Will of Benjamin Ingram, victualler, 1778

National Archives PROB 11/1047/260

In the Name of God Amen I Benjamin Ingram of Winslow in the County of Bucks Victualler being somewhat indisposed in body but of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding (Praised be God for the same) calling to \remembrance/ the uncertainty of this life do make and publish this my last will and Testament in manner following first and principally with all Humility I resign my Soul to almighty God and my Body to be buried at the discretion of my Executor hereinafter named and as to such Temporal estate wherewith it hath pleased the divine Providence to bless me I dispose of the same as follows (that is to say) [illegible insertion in margin] First I give and devise unto my son William Ingram All those my Freehold pieces and Parcels of arable Land Ley Meadow and pasture Ground lying and being dispersedly in the Open and Common Fields and Parish of Stewkley in the said County of Bucks now in the Tenure or Occupation of Michael Cutler with their and every of their Rights members and Appurt(enance)s to hold the same unto and to the use of my said son William Ingram his Heirs and assigns for ever [illegible insertion in margin] Also I give and devise unto my Daughter Sarah Eagles all that my Copyhold Messuage or Tenement situate and being in Sheep street in Winslow aforesaid now in the Tenure or Occupation of James Harrison with the Appurtenances thereunto belonging to hold the same unto and to the use of my said Daughter Sarah Eagles and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after her decease I Give and devise the said Messuage or Tenement with the appurtenances unto and to the use of my grandson Ezra his Heirs and assigns for ever Also I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Ingram his Executors and Administrators the principal sum of three hundred pounds which is now due and owing to me from my son John Ingram upon the Trusts hereinafter mentioned concerning the Same that is to say upon Trust that he my said Son Benjamin Ingram his Executors or Administrators shall and do Pay Apply and dispose of the yearly Interest and produce thereof as the same shall from time (during the natural [p.2] life of my said daughter Sarah Eagles arise or be received into the proper hands of her my said daughter Sarah Eagles or otherwise to permit and suffer her my said Daughter Sarah Eagles to receive the same to and for her own sole and separate use and benefit [and] to the Intent that the same may not be at the disposal of or subject or liable to the Controul Debts or Engagements of her Present or any after taken Husband but only at her own sole and seperate disposal and upon further Trust that he my said son Benjamin Ingram his Executors or Administrators shall and do from and after the decease of my said daughter Sarah Eagles pay and dispose of the said Principal Sum of three hundred pounds unto my said Son John Ingram his Executors Administrators and assigns Also I give and Bequeath unto my three Grandchildren John Eagles Ezra Eagles and William Eagles the Legacy or sum of fifty pounds each of lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid to each of them when they shall Severally and respectively attain their age of twenty one years and in case any or either of my said Grandchildren John Ezra and William Eagles shall happen to depart this life before his or their Legacy or Legacies \shall become due and payable as aforesaid that then and in such case the Legacy or Legacies/ [l. margin: Orig(ina)l so] of him or them so dying shall go and be paid to the survivors or survivor of them as an addition to his or their Portions or Provisions hereby made Also I give and bequeath unto my Grandaughter Mary Roads the Legacy or sum of fifty pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid to her within twelve Calendar Months next after my decease Also I Give and Bequeath unto my said Son William Ingram the Legacy or sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to him within six months next after my decease Also I Give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann Wilson and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life (in case she shall happen to Survive and Outlive her present Husband Thomas Wilson and not otherwise) one annuity or yearly Rent Charge of five pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain free of all Taxes and other deductions whatsoever Parliamentary or otherwise to be yearly and every year Issuing and Payable out of all those my two Closes of Meadow or Pasture Ground situate and being in Winslow aforesaid called Or known by the name of Bell closes hereinafter by me given and devised unto my said son Benjamin Ingram and to be paid and payable by equal half-yearly Payments at the two most usual Feasts or days of payment in the year (that is to say) the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel and the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in every year the first of the said half yearly Payments to begin and be made on such of the said Feasts as shall first