Will of William King the elder, carpenter, 1784 (proved 1795)

Herts RO 231AW6

In the Name of God Amen I William King the Elder of Winslow in the County of Bucks Carpenter being somewhat Indisposed in Body but of Sound Mind Memory and Understanding (praised be God for the same) Do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament in Manner and form following (that is to say) First I Give and Devise unto my Son William King All that my Messuage or Tenement Situate in Sheep Street in Winslow aforesaid wherein I now Dwell And also my two New Inclosed Closes of Pasture Ground lying and being in the parish of Swanbourne in the said County of Bucks now in the Occupation of Thomas Nelson together with all and singular Houses Outhouses Edifices Buildings Barns Stables Yards Orchards Gardens Backsides Hedges Ditches Mounds Fences Freeboards Commons and all other the Appurtenances to the said Messuage or Tenement and Closes belonging or in any wise appertaining To hold to him my said Son William King for and during the Term of his Natural Life and from and Immediately after his Decease Then I Give and devise the same unto the Heir of his Body lawfully begotten and for Default of Heir Then I Give and devise the same unto my two Daughters Sarah the Wife of Anthony Ridgeway and Ann King their Heirs and Assigns for Ever As Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants Also I give and Devise unto my said Son William King All my two Messuages or Tenements Situate in Great Horn Street in Winslow aforesaid One in the Occupation of Abiel Whichello and the other late in the Occupation of [blank] March and now Empty together with all and Singular the Appurtenances thereunto belonging To hold to him my said Son William King his Heirs and Assigns for Ever subject Nevertheless and I do hereby Charge the same to and with the payment of the two Legacies hereinafter by me Given and bequeathed (that is to say) I Give and bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah the wife of Anthony Ridgeway the Sum of Twenty pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain Also I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Ann King the Sum of Fifty pounds of like lawful Money to be paid to them respectively by my Executor herein after Named within Twelve Months next after my Decease and I do hereby Charge my said last mentioned Messuages or Tenements with the true payment of the same Accordingly Also I Give and Devise unto my said Daughter Sarah wife of Anthony Ridgeway All that my Copyhold Messuage or Tenement situate in Sheep Street in Winslow aforesaid now or late {were} in the Occupation of Paul Parkins together with all and Singular the Appurtenances thereunto belonging to hold to her my said Daughter Sarah Ridgeway for and during the Term of her Natural life and from and after her Decease then I Give and devise the same unto the Heirs of her Body lawfully begotten and for Failure of Heir then to my Right Heirs and Assigns for ever Also I Give and devise unto my said Daughter Ann King all that my Messuage or Tenement Situate on or near the Market Square in Winslow aforesaid now in the Occupation of Elizabeth Hoar together with the Appurtenances thereunto belonging To hold to her my said Daughter Ann King for and during the

the mark of William King

[p.2] Term of her Natural life and from and after her Decease Then I Give and devise the same unto the Heir of her Body lawfully begotten and for Failure of Heir Then to my right Heirs and assigns for ever Also I Give and bequeath all my Houshold [sic] Goods and Implements of Houshold whatsoever and wheresoever unto my son William King and unto my two Daughters Sarah Ridgeway and Ann King to be Equally divided among them Each to have Share and Share alike And as to for and Concerning my ready Money and Securities of Money Stock in Trade, Working Tools, Personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever (that shall or may be unbequeathed) that I shall die possessed on, Interested in or Intitled unto (after my Debts, Funeral Expences and Charges in Executing this my Will are fully paid and Satisfyed) I do hereby give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said Son William King his Executors Administrators and Assigns And I do herby [sic] Nominate Constitute and appoint my said Son William King full and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament And I do hereby also make and appoint my loving Brother Stephen King Trustee of this my Will to take care and see the same performed according to my true Intent and meaning and Lastly I do hereby revoke disanul and make Void all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof I have to this my Will Contained in two Sheets of paper to the first sheet thereof set my hand only and to this my hand and Seal this Ninth day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty four

The Mark of William King

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator William King 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 at his request and also in the presence of each other
Robert Gibbs
John Mayne
Joseph Hunt

[another hand]
Sarah wife of Anthony Ridgway, eldest daughter, sworn as administratrix by Jonathan Brigges 30 May 1795

Notes

There were at least two William Kings in Winslow at the same time; this man wasn't the one who kept The Bell. It appears that this William's son, another William, must have predeceased his father.

Sarah King married Anthony Ridgway on 28 Dec 1781. Ann King married William Clark of Mursley in 1786.

In 1781 William King took out fire insurance on his various properties:

his own dwelling house and barn (thatched) + cottage and shop adjoining (thatched) = "my Messuage or Tenement Situate in Sheep Street in Winslow aforesaid wherein I now Dwell" (left to William); this later became the Black Horse (17 Sheep Street)
house separate in the tenure of Paul Perkins (thatched) = "my Copyhold Messuage or Tenement situate in Sheep Street in Winslow aforesaid now or late in the Occupation of Paul Parkins" (left to Sarah; this later became the Nag's Head)
house in the tenure of Wichello barber (brick and tiled) = "my two Messuages or Tenements Situate in Great Horn Street in Winslow aforesaid One in the Occupation of Abiel Whichello and the other late in the Occupation of [blank] March and now Empty" (left to William)
house separate in the tenure of Hoar gardener (brick-paneled and tiled) = "my Messuage or Tenement Situate on or near the Market Square in Winslow aforesaid now in the Occupation of Elizabeth Hoar" (left to Ann)

No.3 was bought by William from James Tattam in 1772: "two messuages at the Upper End of Great Horn Street". It had briefly served as a pub called the Curriers Arms. The 1805 Land Tax shows that it had come into the possession of William Clark. What remains of it is now 2 Horn Street.

No.4 was 12 Market Square (now Wilkinsons). William bought it from William Harrup in 1778. The Land Tax shows that Anthony Ridgway owned it by 1805.