Will of Richard Lowndes of Hillesden, esquire, 1775

National Archives, PROB 11/1013/211

[p.1] This is the last Will and Testament of Richard Lowndes of Hilleden in the County of Bucks Esquire made in sound mind memory and understanding the twenty ninth Day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy five in the first place I do hereby fully ratify and confirm the Settlement and Agreement made on the Marriage of my only Son William Lowndes Esquire so far as the same respects all and every part of my real Estate at North Crawley in the said County of Bucks and do therefore give devise and bequeath all and every my Messuages or Tenements Woods Lands Hereditaments and premises whatsoever situate and being in the Parish and precincts of North Crawley aforesaid and now in the several tenures of John Wycle Edward Barrett William Butcher John Page Matthew Hewson and Samuel Smith unto my said Son William Lowndes to hold the same unto my said Son William Lowndes his Heirs and Assigns for ever chargeable nevertheless and in manner and form as the same Estate is now Chargeable and subject I give devise and bequeath all that my Messuage or Tenement with the Barns Stables Outhouses and Appurtenances thereunto belonging and all other the inclosed Grounds Lands and Premises therewith occupied situate and being in the parish of Swanbourne in the \said/ County of Bucks now in the occupation of Robert Read his undertenants and assigns and which I purchased of Robert Carter and others and all other real Estate at Swanbourne unto my entirely Beloved Brother Robert Lowndes of Bletchley in the said County of Bucks Esquire and my Friend Thomas Goostrey of Sherrard Street London Esquire their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns and to the Survivor of the them and the Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns of such Survivors upon the trusts following (that is to say) that they the said Robert Lowndes and Thomas Goostrey their Heirs Executors Administrators  and Assigns and the Survivor of them and their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns

[p.2] of such Survivor do and shall with all convenient speed after my decease sell and dispose of all and every part of the premises situate in the parish of Swanbourne aforesaid for the best price that can be gotten for the same and to apply pay and dispose of the Moneys Arising by such sale as follows I give devise and bequeath the several sums of one thousand two hundred pounds unto each of my Daughters Anne Lowndes and Mary Lowndes their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns to be paid them by my said Trustees and until such estate can be conveniently sold I direct my Trustees to pay and apply the yearly Rents Issues and Profits of the said Estate at Swanbourne aforesaid equally between my said Daughters Anne Lowndes and Mary Lowndes their Heirs Executors Administrators  and Assigns I give and bequeath unto my said Son William Lowndes his  Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns all and every the Household Goods plate China and Implements of Household of any nature or kind whatsoever remaining and being in and about the Mansion House and premises at Winslow in the said County of Bucks to and for his and their own proper use and behoof for ever I also give and bequeath  unto my said Daughters Anne Lowndes and Mary Lowndes all and every my Household Goods plate China and Implements of Household of any nature or kind whatsoever now remaining or being in or about the Messuage or Tenement or premises currently in my own Occupation in Hillsden in the said County of Bucks for the only proper and equal use and Behoof of my said Daughters Anne Lowndes and Mary Lowndes for ever I give and bequeath unto my entirely beloved Brother Robert Lowndes Esquire the sum of two hundred pounds lawful money of Great Britain All the rest residue and remainder of my Estate both real and personal not hereinbefore by me given devised bequeathed or disposed of I do hereby give devise and bequeath equally unto and amongst my Son William Lowndes and my said Daughters Anne Lowndes and Mary Lowndes share and share alike and I do hereby constitute and appoint my said Son William Lowndes and my said Daughters Anne Lowndes and Mary Lowndes Joint Executor and Executrixes of this my Will and I do revoke all other and declare this to be my last Will and Testament In testimony whereof I the said Testator Richard Lowndes have hereunto set my hand and Seal the Day and year first above written

Richard Lowndes [signature]

Signed Sealed Delivered Published and Declared by the said Testator Richard Lowndes as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have Subscribed our names as witnesses hereto W. Reade Sam(ue)l Yeates William Church [signatures]

[p.3] This Will was proved at London on the twenty Eight Day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Seventy five before the Worshipful Tomas Bever Doctor of Laws and Surrogate of the Right Worshipful Sir George Hay Knight also Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oaths of William Lowndes Esquire the Son Anne Lowndes and Mary Lowndes the Daughters of the deceased and Executors named in the said Will to whom Administration was been granted of All and Singular the Goods Chattells and Credits of the said deceased they having been first sworn duly to administer

Notes

Richard Lowndes by Thomas GainsboroughRight: portrait of Richard Lowndes by Thomas Gainsborough, sold at Sotheby's in 2010.

Richard Lowndes was born in 1706, the eldest son of Robert Lowndes of Winslow Hall and grandson of William Lowndes who built it. He was the first member of the Lowndes family to be born to wealth, and went to Eton and Oxford. He inherited Winslow Hall from his father in 1727, and handed it over to his own son William in 1766 on William's marriage.

Richard married Essex Shales (1707-56) at St Paul's Cathedral on 25 June 1730, She was the niece of his grandfather's 4th wife Rebecca Shales and came from a wealthy banking family; through her mother she was descended from George Duke of Clarence and from the Earls of Warwick. Their children were:

Richard was MP for Bucks 1741-74; see his biography on the History of Parliament website. He is only known to have spoken once in the House of Commons. He retired to Hillesden with his unmarried daughters. He was buried at Winslow on 17 Oct 1775 aged 68.

 

Copyright 30 August, 2018