Will of Thomas Prentice, surgeon and apothecary, 1775 (proved 1780)

National Archives PROB 11/1060/32

In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Prentice of Winslow in the County of Bucks Surgeon and Apothecary being in perfect health and of sound and disposing Mind Memory and understanding praised be God for the same calling to remembrance the Uncertainty of this [blank] 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 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 First I give and bequeath unto my loving Wife Sarah Prentice the Sum or Legacy of Fifty pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain for her sole use benefit and disposal And whereas in or about the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty two I did settle or intended to settle upon my said now[?] dear wife for her Life for her Jointure all that my freehold Messuage Tenement or Farmhouse and also all those \my/ several Pieces and Parcels of Arable Land Ley Meadow and Pasture Ground thereunto belonging or therewith now or lately used and unoccupied situate lying and being in the Parish of Stewkley in the said County of Bucks now in the Tenure or Occupation of John Hedges containing by Estimation one hundred and thirty five Acres and also all and every my Customary or Copyhold Lands Tenements Hereditaments and Premises situate and being in the Parish of Stewkley aforesaid containing by estimation sixty Acres now and I do hereby ratify and confirm the same Marriage Settlement and my Will and desire is and I do hereby earnestly request my said Wife to accept of the said Messuages  Lands and Tenements and also the said Legacy of Fifty Pounds in this my Will bequeathed unto her in full recompence and Satisfaction of all Dower or Thirds she may claim or Demand in to or out of all or any of my real or personal Estates as my widow by the Common Law of this Kingdom or otherwise howsoever Next I give and devise unto my Daughter Mary Ann Prentice All and every my Copyhold Messuages Lands Tenements Hereditaments and real estate
[p.2] whatsoever situate lying and being in the Parish of Winslow aforesaid with their and every of their Rights Members and Appurtenancies and also all those my two copyhold Closes or inclosed Pasture Grounds lying and being in the Parish of Little Horwood in the said County of Bucks now in the Tenure or Occupation of George Clarke his undertenants or assigns with their and every of their appurtenances to hold the same unto and to the use of my said Daughter Mary Ann Prentice
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and her assigns for and during the term of her natural Life and from and immediately after her decease I give and devise my said Messuages Lands Tenements Hereditaments and real Estate in Winslow aforesaid and my said two Closes or inclosed Pasture Grounds lying and being in the parish of Little Horwood aforesaid with their and every of their Rights Members and appurtenances unto and to the use of all and every the children of the body of my said daughter Mary Ann Prentice lawfully begotten (in case she shall leave more than one child their heirs and assigns for ever as Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants But in case my said Daughter Mary Ann Prentice shall leave only one child of her body lawfully begotten Then I give and devise my said Messuages Lands Tenements Hereditaments and real Estate in Winslow aforesaid and my said two Closes or inclosed Pasture Grounds lying and being in the Parish of Little Horwood aforesaid with their and every of their Rights Members and Appurtenances unto and to the use of such one child his or her heirs and assigns for ever But in case my said Daughter Mary Ann Prentice shall happen to die without leaving any issue of her Body lawfully begotten then I give and devise the said Messuages Lands Hereditaments and real Estate in Winslow aforesaid and my said two Closes or inclosed Pasture Grounds in Little Horwood aforesaid with their and every of their Appurtenances unto and to the use of all and every such child or children of my body lawfully begotten as I shall leave or have living at the time of the decease of my said Daughter Mary Ann Prentice and to their heirs and Assigns forever as Tenants in Common Also I give and devise unto
[p.3] my daughter Henrietta Prentice All that my Copyhold Messuage Tenement or farmhouse situate and being in the parish of Little Horwood aforesaid And also all these my several inclosed Pieces or Parcels of Arable Meadow and Pasture Ground to the said Messuage Tenement or farmhouse belonging and therewith occupied now in the Tenure or Occupation of John Willmer[?] containing together by admeasurement Forty acres with their and every of their Rights Members and Appurtenances to hold the same unto and to the use of my said Daughter Henrietta Prentice 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 Tenement or Farmhouse closes Pieces or Parcels of Arable Meadow and Pasture Ground with their and every of their Rights Members and Appurtenances unto and to the use of all and every the Children of the Body of my Daughter Henrietta Prentice lawfully begotten (in case she shall leave more than one child) their heirs and Assigns for ever as Tenants in common  and not as joint Tenants But in case my said daughter Henrietta Prentice shall leave only one Child of her Body lawfully begotten Then I give and devise the said Messuage Tenement or Farmhouse Closes Pieces or Parcels of Arable Meadow and Pasture Ground with their and every of their Appurtenances unto and to the use of such one child his or her Heirs and Assigns for ever But in case my said Daughter Henrietta Prentice shall happen to die without leaving any Issue of her Body lawfully begotten Then I give and devise the said Messuage Tenement or Farmhouse Closes Pieces or Parcels of Arable Meadow and Pasture Ground with their and every of their Appurtenances unto and to the use of all and every such child or children of my Body lawfully begotten as I shall leave or have living at the time of the decease of my said Daughter Henrietta Prentice and to their heirs and Assigns for ever as Tenants in common Also I give and devise unto my Son Thomas Eagles Prentice All and singular my Freehold and Leasehold Messuages Lands Tenements Hereditaments and Premisses situate lying and being in the parish of Stewkley in the said County of Bucks not in settlement or otherwise in this my Will Disposed of) now in the several Tenures or Occupations of William Tomes[?] and Josiah Hare with their and every of their Appurtenances to have and to hold such part and parts thereof as are Freehold and Estates of Inheritance unto my said Son Thomas Eagles Prentice and his Assigns
