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Will of John Turner, surgeon and apothecary, 1767
National Archives PROB 11/929/4
In the Name of God Amen I John Turner the Elder of Winslow in the County of Bucks Surgeon and Apothecary being of Sound and Disposing Mind Memory and Understanding Do make and Publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) I Give Devise and bequeath unto my Dear Wife Catherine Turner All and Singular my Freehold and Copyhold Messuages or Tenements Lands Heredit(amen)ts and Premisses (which Copyhold Lands and Tenements are Surrendered to the use of this my Will) whatsoever and wheresoever and to which I am now or at any time hereafter shall be Intitled unto in Possession Reversion remainder of Expectancy And also my Stock in Trade Benefit and Profits thereof Household Goods Bills Bonds Mortgages and other Securitys for Money Plate Linnen China and all other my real and Personal Estate of any nature or kind whatsoever To hold unto my said Dear Wife Catherine Turner for and during the Term of her Natural life and from and after her Decease Then I give Devise and bequeath unto my Eldest Son John Turner all that Messuage or Tenement with its Appurt(enance)s in Winslow aforesaid wherein I now Dwell And also I Give Devise and bequeath unto my said Eldest Son John Turner All that other Messuage or Tenement in Winslow aforesaid Adjoining to my said own Dwelling House and now in the Occupation of my said Son John Turner with every of its Appurt(enance)s To Hold the said two Messuages or Tenements with their and every of their Appurt(enance)s unto my said Son John Turner his Heirs and Assigns for ever And from and after such the Decease of my said Wife I do Give and bequeath the Sum of Fifty pounds lawful Money of Great Britain to each and every of my four younger Children (that is to say) Harris Turner William Turner Catherine the Wife of William Parker and Mary Turner such Sum of Fifty pounds to be paid unto my said Daughter Mary Turner when she shall have attained her age of Twenty one years And I do hereby expressly charge All that my Copyhold Messuage or Tenement with its Appurt(enance)s in Winslow aforesaid known by the Name or Sign of the Royal Oak now in the Occupation of the Widow Hazard with the true and just Payment of the said four Several Sums of Fifty pounds unto each [p.2] of my said four younger Children And from and after such the Decease of my said Wife I also Give Devise and bequeath all that Messuage or Tenement in Great Trinity Lane London called the Peacock Alehouse of which I am now possessed And also the Reversion Expectant on the Decease of Hugh Moth of another Messuage or Tenement in Great Trinity Lane aforesaid adjoining to the said Peacock Alehouse And also one other Messuage or Tenement in the Market Place of Winslow aforesaid now in the Occupation of [blank] [margin: Orig. so] Collins And also my Copyhold Lands of Inheritance Arable Ley Meadow and Pasture Ground within the several parishes of Winslow aforesaid and Little Horwood in the said County of Bucks unto such person and persons and in such share and proportions as my said Dear Wife Shall by her last Will and Testament in Writing duly Executed Give Devise and bequeath the same In Trust to Sell and Dispose of the same Premisses for the best price that can be gotten for the same and to apply the moneys arising by such Sale in the payment of all such Just Debts of mine as Shall then remain due and unsatisfyed and after the payment of all such my Just Debts then to Divide the remaining Moneys equally between my said four younger Children Share and Share alike And in Case my said Dear Wife shall find it necessary or Convenient in her life time to raise any Sum or Sums of Money on all or any part of my real or personal Estate for payment of my Debts or for the Advancement of all any or either of my said four Younger Children by Sale or Mortgage of the said real or personal Estates or any part thereof in such Case I do hereby fully and Clearly Authorize and empower my said Dear Wife so to do at her own Will and Discretion And Lastly I do hereby Charge all and every part of my real and personal Estate with the true payment of all my Just Debts and Funeral Expences Except the said Two Messuages or Tenements hereinbefore Devised to my said Eldest Son John Turner and hereby revoking all former or other Wills by me made I do Declare this to be my last Will and Testament and thereof Do Constitute and Appoint my said Dear Wife full and Sole Executrix In Testimony whereof I the said Testator have hereunto set my hand and Seal the fourteenth Day of December In the fifth year of the Reign of King George the Third and in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Sixty four
J(oh)n Turner
Signed Sealed Delivered Published and Declared by the said Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us who at his request and in his Presence and the presence of each other have Subscribed our Names as Witnesses hereto
Robert Gibbs Will(ia)m Gibbs Sam(ue)l Yeates
This Will was proved at London the Second Day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Sixty Seven before the Worshipful Francis Simpson Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipful George Hay also Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully Constituted by the Oath of Catherine Turner Widow the Relict of the deceased and Sole Executrix named in the [p.3] said Will to whom Administration was Granted of all and Singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased she having been first Sworn duly to Administer
Notes
John was the son of Joseph Turner, surgeon, who was buried 28 July 1743, and his wife Emma, daughter of John Green, Winslow's previous surgeon. He was bap. 27 Sep 1700. His eldest son John (by his second wife Catherine) was bap. 19 Dec 1735. He probably lived to the rear of 10-14 High Street.
