Will of Sarah Betty Eyre, widow, 1760

National Archives PROB 11/854/278

In the Name of God Amen: I Sarah Betty Eyre of Winslow in the County of Bucks Widow being Sick and Weak in Body but of sound & perfect Mind Memory and Understanding (Praised be God for the same) do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and [p.2] Form following (that is to say)  First and Principally I recomme(n)d my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping through the Me<r>its of Jesus Christ to obtain Pardon and Remission of all my Sins and to inherit Everlasting Life and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executrix hereinafter named  And as touching such Worldly Goods and temporal Estate which God hath given me I devise and dispose thereof as followeth  First I give devise and bequeath all and every Sum or Sums of Money to me due and owing upon Mortgages Bonds Notes or other Securities for Money whatsoever and howsoever and all Moneys due or to grow due thereon both Principal and Interest after my debts Legacies funeral Expences and Charges of proving this my Will shall be paid and discharged unto my two Sons David Eyre and George Eyre to be equally divided between them Share and Share alike to be paid to them by my Executrix hereinafter named within six Months next after my death  Also I give devise and bequeath unto William Glenister of Winslow aforesaid in the said County of Bucks five Pounds of good and lawfull Money of Great Britain to be paid unto him by my Executrix hereinafter named within one Month next after my death  Also I further give and bequeath unto my said Son David Eyre my two Silver Salts  Also I further give and bequeath unto my said Son George Eyre my best Set of China Ware together with a Slop Bason Sugar Dish Tea Pot Silver Tea Tongs and six Silver Tea Spoons and one large Silver Spoon marked D.B. and underneath that marked M.B.  Also I give and bequeath unto my Sister Hannah Clarke my two Stoned Gold Rings and also my best blue Damask Gown a Lawn and a Cambrick Apron and all my Caps and Petticoats and as for all the Rest of my Wearing Apparel of what nature or Kind soever I do give and bequeath the same unto my said Sister Hannah Clarke and to my said Son George Eyre to be equally divided between them share and share alike  And as for all the Rest of my household Goods and Implements of Household whatsoever I give and bequeath the same unto the said David Eyre and George Eyre my Sons equally to be divided between them Share and Share alike  All the Rest and Residue of my Personal Estate that is herein unbequeathed I give and bequeath the same unto my Sister Hannah Clarke And I do hereby constitute and appoint the said Hannah Clarke full and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament  And I do hereby revoke all former Wills by me before made and this only to be taken for my last Will and Testament and no other  In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this twenty first day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty.
Sarah Betty Eyre
Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Testatrix Sarah Betty Eyre as and for her last Will and Testament in the Presence of us.
Catherina George     Rob(er)t Gibbs     Joseph Hunt.

This Will was proved at London the twenty second day of March in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty before the Right Worshipfull Edward Simpson [p.3] Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Hannah Clarke Spinster the sister of the Deceased and sole Executrix named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased she having been first sworn by Commission duly to administer.             Ex(ecute)d

Notes

Sarah was the widow of Joseph Eyre, tailor, who was buried on 20 June 1750 (his surname was given as "Eyre alias Ayres"). Their son David was baptised on 6 Jan 1738/9, and the baptism of their son Mathew (will proved 1759) is recorded on 11 Oct 1740.

Sarah Betty Clarke, daughter of Mathew and Mary, was baptised at Winslow on 14 Feb 1715/16. She was the sister of George Clarke (d.1757) and Hannah Clarke (d.1761). Joseph Ayres, son of Joseph (also a tailor) was baptised at Winslow on 2 Sep 1693.