Will of Helena Starkey of Steeple Claydon, widow, 1743 (proved 1749)

Centre for Bucks Studies D/A/Wf/184/213

In the Name of God Amen I Helena Starkey of Steeple Claydon in the County of Buckingham Widow being weak in Body but of a sound and perfect memory praised be God do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following.

First I Bequeath my soul into the Hands of God that gave it, and my Body I commit to the Earth and to be laid in my Brothers grave in Steeple Claydon Chancel, and my Coffin to be made by Southall or some other workman plain and to be covered with Black, my shroud & sheet both Large & Handsome, and six poor men that have work’t for me to carry me to church and my will is that they shall have \five/ shillings a pice, [sic] and a Funeral Sermon as my Legacy to the Publick to Exhort them to Follow me, And as for my worldly goods with which it has pleased God to bless me with, I give and dispose of in manner following That is to say First in gratefull rememberance of the many and signall favours I have received from the Right Honourable Lord Visc(oun)t  Fermanagh \& Family/ I give and Bequeath unto the said Viscount Fermanagh the sum of ten pounds of good and lawfull mony to bee paid by my Executrix hereafter named within a month after my decease and likewise my Brothers desk.

I likewise give and Bequeath unto Mr Samuell Potter of Swanborne the sum of one pound ten shillings to be paid by my Executrix three months after my decease

I likewise give and bequeath unto Anne Killum of Gacott one pound ten shillings to be paid by my Executrix three months after my decease

I likwise give and bequeath unto John Ingram of Steeple Claydon in the County of Bucks one pound and his wife Anne one pound, and to his son Thomas one pound, and to his daughter Mary one pound to be paid by my Executrix three months after my decease.

I likewise give and Bequeath to Joseph North the sum of Five pounds, (of Steeple Claydon) to bee paid three months after my decease by my Executrix hereafter named.

I likewise give and bequeath to my Godson Mr William Halsted of Buckingham Four Large Silver spoons.

I likewise give and bequeath unto Rose Leu widow of Preston Bisset in the County of Bucks the sum Twelve pounds of good and lawfull \mony/ to be paid by my Executrix in three months after my decease and I further give to the said Rose Leu the Bed my maids used to lye on and also my Great Brass Kettle, and Little Bell mettle Pot

I likewise desire my Executrix to lay out upon my Funeral Expences the sum of Twenty pounds.

I likewise give unto John Hobbs of Hillesdon & his sister Mary the sum of Five pounds a pice [sic] to be paid by my Executrix three months after my decease

I give to my Cousin Rebecah Hughes all the rest of my Goods and Chattels whatsoever that is not allready bequeathed Excepting such odd things and small Legacys which I have sett down in some pices of paper with my own Hand writting my will is should be given to those Poor people immediatly after my decease

and Lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my said Cousin Rebecah Hughes to be my whole and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament, and I do hereby revoke and make void all former wills by me made and declare this to be my last Will In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this eighth day of September one thousand seven hundred forty three
The marke of Helena Starkey

Signed sealed delivered and declared by the Testator as her last will in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the Testator and of each other
Mary Cornes [signature]
The marke of Anne Ingram
John Millward [signature]

1st October 1749
Proved before John Stephens clerk surrogate by the oath of Rebeccah Hughes ... Sworn the Executrix above named before me
John Stephens [signature]

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Notes

Helena Starkey was buried at Steeple Claydon in 1743, aged 83. She was the sister of William White, vicar of Steeple Claydon 1715-41, and related to the Verneys: she was the first cousin of Elizabeth Palmer, the first wife of Sir John Verney (1st Viscount Fermanagh). She appears to have been living in Steeple Claydon from at least 1714. Rebecca Hughes (1680-1750) the cousin and executrix was from Winslow; see her will.

Verney Letters of the Eighteenth Century 2.208: Lord Fermanagh to Earl Verney, 18 Sep 1743
Some people came to fetch their legacies away but Mrs Hughes was advised against letting em have anything out of the house till she had settled her accounts and proceeded in a regular manner.  I wish you may get a tenant for the house, as tis a pretty place.