Will of Elizabeth Blake, widow, 1823 (proved 1824)
Herts RO 260AW1
This is the last Will and Testament of me Elizabeth Blake of Winslow in the County of Bucks Widow First I give and bequeath unto Robert Corbett of Winslow aforesaid Baker The principal Sum of ninety pounds due and owing to me from my Brother Thomas Hall Bradbury and secured by his promissory Note with such Interest as shall be due thereon at the time of my deceased Upon trust that he the said Robert Corbett his Executors or Administrators shall and do as soon as conveniently may be after my decease call in and secure the said principal Sum of ninety pounds and such Interest as may be then due thereon and pay and divide the same unto and among my Daughter Elizabeth the Wife of George Jones the elder of Winslow aforesaid Gentleman and my Granddaughter Elizabeth the Wife of Edward Emerton of Great Horwood in the said County of Bucks Teadealer equally share and share alike And which I do hereby give and bequeath unto the said Elizabeth Jones and Elizabeth Emerton respectively accordingly. Also I give and bequeath unto my Grandson George Jones the Younger my Bureau which I request may be delivered to him as soon as conveniently may be after my decease And in case the said George jones the Younger shall depart this life previous to the said Bureau being delivered to him then I do hereby give and bequeath the said Bureau unto Elizabeth Ann Jones (Daughter of the said George Jones the Younger) Also I give and bequeath unto my Grandson Edward Williatt Jones the said Edward Emerton my Clock which I request may be delivered to my said Daughter Elizabeth Jones on his Account him as soon as conveniently may be after my decease And as to my household Goods and furniture wearing Apparel and Ornamentsof my person of every kind plate Linen China ready money and Securities for money and the rest and residue of my personal Estate and Effects not hereinbefore by me specifically disposed of I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof and all my Estate and Interest therein unto my said Daughter Elizabeth Jones for her own use and benefit Subject nevertheless to and charged with the payment of all such Debts as I may justly owe at the time of my decease my funeral and testamentary Expences And I do hereby direct that the said monies goods and Effects by me hereinbefore given and bequeathed to my said Daughter Elizabeth Jones as aforesaid shall be respectively paid \and delivered/ into the own proper hands of my said Daughter Elizabeth Jones for her separate use and benefit and not into the hands of any Assignee or Assignees nor of her present Husband nor to the hands of any Creditor or Creditors with whom she or he may at any time contract any debt or debts my Intention being that the same shall be for her personal and own benefit and disposal and not to be in her said Husband's power to sell assign or in any wise to dispose of or incumber the same or any part thereof respectively And that the Receipt or Receipts of my said Daughter Elizabeth Jones alone (notwithstanding her present Coverture) shall be good and sufficient discharge and discharges to my Executor hereinafter named for so much and such part or parts of the said monies goods and Effects by me hereinbefore given and bequeathed to her and in and by such Receipt or Receipts shall be expressed or acknowledged to be received And I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Robert Corbett full and sole Executor of this my Will hereby revoking and making void all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made and declaring this only to be my last Will and Testament And my Mind is that my said Executor shall not be answerable or accountable for any more monies or
[signed] E Blake
[f.2] property than shall come to his hands or use by virtue of this my Will nor for any loss or reduction therein without his wilful neglect or default And also that he shall retain all his Costs Charges damages and Expences in the trusts or Executorship of this my will out of the Effects in him vested by virtue thereof or out of the monies arising therefrom In Witness whereof I the said Elizabeth Blake the Testatrix have to the first Sheet of this my last Will and Testament contained on two sheets of paper set my hand only and to this second and last Sheet thereof my hand and Seal this seventeenth day of May in the Year of our Lord Christ one thousand eight hundred and twenty three
[signed] E Blake
Signed sealed published and declared by the said
Elizabeth Jones the Testatrix as and for her last Will and Testament
in the presence of us who in her presence at her request and in the
presence of each other have subscribed our Names as Witnesses thereof
[?certain interlinea]tions and Erasures appearing on the first Sheet
[ - - - - m]ade
[signed] Char: Willis
Dav Tho Willis
Archdeaconry of Saint Alban
The twenty second day of June 1824
Robert Corbett the Executor in the Will named was duly sworn as such And that the personal Estate of the Testatrix doth not amount in the whole to the Sum of two hundred pounds to the best of his knowledge and belief
Before me
[signed] James Preedy
Surrogate
Notes
Elizabeth, nee Bradbury, was born in Great Horwood in 1744, and married Thomas Blake (d.1784) there in 1770. He was much older than she was, and she was a widow for over half her life. For full details of the family, see the Blake family page (Thomas is no.8).