Will of John Parrott of East Claydon, dairyman, 1764 (proved 1765)

National Archives, PROB 11/908/342

In the Name of God Amen I John Parrot of East Claydon in the County of Bucks Dairyman being weak in Body but of sound Mind Memory and understanding (praised be God for it) and considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof and to the End I may be the better prepared to leave this World whenever it shall please God to call me hence do therefore make and declare this 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 my Creator hoping for free Pardon and Remission of all my Sins and to enjoy everlasting Happiness in his Heavenly Kingdom through the sole Merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour my Body I commit to the Earth at the discretion of my Executrix hereinafter

[p.2] named and as to such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to intrust me I dispose of the same as followeth First I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved Wife Ann Parrott and to my Son Robert Parrot all my Stock of Cattle and also all my yearly Profits Increase and Produce whatsoever to arise or be had or made thereof and also all my Implements of Husbandry my Furniture Goods Household Stuff Utensils and Brewing Vessels whatsoever Subject to the payment of one Annuity or yearly Rent Charge of fifteen pounds a year to my Mother Joane Parrot for and during the Term of her natural Life, free from all Parliamentary and other Taxes payable quarterly at the four most usual Feasts in the year (that is to say) the Feasts of the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary the Nativity of Saint John Baptist and Saint Michael the Archangel by even and equal portions the first payment to be made on such of the said Feast days as shall happen next after my decease and I do hereby also charge my said Stock with the payment of all my just Debts And my desire further is that my said Wife and Son may carry on the Business I am now in jointly between them Also I give to my Son Robert Parrot the Sum of three hundred and fifty Pounds of good and lawful Money of Great Britain and as to all my real Estate either Copyhold or Free I also give to my Son Robert Parrot and his Heirs for ever And as to all the rest and Residue of my personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever or of what nature or kind soever whereof or wherein I shall be any ways possessed of or interested in at the time of my Death I give devise and bequeath unto my said loving Wife Ann Parrot and my Son Robert Parrott their Executors Administrators and Assigns and I make and ordain my said Wife Ann Parrott and my Son Robert Parrot Executrix and Executor of this my Will And I do hereby will and appoint that my much esteemed and loving Friends John Cox of Winslow in the County of Bucks Yeoman and Henery Tattam of Hoyston [?=Hoggeston] in the said County of Bucks Yeoman shall have the Tuition and Guardianship of my said Son Robert Parrott during his Minority and in such case I earnestly intreat their utmost Care respectively in and about the Morals and Education of my Son And I do also intreat them to be aiding and assisting of my dear Wife and Son in their Business as much as in themselves In Witness whereof I the said John Parrot to this my last Will and Testament contained in two Sheets of paper fixed together at the Top and Sealed to the first Sheet have set my Hand and to the second and last Sheet have set my Hand and Seal declaring this to be my last Will and Testament this thirtieth Day of December in the fifth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty four.

John Parrot

Signed Sealed declared and published by the said John Parrot as and for his last Will and
[p.3] Testament in the presence of us who subscribed our Names as Witnesses in the Testators Presence and at his Request
Fran(cis) Collins                William Mayne                  Ferd(inand)o Southam

Proved at London on 15th May 1765 before George Hay Commissary of Prerogative Court of Canterbury by the oath of Ann Parrot Widow and Executrix. Power reserved to Robert Parrot when he shall apply for the same.

Notes

John Parrott owned 18½ acres of land in Winslow which, in his son Robert's name, was included in Enclosure in 1767. It is not known how or when he acquired it. It is the copyhold land mentioned in the will, or at least some of it. See Robert's will (proved 1825).