[p.4] for and during the term of his natural life and from and immediately after his Decease I give and devise such part and parts of the said last mentioned Messuages Lands Tenements Hereditaments and Premisses as are Freehold and Estates of Inheritance with their appurtenances unto and to the Use of all and every the Children of the Body of my said Son Thomas Eagles Prentice lawfully begotten (in case he shall have [blank] more than one child) their heirs and assigns for ever as Tenants in common and not as joint Tenants But in case my said Son Thomas Eagles Prentice shall leave only one child of his body lawfully begotten then I give and devise such Part or Parts of the said last mentioned Messuages Lands Tenements Hereditaments and Premisses as are Freehold and Estates of Inheritance with their Appurtenances unto and to the use of such one Child his or her Heirs and Assigns for ever But in case my said Son Thomas Eagles Prentice shall happen to die without leaving any Issue of his Body lawfully begotten Then I give and devise such Part or Parts of the said last mentioned Messuages Lands Tenements Hereditaments  and Premisses aforesaid as are Freehold and Estates of Inheritance with their Appurtenances unto and to the Use of all and every such Child or Children of my Body lawfully begotten as I shall leave or have living at the time of the decease of my said Son Thomas Eagles Prentice and to their heirs and Assigns for ever as Tenants in common and [sic] to have and to hold all such part or parts of my said Messuages Lands Tenements Hereditaments and Premisses in Stewkley aforesaid as are Leasehold unto my said Son Thomas Eagles Prentice his Executors Administrators and Assigns for all the term and terms of years that shall be therein to come and unexpired Also I give and devise unto my Sister Mary Fell All those my two Freehold Messuages or Tenements with Home Close thereunto adjoining and belonging situate lying and being in Stewkley aforesaid now in the several Tenures or Occupation of John Arnold John Linney and John Cutler with all and every the Appurtenances thereunto belonging To hold the same  unto and to the Use of my said Sister Mary Fell and her Assigns for and during the term of her natural life She keeping the same Premisses in good and sufficient tenantable Repair and from and immediately after her Decease I give and Devise the said Messuages or Tenements with the Home Close and Appurtenancies thereunto belonging unto
[marginal insertion]  my said Daughter Mary Ann Prentice and her Assigns for and during the term of their Natural Life and from and immediately after her Decease I give and Devise the said Messuages or Tenements with the  Home Close and Appurtenances thereto belonging unto
and to The Use of all and every the Children of the Body of my said Daughter Mary Ann Prentice lawfully begotten (in case she shall leave more than one Child) their heirs and Assigns for ever as Tenants in Common
[p.5] and not as joint tenants But in case my said Daughter Mary Ann Prentice shall leave only one child of her body lawfully begotten then I give and devise the said Messuages or Tenements with the Home Close and Appurtenances thereunto belonging unto and to the use of such one Child his or her Heirs and Assigns for ever But in case my said daughter Mary Ann Prentice shall happen to die without leaving any Issue of her body lawfully begotten then I give and devise the said Messuages or Tenements with the Home Close and Appurtenances thereunto belonging unto and to the use of all and every such Child or Children of my Body lawfully begotten as I shall leave or have living at the time of the decease of my said Daughter Mary Ann Prentice and to their Heirs and Assigns for ever as Tenants in Common Also I give and bequeath unto my Brother William Prentice the Legacy or Sum of Five Pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain to be paid to him within twelve Months after my decease Also I give and bequeath unto my Son Thomas Eagles Prentice my Silver Tankard Also I give and bequeath unto the next Child of my body lawfully begotten as shall be living at the time of or born in due time after my decease the Legacy or Sum of Five hundred pounds to be paid to such Child when he or she shall attain the Age of twenty one Years and my will and Mind further is and I do herby direct and appoint that my said Wife Sarah Prentice shall have the Guardianship and Tuition of all my children so long as she shall continue to be sole and unmarried and I do hereby order direct and appoint that the Rents Issues and Profits of all and singular my Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments hereinbefore by me devised or disposed of to my children and all Interest Proceeds and Advantage that shall in any wise be made by or arise from the Legacies and Residuum of my personal Estate hereinafter by me bequeathed to my said children shall be from time to time immediately after my decease had received and taken by my said Wife Sarah Prentice untill such time as the youngest of my said children shall attain unto the full age of twenty one years for and towards the Maintenances and Education Trades Professions or otherwise of all and every my children Sons and Daughters which shall happen to survive me and do hereby authorize empower and direct my said Wife to manage and improve the Estate and Fortunes of my said children for their use and Benfit [sic] and to lease all or any of their Freehold Copyhold or Leasehold Estates and to lend and place out upon Security or Securities at interest or otherwise improve according to her discretion
