Will of Samuel Norman, grocer, 1728 (proved 1735)

National Archives, PROB 11/674/417

[some of the repetitive phrases have been omitted]

In the name of God Amen I Samuel Norman of Winslowe in the County of Bucks Grocer being something indisposed in Body but of sound and perfect Mind and Memory Praised be Almighty God therefore and calling to Mind the Certainty of Death and the uncertain time thereof do this sixth Day of December Anno D(omin)ni 1728 make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and Form following (that is to say) first and Principally I Commend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God my Maker hoping through the Merits Death and Passion of Jesus Christ my Saviour to be made partaker of Everlasting Life and my Body I Commit to the Earth to be decently Buried at the Discretion of my Executrix herein after named and as for such Temporal Estate as it hath pleased Almighty God to Bestow upon me I give and dispose thereof as followeth Imprimis I give will devise and bequeath All that my Messuages or tenement in Cuddington in the said County of Bucks which is now in the Occupation of Richard Veerey and the Appurtenances thereto belonging unto Martha Norman my Loving wife for and during the Term of her Natural Life and from and after her Decease then to the said Richard Veerey for and during the Term of his Natural Life and from and after the Decease of the survivor of Them the said Martha Norman and Richard Veerey Then to Samuel Williams and Mary Williams Children of Thomas Williams of Cuddington aforesaid Labourer and their Heirs for ever  Upon Condition that the said Thomas Williams do and shall within one Month next after my Death give unto the said Martha Norman my Executrix a good and sufficient release or Discharge for the Twenty Pounds He paid into my Hands on the Account of the said Messuage or Tenement and for such Interest which he can or may claim on the Account thereof But in case the said Thomas Williams shall Neglect or refuse to give such Discharge as aforesaid when required Then I give ... the said Messuage or Tenement ... unto ... Martha Norman my Executrix her Heirs and Assigns for ever  Item I give ...  All that my copyhold Messuage or Tenements and Stables in Winslowe aforesaid now in the Occupation of Mr Nurton and my Great Barn thereunto adjoining now in my own Occupation and all the Outhouses Hovels Yards Orchards Gardens Backsides Priviledges and Appurtenances whatsoever belonging to the said Messuage

[f.2] Barn and Stables And also all those my Eight Acres of Copyhold Land lying in the Parish of Winslow aforesaid which I purchased of Hugh Seaton and the Appurtenances thereto belonging unto the said Martha Norman my Loving Wife ... and from and after her Decease Then to William Norman my Son and his Heirs for ever   Item I give ... William Norman my Son and his Heirs for ever the reversion Expectant upon the Death of the said Martha my Wife of and in all those my other Eighteen Acres of Copyhold Land lying in the Parish of Winslow ... Item I give ... All that my Messuages or tenement in Steeple Cleydon ... which is now in the Occupation of Edward Wicks with the Outhouses Barns Stables ... and also  all that my half Yard Land lying in the parish of Steeple Cleydon ... which I purchased of One Everett ... unto the said Martha Norman ... and from and after her Death Then to William Norman my Son and his Heirs for ever  Item I give ... unto Samuel Norman my Grandson the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds of Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid unto Him at such time as He shall have attained the Age of One and Twenty Years or at the Death of my Executrix which shall first happen  Item I give ... Mary Norman my Granddaughter the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds of Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid unto Her at such time as She shall have attained the age of One and Twenty Years or at the Death of my Executrix which shall first happen But in case either of the said Grandchildren shall happen to depart this Life before his or her Legacy or Sum of Two Hundred Pounds shall be due and payable Then my Will and desire is that the Legacy or Sum of Two Hundred Pounds given unto Him or Her so dying shall go to the survivor ... and such other Children of my Son William Norman as shall be then Living Each of Them to have an equal Share thereof as They shall respectively attain the age of One and Twenty years or at the Death of my Executrix ...  But in case both ... grandchildren ... shall happen to depart this life ... Then my Will and Desire is that the Legacies ...shall go to such other Children of ... William Norman as shall be then living each of them to have an equal share ... as They shall respectively attain the Age of One and Twenty Years ... Or in case there shall happen to be but One Child of ... William Norman then