happen next after the decease of her said Husband and my further will is [p.3] that it shall and may be lawful for my said daughter Ann Wilson and her Assigns from time to time in Case Of non Payment of the said Annuity or any part thereof to raise the same by distress upon all or any part of the Premises charged therewith together with the Costs and Charges of such Distress Also I Give and Bequeath unto my son Richard Ingram all those my three copyhold Messuages or Tenements situate and being in Winslow aforesaid now in the several Tenures or Occupations of my said son Richard Ingram John Gent and Sarah Goodier widow with all and every the rights members and Appurtenances thereunto belonging to hold the same unto and to the use of my said son Richard Ingram his heirs and Assigns for ever Also I give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Sarah Eagles the Bed Bedstead and Bedding she now lies on with the Furniture thereunto belonging and also my stock of Liquors of all sorts that Shall be in or about my dwelling House and premises at the time of my decease to and for her sole use and benefit she paying thereout all such sum and Sums of Money that shall be due and owing from me for malt and Spirituous Liquors at the time of my decease Also I give and bequeath unto my three Sons Benjamin Ingram John Ingram and William Ingram and my two Daughters Ann Wilson and Sarah Eagles all the rest Residue and remainder of my household Goods Linen Furniture Brewing Vessels and Implements of Household of what nature or kind soever which shall be in or about my now dwelling House and Premises at the time of my decease to be equally divided amongst them share and share alike Also I give devise and Bequeath unto my son Benjamin Ingram all and every other my Messuages Lands Tenements and Heredit(ament)s whatsoever situate lying or being in the several parishes of Winslow Aylesbury and Grandborough in the said county Of Bucks or elsewhere within the realm of England as are Freehold as copyhold with their and every of their rights members and appurtenances to hold the same unto and to the use of my said son Benjamin Ingram his heirs and assigns for ever subject nevertheless as to my said Closes called Bell Closes in Winslow aforesaid to the said Annuity or yearly Rent Charge by me hereinbefore given thereout or charged thereon to my said daughter Ann Wilson for her life as aforesaid and Lastly as to for and concerning all the rest and residue of my Goods Chattels ready Money Debts and securities for Money Plate Stock Merchandize and all other my Personal Estate Whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature kind or Quality soever the same may be and not otherwise by this my Will given and disposed of as aforesaid (after Payment of my Debts Legacies and Funeral Expences I give and Bequeath the same and every part thereof [p.4] unto my \said/ son Benjamin Ingram his Executors administrators and assigns to and for his and their own use and benefit absolutely and I do hereby Constitute Ordain and Appoint my said son Benjamin Ingram full and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof I the said Benjamin Ingram the Testator have to this my will contained in three sheets of paper to the two first sheets thereof set my hand only and to this third and last my hand and seal this twenty second day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy Eight
Benjamin Ingram
Signed sealed Published and declared by the said Benjamin Ingram the Testator as and for his last will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto in the Presence and at the request of the said Testator and also in the Presence of each other The Interlineations in the first sheet of this will being first made and Interlined
Willm Gibbs John Gibbs James Burnham

This Will was proved at London the twenty fourth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy Eight before the Worshipful William Compton Doctor of laws surrogate of the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary Of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Benjamin Ingram the son of the deceased and sole Executor named in the said Will to whom Administr(ation) Was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits Of the said deceased having been first sworn duly to administer.

Notes

Benjamin Ingram kept the Sow and Pigs (28 High Street), later known as the King's Head. Most of his property passed down to his great-grandson, on whose behalf it was put up for sale in 1813.

Benjamin Ingram "dealer" appears in Winslow records from 1730 onwards as a mortgagee. He was probably the Benjamin Ingram, son of Benjamin and Mary, who was baptised at North Marston in 1699 (the surname was very common there in the 17th century). By 1767 he was described as "victualler". He married Mary Spratley (daughter of John Spratley and of his wife Jane, daughter of Stephen Bigg) at Whitchurch in 1723. She was buried at Winslow in 1774.

The children mentioned in the will (some others must have died young) were:

Bell closes: now the football and cricket grounds.

Copyright 30 August, 2019