Will of Susannah Merwin, widow, of Kentish Town, 1770 (proved 1775)

National Archives, PROB 11/1012/141

In the Name of God Amen I Susannah Merwin of Kentish Town in the County of Middlesex Widow being in good health of Body and of sound disposing 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 commend my soul unto Almighty God and my Body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor and Executrix hereinafter named and as for my wordly estate I give and dispose thereof as after mentioned Item I give to my Nephew William Simpson of Grays Inn in the said County of Middlesex Gentleman the sum of two hundred Guineas for his care and trouble in my affairs ever since the decease of my late Dear Husband and also I give unto the said William Simpson his late Grandmothers Diamond Ring and whereas I had in my late will given unto my Niece Mrs Mary Sergrove Widow a Genteel Legacy but she having estranged herself from me and her late fathers relations therefore I give unto my said Neice the sum of one Guinea only for Mourning Ring I Give unto my Neice Susannah Simpson my Gold watch with the Gold case Chain seal and Trinkets thereunto

[p.2] belonging and also my Cluster Diamond Mourning Ring and likewise all my wearing apparel of what kind or sort so ever I give unto my worthy Friend Mrs Margaret Payne of Kentish Town aforesaid (If I should lodge and board with her at the time of my decease) the sum of ten Guineas for a Mourning Ring I give unto Frances Whitcomb (my said Nephews Laundress) one Guinea and I hereby direct that all the above Legacies shall be paid within or at the end of one Month next after my decease and I having made a surrender of all and every my Copyhold Houses Lands Tenements Hereditaments and premises held of the Manor of Winslow in the County of Bucks and also of the Reversion expectant on the decease of Mrs Elizabeth Seaton of Peterborough in the County of Northampton Widow also held of the same Manor to such uses intents and purposes as should be mentioned and expressed in and by my last Will and Testament I do hereby give devise and bequeath all and every the said Copyhold Lands Tenements Hereditaments and premises and the reversion expectant before mentioned unto my said Nephew William Simpson his Heirs and assigns for ever In Trust to sell and dispose of all and every the said Copyhold Lands Tenements Reversion and premises as soon as conveniently he can and the Money arising by such sale to be added to my personal Estate and Effects then I give and bequeath the said Money and all other my personal Estate and Effects whatsoever (after payment of my Just Debts Funeral the aforesaid Legacies and all Expences attending this my will or otherwise howsoever unto my said Nephew William Simpson and my said Neice Susannah Simpson to be divided between them equally share and share alike. And I do hereby Nominate Constitute and Appoint the said William Simpson and Susannah Simpson Joint Executor and Executrix of this my last Will and Testament hereby only to be my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I the said Susannah Merwin have to this my said last Will and Testament contained in two sheets of paper to the first sheet hereof wrote my name and to the second and last sheet set my hand and seal this thirtieth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy

Susa Merwin [seal]
signed sealed published and declared by the Testatrix Susannah Merwin as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have at her request and in her presence and that of each other set our names as witnesses hereto Sarah Coney Mary Ravens Eliz. Wells

Whereas Mrs Elizabeth Seaton in my will above named hath lately departed this life whereby the Reversion of the premises which I was entitled unto

[p.3] immediately expectant upon her decease is now come into my possession now to avoid any Doubts about the Devise in my said Will of the said premises I do by this my Codicil which I direct may be taken as part of my will ratify and confirm the said Devise of the said Copyhold Estate and premises and also all and every other the matters and things in my said Will contained as fully as if I had herein again repeated the same and I do hereby give and devise the said Copyhold Estate and premises unto and to the use of my Nephew William Simpson and his Heirs upon the Trusts in my said Will mentioned and do direct that the Receipt or Receipts of my said Nephew William Simpson or \of/ his Heirs or assigns for the Money which shall arise by or from the sale of the said premises as by my said Will is Directed shall be a sufficient discharge to the person or persons who shall Become the purchaser or purchasers of the said Copyhold premises In Witness whereof I the above named Susannah Merwin have to this my said Codicil set my hand and seal this sixth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy five

S Merwin [seal]
signed sealed published and declared by the said Susannah Merwin as a Codicil to her said last will and Testament in the presence of Sarah Coney Sarah Buckle her mark Mary Ann Coney

This Will was proved at London with a Codicil the twentieth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy five before the Worshipful George Harris Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipful Sir George Hay Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of William Simpson one of the Executors named in the said will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the deceased having been first sworn duly to administer {power} power reserved of making the like grant to Susannah Simpson spinster the other Executor named in the said will when she shall apply for the same

Notes

Susannah was the widow (and much younger second wife, married in 1739 or 1740) of Nicholas Merwin, lawyer, who died in 1751 in his 80s. She evidently left Winslow after her husband died. The property she inherited from him was more than the messuage and land listed below at her death.

The disinherited niece must be the Mary Sympson who married Thomas Sergrove at All Hallows, London Wall, in 1740. The nephew William Simpson seems to have worked for Nicholas Merwin in the 1740s, when he witnessed a number of Winslow wills.

Manor court, 1775 (Centre for Bucks Studies D/82/1/3, pp.219-20)

Susannah Merwin late of Kentish Town Widow whilst she lived held by Copy of Court Roll and Rent of 3s 6d:

She died since the last Court having surrendred all her Copyhold Estates to the Use of her Will, by which she devised them to her Nephew William Simpson of Grays Inn Gent. In Trust to sell and dispose of the same.  Now to this Court comes the said William Simpson by Benjamin Dudley of Winslow Draper his Attorney and desires to be admitted Tenant.  Rent 3s 6d, Fine £1 9s.
William Simpson by Benjamin Dudley then surrenders the Messuage
[p.220] to the Use of William Lowndes of Winslow Esq. the Lord of the Manor.
He surrenders the land to the use of John Bennett of East Cleydon Dairyman, who desires to be admitted Tenant.  Rent 3s 6d, Fine £1 9s.