a place called Water Furlong in the Parish of Aylesbury aforesaid and the Appurtenances belonging to the same  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  In Witness whereof I have to this my Will contained in seven Sheets of Paper to the first six sheets thereof set my Hand and to the last sheet thereof my Hand and Seal this Eighteenth day of January in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty seven

Peter Goldsworth the Elder

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Peter Goldsworth the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto Subscribed our names as Witnesses in the presence of the said Testator and of each other  

J(ohn) Rawbone James Budd Charles Bowler Sen(io)r.

This Will was Proved at London before the Worshipfull Robert Chapman Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted on the first day of September in the Year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and forty eight by the Oaths

[f.10] of Robert Neale and John Barton the Executors named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattells and Credits of the said deceased They being first sworn duly to Administer.

---

Notes

Peter Goldsworth was a lawyer from Aylesbury who married c.1700 Rebecca daughter of William Hunt, glazier (d.1710). They had several children who died before their father, including Peter (d.1713/14) and John (1711-1738) who married Susannah, daughter of Thomas Aldridge. The two mentioned in the will are Rebecca bap. 23 Feb 1705/6 and Peter bap. 16 Aug 1714. Peter bought in 1743-4 6 acres of land and a messuage in Bell Walk used as the Rogers Free School; these had passed to his widowed daughter-in-law Mary by enclosure in 1767. He sometimes acted as Deputy Steward of the Manor of Winslow. He occasionally did work for teh Verneys of Claydon House although their usual lawyer was Nicholas Merwin. He was closely involved with the affairs of Benjamin Dudley, draper (d.1742): his daughter Rebecca married Benjamin's son William at Gayhurst on 8 Sep 1730 (one of their children was named Goldsworth Dudley), and his son Peter married Benjamin's granddaughter Mary Dudley (described as being of Stony Stratford) on 20 June 1740 at Little Brickhill. Peter Goldsworth junior, also a lawyer, stops appearing in Winslow legal records after 1752 but only died in 1758. Peter senior was buried on 26 Aug 1748.