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Will of Gascoyne Finch of Norton, Co. Durham.

Dated 23.9.1772, proved at London 26.1.1774.


TNA REF: PROB 11/994

This is the last Will and Testament of me Gascoyne Finch of Norton in the County of Durham Esquire made the twenty third day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy two

I give and devise all my Freehold Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments situate or being in Brafferton and Wolviston in the said County ( excepting the three houses in Wolviston aforesaid now in the several Occupations of Robert Rowell George Boad and Thomas Lowerby) unto and to the use of Henry Wilkinson of Sherburn House in the said County Esquire Ralph Bradley of Stockton in the said County Esquire and Robert Preston of the same place Gentleman their Heirs and Assigns for ever And by Virtue of every Right Power and Authority enabling me in that behalf I give devise and appoint All my Copyhold Messuages Lands and Tenements situate or being in the Town Township or Parish of Norton aforesaid (Excepting the Mansion House in which I now reside and the Gardens buildings Offices and Appurtenances to the same belonging and excepting the Field lying immediately behind the said Gardens and containing by Estimation five Acres or thereabouts) unto and to the use of the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston their Heirs sequels in Right and Assigns for ever

And I declare and direct that the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston their Heirs and Assigns shall stand and be seized of the said Freehold and Copyhold Premises herein before to them devised Upon the Trusts and subject to the Proviso herein after expressed or Declared of or concerning the same that is to say

In Trust that they the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Heirs and Assigns of such Survivor do and shall by and out of the Rents and Annual Profits of the same Freehold and Copyhold Premises raise and pay to Ann Finch of Stockton aforesaid widow the Annual Sum of twenty Pounds during her Life and to my Servant Mary Taylor the annual sum of twenty Pounds during her Life free from Taxes and clear of all other deductions on two days or times in the year (that is to say) on the first day of May and the eleventh day of November in every Year by equal Portions and to their respective Executors or Administrators a proportionable part of the said Annual Sums to be computed to the day of their respective Deaths from the then last preceeding day of Payment the first Payment of the said annual Sums to begin and be made on such of the said days of payment as shall first happen next after my decease

and if Mary Hayes Wife of Mr Thomas Hayes of New Elvet in or near the City of Durham shall survive her said Husband Upon further Trust that they the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the heirs and Assigns of such Survivor do and shall in that Case from and after the decease of the said Thomas Hayes by and out of the Rents and Annual Profits of the same Freehold and Copyhold Premises raise and pay to the said Mary Hayes the Annual Sum of seventy Pounds during her Life free and clear as herein before mentioned on the same two days of Payment in every Year by equal Portions and to her Executors or Administrators a proportionable Part of the same annual Sum to be computed to the day of her Death from the then last preceeding day of payment the first payment of the same annual Sum to begin and be made on such of the same days as shall first happen next after the decease of the said Thomas Hayes

and upon further trust that they the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Heirs and Assigns of such Survivor do and shall by Mortgage of the same Freehold and Copyhold Premises or of any part thereof raise and levy the Sum of five hundred pounds and pay the same to Ann Ward Daughter of my Niece Mrs Ann Ward of Stockton aforesaid upon the day of the Marriage of the said Ann Ward the daughter but without any Interest in the mean time for the same

And I direct that if the same Ann Ward shall dye without having been married in that Case the said Sum of five hundred pounds shall not be raised and subject to the Trusts herein before thereof declared the same Freehold and Copyhold Premises shall be in Trust for Elizabeth Grey daughter of my late Nephew William Grey and the Heirs of her Body

