Will of John Seaton, carrier, 1719 (proved 1723)

National Archives, PROB 11/590/327

In the Name of God Amen I John Seaton of Winslowe in the County of Bucks Carrier being in good Health of Body and of perfect Mind and Memory praised be Almighty God therefore and considering the certainty of death and the uncertaine time thereof doe this Twelfth day of November Anno D(o)m(ini) 1719. make and ordeyne this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following (that is to say) First and principally I commend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God my Maker hoping through the Merits death and passion of Jesus Christ my Saviour to be made partaker of Everlasting Life and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently buryed att the discretion of my Executors here in after named And as for such Temporal Estate as itt hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me I give and dispose there of as followeth Impri(mi)s I give Will devise and bequeath all and every my Copyhold Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments whatsoever within the Mannour of Winslowe aforesaid and the Appertenances belonging to the same unto my loveing Brother Robert Seaton [brazier of Peterborough according to Joseph Meakes; see below] my loveing Kinsman George Blake of Winslowe aforesaid Tallowchandler and my loving Brother John West [yeoman of Boddington, Northants, according to Joseph Meakes] and their Heirs for ever In Trust and to the intent that they shall sell and dispose of the Same soe soon as conveniently they can att and for the best price they can gett for the same and pay and apply the Mony raised by such Sale (or soe much there of as shall be needfull and necessary) towards the payment of my debts and Funerall Expences and after my debts and Funerall Expences shall be paid and satisfied Then upon this further Trust and Confidence in them reposed and to the intent that they shall pay apply and dispose of the Overplus of the Mony which shall be so raised by Sale of my said Coppyhold Lands and Tenements and shall remaine in their Hands after my debts and Funeral Expences shall be paid and Satisfyed unto and amongst all such my Children as shall be liveing att the time of my death and whereof my Wife shall be then pregnant in such manner and att such times as they the said Robert Seaton George Blake and John West or any two of them shall think convenient and needfull for the bringing upp and placeing out of my Children and setting them in Business.  Item I give Will devise and bequeath unto the said Robert Seaton George Blake and John West all and every my Goods Chattells and personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever In Trust and to the Intent that they shall sell and dispose of the same soe soon as conveniently they can att and for the best price they can gett for the same and pay and apply the mony raised by such sale (or soe much thereof as shall be needfull and necessary) towards the payment of such of my debts as my Coppyhold Estate will not answer and pay and after my debts shall be paid and satisfyed Then upon this further Trust and Confidence in them reposed and to the Intent that they shall pay apply and dispose of the overplus of the Mony which shall be raised by Sale of my said Goods and Chattells and which shall remaine in their Hands after my debts and Funeral Expences shall be paid and Sattisfyed and they shall have deducted to themselves their reasonable Charges and Expences concerning the management of the Trusts aforesaid in manner following (that is to say) Sixty pounds thereof unto my loveing Wife Mary in lieu of her Thirds in my Coppyhold Lands in Case she shall Joyne with my Trustees in the Sale thereof for the purposes herein menc(i)oned and the Residue thereof unto and amongst all such my Children as shall be liveing at the time of my death and whereof my Wife shall be then pregnant in such manner and att such times as they the said Robert Seaton George Blake and John West or any two of them shall think convenient and needfull for the bringing upp and placeing out of my Children and Setting them in Business and I doe hereby make and ordeyne the said Robert Seaton George Blake and John West Executors of this my last Will and Testament In Trust for the purposes herein before menc(i)oned And lastly I doe hereby revoke and make void all former Wills by me heretofore made and doe declare this to be my last Will and Testament  In Witness whereof I have to this my Will conteyned in two Sheetes of paper to the first sheet sett my Hand and to the last Sheet my Hand and Seale this Twelfth day of November Anno d(omi)ni 1719. and in the Sixth yeare of the Reigne of our Soveraigne Lord King George of Great Britain &c. (John Seaton) signed sealed published and declared in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our Names as Witnesses in the presence of the Testator
Simon Hogson
William Shelton Jun(ior) [shopkeeper according to Joseph Meakes]
Peter Goldsworth.

[Latin]  Probate at London 13 April 1723 to George Blake, with power reserved to Robert Seaton and John West.

Notes

John Seaton was buried at Winslow on 22 Jan 1722/3; his wife Mary died three days after him. There were several John Seatons in Winslow at the same time; this one was the son of John Seaton, carrier, d.1693, bap. 13 May 1675. The children of John and Mary Seaton were:

The will suggests that John already had children from a previous marriage, and made his will when he remarried. In 1704 he made property arrangements in advance of his marriage to Elizabeth Rogers of Hardwick. She was the Elizabeth Seaton buried 19 Nov 1717. There seem to have been two John Seatons with wives called Elizabeth, so it is not clear which children recorded in the register of baptisms were theirs, but the will of his brother Robert Seaton of Peterborough mentions these children of John who can be identified in the parish register:

Although John was described as a carrier he paid £140 p.a. rent for land at Steeple Claydon; see 1715 manor court. On 2 Jan 1715/16: Viscount Fermanagh, Middle Claydon, wrote to Ralph Verney, Baddow Hall: "John Seaton did yesterday pay his Michs rent".

National Archives E112/931 no.71

In Hilary Term 1726 Joseph Meakes of Addington, grazier, brought an action against the trustees on behalf of himself and other creditors. John Seaton owed him £16 for rent and £6 6s for money lent. He referred to him as yeoman and said that he held the messuage and homestall in which he lived and 8 acres of copyhold land:

These had been mortgaged separately to Peter Goldsworth and William Lowndes esq. The value of the real and personal estate was enough to pay all mortgages and debts, according to Meakes. Robert Seaton and John West claimed they lived too far away to execute the trust and left it to George Blake, but in fact possessed themselves of considerable parts of the estate. West took 6 gold rings, 2 dozen napkins, 2 tablecloths, a side table and all Mary's wearing apparell, and a bond for the payment of £20 by himself on the death of Widow West his mother. The trustees claimed that the estate was insufficient to pay the debts, but they had exhibited no inventory, and Robert had taken the copyhold property for a considerable sum.

The outcome of the case is unknown.

Copyright 23 November, 2023