[f.3] Living Then my Will and Desire is That both the said Legacies of Two Hundred Pounds given to my said Grandchildren shall go to such Child at such time as He or She shall have attained the Age of One and Twenty Years or at the Death of my Executrix which shall first happen and I do give and bequeath the same accordingly But in case the said William Norman my Son shall have no Child which shall Live till the said Legacies or Sums of Two Hundred Pounds shall be due and payable to Them Then my Will and Desire is That both the said Legacies ... shall go to ... William Norman my son to be paid ... at the Death of my Executrix And I do give ... the same to him accordingly And for the better Securing the payment thereof I do hereby Desire and Direct that my Executrix shall within one Month next after my Death give her Bond unto the said William Norman my Son in the Penalty of Eight Hundred Pounds for the Securing the Payment of both the said Two Hundred Pounds Legacies according to the true Intent and Meaning of this my Will  Item  I give ... the Sum of Six Hundred Pounds ... to be paid unto ... William Norman my Son by my Executrix ... within Three Months next after my Death in case ... William Norman ... do according to His Promise made to Me give Sufficient Security by lands or Tenements for the payment of Twenty Pounds a Year to my Executrix ... for the Term of her Natural Life And likewise for the payment of Ten Pounds a Year unto Martha Birtch my Daughter or the Issue of her Body during the Natural Life of my Executrix And also for the Payment of the whole Thirty Pounds a Year after the Death of my Executrix in manner following (viz^t Unto ... Martha Birtch ... if then Living) for and during the Term of her Natural Life and after her Death and the Death of my Executrix  Then to and amongst the Issue of the Body of ... Martha Burch ... if she shall happen to leave any if more than One equally amongst Them and if but One then to such Child untill such time as He She or They shall have attained the Age of One and Twenty Years And also for the payment of the said Sum of Six Hundred Pounds in Manner following (viz^t Unto such of  the Issue of ... Martha Burch ... as shall Live to attain the Age of One and Twenty Years at such time as such Issue shall have attained the said Age ... if more than One equally amongst Them if but One Child then all to such Child and for Default of such Issue Then my Will Meaning and Desire is that the said Six Hundred Pounds shall go unto ... William Norman ... and his Heirs for ever and I do give and bequeath the same accordingly  But in case ... William Norman ... shall Neglect or refuse to give such security as aforesaid Then I give ... the said Six Hundred Pounds unto my Executrix ...

[f.4] in Trust for the purposes herein after mencioned (that is to say) Upon this Special Trust and Confidence in Her reposed and to the intent that She my Executrix ... shall and will yearly and every Year during the Natural Life of Her my executrix well and truly Pay ... unto the said Martha Birtch ... or the Issue of her Body the Sum of Ten pounds ...  And also shall and will Yearly and every Year after the Death of my Executrix well and truly pay ... unto ... Martha Birtch ... during the term of her Natural Life ... Thirty Pounds ... And also shall ... yearly ... after the Death of ... Martha Birtch ... and my Executrix ... pay ... unto and amongst the Issue of the Body of ... Martha Birtch ... if She shall happen to Leave any if more than One equally amongst Them and if but One then to such Child until such time as He She or They shall have attained the Age of One and Twenty Years the sum of Thirty Pounds ... And also ... after the death of the Survivor of ... Martha Birtch ... and my Executrix ... or such time as the Issue of the Body of ... Martha Birtch ... shall have attained the Age of One and Twenty Years which shall last happen ... pay ... the said sum of Six Hundred Pounds ... unto Such of the Issue of the Body of ... Martha Birtch ... as shall be then Living if more than One Each of Them an equal Share thereof and if but One then all to such Child And for default of such Issue Then my Will Meaning and Desire is That the said Six Hundred Pounds shall go unto my Executrix ... And I do give and bequeath the same accordingly Item I give ... All the rest of my Goods Chattels and Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto ... Martha Norman my Loving Wife She paying my Debts Legacies and Funeral Expences and giving such Bond as aforesaid And I do hereby make ordain and Appoint ... Martha Norman ... full and sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament And Lastly I do hereby revoke and make void all former Wills by Me before made and do declare this to be my Last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have to this my Will contained in Four Sheets of Paper to the Three first Sheets thereof set my Hand and to the Last Sheet thereof my Hand and Seal this Sixth Day of December Anno D(omi)ni 1728