and in Default of such Issue Upon the Trusts following (that is to say) As to one undivided third part thereof In Trust for my Niece Ann Finch her Heirs and Assigns for ever and as to another undivided third part thereof upon such Trusts and to and for such Intents and Purposes and subject to such Powers Provisoes and Declarations as my Niece Mary Collins Wife of John Collins notwithstanding her Coverture and whether sole or married by any deed or deeds Writing or Writings with or without Power of Revocation to be by her signed Sealed and delivered in the Presence of two or more credible Witnesses or by her last Will and Testament in Writing or any Writing purporting or in the Nature of her last Will to be by her signed and published in the Presence of three or more credible Witnesses shall direct or appoint and in default of such direction or Appointment and in the mean time untill such direction or Appointment shall be made and take effect and in case any such direction or Appointment shall be made as and when the Trusts and Estates so to be directed shall respectively End or determine and as to so much and such part of the same undivided third part whereof no such direction or Appointment shall be made In Trust for the said Mary Collins her Heirs and Assigns and as to the remaining third part of the same Freehold and Copyhold Premises the same shall be upon such Trusts and to and for such Intents and Purposes and subject to such Powers Provisoes and declarations as my Niece Faith Burdon Wife of William Burdon notwithstanding her Coverture and whether sole or  married by any Deeds or Deeds writing or writings with or without Power of Revocation to be by her signed sealed and delivered in the Presence of two or more credible Witnesses or by her last Will and Testament in Writing or any Writing purporting or in the Nature of her last Will to be by her signed and published in the Presence of three or more credible Witnesses shall direct or appoint and in default of such direction or Appointment and in the mean time untill such direction  or Appointment shall be made and take effect and in Case any such direction or Appointment shall be made as and when the Trusts and Estates so to be directed shall respectively end or determine

And as to so much and such part of the same third part whereof no such direction or Appointment shall be made In Trust for the said Faith Burdon her Heirs and Assigns And I declare and direct that the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Heirs and Assigns of such Survivor do and shall from and after my decease untill the said Elizabeth Grey shall attain the Age of twenty one Years or die which shall first happen place out or invest in or upon Government or Real Securities at Interest so much of the Rents and Annual Profits of the said Freehold and Copyhold Premises herein before to them devised as shall remain after and shall not be issues and applied in Payment of the several Annual Sums of Money herein before directed  to be raised and paid thereout and do and shall in like manner place out or invest the Interest and Yearly Produce therefrom arising upon Securities of the like Nature at Interest And I declare and direct that the Fund so to be collected and accumulated shall be paid to the said Elizabeth Grey as and when she shall attain the age of twenty one years but if she shall die before she attains that age in that Case the same Fund shall be upon the Trusts following (that is to say)

As to one third part thereof In Trust for my said niece Ann Finch her Executors Administrators and Assigns and as to another third part thereof In Trust for my said Niece Mary Collins her Executors Administrators and Assigns and as to the remaining third part thereof In Trust for my said Niece Faith Burdon her Executors Administrators and Assigns

I give to my servant the said Mary Taylor such parts of my Wearing Apparel as shall at my decease consist entirely of Linen Silk or Cotton

and to my servant Charles Turner if he shall be in my service at the time of my decease All the residue of my wearing Apparel

and by virtue of every Right Power and Authority enabling me in that behalf I give devise and appoint the said Mansion House in Norton aforesaid wherein I now reside with the Gardens Buildings Offices and Appurtenances to the same belonging and the said Field lying immediately behind the said Gardens and containing by Estimation five acres or thereabouts And the said Freehold Houses in Wolviston aforesaid now in the several Occupations of the said Robert Rowell George Boad and Thomas Sowerby and my Freehold House in Seaton Carew in the said County with the Appurtenances and I give and devise my undivided third part of and in all those Freehold and Leasehold Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments situate or being in the several Towns Townships Territories or Parishes of Hart Bondgate in Auckland and Coundon or elsewhere in the said County of Durham which late belonged to Mr Nathaniel Pewterer And also all my Leasehold Messuages Lands and Tenements situate in Newton Bewley in the Said County with the Appurtenances and all my other Messuages Lands and Tenements of what nature or tenure soever not herein before disposed of unto the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston their Heirs Sequels in Right Executors Administrators and Assigns in manner following (that is to say) such parts of the said premises as are Freehold or Copyhold unto and to the use of the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston their Heirs and Assigns for and during all my Estate and Interest therein and such parts of the said Premises as are held by any Lease or Leases for any Term or number of Years unto the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston their Executors Administrators and Assigns for and during all such Estate Term and Interest as I shall heve therein at the time of my decease and I declare and direct that they the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns respectively shall stand and be seized possessed and interested of and in the said Freehold Copyhold and Leasehold Premises last herein before to them devised

