Will of Martha Crane of Whaddon, spinster, 1781 (proved 1785)

Bucks Archives, D/A/Wf/104/19

In the name of God Amen I Martha Crane of Whaddon in the County of Bucks Spinster being in good Health of Body and of Sound Mind Memory and Understanding (praised be God for the same) Do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament in Manner and form following (that is to say) First I give devise and bequeath unto my Brother William Crane his Heirs and Assigns All that my Freehold Messuage or Tenement Situate in Whaddon aforesaid now in the Occupation of William King And also All that my Copyhold Messuage or Tenement Situate in Whaddon aforesaid and were late in the Occupation of my late Sister Elizabeth Missenden Deceased And also All that my Copyhold Messuage or Tenement Situate in Cow Street in Winslow in the said County of Bucks and now in the Occupation of Chederlaomer Egleton his Assignee or Assigns Together with all Houses Outhouses Edifices Buildings Barns Stables Yards Gardens and Backsides with their and every of their 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 Brother William Crane his Heirs and Assigns for Ever. Also I give and bequeath unto my Nephew Richard Crane (Son of my late Brother James Crane deceased} and unto John Clements and Thomas Clements  (Sons of my late Sister Anna Clements deceased} the Sum or Legacy of Ten pounds Each of lawful Money of Great Britain Also I give and bequeath unto my niece Elizabeth Crane (Daughter of my late Brother Richard Crane deceased) the Sum or Legacy of Five pounds of like Money Also I give and bequeath unto William Clements Son of my said Nephew John Clements the Sum of Five pounds of like Money Also I give and bequeath unto my Nieces Elizabeth the Wife of John Hinchley and Mary the Wife of Richard Cox (Daughters  of my late Brother John Crane deceased} And unto my Nephew and Nieces Thomas Crane, Mary Crane, Susannah Crane and Anna Crane (Children of my late Brother Richard Crane Deceased} the Sum of One Guinea Each of like Money Also I give to John, Thomas, Anna and Elizabeth Clements Children of my said Nephew John Clements the Sum of One Guinea Each to be paid unto and to Each and every of them my said Legatees Respectively by my Executor herein after named within Twelve Calendar months next after my Decease But in Case any or either of my said Legatees herein before named shall depart this Life before his her or their Legacy or Legacies shall become due and payable then in such Case the Legacy or Legacies of him her or them so dying shall go and remain to the Child or Children of his her or their Bodies lawfully begotten to be Equally Divided among them Share and Share alike But if any or either of them Die without leaving Child or Children then my Will is that the Sum bequeathed to him her or them so dying shall go and remain to the use of the Survivors or Survivor of them Each to have an Equal Share thereof Also I Give unto Elizabeth the Wife of my said Nephew John Clements

[fo.2] \and her children/ All the best of my wearing Apparel both Linen and Woolen and for her to Divide them as she thinks proper Also in case any part of my Money which I have at Interest or which is any otherways due to me cannot be recovered by my Executor and there shall not be Sufficient to Answer my Debts and Legacies Then my Will is that such Loss or Deficiency shall be borne by my said Legatees herein before Mentioned of them a proportionable part thereof According to the Sums bequeathed them And as to for and Concerning all my ready Money Bills Bonds Mortgages Notes of hand and all other Securities of Money Goods Cattle Chattels Rights Credits personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what Nature or kind soever the same may be (not hereinbefore given or bequeathed) whereof or wherein I shall be in any ways possessed of, Interested in, or Intitled to at the Time of my Decease I do hereby give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said Brother William Crane his Executors Administrators and Assigns And I do hereby Expressly charge all my said Personal Estate so given to him as aforesaid with the true payment of all my Just Debts Legacies and Funeral Expences And Lastly I do hereby Nominate Constitute and appoint my said Brother William Crane full and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all former Wills by me at any Time heretofore made 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 my hand and Seal this Seventeenth day of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty One
Martha Crane [signature]

Signed Sealed published and Declared by the said Testatrix Martha Crane 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 at her request and also in the presence of each other
Wm Missenden [signature]
John Howes [signature]
Joseph Hunt [signature]

28th May 1785
Sworn the Executor above named
the effects do not amount to £300
before me
W. Stockins Surr(ogate)
No In(ventor)y

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Notes

Martha Crane's property in Winslow was 22 High Street. She was originally the mortgagee, and acquired full ownership in 1775 around the time that the property, then the Three Pigeons, was badly affected by a fire. Her brother William sold it in 1793. She doesn't seem to have had any other Winslow connections but the will was written by Joseph Hunt of Winslow.