Will of John Smith, late dairyman now gentleman, 1819
National Archives, PROB 11/1618/141
This is the last Will and Testament of me John Smith late of East Claydon in the County of Bucks Dairyman and now of Winslow in the same County Gentleman first I give and bequeath unto my Nephew Thomas Essex and to my two Nieces Mary Ann Essex and Elizabeth Essex the Children of my Sister Ann Essex of Hitchendon in the said County of Bucks Widow the Legacy or Sum of one thousand five hundred pounds each to my Cousin Ann Harding of Bottle Claydon in the Parish of East Claydon aforesaid the Legacy or Sum of one hundred pounds to my Cousin John Harding of Bottle Claydon aforesaid Son of the said Ann Harding of Bottle Claydon aforesaid the Legacy or Sum of four hundred pounds All which said Legacies or Sums of money I hereby direct to be paid to the respective Legatees above named by my Executrix hereinafter named within twelve months next after my decease. Also I give and bequeath unto my said Sister Ann Essex the several Sums of thirty pounds and fifty pounds upon trust that she the said Ann Essex do and shall within six months after my decease paid the said Sum of thirty pounds (first deducting thereout the Legacy duty payable thereon) to the then Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the Parish of Winslow \aforesaid/ to be then laid out in the purchase of good wheaten bread which bread I direct to be divided and distributed unto and among all and every the necessitous poor people then belonging to and residing in the said Parish And upon trust in like manner within six months of my decease to pay the said Sum of fifty pounds (first deducting thereout the Legacy duly payable thereon) to the then Churchwardens and Overseers of East Claydon with Bottle Claydon aforesaid to be by them paid laid out expended or divided among the necessitous Poor of the Parish of East Claydon with Bottle Claydon aforesaid in such manner and at such time or times as they the Churchwardens and Overseers of East Claydon shall in their discretion think most fit and proper Also I give and bequeath unto my said Sister Ann Essex and my said Niece Ann Mary Essex All my household Goods and furniture Linen Plate Goods Chattels And Effects that shall in and about my dwellinghouse and premise at the time of my decease And I do hereby release and discharge my said Cousin Ann Harding of and from all debt and debts Sum and Sums of money \which shall at the time of my decease owing to me/ from her or her late Husband Thomas Harding deceased And as to my ready money and Securities for money and the rest and residue of my Personal Estate and Effects (whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever) not hereinbefore by me specifically disposed of I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof and all my estate and Interest therein and thereto unto my said Sister Ann Essex her Executors Adm(inistrat)ors and Assigns absolutely subject nevertheless to the payment of all just debts as I may owe at the time of my decease my funeral and Testamentary expences the costs and charges of proving this my Will and the several respective Legacies or Sums of money by me hereinbefore given or bequeathed And I do hereby nominate and appoint my said Sister Ann Essex full And sole Executrix of this my Will and revoke and make void all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made And declare this only to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said John Smith the Testator have to the first Sheet of this my Will contained in two Sheets of paper set my hand only and to this second and last Sheet thereof my hand and Seal this sixteenth day of February ion the year of Our Lord Christ one thousand eight hundred and nineteen
John Smith [signature]
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator John Smith the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses thereof Char. Willis [signature] Dav: Norris [signature] his Clerk
Proved at London July 9 1819 before the Worshipful Jesse Addams Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the Oath of Ann Essex Wo. the Sister the sole Executrix to whom Adm(inistrati)on was granted having been first duly sworn to Adm(iniste)r.
Notes
John Smith must have moved to Winslow after retiring from a farm, presumably belonging to the Verney estate. He was buried at East Claydon in 1819 aged 73. George Cross of Winslow owed him £400 which Ann Essex acknowledged to have received in 1834.