Will of William Gibbs the elder, husbandman, 1765 (proved 1767)

Herts RO 205AW8

In the Name of God Amen I William Gibbs the Elder of Winslow in the County of Bucks Husbandman being Aged and Infirm in Body but of a Sound disposing Mind Memory and Understanding (Praised be God for the Same) Do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in Manner following (that is to say)  First I Give devise and bequeath unto my Son Thomas Gibbs and to his Heirs and Assigns  All that my Messuage or Tenement and home Close thereunto Adjoyning and now in the Occupation of William Wotton Together with all Houses Outhouses Edifices Buildings Barns Stables Yards Orchards Gardens and Backsides to the Same belonging or in any wise Appertaining Situate Standing lying and being in Great Horwood in the said County of Bucks  To hold to him my said Son Thomas Gibbs his Heirs and Assigns for ever Also I Give devise and Bequeath unto my Son Richard Gibbs All that my Messuage or Tenement Situate Standing and being in Cow Street in Winslow aforesaid on the North side of the Yard being Next to the Sign of the Three Pigeons and were late in the Occupation of Mary Bonce Widow Deceased  And the Bay of Building called the Stall House at the Upper End of the Yard Next the Lane call'd the Back Lane on the East Side with all Priviledges and Appurtenances thereunto belonging  And also my Close of Swerd Ground lying and being in the parish and precincts of Winslow aforesaid commonly Called or known by the Name of the New laid down piece Shooting down to Grandborough Brook Next the Bridge  And also my Three Acres of Arable Land (be the same more or less) lying and being in the Common and Open Fields of Winslow aforesaid lying North of the Close commonly called the New laid down piece as aforesaid Stone Furlong East and Grandborough Highway West and Now in my Own Occupation Together Also with all Hedges Ditches Trees Commons and all and Singular other the premisses thereunto belonging To hold the said Messuage or Tenement Lands Commons and all other the premisses with the Appurtenances unto my said Son Richard Gibbs his Heirs and Assigns for Ever Subject to and Charged and Chargable with the payment of Thirty pounds of Lawful Money of Great Britain unto my said Son Thomas Gibbs  And also with the payment of Ten pounds of like Lawful Money unto my Son Stephen Gibbs within Twelve Months Next after my Death  Also I Give Devise and Bequeath unto my Son John Gibbs both those my Messuages or Tenements Situate Standing and being in Cow Street \in Winslow/ aforesaid and now in the Occupation of my said Son John Gibbs Together with the Malthouse and all Buildings and Appurtenances thereunto belonging (Excepting the Bay of Building call'd the Stall House as Aforesaid)  To hold to him my said Son John Gibbs his Heirs and Assigns for Ever With all priviledges to each of them the said Richard Gibbs and John Gibbs with Servants and Workmen to go to and from the pumps or well for Water  Also all Liberty's thro' the Entry for all Sorts of Cattle to go in or out the Yard and likewise to go in or out at the Upper Gate being at the Upper End of the Yard with all Sorts of Cattle Waggons and Carts at all Times and on all Occasions as shall be Required  Also my Will and Meaning is and I do hereby Expressly Charge all and every my Real Estate so Given to my said Son John GIbbs as aforesaid with the payment of Twenty Pounds of Lawful Money of Great Britain unto my Son Robert Gibbs And Also with the payment of the like Sum of Twenty Pounds unto my Son William Gibbs  And also with the payment of Ten Pounds unto my said Son Stephen Gibbs within Twelve Months Next after my Death And as to for and Concerning 

[signed] Will(ia)m Gibbs

[p.2] All my personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what Nature kind or Quality soever the same may be which I shall be in any wise possessed of Interested in or Intitled unto at the Time of my Decease I Do Give and Bequeath the same unto my said Son Richard Gibbs his Executors Administrators and Assigns  And Lastly I do Nominate and Appoint my said Son Richard Gibbs full and Sole Executor of this my last last Will and Testament  And I do hereby Revoke and make Void all former Wills by Me before made and this Only to be taken for my last Will and Testament and none other  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 the last Sheet thereof my hand and Seal this Ninth day of November  In the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Five.

[signed & sealed] Will(ia)m Gibbs

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the Testator
William Gibbs as and for his last Will and Testament
in the presence of us who have hereunto Subscribed
our Names as Witnesses in the presence of the said
Testator and Also in the presence of each other.
Stephen Gibbs
Tho(ma)s Bowler
Joseph Hunt

Notes

William was probably the son of Robert Gibbs (d.1729), baptised 12 April 1690. He married Ann, daughter of Thomas Wright, at Winslow on 3 April 1716. They were the parents of the second generation of Gibbs bellringing brothers (see The Gibbs Family); William was one of the first generation.

William did not hold much land in his own name but was farmer of some of the Lowndes property and the glebe land (see list of tenants c.1743), amounting in total to over 300 acres. The manor court recorded that on 11 Sep 1767 William surrendered all his copyhold property in Winslow to the use of his last will. Richard and John Gibbs were in possession of the property mentioned in the will (20 High Street and buildings at the rear of 20 and 22 High Street) by 1769 but their admission as tenants is not recorded.

Copyright 19 July, 2018