Upon the Trust herein after declared concerning the same (that is to say) In Trust as soon as conveniently may be after my decease to sell and dispose of the said Premises either intirely or in Parcels to any Person or Persons who shall be willing to become the purchasor or Purchasors thereof for the best Price or Prices that can be reasonably gotten for the same and to apply the Money by every such sale arising to and for the purposes hereinafter expressed

And I give and bequeath to the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston their Executors Administrators and Assigns All my Ready Mony Securities for Money and all other my personal Estate of what nature soever not herein before disposed of and I declare and direct that the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns respectively of such Survivor shall stand and be possessed and interested of and in the Money to arise & be produced from my Personal Estate to them given as aforesaid and by the sale of the said Freehold Copyhold and Leasehold Premises herein before directed to be sold and disposed of and of and in the Rents and Profits of the same Premises untill such Sale Upon the following trusts (that is to say)

In Trust thereout to pay all the debts which I shall owe at the time of my decease and my Funeral Expences and the several Legacies or Sums of Money herein after expressed to the several Persons hereinafter mentioned (that is to say) To my said Niece Ann Finch the sum of five hundred pounds To my said servant Mary Taylor the sum of twenty pounds To my said servant Charles Turner if he shall be in m y service at my decease the sum of ten pounds over and above his wages To my servant Robert Benson if he shall be in my service at my decease the sum of five pounds over and above his Wages and to such of them the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston as shall accept the Trusts of this my Will the sum of One hundred pounds a piece as a Consideration and satisfaction for their Trouble in the Execution and Performance of the same Trusts All the said Legacies to be paid within twelve Calendar Months next after my decease

And in Trust within twelve Calendar Months next after my decease to set apart and appropriate the sum of One thousand five hundred pounds for the purposes herein after expressed (that is to say) In Trust to place out or invest the same in or upon Government or Real Securities at Interest untill the same shall become payable by Virtue of this my Will and In Trust during the joint lives of my said Niece Mary Collins and her present husband to pay the Interest therefrom arising to her proper hands or to such persons and for such purposes as she shall appoint To the intent the same may be for her separate and peculiar use and may not be subject to the debts controul disposition or engagements of her Husband And if she shall survive her said Husband in that case the said sum of One thousand five hundred pounds shall from and after his decease be In Trust for her the said Mary Collins and her Executors Administrators and Assigns but if she shall die in his lifetime in that case from and after her decease the said sum of One thousand five hundred pounds shall be upon the Trusts following (that is to say) the sum of One thousand pounds being two third parts thereof shall be In Trust for Finch Collins Son of the said Mary Collins his Executors Administrators and Assigns and the Sum of five hundred pounds the remaining third part thereof shall be in Trust for Mary Collins Daughter of my said Niece Mary Collins and the Executors Administrators and Assigns of the said Mary Collins the Daughter And I direct that if either of them the said Finch Collins and Mary Collins the Daughter shall die under the age of twenty one years in that case the share or portion of such of them so dying shall be In Trust for the other of them but shall not be payable sooner than the Original Portion or share of such other of them shall become payable and if the same Finch Collins and Mary Collins shall both die before either of them shall attain the Age of twenty one years in that case the said Sum of One thousand five hundred pounds shall be upon such Trusts as the said Mary Collins the Mother notwithstanding ner coverture by her last Will and Testament in writing or any writing purporting or in the Nature of her last Will to be by her signed and published in the Presence of two or more credible Witnesses shall direct or appoint and in default of such direction or Appointment In Trust for the Executors and Administrators of the same Mary Collins as part of her Personal Estate

