Will of Thomas Miller of Shipton, dealer, 1754 (proved 1755)

Herts RO 193AW13

In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Miller of Shipton in the Parish of Winslow in the County of Bucks Dealer being Aged and Infirm in Body but of a sound Disposing Mind Memory and Understanding praised be the Divine Being for the same Do Make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament in the Manner and Form following (that is to say) First and principally I commend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping through 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 Executor herein after Named And as touching and concerning such Worldly Goods and Temporal Estate which God has bestowed upon me I dispose of the same as followeth  First I Give Devise and Bequeath unto my well beloved and particularly respected Friend Robert Coulton of Addington in the said County of Bucks Dairyman and to his Heirs and Assigns for ever All that my Customary Copyhold Messuage or Tenement scituate standing and being in Shipton aforesaid in the said Parish of Winslow wherein I now Inhabit and Dwell Together with all and singular the Appurtenances unto the said Messuage or Tenement belonging or in any wise appertaining  To hold unto him the said Robert Coulton his Heirs and Assigns for ever  All which said premisses I have Surrendered to the use of this my Will Also I further Give and Bequeath unto the said Robert Coulton [all my Goods] Credits Chattels and Personal Estate [whatsoever] Subject nevertheless to the true payment of all my just Debts that I shall owe at the time of my Decease and Funeral Expenses  Also I do hereby most earnestly request and desire that my said Friend Robert Coulton will by good and wholesome Advice Instruction Direction and Assistance Advise Instruct Direct and Assist my Kinsman Joseph Jeffs during the time of his Minority in every or in any Point Article or Thing touching and respecting the Way and Manner of his gaining an honest Living and Support and also I do hereby Nominate Constitute and Appoint the said Robert Coulton full and Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament revoking all former Wills by me heretofore made & I do declare this only to be my last Will and Testament  In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Miller the Testator have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the fourth day of August in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and fifty four.

The mark of Thomas Miller

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by me Thomas Miller the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence have Subscribed our Names [as witnesses] hereunto
John Parkins   John Henly   W(illia)m Huggins

James Ibbetson Doctor in Divinity (Arch)deacon of the Archdeaconry of St. Alban in the Diocese
of London Lawfully Constituted  To our Beloved in Christ John Rawbone Purchas Denchfie(ld) and William Coxhead Clerks  Greetings  We do hereby Impower you joyntly and severally to Swear Robert Coulton Execu(tor) Named in the Last Will and Testament of Thomas Miller late of Shipton in the Parish of Winslow in the County of Bucks Dealer Deceased to the truth of the Same  And Also to the faithful performance thereof  And to make a true and Perfect Inventory of all and Singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased  And to Render a true and Just account thereof  And  to exhibit the Same to the Registry of the Archdeaconry of Saint Alban \aforesaid/  And you are hereby Enjoyned further to Do in the Premises  As shall be Needful  And that such Oath being administered you Duely transmit to the Register of our Archdeaconry the said Will of Thomas Miller  And All your Proceedings thereon Subscribed with the P[roper] handwriting of one or more of you on or before the last day of June ----- next Ensuing together with these Presents Provided Nevertheless that this Commission shall be of no Effect  Unless so Transmitted before the said day Given at Saint Albans the Tenth day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and fifty five.

Will(iam) Stubbs     Registrar

The Form of the Oath to the Executor laying his Right Hand on the Bible or New Testament
You Swear That the Writing hereunto Annexed Contains the True last Will and Testament of Thomas Miller late of Shipton in the parish of Winslow in the County of Bucks Deceased That you are the Executor therein Named and that you will well and truly perform the Same by paying first his Debts and then the Legacies therein bequeathed as far as the Estate which shall come to your hands will thereto Extend  And the Law charge you  And that you will make a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased and Exhibit the Same into the Registry of the Archdeaconry of Saint Alban in the diocese of London On or before the last day of September next Ensuing  and Render a just and true Account of your Administration when you shall be thereunto by Law required
                                                                                So help you God

This Commission was Duely Executed and the Executor Sworn on the twentieth day of March One Thousand Seven Hundred and fifty five
                                                Before Me                                          J(oh)n Rawbone Curate of Winslow


Notes

Thomas Miller of Shipton was buried on 23 Jan 1755.   It is not clear exactly how he was related to the long-established Miller family of Shipton, who by this date had lost their land, but he could be the Thomas Miller who married Jane Worseley at Winslow in 1725 and/or the Thomas son of Thomas Miller baptised in 1679. The latter would probably make him the grandson of Dorothy Miller (d.1688).

Copyright 3 September, 2015