Samuel Norman

Signed sealed Published and Declared in the Presence of Us who have hereunto Subscribed our Names as Witnesses in the Presence of the Testator and Each Other

John Hicks Peter Goldsworth John Goldsworth, Ex(ecute)d

[f.5] Whereas I Samuel Norman of Winslow in the County of Buckingham Grocer have by my Last Will and Testament in Writing bearing the Date the Sixth Day of December which was in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty Eight made Martha Norman my Loving Wife My Sole Executrix and have therein given and bequeathed several legacies to be paid by my Executrix unto several Persons therein mentioned and being minded not to revoke my said Will but to Alter only and Charge my Executrix ... with the payment of the further Sum of Seven Hundred Pounds ... out of my Personal Estate unto William Norman my Son within One Month next after my Death over and above what is before given Him in ... my ... Will in Case She my ... Executrix do not within One Month next after my Death Assign and Transfer unto ... William Norman ... his Executors and Administrators all her Estate and Interest in and to a certain Mortgage and Deed Poll made from John Tyrrell of Abbingdon in the County of Berks Ma\lt/ster to Me of certain Lands and Tenements lying at a place called Called Upton near Abbingdon ... whereon there is the sum of Seven Hundred Pounds and upwards now due and payable Which Moneys so due on the said Mortgage and Deed Poll  My Will and Desire is that ... William Norman ... shall have Now be it remembered that I ... Samuel Norman to the Intent that ... William Norman ... may have the Same do by this present Writing or Codicil to be annexed to my ... Will and which I would have to be and to be deemed and taken to be as part of my Will Give devise and bequeath unto ... William Norman ... over and above what is before given to Him in and by my Will the Sum of Seven Hundred Pounds ... to be paid unto Him within One Month next after my Death by my ... Executrix ... named in my ... Will out of my Personal Estate  In case She my ... Executrix do not within One Month ... assign and Transfer unto ... William Norman ... his executors and Administrators All Her Estate and Interest in and to the ... Mortgage and Deed Poll so made by ... John Tyrrell to Me ... and the Sum and Sums of Money thereby due and payable  In Witness whereof I have Signed Sealed Published and Declared this present Writing or Codicil as part of my Last Will and Testament this Thirteenth Day of August In the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Four

Samuel Norman

Signed Sealed Published and Declared in the presence of Us who have hereunto Subscribed our Names as Witnesses in the presence of the Testator and of each Other the Words (of Money)being first Interlined

John Hicks Peter Goldsworth John Goldsworth, Ex(ecute)d

[f.6] This Will was proved at London with a Codicil on the Thirty first Day of December In the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Five before the right Worshipful John Bettesworth Doctor of Law Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury Lawfully Constituted By the Oath of Martha Norman Widow the Relict of the Deceased and Sole executrix named in the said Will To Whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased She being first Sworn by the Commission well and truely to Administer the same Ex(ecute)d

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Notes

Samuel Norman died on 22 Nov 1735 aged 76, and was buried at Keach's Meeting House. His wife Martha (d.1742) was the daughter of William Gyles the elder (d.1702). Their daughter Martha Burch predeceased her father. Samuel and Martha also had a son called Samuel (buried 22 July 1718). See Gyles Family page.

William Norman the son moved to Henley on Thames, and described himself as draper when he made his will on 11 April 1741 (National Archives, PROB 11/841/167). His wife Mary (daughter of Joseph Huse of Wokingham; more about his will) predeceased him (she died in or before 1729) and he asked to be buried with her in Henley church. See the 1718 manor court for property arrangements at their marriage. He was buried on 20 Sep 1758. He left to his daughter Mary Norman:

all that silver Coffee pott marked with the Letters T.M.B. in a Cypher and also a silver Porringer marked W.E. both of which were given to me by my mother Martha Norman In Trust and for the use of my said daughter & also one large silver Salver marked with the Letters W^m.M. one silver Tea-pot marked with the said Letters W^m.M. One silver Butter dish market with the Letters M.R. and four large silver Spoons and one silver Marrow Spoon all which are without Marks and also my Gold Watch (the Makers Name Trigge) which formerly beonged to my late Wife with the Seal and Appurtenances thereunto belonging and also all my Diamond Rings and Jewels whatsoever and the Mourning Ring for her Mother which I generally wear and all the Wearing Apparel and Childbed Linnen of what nature or kind soever which belonged to or was worn or used by my said Wife