And I direct that the Interest of the Portion or respective Portions or Shares of such of them the said Finch Collins and Mary Collins the daughter of and in the said Sum of One thousand five hundred pounds as shall be under the age of twenty one years at the decease of their Mother shall be applied for his her or their Maintenance Education or benefit respectively untill he she or they shall respectively attain the Age of twenty one years or die which shall first happen in such manner as the Trustees or Trustee for the time being of the same Trust Money shall think proper Provided always and I declare and direct that if the said Mary Collins the Mother shall by any writing or writings under her hand and seal and to be attested by two or more credible Witnesses direct any Sum or Sums of Money part of the Portion or Share hereby intended for her said Son Finch Collins of and in the said Sum of One thousand five hundred pounds to be applied in the joint Lifetimes of her self and her said Husband for the benefit of her said Son or any Sum part of the Portion or share of her said Daughter to be in like manner applied for her Benefit in that Case it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston or the Trustees or Trustee for the time being of the same Trust Money and he and they are hereby authorized intrusted and required in that Case to apply the same pursuant to every such Direction but so as that the Sum or Sums of Money so to be applied for the benefit of the said Finch Collins shall not exceed in the whole the Sum of four hundred pounds and so as that the Sum or Sums of Money so to be applied for the benefit of the said Mary Collins the Daughter shall not exceed in the whole the Sum of two hundred pounds

and also In Trust within twelve Calendar Months next after my decease by and out of the Money to arise and be produced as aforesaid from my Personal Estate and by the Sale of the said Freehold Copyhold and Leasehold Premises herein before directed to be sold and disposed of and the Rents and Profits of the same Premises untill such Sale do set apart and appropriate the Sum of two thousand five hundred pounds for the Purposes herein after expressed (that is to say)

In Trust to place out or invest the Same in or upon Government or Real Securities at Interest untill the same shall become payable by Virtue of this my Will and in Trust during the joint Lives of my said Niece Faith Burdon and her present Husband to pay the Interest therefrom arising to her proper Hands or to such Persons and for such Purposes as she shall appoint to the Intent the same may be for her separate and peculiar Use and may not be subject to the debts Controul disposition or Engagements of her said Husband and if she shall survive her said Husband in that Case the said sum of two thousand five hundred pounds shall from and after his decease be In Trust for her the said Faith Burdon her Executors Admors and Assigns But if she shall die in his Lifetime in that case from and after her decease the said sum of two thousand five hundred pounds shall be In Trust for William Burdon Robert Burdon Ann Burdon Frances Burdon and ?Jane? Burdon children of my said Niece Faith Burdon in equal shares and in case any of them the said William Burdon Robert Burdon Ann Burdon Frances Burdon and Jane Burdon shall die under the age of twenty one years then as well the Original share as every other share of such of them so dying shall be In Trust for the others or other of them in equal shares if more than one but shall not be payable sooner than the original share of such others or other of them shall become payable And in case the said William Burdon Robert Burdon Ann Burdon Frances Burdon and Jane Burdon shall all die before any of them shall attain the Age of twenty one years in that Case the said Sum of two thousand five hundred pounds shall be upon such Trusts as my said Niece Faith Burdon notwithstanding her coverture by her last Will and Testament in Writing or any Writing purporting or in the Nature of her last Will to be by her signed and published in the Presence of two or more Credible witnesses shall direct or appoint and in default of such direction or appointment In Trust for the Executors and Administrators of the said Faith Burdon as part of her personal Estate and I declare and direct that the Interest of the respective Shares of such of the said children of my said Niece Faith Burdon as shall be under the age of twenty one years at her decease shall be applied for the Maintenance Education or benefit of such Children respectively untill they shall respectively attain the Age of twenty one Years or dye which shall first happen in such manner as the Trustees or Trustee for the time being of the same Trust Money shall think proper Provided always and I declare and direct that if my said Niece Faith Burdon shall by any writing or writings under her hand and seal and to be attested by two or more credible witnesses ..... any Sum or Sums of Money part of the respective Shares of her said Children of and in the said Sum of two thousand five hundred pounds to be applied in the joint Life times of herself and her said Husband for the benefit of the same Children respectively in that Case it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston and the Survivors and Survivor of them and for the Trustees or Trustee for the time being of the same Trust Money and he and they are hereby authorized intrusted and required in that Case to apply the same Pursuant to every such Direction but so as that the Sum or Sums of Money so to be applied for the benefit of any one of the same Children shall not Exceed in the whole the Sum of two hundred pounds

