Will of Francis Robinson, tailor, 1812 (proved 1813)

Herts RO 249AW13

I Francis Robinson of Winslow in the County of Bucks Tailor Do make publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in the manner and form following (that is to say) First I give and devise my Wife Elizabeth Robinson All that Copyhold Messuage or Tenement situate in Great Horn Street in Winslow wherein I now dwell with the rights Members and Appurtenances thereto belonging and which I have Surrendered to the Use of my Will To Hold the same and every part thereof with the Appurtenances unto my said Wife Elizabeth Robinson and her Assigns for and during the Term of her natural life And from and after the decease of my said Wife Elizabeth Robinson I give and devise the said Copyhold Messuage or Tenement and all other my real Estate unto my two Sons Joseph Robinson and Mathew Robinson their Heirs and Assigns for ever as Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants I give and bequeath unto my said two Sons Joseph Robinson and Matthew Robinson and to my three Daughters Mary Robinson Rebecca Robinson and Elizabeth Robinson the Legacy or Sum of Fifty pounds apiece to be paid to them within twelve Calendar Months next after my decease And as to all the rest and residue of my money and securities for money Household Goods and Furniture plate Linen and China and all other my personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said two Sons Joseph Robinson and Mathew Robinson To Hold the same to them the said Joseph Robinson and Matthew Robinson Upon the several Trusts and to and for the ends intents and purposes hereinafter expressed (that is to say) during the natural life of my said wife Elizabeth Robinson to permit and suffer her to have the Free and uncontrolled Use but not the disposing power of all such part of my said Household Goods and Furniture plate Linen and China and all other Household Effects as she may choose to have for her own accommodation and convenience And to convert the residue thereof and all other my personal Estate as shall not then consist of money into money and to collect and get in all Debts that may be due to me on Bond note of simple contract and after paying all my Just Debts Funeral Expences the charges of the probate of this my Will and other incidental Expences of their Executorship Upon trust to place the same and all other my monies out at Interest in their own names and in the name of her my said wife either in the public Funds or on Government Security or on good Mortgage Security and to call in and place out the same or any other of my monies as they from time to time shall think proper And do and shall permit and suffer or fully Authorize and impower my said Wife Elizabeth Robinson to receive and take all the Interest Dividends and produce thereof for her own Use and benefit for and during her natural life And after her decease as aforesaid In trust that they the said Joseph Robinson and Matthew Robinson or the Survivors of them his Executors or Administrators shall and do within twelve Calendar Months next after the decease of my said Wife Elizabeth Robinson pay unto my said three Daughters Mary Robinson Rebecca Robinson and Elizabeth Robinson the Legacy or sum of one hundred pounds apiece to whom I give and bequeath the same and as to for and concerning all the rest and residue of my money and Securities for money Household Goods

[signed] F. Robinson

[f.2] and Furniture Plate Linen and China and all other my personal Estate and Effects whatsoever from and immediately after the decease of my said \Wife/ and the payment of the Legacies of One hundred pounds apiece to my said Daughters Mary Robinson Rebecca Robinson and Elizabeth Robinson as aforesaid I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said two Sons Joseph Robinson and Matthew Robinson and my said three Daughters Mary Robinson Rebecca Robinson and Elizabeth Robinson equally between them share and share alike And I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint them my said two Sons Joseph Robinson and Mathew Robinson Joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament And I do hereby declare that my said Trustees or either of them or the Survivor of them his Executors or Administrators shall not be charged or chargeable with or answerable or accountable for any more of the trust property than what they shall respectively actually receive or with or for any loss or misapplication thereof or of any part thereof so as the same happen without their or either of their wilful default or neglect nor shall either be answerable or accountable for the other of them but each of them for himself and his own Acts Deeds receipts payments defaults and neglects only And Lastly that it shall and may be lawful to and for them the said Trustees and Executors and each of them and the Executors and administrators of the Survivor of them from time to time by and out of the said Trust property to deduct and reimburse themselves and himself respectively all such loss Costs Charges damages and Expences as they or either of them shall or may pay bear sustain expend or be put unto by reason or means or on Account of the execution or performance of the Trust hereby reposed in them in any respect whatsoever In Witness whereof I the said Francis Robinson the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament contained in two Sheets of paper to the first Sheet thereof set my hand only and to this second and last Sheet my hand and Seal this fourteenth day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and twelve.

[signed] F. Robinson

Signed sealed Published and declared by the said
Francis Robinson the Testator as and for his last
Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his
presence and at his request and in the presence of each
other have here unto Subscribed our names as Witnesses
James Hazzard
John Gibbs Jnr.
Char[(les) Willis

Proved on 22nd January 1813 by Joseph Robinson and Matthew Robinson joint Executors, the personal estate of the Testator being under £1500, before me Jonathan Brigges Surrogate.

Notes

Francis Robinson was the son of Matthew (d.1772) and Mary (d.1772), bap. 1750. He was buried on 26 July 1812 aged 62. He married Elizabeth Turner at Great Horwood in 1773. Mary seems to have been their eldest child, baptised in 1775.

Francis lived at 24 High Street from at least 1786 (he seems to have lived in Church Walk previously), and bought the copyhold in 1808. His widow Elizabeth was admitted at the 1813 manor court, where it was noted that the will incorrectly said it was in Great Horn Street rather than Cow Street. It was still occupied by Joseph & Matthew Robinson, tailors, in 1832. Matthew died in 1837; see his will.

The will of Elizabeth Jones, made in 1841, refers to "All that copyhold messuage in two tenements situate and being in Great Horn Street in Winslow aforesaid by me lately purchased of Francis Robinson".