Will of Rebecca Hughes, spinster, 1748 (proved 1751)

Herts RO, 191AW6

In the Name of God Amen The last will and Testement of Rebecca Hughes of Winslow in the County of Bucks Spinster made the first day of February in the Year of our Lord One Thousand seven Hundred and forty eight.  First I Bequeath my Soul into the hands of God who made it Trusting for Salvation through Christ Jesus my Body I Committ to the Earth to be desently Buried at the discretion of my Executrix herein after named.  And for such Temporall Estate wherewith it hath pleas'd God to bless me I dispose thereof as followeth  First I Give Devise and Bequeath unto the Earl of Verney the sume of one and twenty Shillings for a Ring  I Also Give and Bequeath unto the Hon(oura)ble Lord Fermanagh the sume of one and twenty shillings for a Ring.  I Also Give and Bequeath unto Lady Cathern Verney the sume of five Pound.  I Also Give & Bequeath unto the Hon(oura)ble Lady Fermanagh the sume of five Pound to be paid by my Executrix six months after my decease.  I Beg the acceptance of this as a piece of Grattitude for the many favours I have rece'd from them both in words and deeds let none say this is pride or ambition in me but Grattitude and thankfulness.  I Also Give and Bequeath unto my Sister Alice Foster the sume of forty shillings of good and lawful money of Great Brittain to be paid by my Executrix six months after my decease  I Also further Give devise and Bequeath unto my Sister Alice Foster one gray silk poplin Gownd [sic] and one Gold ring marked E.H and one Silver Spoon marked SP  Also I Give devise and Bequeath unto my Nephew Francis Foster of Leighton Buzzard in the County of Bedford Appothecary the sume of thirty Pound of Lawfull money of Great Brittain to be paid unto him by my Executrix herein after named within twelve monthes after my decease  Subject nevertheless to the payment of thirty Shillings Yearly and every Year unto my Nephew Samuell Foster his Brother for and during the terme of one and twenty Years from the time of my decease by half Yearly payments.  And Also that the said Francis Foster my Nephew immediatley after the terme of one and twenty Years or the decease of Nephew Samuell Foster if in case he should die sooner shall pay or cause to be paid out of the Legacy or sume of thirty pound herein before given unto him the sume of five Pound unto his son Francis Foster and unto his three Daughters Elizabeth Foster, Ann Foster and Cathern Foster five pound each of Lawful money of Great Brittain.  And my Will further is that in case either of any of his said Children should happen to die before his her or their Legacye or Legacyes shall become payabe [sic] then the Legacye or Legacyes of him her or them so dying shall go to and be paid to the survivours share and share alike.  I Also further give unto my nephew Samuel \Foster/ one silver spoon marked with EH. RH.  I Also give unto the said Ann Foster Daughter of my said nephew Francis Foster one Gold ring marked FB.  And I allso give unto the said Cathern Foster Daughter of my nephew Francis Foster one small silver spoon marked RH.  I Also Give and Bequeath unto my nephew Richard Norris of Buckingham the sume of twenty Shillings and unto my Neice Mary Phipps I give the sume of forty Shillings  I Also Give unto my Nephew John Norris the sume of forty Shillings of Good lawfull money of Great Brittain to be paid by my Executrix herein after named Six months after my decease.  To the Poor of the parish of Winslow in the County of Bucks I give three Pound for Bre\a/d in twelve peny Six peny & three peny Loaves to be paid by \my/ Executrix herein after named at my decease.  I Also further give unto my Nephew Samuell Foster the sume of twenty Shillings Yearly & every Year during the term of his naturall life to be paid by my Executrix herein after named  Wherein I desire if in case she should die unmarried to give and dispose of all or so many of such goods and Personal Estate which I give her and as she be the\n/ possessed of to and amongst the Children of her Brother Francis Foster  All the rest and residue of my goods Chattels Furniture Ready Money and Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever not herein before given and bequeathed and debts Legacyes and Funeral Charges being paid and discharged I do Give and Bequeath unto my neece Elizabeth Foster of Swanborne aforesaid Spinster Daughter of my Sister Alice Foster whom I do make Constitute and Appoint full and Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby revoke and make void all former wills and Testaments by me heretofore made.  And declare this to be my last will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day and Year first above written

Reb(ecca) Hughes

Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Rebecca Hughes
to be her said last Will and Testament in the presence of us who
subscribed our names as Witnesses in the presence of the Testatrix
Charles Bowler
Charles Bowler younger

[reverse] Proved 30 March 1751
Executrix Eliz. Foster sworn before me John Stephens Clerk Surrogate
Sent out by Samuel Foster the 11th July 1752

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Notes

Rebecca was the daughter of Henry Hughes, ironmonger, d.1708, and his wife Elizabeth, nee Overing. She was bap. 30 Sep 1680 and buried 31 Dec 1750. Presumably she had worked at Claydon House. The people mentioned at the beginning of the will are Ralph, 1st Earl Verney (d.1752), his wife Catherine, son Ralph (later 2nd Earl Verney but then known as Viscount Fermanagh) and his wife Mary. Rebecca was the executrix of her cousin Helena Starkey of Steeple Claydon who was also closely associated with the Verneys.