Will of Peter Stutchbury, ironmonger, 1741 (proved 1741/2)

National Archives PROB 11/715/137

In the Name of God Amen I Peter Stutchbury of Winslowe in the County of Bucks Ironmonger being indisposed in Body but of sound and Perfect Mind and Memory praised be God therefore and considering the certainty of death and the uncertain time thereof do make and Ordain my last Will and Testament in manner following that is to say First and principally I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it trusting through the Meritts and Intercession of Jesus Christ my Saviour to be made pertaker  of Everlasting life and my Body I Commit to the Earth to be decently Buryed at the Discretion of my Executor hereinafter named and as for such Worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with or which I shall be entitled to at the time of my death I Give and dispose thereof as followeth. First I Give and Bequeath unto my brother Henry Stutchbury and unto my sisters Katherine King and Elizabeth Norman Five pounds each of lawfull money of Great Britain to be paid unto them by my Executor hereinafter named within Twelve months next after my death Also I Give and Bequeath unto Elizabeth Billington and Mary Bowler daughters of the said Henry Stutchbury my brother a Guinea each to be paid unto them by my Executor hereinafter named within Twelve Months next after my death Also I Give and bequeath unto Katherine King John King William King and Mary King children of the said Katherine King a Guinea each as they shall respectively attain the age of One and Twenty years or within Twelve months next after my death which shall last happen Also I give and Bequeath unto Frances Norman William Norman and Elizabeth Norman children of the said Elizabeth Norman my sister a Guinea each to be paid unto them by my Executor hereinafter named as they shall respectively attain the Age of One and Twenty years or within twelve months next after my death which shall last happen Also I Give devise and bequeath unto my kinsman Henry Stutchbury (son of the said Henry Stutchbury my Brother) and his Heirs and assigns forever All that my Copyhold Messuage or Tenement in Winslowe aforesaid wherein I now dwell And the Outhouses Barnes Stables Yards Orchards Gardens Backsides Priviledges and Appurtenances whatsoever thereto belonging or in any Wise Appertaining Also I Give and Bequeath All the rest of my Goods Chattells and Personall Estate whatsoever and wheresoever not herein before bequeathed unto the said Henry Stutsbury my kinsman (Son of the said Henry Stutchbury my Brother) He paying my Debts Legacyes and Funerall Expences And I do hereby make Ordain and Appoint the said Henry Stutchbury my Kinsman son of the said Henry Stutchbury my brother) full and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby revoke all former Wills by me made and do declare this to be my last Will and Testament and none other In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of October 1741

Peter Stutchbury

Signed sealed published and declare [sic] in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our Names as Witnesses in the presence of the Testator and of each other
James Budd        Wm Hobbs          Peter Goldsworth

This Will was proved at London the Eleventh day of January in the Year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred forty one before the Worshipfull Robert Chapman Doctor of the Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth  Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Henry Stutchbury the sole Executor named in the said Will To whom Administration was granted of all and Singular the Goods Chattells  and Credits of the said deceased being first sworn duly to Administer the same.

Notes

Peter Stutchbury was buried on 20 Dec 1741. When his nephew Henry died in 1750 an extremely detailed inventory of the shop was compiled. It was located at 6 High Street.

Peter inherited the business from his uncle Thomas Watts (d.1725) and his grandfather John Watts (d.1692). Peter was bap. 25 Aug 1693, son of Christopher Stutsbery, shoemaker (d.1698) and Elizabeth Watts.