Will of Benjamin Dudley, formerly plumber and glazier, 1834 (proved 1836)
National Archives,
This is the last Will and testament of me Benjamin Dudley late of Winslow in the County of Bucks plumber and Glazier and now of No7 Upper Mary le Bone Street Fitzroy Square in the County of Middlesex Gentleman First I will and direct that all such debts as I may justly owe at the time of my decease my funeral and testamentary expenses shall be fully paid and satisfied And after full payment and satisfaction thereof I give and devise unto my daughter Caroline Rebecca Clarke (Widow of the late William Clarke of No 7 Upper Mary le Bone Street Fitzroy Square in the County of Middlesex Bookbinder etc. All and every my Freehold and Copyhold messuages cottages lands Street tenements hereditaments and all other my real estate whatsoever situate lying and being in Winslow aforesaid and Great Horwood in the said County of Bucks or elsewhere with all and singular their and every of their rights members and appurtenances to hold the same and every part thereof unto and to the use of my said daughter Caroline Rebecca Clarke and her assigns absolutely Also I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Caroline Rebecca Clarke all my Household Goods and furniture ready money and securities for money book debts plate linen china utensils and all other my personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature and kind soever To hold the same and every part thereof and all my estate and interest therein and thereto unto my said daughter Caroline Rebecca Clarke her executors administrators and assigns absolutely and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said daughter Caroline Rebecca Clarke full and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament and do hereby revoke and make void all former Wills by me at any time made and declare this only to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Benjamin Dudley the testator have to this my Will set my hand and seal this thirty first day of May in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand eight hundred and thirty four Benj. Dudley
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Benjamin Dudley the testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereof
Collinson Hall 52 Upper Marylebone Street
Richd Wood 15 Upper Marylebone Street
Thomas Hubert Dorset Wharf Millbank St. West
Proved at London 9th. April 1836 before the Worshipful John Daubeny Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the Oath of Caroline Rebecca Clarke Widow the Daughter the sole Executrix to whom administration was granted having been first sworn duly to administer
Notes
Benjamin Dudley had evidently gone to live with his daughter in London after he retired from business in Winslow. He previously owned part of The Angel, but Caroline only inherited a cottage at the rear (now 1 Sheep Street) where she was living by 1841.
Benjamin was not his cousin the draper of 15 Market Square of the same name who was often foreman of the manor court jury and died in 1830. This Benjamin was the son of Joseph Dudley (d.1799) and his wife Joanna, and was baptised in 1761. He must have taken over the glazier's business of his uncle, another Benjamin Dudley. He married Mary Seale at Winslow in 1793, and Caroline was baptised in 1798.