John had a life-interest in The Bell, which he had inherited from his first wife Jane (dau. of Benjamin Bigg d.1707), who was buried 30 May 1733. He and Jane married in 1724, had a daughter who died as a baby, and brought up Jane's niece Mary Bigg (later Goldsworth). This led to a lawsuit in 1749, mainly about the property called The Cock, q.v. for more information about the family.
He is probably the doctor mentioned in this letter from Lord Fermanagh at Claydon House to Earl Verney, 21 July 1745:
"Captain Chaloner [of Claydon] dislocated his Knee Pan by a fall from his hourse, the Surgeons at Berkhamstead did not give him any relief so he came to Winslow last Thursday & Turland gave him Ease immediately."
The Royal Oak (14 High Street) was sold by the Turners before 1790.
Peacock: Great Trinity Lane was a turning off Bread Street, Cheapside in the City of London.
Collins: Francis Collins lived at the future Bank (19 Market Square), and perhaps he had mortgaged it to John Turner.
Will of Catherine Turner, widow, 1773
National Archives PROB 11/988/88
This is the last Will and Testament of me Catherine Turner of Winslow in the County of Bucks Widow and Relict of John Turner the Elder late of Winslow aforesaid Surgeon and Apothecary deceased Whereas my late Husband the said John Turner did in and by his last Will and Testament in Writing duly executed and proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury bearing date the fourteenth day of December in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Sixty four give devise and bequeath All that Messuage or Tenement in Great Trinity Lane London called the Peacock Alehouse of which he was then possessed And also the Reversion Expectant on the decease of Hugh Moth of another Messuage or Tenement in Great Trinity Lane aforesaid adjoining to the said Peacock Alehouse And also all that Messuage or Tenement in the Market Place of Winslow aforesaid then in the Occupation of [ ] Collins And also his Copyhold Lands of Inheritance Arable Ley Meadow and Pasture Ground lying within the several Parishes of Winslow and Little Horwood in the said County of Bucks unto such Person and Persons and in such Shares and Proportions as I should by my last Will and Testament in Writing by me duly executed give devise and bequeath the same In Trust to sell and dispose of the same Premises for the best Price that could be gotten for the same And to apply the Moneys arising by such Sale in the Payment of \all/ such just debts of his as should then remain due and unsatisfied And after Payment of all such just debts then to divide the remaining Moneys equally among his four younger Children Share and Share alike And also did give and bequeath after my decease the Sum of Fifty Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to each and every of his four younger Children (that is to say) Thomas Harris Turner William Turner Catherine the Wife of Mr William Parker and Mary Turner such Sum of Fifty Pounds to be paid to his said Daughter Mary Turner when she should have attained her full Age of Twenty one years And did thereby expressly charge all his Copyhold Messuage or Tenement with its Appurtenances in Winslow aforesaid known by the Name or Sign of the Royal Oak then in the Occupation of the Widow Hazard with the true and just Payment of the said four younger Children And also did give and bequeath unto me All his Goods Chattels and Personal Estate of any Nature or kind whatsoever As in and by the said recited last Will and Testament it doth and may more fully and at large appear relation being thereunto had Now I the said Catherine Turner in Consequence of the said last Will and Testament of my late Husband John Turner the Elder deceased do make ordain and declare this my last Will and
[p.2] Testament in manner and form following that is to say First I Give devise and bequeath unto my said Children Thomas Harris Turner Catherine the Wife of Mr William Parker and Mary Turner all and every the said Messuages or Tenements Closes Arable Land Ley Meadow and Pasture Ground herein before mentioned [blank] whatsoever and wheresoever with all and singular Outhouses Edifices Buildings Barns Stables Yards Gardens Hedges Ditches Trees Commons Profits and Appurtenances to each and every of them belonging or in any wise appertaining To Hold the same unto and to the Use of my said Children Thomas Harris Turner Catherine [blank] the Wife of Mr William Parker and Mary Turner their Heirs and Assigns for ever As Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants Also I Give and bequeath unto my said Son Thomas Harris Turner All the Furniture in the Room where Master George Coxhead usually lies Also the two Sea Pictures in the Parlour and two pair of good home Spun Sheets and also my Silver half pint Also I Give and bequeath unto my Daughter Catherine Parker my Wrought Bed that was Mr Shaws and the India