Will of William Shelton the younger, linen draper, 1727 (proved 1729)
National Archives, PROB 11/631/13
In the name of God Amen I William Shelton the younger of Winslowe in the County of Bucks Linnen Draper being Indisposed in body but of sound and perfect minde and memory praised be God therefore and Considering the Certainty of Death and the uncertaine time thereof doe this Six and twentieth day of November Anno Domini 1727 make this my last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say) First and principally I Commend my Soule into the hands of Almighty God who gave it hopeing through the meritts Death and Passion of Jesus Christ my Saviour to be made partaker of everlasting life and my body I Committ to the earth to be decently buryed at the Discretion of my Executrix hereinafter named and as for such worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to blesse me with I give and Dispose thereof as Followeth Imprimis I give Will Devise and bequeath my bed Goods and Furniture which are in the roome where my Daughter Budd lyes and the two bedds Goods and Furniture which are in the Roome wher [sic] my Daughter Budds Children and the maid lye unto Mary Budd my Daughter to be delivered unto her by my Executrix hereinafter named Imediately after my Death Item I give Will Devise and bequeath unto Mary Budd my Grandaughter the Feather Bed in the Chamber \where I lye and unto Elizabeth Budd my Grandaughter the Feather bed in the chamber/ where my Wife lyes but my will meaning and desire is that my Wife shall have the use of those two Bedds for the Terme of her Naturall life Item I give Will Devise and bequeath all the rest of my Household Goods and Implements of Household and Linnen which are not Shop goods in manner Following (vizt) one Mojety or halfe parte thereof unto the said Mary Budd my Daughter to be delivered unto her by my Executrix hereinafter named Imediately after my Death and theot the other Mojety or halfe parte thereof unto the said Mary Budd my Daughter to be delivered unto her Im(m)ediately after the death of my Wife who my Will and desire is shall have the use of the last mentioned mojety or halfe parte during the Terme of her Naturall life Item I give will Devise and bequeath unto my Grandson William Budd the sume of Fifty pounds of Lawfull money of Great Brittaine to be paid unto him (or unto James Budd his father for the use of the said William Budd in case of his Minority) within three months next after the Death of my Executrix by the Executors or Administrators of my Executrix and I do hereby Direct that the payment thereof unto the said James Budd my son in case of the said Williams Budds Minority shall be a Sufficient discharge to and for the Executors or Administrators of my Executrix \for the same/
[Last sentence repeated and deleted]
Item I give Will Devise and bequeath unto Mary Budd Elizabeth Budd and Phillipp Budd my Grandchildren twenty pounds each of Lawfull Money of Great Brittaine to be paid unto them (or unto James Budd their Father for their use in case of their Minority) within three months next after the Death of my Executrix by the Executors or Adm(inistrator)s of my Executrix and I do hereby direct that the payment thereof unto the said James Budd their Father in case of their Minority shall be a sufficient discharge to and for the Executors or Administrators of my Executrix for the same Item I give Will Devise and bequeath all the rest of my Goods Chattells and personall Estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto my Loving wife Mary Shelton She paying my debts legacies and Funerall Expences and I doe hereby make and appoint the said Mary Shelton my Wife full and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament and Lastly I doe hereby Revoke and make Void all former Wills by me before made and doe Declare this to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day and year first above Written : William Shelton Jun(ior) Signed Sealed published and declared in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses in the presence of the Testator
Will(ia)m Franklin
Stephen Gibbs
Peter Goldsworth Exr
[Latin] On 1 July 1729 there went out a commission to Mary Budd, wife of James Budd, daughter and administrator of Mary Shelton deceased, while she lived widow, sole executrix and residuary legatee named in the will of William Shelton late of Winslow in the County of Bucks, deceased, having, etc., to administer the goods, rights and credits of the said deceased according to the tenor and effect of the will (because the said Mary Shelton died before the will was proved), to administer well and faithfully, and she was sworn on God’s holy gospels by the power of the commission.
Notes
Two William Sheltons were buried in Winslow in 1728, one on 29 Sep and one on 4 Oct. Mary Shelton was buried on 14 April 1729. Their daughter Mary married James Budd on 9 April 1719 (see his will for details of the family). William Shelton married Mary Darnell, widow (of John Darnell d.1689), on 19 Feb 1695. His signature as "William Shelton junior" appears on many Winslow wills from 1691 onwards.
Clear (p.67) records a gravestone which had been used as a paving stone near the west door of the Church:
In Memory of William Shelton, senr.
He departed this life
September ye 27th day, 1728
in ye 82 yeare of his eage