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Will of Mark Morris of Thornton, dairyman, 1771
Centre for Bucks Studies D/A/Wf/98/87
In the name of God Amen I Mark Morris of Thornton in the County of Bucks Dairyman being weak in body but of sound disposing mind memory and Understanding (praised be God for the same) calling to remembrance the uncertainty of this Life do therefore 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 Executrix 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) I give and bequeath unto my Loving wife Ann Morris the use and Enjoyment of all my Household Goods furniture Stock of Cattle Corn Grain Hay Implements of Husbandry Chattells Rights Credits Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever the same may be (after payment of my just Debts and funeral Expences) for and during the Term of her natural Life provided my said wife shall so long continue a Widow and unmarried after my decease, but not otherwise, with full power and Authority to and for my said wife (so long as she shall continue a Widow and unmarried as aforesaid) either in her Lifetime or in and by her last Will and Testament to give and dispose of the same unto and amongst all and every my Children Sons and Daughters in such shares and proportions as she my said wife shall think fit in case that they my Children or any or either of them shall happen to Survive my said wife but to no other person or persons whatsoever. But if they my said Children shall all die in the Lifetime of my said wife Then I do give and bequeath All my Household Goods furniture Stock of Cattle Corn Grain Hay Implements of Husbandry Chattells Rights Credits Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever as aforesaid unto my said wife Ann Morris to be disposed of at her own free will and Pleasure And lastly I do hereby Nominate Constitute and
Mark Morris [signature]
[p.2] Appoint my said wife Ann Morris full and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all former and other Will and Wills by me at any time heretofore made and do Publish and declare this only to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Mark Morris have to this my Will contained in two Sheets of Paper to the first Sheet thereof Set my hand only and to the Second and last my hand and Seal on this Fifth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and Seventy one
Mark Morris [signature]
Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Mark Morris as and for his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us who have hereunto Subscribed our Names as Witnesses thereto at the request and in the presence of the said testator and also in the presence of each other
[Signatures]
Benjamin Ingram
James Burnham
Proved the 3d day of August 1771 before the reverend John Leadbeater Clerk Surrogate \By virtue of a Commission/ by the Oath of Ann Leadbeater Morris Widow relict and sole Executrix, to whom Ad(ministrat)ion was committed. She being first sworn duly to Administer
John Bettesworth Doctor of Laws Commissary and Official in and through the whole Archdeaconry of Bucks lawfully constituted To our well beloved Revd John Leadbetter and William Hutton Clerks jointly and severally Greetings whereas Mark Morris recently late of Thornton in the Archdeaconry aforesaid did make his last Will and Testament hereto annexed and did therein name Ann Morris his now Widow Relict and sole Executrix We therefore by these presents empower you to swear the said Ann Morris as well of the truth of the said Will as of 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 just and true account thereof and to exhibit the same into the Registry of the Archdeaconry aforesaid and you are hereby enjoyned further to do in the premises as shall be needful and that such Oath being administred you duely Transmit to us or our Surrogate the said Will and the whole proceedings on these presents subscribed with your proper Hands or the hand of one of you on or before the last Day of August now next ensuing together with these presents provided nevertheless that this Commission shall be of no Effect unless transmitted before the said time Given under the Seal of our Office the Thirty first day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Seventy one.
Joseph Burnham [signature]
Notary Public
The form of the Oath to be administered to the said Ann Morris laying her right Hand on the Bible or new Testament
You shall swear that the paper writing hereto annexed contains the last Will and Testament of Mark Morris late of Thornton in the Archdeaconry aforesaid your late Husband deceased as far as you know or beleive and that you are the Executrix therein named and will execute and perform the same by paying the Debts of the said deceased and the legacys in the said Will mentioned so far \as/ his Goods Chattels and Credits will extend and the Law \charge/ you And that you will exhibit or cause to be exhibited a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits indifferently appraised and will render a just and true account thereof when you shall be thereunto lawfully called or required. So help you God.
The above named Ann Morris was sworn according to the Tenor of this Commission the Third day of August in the year of our Lord 1771
Before me.
J Leadbeater [signature]
Notes
Mark Morris was born in Winslow in 1699 (son of Mark and Mary) and married Ann Spratley, granddaughter of Mary Bigg. He and Benjamin Ingram, who was married to Ann's sister Mary, were involved in a lawsuit about the Spratley family property in 1724 when Morris was described as yeoman of Winslow. He apparently moved to Thornton in the early 1730s.
Ann Morris the widow died in 1782 and doesn't seem to have made a will. Her property in Winslow (part of what is now The Old Homestead / Abbot's House) passed to her eldest son John Morris of Chackmore, yeoman (b.1722). In 1786 John sold it to Ann Morris, spinster, presumably his sister.