Provided always and I hereby declare and direct that if at the End of twelve Calendar Months next after my decease the Money which shall at that time have been raised and produced from such parts of my Real and Personal Estates as are herein before appropriated to the payment of my debts and Funeral Expences and the several Legacys or Sums of Money herein before directed to be paid thereout shall in the Judgement of the Trustees for the time being of the same estates appear to be deficient for that purpose in that Case it shall and may be lawful to and for the same Trustees and they are hereby authorized intrusted and required in that Case by Mortgage of the said Freehold and Copyhold Premises first herein before devised or any part or parts thereof to raise and levy such sum or sums of Money as they shall judge necessary or expedient for the supplying and making good such deficiency and shall apply the Money so to be raised for the answering of that purpose accordingly

And I declare and direct that the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston and the Trustees for the time being thereof shall stand and be possessed and interested of and in so much of the Money to arise and be produced as aforesaid from my Real and Personal Estates herein before appropriated to the payment of my Debts Funeral Expences and Legacies herein before directed to be paid thereout as shall not be issued and applied in manner and for the Purposes aforesaid as the same shall come in and be received Upon the Trusts following (that is to say) In Trust thereout to satisfy and discharge all such sum or sums of Money as by Virtue or in Pursuance of this my Will shall be borrowed on Mortgage of the said Freehold and Copyhold Premises first herein before devised and In Trust to invest the Surplus thereof as the same shall come in and be received in the Purchase of Freehold or Copyhold Messuages Lands or Tenements of Inheritance in Possession and to settle and assure the same to for upon and subject to the same uses Estates Trusts Powers Provisoes and Declarations as are herein before expressed limited declared or directed of or concerning the said Freehold and Copyhold Premises first herein before devised or as near thereto as the Nature of the Estates so to be purchased the death of Persons and other Circumstances will then admit of but so as that with Respect to the said Annual and other Sums of Money herein before directed to be raised and paid by and out of the said last mentioned Freehold and Copyhold Premises the Lands or Tenements so to be purchased as herein before mentioned shall be made an additional Security only for the raising and paying of the same annual and other sums of Money and I direct that in the mean time untill such purchases shall be made as herein before mentioned the said Surplus of the Money to arise and be produced as herein last before mentioned shall be placed out or invested in or upon Government or Real Securities at Interest and the Interest therefrom arising shall be paid to such Persons and applied in such manner and for such Purposes as the Rents and Profits of the Lands and Tenements so to be purchased would be payable or applicable to in Case the same were purchased and settled pursuant to the Trusts and Directions of this my Will

and I declare and direct that the Person or Persons who at the time of my decease shall stand seized of the said Copyhold Premises hereby devised In Trust for me shall as soon as conveniently may be surrender the same premises respectively so and in such manner as that the same shall be vested in the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston their Heirs and Sequels in Right Upon the Trusts in this my Will declared concerning the same Premises respectively