Counterpane my Silver Sauce Pan markt J.S. and my Silver Sauce Boat my dove coloured Silk Gown and also the Glass in the best Room with the black Frame Also I Give and bequeath unto Mr William Sheppard of Newgate Street London the Sum of Twenty Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain In Trust and to the Intent and Purpose for him to pay and apply the said Sum of Twenty Pounds to and for the use of my said Daughter Catherine Parker as she shall have Occasion for the same Also I Give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Mary Turner All the Furniture in the best Room and the Closets the Glass Excepted and all the Furniture in the Room wherein I usually lye and the Furniture in the best Parlour the Glasses and Pictures excepted And also my Silver Coffee Pot and Castors And four Silver Spoons two Silver Salts Cream Pot and Tea Tongs Also I Give and bequeath unto my Sister Rebecca Turner the Sum of Ten Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain and all my Common Cloths Also I Give and bequeath unto my Grandson Joseph Turner the Glasses and Pictures in the best Parlour And also [sic] my Silver Pint the Sea Pieces Excepted Also I Give and bequeath unto my said Grandson Joseph Turner and to my Grand Daughter Bridget Turner the Sum of Ten Pounds each of like Money And to my Grand Daughter Bridget Turner my Silver Salver Also I Give unto my Grand Daughter Catherine Turner daughter of my said Son Thomas Harris Turner two Silver Spoons and also the Sum of Twenty Pounds of like Money to be paid to my said Grand Children by my Executrix herein after named as they shall respectively attain their Several and respective Ages of Twenty one years Also I Give
[p.3] and bequeath unto Mr William Sheppard of Newgate Street London and Mr William Simpson of Grays Inn London whom I do hereby ordain and appoint joint Trustees of this my Will the Sum of Ten Guineas each for their Trouble in the Execution of this my Will And as to for and Concerning all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Real and Personal Estates whatsoever and wheresoever and of what Nature or kind soever the same may be not otherwise by this my Will given and disposed of I do hereby give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said Children Thomas Harris Turner Catherine Parker and Mary Turner their Executors Administrators and Assigns for ever to be equally divided between them Share and Share alike And I do hereby expressly charge all my said Real and Personal Estates with the true Payment of my Funeral Expences Probate and Charges in Executing this my Will my just Debts and Legacys And do hereby nominate Constitute and appoint my said Daughter Catherine the Wife of Mr William Parker and my Daughter in Law Elizabeth Turner joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all former and other Wills by me heretofore made and do declare this only to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have to this my Will contained in two Sheets of paper to the first Sheet thereof set my Hand only and to this last my Hand and Seal this Sixteenth day of April in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Seventy three.
The Mark of Catherine Turner
Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Testatrix Catherine Turner as and for her last Will and Testament in the Presence of us who have hereunto Subscribed our Names as Witnesses in the Presence of the said Testatrix and also in the Presence of each other Several Interlineations being first made.
Rob(er)t Gibbs Will(ia)m Gibbs Joseph Hunt
This Will was Proved at London the tenth day of May in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Seventy three before the Right Worshipful George Hay Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oaths of Catherine Parker Wife of William Parker the Daughter of the deceased and one of the Executrixes named in the said Will to whom Administration was Granted of all and Singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first Sworn duly to Administer Power reserved of making the like Grant to Elizabeth Turner Widow the other Executrix named in the said Will when she shall apply for the same.
Notes
Catherine made her will immediately after (or in anticipation of) the death of her eldest son John Turner, husband of Elizabeth who was one of the executrixes. Catherine's and John junior's adjacent houses passed under the terms of John senior's will to Joseph Turner the grandson.
According to the manor court records of 1773-4, William Turner predeceased his mother. The other three children Catherine wife of William Packer (of King St, St Giles in the Fields, brewer), Thomas Harris Turner (of Mercers St., St Martins in the Fields, cabinet maker) and Mary Turner (also of King St., spinster) were admitted tenants to one third each of the property bequeathed to them, which they then sold in 1774.