Will of Piercy Harding, grocer, 1814 (proved 1816)

Herts RO 252AW5

This is the last Will and Testament of me Piercy Harding of Winslow in the County of Bucks Grocer First I give and Devise unto my Wife Rebecca Harding All that my Messuage or Tenement (lately two tenements) situate in Winslow aforesaid and now in my own occupation With the respective Rights Members and Appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining (which said premises are Copyhold of inheritance held of the manor of Winslow with its members and have been or are intended to be surrendered to the use of my Will To hold the same (Subject and charged with [?certain] Incumbrances as shall at the time of my decease affect the same) unto and to the use of my said Wife Rebecca Harding her Heirs and Assigns Absolutely Also I give devise and bequeath unto my Two Sons Thomas Harding and James Harding all and every Legacy and Legacies sum and sums of money and all other claims and Demands whatsoever which I now am or at any time or times hereafter (if living) should might or ought to be interested in or intitled unto under or by virtue of the last Will and Testament of Robert Pollard my late Uncle deceased To hold the same unto my said Sons Thomas Harding and James Harding equally share and share alike With benefit of Survivorship amongst them as to the share of either of them dying under the age of twenty one years and without Issue And as to the residue and remainder of my Household Goods and Furniture Linen Plate Utensils and Stock in Trade Book Debts and all other my Goods Chattels Personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever (after payment thereout of all such Debts as I may justly owe at the time of my Decease my Funeral and Testamentary Expences I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said Wife Rebecca Harding To hold the same unto my said Wife Rebecca Harding her Executors Administrators and Assigns subject nevertheless and I do desire and direct my said Wife Rebecca Harding during so long as she shall continue to carry on the Business of a Grocer and my Mother Mary Harding shall happen to live to pay unto her my said Mother Mary Harding one annuity or yearly sum of Five Pounds by even and equal half yearly payments in each and every year namely the twenty fourth day of June and the twenty fifth day of December the first payment thereof to begin and be made on such of the said Days as shall first and next happen after my Decease and which I do hereby give and bequeath unto my said Mother Mary Harding accordingly And I do hereby nominate and appoint my said Wife Rebecca Harding full and sole executrix of this my last Will and Testament and do hereby revoke and make void all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof I the said Piercy Harding have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixteenth day of September in the Year of our Lord Christ One thousand eight hundred and fourteen
[signed] Piercy Harding

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Piercy Harding
the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of
us and in his presence at his request and in the presence of each
other who have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses thereof
Samuel Dudley
Robt. Polld Harding
Char: Willis

[Probate 2 Nov 1816. Effects under £100.]

Notes

Piercy Harding bought 2 Horn Street (a much larger property than it is now; see Horn Street) in 1809. He was already in occupation of part of it.

Piercy Harding, son of John and Mary, was baptised at Swanbourne in 1785 and his brother Robert Pollard Harding in 1786. Robert was a plumber and glazier and also lived in Winslow, at 10 High Street. He inherited property in Little Horwood from his maternal uncle Robert Pollard, a dairyman.

Rebecca Harding the widow subsequently married Benjamin Stevens, who continued the grocery business until about 1830. It was then run by Thomas Harding the son, who left for London in 1834 and was declared bankrupt in 1836.