Will of Hannah Merwin of London, spinster, 1725
National Archives, PROB 11/606/393
In the Name of God Amen The last Will and Testament of Hannah Merwin of London Spinster I being somewhat Indisposed in Body but of sound Mind praised be God, First I bequeath my Soul to God trusting for Salvation through Jesus Christ my Body I desire may be Interred in Iver Church yard near my Father and Mother, as for my Worldly Estate I give unto my Brother Nicholas Merwin of Thavies Inn London Gent And unto Elizabeth his Wife unto Mrs Elizabeth Eddowes my Sister and Mrs Jane Langley my Sister and Each of them a Ring of Fifteen Shillings value, and unto Mathias Wilson and Elizabeth his Wife my Neice, Mr Charles Langley and Elizabeth Merwin Langley the Daughter of my Neice John Wilson and Mathias Wilson Children of my said Neice Elizabeth unto Mr Richard Cotton my Brother in Law and unto Charles Cotton and John Cotton my Nephews Jane the Widow of may [sic] late Nephew Henry Langley late of Leighton Buzzard in the County of Beds gent dec(eas)ed And unto Elizabeth, Sarah and Hannah his Children, and unto Mr Steven South the younger and Elizabeth his Wife my Neice, and unto Nicholas, Hannah and Elizabeth the Children of Elizabeth South my Neice And unto Mr John Barns, Turner, and Hannah his Wife my Neice, And to each and every of them a Ring of ten Shillings value to be paid by my Executrix within one year after my decease, And after my Debts and Funeral Expences are paid I give unto the said Elizabeth Eddowes my Sister my Silver Tankard And I desire She will give the same att her Death unto the said Elizabeth Wilson my Neice, I give unto the said Elizab(e)th Wilson my Neice my Work’d Gownd and a Broad peiece of Gold, my Jappan’d Cabinet I desire may be Sold to any of my Relations, that will give ten pounds for it, or else to be att the Disposal of my Executrix, Item All the Rest of my Goods and Chattells I give and bequeath unto my Sister Jane Langley whom I make Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto Sett my Hand and Seal this Twenty third Day of December Anno Dom(ini) 1725.
(Hannah Merwin)
Signed Sealed published and Declared in the presence of us who have here unto Sett our hands and Seales in the presence of the Testatrix, J(oh)n Havill, Richard Swainston.
[Latin] Proved at London before Charles Pinfold Doctor of Law Surrogate on the thirtieth day of December 1725 Jane Langley widow and sister of the deceased having been duly sworn to administer
Notes
Hannah was the sister of Nicholas Merwin the Winslow lawyer, who inherited her copyhold property in Winslow: 10 High Street (then the King's Head). Her deceased nephew Henry Langley of Leighton Buzzard was also a lawyer who lived briefly in Winslow and had been married to Jane Gyles.
Hannah was buried at Iver, as she requested, on 31 December 1725.