Will of John Roberson, tailor, 1702 (proved 1703)

Herts RO 140AW138

In the name of God Amen I John Roberson of Winslow in the County of Bucks Tayloure being weake in body but of a perfect minde and memory thanks bee to God almighty for the same but knowing that it is apoynted for all men once to die and not knowing how short my life may bee in this transitory and fadeing world and being willing to sett my house in order while it hath pleased God of his Infinit mercy to give mee time and space and first and principally I committ my soule into the hands of allmighty God who gave it mee in hopes to be saved by the only Merritts of my only lord and saviour Jesus Christ and my body I committ to the earth to be buryed in such a decent manner as my executor hereafter nominated and appoynted shall think fitting and as for such worldly goods as it hath pleased God of his infinite mercy to beestow upon mee I doe give grant devise of as followeth  Imprimis I give grant and bequeath all my Implements of household stuffe of what keind [sic] and nature soever they shall bee that are in the Messuage or tenement wherein I now dwell and allsoe all those that are in the Chamber over the shop now in the occupation of Mr Foard Apothecary to bee {at her full and whole} at the disposall of Mary Roberson my now wife to bee at her full and whole disposeing  Item I give unto my Daughter Ann the wife of Georg Dandridge \the sum of tenn pounds/ Item I give unto my daughter Elizabeth Walker the sum of tenn pounds to bee payed tenn yeare after my decease and allsoe all the rest of my goods in whose hand they may bee found I doe give grant and bequeath unto Mary Roberson my wife which I doe order to pay the sayd legacies by vertue of a surrender  bearing even date with these presents at the time above mentioned as by the sayd surrender may more plainely appear whome I doe constitute and Appoynt to bee my full and whole executors of this my last Will and testament revokeing and makeing void all other wills and testaments before by mee had made constituted and appoynted and doe constitute and appoynt to this to bee my last Will and testament In wittness ewhereof I have heerunto sett my hand and seale the eighteenth Day of december in the first yeare of the reigne of our Sovereigne Lady Ann by the Grace of God of England Scotland france and Ireland queen defender of the faith and in the yeare of our Lord God 1702 the sayd sum of tenn pounds being einterlined was written before this was sealed and delivered

the marke of John Roberson

Signed sealed published and declared in the presence of us
Joseph Glenester
Richard Lettman
Richard Ginger

20th. May 1703
Mary Roberson widow and executor sworn before Rev. John Cole archdeacon in the presence of Edmd Browne registrar   

Inventory of John Roberson, tailor, 1703

Herts RO A25/4540

A true and perfect inventory of all the money goods and chattells of John Roberson of Winslow in the County of Bucks late deceased as they were vallued the first day of January in the first yeare of the reign of our lady Ann by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland queen defender of the faith by Joseph Glenester Richard Lutman and Richard Ginger

£
s
d
Item his purse & wearing Apparrell
5
0
0
It(em) in the seller barrells drinke meash fatt and other lumber
1
10
6
It(em) in kitchen 1 Iron pott & other lumber
0
6
8
It(em) in the parlor two tables brasse & pewter and other lumber & dresser with drawer
1
12
0
It(em) in the Garratt 2 bedsteeds and beding two joyne stooles and other lumber
0
10
0
It(em) in the chamber over the parlour 1 bedsteed & trundle bedd with the beding and other lumbar there
0
10
2
It(em) in the chamber over the shop one bed and bedding with a table and other lumbar there
1
13
4
It(em) in the barne wood hay & straw and corne
0
12
0
One land of wheat groweing
0
18
0
One pigg
0
16
0
 
--------------
Totall
12
16
8

[signed] Joseph Glenister
Richard Letman
Richard Ginger

[Inventory presented 20 May 1703 by the executrix]

The total should be £13 8s 8d.

Notes

John Robinson (sic) was buried on 12 Dec 1702. Mary Robinson, widow, married Edward Turnham of Hoggeston, husbandman, on 17 Oct 1703; as Mary Turnham she was closely involved in the affairs of her son John. John sr was also described as a victualler with an alehouse at the 1701 manor court, and his widow and son later kept an alehouse (at 2 Horn Street). They sold their property in 1727.

John was probably bap. 19 June 1663, the son of Thomas Robinson, yeoman (d.1677).

John made extensive deathbed arrangements about his copyhold property (but the date of either the surrender or his burial must be wrong). His surviving children were:

At the Bucks Quarter Sessions for Easter 1707, Edward Turnham petitioned for some allowance for the support of “the Widow Spooner, a poor distracted person,” and a daughter of his wife by a former husband.

"Mr Foard Apothecary" appears to be Ford the Buckingham apothecary who is mentioned in some of the Verney Letters including 30 Jan 1708/9 (Viscount Fermanagh to Hon. Ralph Verney) about his runaway marriage to Prudence Woodfine. He apparently tried to set up a branch of his business at Winslow.

Mary's third[?] husband Edward Turnham of Hoggeston made his will on 22 Nov 1722 (proved 20 July 1723) (Centre for Bucks Studies D/A/Wf/73/76). The residue of his property was divided between his son Edward Turnham and his daughter Elizabeth Hazard, who were "to continue as joynt partners" running his farm until Elizabeth married. He left £3 each to his grandchildren Thomas, Ann and William Turnham when they were 21. He left one shilling to his daughter Ann Short, and "unto Mary my now wife one shilling and one pewter dish". Elizabeth Turnham married John Hazzard at Hoggeston in 1716. He died at Winslow in 1718; see his administration.