Mary's guardians until she was twenty-five were to be "my loving Friend Benjamin Griffin of Wokeingham Esquire and my Brother and Sister in Law Joseph Merlott Esquire and Elizabeth his Wife". Benjamin Griffin was actually William's first cousin, son of Anne Gyles and Benjamin Griffin. William left "Ten Pounds a piece for Mourning and a Mourning Ring of the Value of Twenty Shillings" to his mother Martha Norman, his daughter Mary, Benjamin Griffin, the Merlotts, his brothers-in-law Joseph Huse and Samuel Wheate, tanner, and his sister-in-law Jane Wheate. He left mourning rings of the value of twenty shillings to:

my Uncle Daniel Gyles and to my first Cousins William Gyles of Towcester Daniel Gyles Junior Samuel Gyles Mary Holmes Grace Aldridge Elizabeth Collins William Gyles of London Mary Steavens Giles Griffin and Nathaniel Griffin (which are all my first Cousins) and also to my Cousins Abraham Chitty Josiah Chitty Joseph Chitty Jacob Chitty Thomas Chitty and Mrs Sarah Gnybons and to my Cousins Abraham Merlott and Richard Merlott and to Mrs Elizabeth Griffin the Wife of the said Benjamin Griffin and to Mr Thomas Forster of Winslowe Senior

Apart from other provisions for Mary amounting to about £3,000, and another £2,000 added in a codicil of 27 Feb 1754, the residue of the estate went to his son Samuel Norman, the sole executor. The will was proved at London at the PCC on 4 October 1758.

The will of William Norman's son Samuel Norman of Henley-on-Thames, esquire (National Archives, PROB 11/1222/94) was made on 2 April 1792 and proved at London at the PCC on 11 Aug 1792. He was married (22 Feb 1753) to Frances, daughter of Stamp Brooksbank (1694-1756, MP and Governor of the Bank of England). He had a daughter Elizabeth married to Thomas Morton (or Norton) Pawlett (or Powlett) and a daughter Mary married to Rev. John Ord. Another daughter Frances, deceased, was married to Thomas Hall. He lived on the east side of Bell Street, Henley. His trustees were to be Benjamin Bond Hopkins of Wimbledon and William Smith of Clapham. His extensive property included Ram Hill Farm at Oving and unspecified messuages, lands and tenements in Winslow and Steeple Claydon in the occupation of John Goodman and William Hicks, left in trust for his daughters. After Enclosure he had about 29 acres of land in Winslow, which was inherited by his daughters Elizabeth Powlett and Mary Ord (special court, 1 June 1795), bought by James Burnham (special court, 12 June 1795) and then the Yeates family. He mentions his sister Mary Ryder. There are no other references to Norman or Gyles relatives.

The will of William Norman's daughter Mary Ryder of Reading (National Archives, PROB 11/1445/67) was made on 21 Feb 1806 and proved on 12 June 1806. She asked to be buried in the burial ground of the Meeting House of the Congregation of Protestant Dissenters (Independents) in Broad Street, Reading, and she left £500 to be invested to support the minister there. She left the house where she lived in Friar Street, Reading, to he niece Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Norton Powlett of Topsham, Devon for life, then to her great-niece Mary Ann Ord, daughter of Rev. Dr John Ord of Fornham, Suffolk. She left £500 and her horses and carriage to her nephew (see above) Thomas Hall. She left £100 to her sister-in-law Mrs Frances Norman of Henley. There were bequests to 5 servants. There is no sign of any remaining connection with Winslow, and she probably sold all the property which came to her by her parents' marriage settlement in 1765, when her husband Lomax Ryder is known to have disposed of one house.