and I declare and direct that the Receipt or Receipts of the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston their Heirs and Sequels in Right Upon the Trusts in this my Will declared concerning the same Premises respectively and I declare and direct that the Receipt or Receipts of the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston or any of them or of any of the Trustees for the time being of the said Premises hereby directed to be sold or mortgaged for the purposes aforesaid under his or their hands or hand respectively shall from time to time effectually discharge the respective Purchasor or Purchasors Mortgagee or Mortgagees of such parts of the same Premises as by Virtue or in Pursuance of the Trusts or Directions of this my Will shall be sold or mortgaged respectively of and from so much of the Purchase or Mortgage Money as shall therein be expressed to be received and that such Purchasor or Purchasors Mortgagee or Mortgagees shall not afterwards be answerable or accountable for any Loss Misapplication or Nonapplication of such Purchase or Mortgage Money And I declare that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston and the Trustees to be appointed as herein after is mentioned or the Major part of them for the time being from time to time to agree and compound with any Person or Persons who after my death shall be Debtors or Accountants to or shall appear or pretend to be Creditors or Demandants upon my Estate or Effects or upon my Executors or Trustees in Respect thereof thereof in all Cases where the same shall seem to them or the major part of them necessary or reasonable and to take such part as can be gotten in full discharge of all such Debts and also to give such Consideration as will be accepted in full discharge of all such Demands as shall be thought most advantageous and beneficial for my Estate and the Persons interested in the same by Virtue of this my Will Provided always and I declare and direct that if any of them the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston shall die or be desirous to decline and be discharged of and from all or any of the Trusts hereby in them reposed at any time or times before the same Trusts shall be fully executed and performed and when and as soon as the same shall happen it shall and may be lawful to and for such of the same Trustees as shall be desirous to be discharged of and from the same Trusts or any of them and for the Executors or Administrators of such of them as shall so dye by any writing or writings under his or their hands and seals or hand and seal respectively to appoint any other person to be a Trustee for the purposes aforesaid in the place of such of them as shall die or be desirous to decline and be discharged of and from the same Trusts or any of them and so from time to time to appoint as often as there shall be occasion any other person or persons to be a Trustee or Trustees in manner and for the Purposes aforesaid in the Place of the present or any succeeding or other Trustee or Trustees who shall die or be desirous to be discharged off and from the aforesaid Trusts or any of them as aforesaid and that when and as often as any new Trustee or Trustees shall be appointed as herein before mentioned the Trust Estates Securities Monies anad Premises which shall be then vested in the Person or Persons so dying or from the Trusts whereof any of the Trustees then in being shall desire to be discharged shall respectively with all convenient Speed be conveyed and transferred in such manner as that the same shall be effectually vested in the surviving or continuing Trustees or Trustee and such new Trustees or Trustee upon the same Trusts and to and for the same Intents and Purposes and with and under and subject to the same Powers Provisoes and Declarations as are herein before expressed or declared concerning the same Trust Estates Securities Monies and Premises respectively or upon and under  and subject to such of the same Trusts Powers Provisoes and declarations as for the time being shall be existing or capable of taking effect I constitute the said Henry Wilkinson Ralph Bradley and Robert Preston Executors of this my Will hereby revoking all my former Wills and I declare that my said Executors and Trustees herein before named for the respective purposes herein before mentioned their respective Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns or any new Trustee or Trustees to be appointed as aforesaid or any of them shall not be charged or chargeable with or accountable for any more of the aforesaid Trust Estates Moneys and Premises than they respectively shall actually receive or shall come to their respective hands by virtue of this my Will, nor with or for any loss which shall happen of the same Estates Monies and Premises or any part thereof so as such loss happen without their wilful default nor any one of them for the Acts Deeds Receipts or Disbursements of the others or other of them but each of them only for his own Acts Deeds Receipts and Disbursments And that they respectively shall and may by and out of the said Trust Estates Money and Premises respectively be allowed and retain to and reimburse themselves all such Loss Costs Charges damages and expences as they respectively shall or may suffer sustain expend or be put unto in or about the Execution of the Trusts by virtue or in pursuance of this my Will in them respectively reposed or to be reposed in relation to the same Estates Money and Premises respectively

In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament contained in this and the seven preceeding sheets of paper hereto annexed set my hand and seal (to wit) my hand to the bottom of each of the said preceeding sheets my hand and seal to this last sheet and my seal at the top of the first of the said preceeding sheets where all the said sheets are fixed together the day and year first within written, Gas: Finch The writing contained in this and the seven preceeding sheets of paper hereto annexed was signed and sealed by Gascoyne Finch of Norton in the County of Durham Esquire and by him published and declared as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who as witnesses thereof have hereto subscribed our names in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other Wm Hoare, Josh Ritson jun, Harrison Thompson.

This will was proved at London before the Right Worshipful Sir George Hay Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted on the twenty sixth day of January in the year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred and seventy four by the Oath of Robert Preston Esquire one of the Executors named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the deceased having been first sworn by Commission duly to Administer Power reserved of making the like grant to Henry Wilkinson and Ralph Bradley Esquires the other Executors named in the said Will when they or either of them shall apply for the same.

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transcript Dave King, published 27.5.2008