Will of Thomas Evans of Shipton, gardener, 1807

Herts RO 243AW2

This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas Evans of Shipton in the Parish of Winslow in the County of Bucks Gardener made in the manner following that is to say I Give and Devise unto my Wife Rebecca Evans her Heirs and Assigns All and every my Messuages Cottages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments situate and being in Winslow aforesaid or elsewhere and which I have Surrendered to the use of my Will and all other my real Estate whatsoever and wheresoever To Hold the same and every part thereof unto my said Wife Rebecca Evans her Heirs and Assigns for ever Also I Give and bequeath unto my said Wife Rebecca Evans all my money Goods Household Goods and Furniture Stock in Trade as a Gardener and Nurseryman and all other my personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind so ever unto and for her own sole use and benefit And I do hereby nominate Constitute and appoint my said Wife Rebecca Evans full and Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made and do publish and declare this only to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Testator Thomas Evans have to this my last Will and Testament set my Hand and Seal this Twenty seventh day of May in the Year of our Lord One thousand Eight Hundred and seven.

Tho(ma)s Evans

Signed Sealed published and declared by the
said Testator Thomas Evans as and for his last
Will and Testament in the presence of us who
have in his presence and at his request and
in the presence of each other subscribed our
Names As Witness heretofore
Lan: Wyatt
Rich(ard) Barton Sen.
Wm Roberts

The 29th Day of October 1807 Rebecca Evans the Sole Executrix of this Will was duly Sworn as Such, and that the Personal Estate of the Testator is under one Hundred Pounds
Sworn before me Jonathan Brigges Surrogate


Will of Rebecca Evans of Shipton, widow, 1813 (proved 1814)

Herts RO 250AW2

This is the last Will and Testament of me Rebecca Evans of the Hamlet of Shipton in the Parish of Winslow in the County of Bucks Widow First I direct that all such Debts as I shall justly owe at the time of my Decease my funeral and testamentary Expences be fully paid and satisfied And I give and bequeath unto my son William Evans the Feather Bed I usually lie on with the Pillows Bolster Blankets and Counterpane thereto belonging my Bedstead with the blue furniture thereto belonging one pair of Sheets all my Chairs (except such as are hereinafter given to my Son Robert Evans and my Daughter Mary Roads) the Tea Kettle generally used in the morning the red Drawers standing in my sleeping Room and one full and equal third part of share of my Pewter Plates and Dishes Also I give and bequeath unto my said Son Robert Evans my Bedstead with the red furniture flock Bed Bolster Blankets and green Rug thereto belonging One Bed Quilt two pair of sheets six Common Chairs my great Brown folding Table Brass Pot and one full and equal third part or share of my Pewter Plates and Dishes Also I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Roads my best bedstead with the furniture thereto belonging the Feather Bed she usually sleeps on my best Counterpane one pair of fine sheets small folding Table in the little Room Copper Boiler great armed Chair corner Beaufett and one other full and equal third part or share of my Pewter Plates and Dishes Also I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Rebecca Muckhill my six silver Tea Spoons one large silver Table Spoon, Tea Tray, best Tea Table, Dressing Table and Chest of Drawers Also I give and bequeath unto Susannah the Wife of John Bull my best Fire Shovel and Tongs All which said Goods and Effects I direct may be give and delivered to the respective Legatees above named as soon as conveniently may be after my Interment And as to the rest and residue of my Goods Chattels ready money and Securities for Money personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever not hereinbefore by me given and bequeathed (after payment of my said Debts funeral and testamentary expences) I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said Sons William Evans and Robert Evans and my said Daughter Mary Roads equally to be divided between them share and share alike And I do hereby make and ordain my son in Law John Roads full and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made and declare this only to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Rebecca Evans the Testatrix have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this twentieth day of March in the year of our Lord Christ One thousand eight hundred and thirteen.

The mark and Seal of Rebecca Evans

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Rebecca Evans
the Testatrix as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence
of us who have in her presence at her request and in the presence
of each other subscribed our Names as Witnesses thereto
Charles Willis           W(illia)m Kightley Clerk to Mr. C. Willis Winslow

Probate granted 8th December 1814.  Effects under £100.  Before Jonathan Brigges Surrogate


Notes

Thomas, son of Robert and Mary Evans, was bap. 15 Oct 1742. Thomas served as constable of Shipton regularly from 1767, and was a tenant of the Selby-Lowndes estate.

In 1787, Thomas was admitted tenant on the death of his mother Mary Evans to two messuages in Great Horn Street "late in the occupation of William French, now of Mary French widow and Judith Inwood widow" (this seems to be what is now 12 Horn Street), and a barn adjoining the Churchyard in "the several occupations of William Ashwell and Elizabeth Hoar widow" under the will (not traced; it was reported at the 1774 manor court) of his father Robert Evans. He then mortgaged the property to Thomas Stevens of Swanbourne. 

Thomas Evans of Winslow, gardener, a minor, married Rebecca Liddington of Cublington, aged 22, at Cublington in 1760. Mary Evans was baptised in 1762 and married John Roads at Winslow in 1785. William was baptised in 1761 and Robert in 1775. Thomas and Rebecca had several other children who presumably died young.

Rebecca Evans was admitted to her husband's property at the 1807 manor court, when it was described as "2 Messuages in Great Horn Street and one Barn adjoining to the Church Yard containing 3 Bays of Building with the Orchard thereto adjoining, the Malting heretofore of Robert Gibbs lying on the West and the Ground, Yard and Outhouses of John Dudley and Thomas King lying on the East, now in the occupation of Widow French and John Bailey". She immediately surrendered it to the use of her will, but she seems to have sold it to Robert Corbett before her death. John Roads took over the house and land in Shipton which she rented from the Selby-Lowndes estate (1814 Land Tax).

Copyright 19 September, 2017