Will of John Holland of Mursley, baker, 1744/5 (proved 1747)
Centre for Bucks Studies D/A/Wf/86/178
In the Name of God Amen I John Holland of Mursley in the County of Bucks Baker being weak in Body but of sound and perfect memory (praised be God for the same) do make this my last Will and Testament in Manner and form following (that is to say) First and principally I recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God my Creator, hoping thro the merits 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 Executors hereafter named, And as to such worldly Goods and temporal Estate which God hath given me I devise and dispose thereof as followeth. First I will order and direct that all such Debts that I shall owe are at the time of my Decease shall be paid and satisfied by Elizabeth my Loving Wife I give devise and bequeath unto Elizabeth Holland my eldest Daughter by my former Wife Charity the full sum of twenty pounds of lawfull British Money, Also two pair of sheets, one Gold Ring [blank] and one large Brass Kettle to be paid at the End and Expiration of Twelve Months after my Decease to be paid by my Executors hereafter named. Also I give to my other Daughter Mary Holland the Sum of Twenty pounds of Lawfull British Money Also two pair of Sheets one large Brass Pot and one large pewter Dish also one Gold Ring that was her late Deceased Mothers to be paid at the Expiration of twelve Months after my Decease by my Execut(or)s herein after named. Also I give to my Son John Holland one Close of pasture Ground commonly called and known by the name of Petts Close lying and being in the parish of Mursley aforesaid the Close of Sarah Pitkin lying on the South and a Close of Coles Willison lying on the North, Also five Acres of Arable Land Lying and being dispersedly in the Common Fields of Mursley Afforesaid with two Commons for large Beast and Cattle and six Sheep Commons and with all Hedges and appertenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining to him and his Heirs and Assignes for and During the full End and term of the Lease. Subject nevertheless to the payment of Thirty Pounds of Lawfull British Money which I give will and bequeath unto my Youngest Son Benedict Holland at the time he shall arrive at the full age of one and twenty years [blank] Also I give will and bequeath to my Loving Wife Elizabeth Holland all the Income and yearly worth that may arise out of all my real and personal Estate for the provision of her self and for the bringing up of her Family so Long as she shall remain Single and unmarried. Also I nominate Constitute and appoint my my Brother Benedict Holland of the parish of Granborough and my Brother in Law Christopher Reeves of Hogshaw with Fullbrook Trustees and Executors of this my last Will and Testament \and for their care and trouble do give to each two pounds & ten shillings to be paid six months after my decease/ And lastly I do hereby revoke disannul and make void all other Wills Bequests and Legacies by me at any time heretofore made, bequeathed or given and do make and declare this only to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I the said John Holland have set my Hand and Seal this Fiveteenth Day of February in the seventeenth Year of Our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith so forth, And in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and forty three
[signed] John Holland
Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Testator John Holland to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of Us
[signed] John Holland
Benedict Holland
William Huggins
14th. Nov 1747 Sworn the Executors above named before me
John Stevens Sur.
Proved the 14th, of November 1747 before me John Stevens by the oath of Benedict Holland and Christopher Reeves joynt Executors and Ad(minista)cion Comitted they being first Sworn duly to Administer
Notes
John Holland came from a very long-established Granborough family. He was probably the son of Benedict and Joan Holland, bap. at Granborough 25 Feb 1704/5. His second wife Elizabeth, whom he apparently married in 1738, was the widow of William Elliott of Shipton (d.1737). They had a daughter, Sarah, in 1739, who presumably died young as she isn't mentioned in the will.