[p.6] all or any part of the Monies belonging or arising from the said Estates and Fortunes of my Children Provided that She my said Wife shall \so long continue unmarried but if she my said Wife shall/ marry again after my decease or depart this Life during the Minority of such my said Children Then and in such case I will direct and appoint that my Trustees hereinafter named shall have the Tuition and Guardianship of them during such their Minority and I do hereby order direct and appoint that the Rents Issues and Profits of all and singular my Messuages Lands Tenements Hereditaments and Premises by me devised or disposed of to my said Children as aforesaid and all Interest Proceed and Advantage that shall in any wise be made or arise from the Legacies and Residuum of my personal Estate hereinafter by me bequeathed to my said Children shall immediately after such my said Wife 's Marriage or death be had taken and received by my said Trustees hereinafter made and appointed and to be by them applied to the use and Uses aforesaid and do also authorize empower and direct my Trustees to manage and improve the Estates and Fortunes of my said Children for their Use and Benefit in manner as aforesaid and the Overplus and Remainder of such Rents Issues and Profits so arising out of such my Freehold Copyhold and Leasehold Estates so by me disposed of to my said Children as aforesaid together with the Interest Proceed and advantage that shall in any wise be made or arise from the Legacies and Residuum of my personal Estate hereinafter bequeathed to my said Children I give and bequeath the same unto and amongst my said Son Thomas Eagles Prentice and my said Daughters Mary Ann Prentice and Henrietta Prentice and such other Child or Children of me the said Thomas Prentice lawfully begotten or to be begotten as shall be living or which my said wife shall happen to be ensient with at the time of my decease to be equally divided between them and the Survivors and Survivor of them Share and Share alike if more than one when and so soon as they shall [blank] respectively have \attained/ the age of twenty one years Also I give and bequeath unto my said wife Sarah Prentice till such time as the youngest of my said Children shall have attained the age of twenty one years and no longer if she shall continue a widow and unmarried and not otherwise the free use and enjoyment of all and every my household Goods Furniture Linnen Plate and Implements of Household whatsoever and my Will is and I do hereby direct that an Inventory of all such my Household Goods Linnen Plate and all other my personal Estate and Effects whatsoever be taken immediately after my Decease and signed and
[p.7] Subscribed by my said wife and Delivered to my Trustees hereinafter named and when and as soon as my said Children shall respectively arrive at the age of twenty one years Then my Will is that all and every my said Household Goods Furniture Linnen Plate and Implements of Household shall be divided amongst my said Wife and all and every my children lawfully begotten which shall be \then/ living share and share alike provided my said Wife shall so long continue a Widow and unmarried but if my said Wife shall be then married in such case I give and bequeath all and every my Household Goods Furniture Linnen Plate and Implements of Household unto and amongst all and every my said children lawfully begotten which shall then be living to be equally divided between them share and share alike  And Lastly as to for and concerning all the rest residue and remainder of my Goods ready Monies and Securities for Money Stock in Trade and Business Chattells Rights Credits Personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever the same may be and not otherwise in this my Will given or disposed of (after Payment of my just Debts Legacies Funeral Expences Charges of proving this my Will and all other Charges and Expences incident thereto I give and bequeath the same and all Interest Proceed and Advantage that shall in any wise be made thereof unto and amongst all my said Children lawfully begotten or to be begotten that shall be living or that shall be born in due time after my death be equally divided between them and the Survivors and Survivor of them share and share alike (if more than one) when and so soon as they shall severally and respectively attain the age of twenty one years And I Do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said Wife Sarah Prentice full and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament and Do likewise constitute and appoint my Kinsman John Eagles of Cropredy in the County of Oxford Carrier and my Brother in Law William Eagles of Aylesbury in the said County of Bucks [blank] Draper Trustees of this my Will and Do hereby earnestly desire that they will be every ways aiding and assisting to my said wife in the Execution and performance of this my Will and for their Care and Trouble therein I do hereby give and bequeath unto each of them the Legacy or Sum of twenty Pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain And my Will is I do hereby expressly declare that my Executrix and Trustees or any or either of them their or any or either of their Executors or Administrators shall not be charged or chargeable with or accountable for more of
[p.8] the aforesaid Monies and Estates than he or they shall actually receive or shall come to her his or their respective hands by Virtue of this my Will nor with or for any loss which shall happen of the Monies and Estates of my said Children so as such loss happen without their wilfull default nor the one of them for the other of them or for the Acts Deeds Receipts Defaults or Disbursements the one of the other and also that it shall and may be lawfull for them my said Executrix and Trustees and each of them in the first place by and out of out of the Premisses respectively to deduct and reimburse her him and themselves respectively all such Loss Costs Charges and Expences as She he they or any of them shall sustain expend or be put unto for or by reason of the performance of this my Will or the Trusts hereby in them reposed or the Management and Execution thereof respectively or any \other/ thing in any wise relating thereunto And I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other will and wills by me at any time heretofore made and do declare this only to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Prentice the Testator have to this my Will contained in Eight Sheets of Paper to the seven first Sheets thereof set my hand only and to the Eighth and last Sheet thereof my hand and seal this twenty sixth day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy five
[signed] Thomas Prentice

Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Thomas Prentice the Testator 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/
[signed] Mary Burnham
Matthew Deverell      
James Burnham

I Thomas Prentice of Winslow in the County of Bucks Surgeon and Apothecary do this twenty second day of November in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine make and publish this Writing to be a codicil to my last Will and Testament and do order and direct the same to be annexed to my said Will and to be taken as a part thereof I give and bequeath unto my Kinsman John Eagles and my brother in law William Eagles the Trustees by me constituted and appointed of my said will the Sum of forty pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain In Trust nevertheless to pay apply and dispose of the same to and for the use of my brother William Prentice in such manner and at such time as they my said Trustees or the
[p.9] Survivors of them in his or their discretion shall seem meet  In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Prentice have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written
X The mark of Thomas Prentice

Signed sealed published and declared by the above named Thomas Prentice as a codicil to be annexed to his last Will and Testament in the presence of us
[signed] Henery Miller          
Ann Grainger
James Burnham

This Will was proved at London with a Codicil on the fifth day of January in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty before the \right/ Worshipfull Peter Valvert Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Sarah Prentice 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 Chattells and Credits of the said deceased having been first sworn by Commission Duly to administer

Notes

Thomas Prentice lived in Winslow from at least 1762. He left his property in Winslow to his daughter Mary Ann, but she died in 1787 and it came into the hands of his other daughter Henrietta, later wife of John Tookey who was also a surgeon; see Sale of Land by John & Henrietta Tookey for more information. Thomas' property in Winslow consisted of a messuage (which became London House opposite The Bell) and the land known as Peter Lowndes Close or Barratts Close behind the Old Homestead (now part of the Churchyard and the site of the current Vicarage).

Mary Ann Prentice aged 14 was admitted to her father's copyhold property in Winslow at the manor court on 26 Oct 1780:

Sarah Prentice, Thomas' wife, was the daughter of Ezra Eagles of Gawcott, gent. (will proved 1772, National Archives PROB 11/979/364). She was still alive in 1802 when she was remembered in the will of her son-in-law John Tookey but seems to have left Winslow in 1798 when she stopped paying Land Tax on 30 High Street.

Copyright 8 February, 2024