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Will of John Townsend of Hinton in the Hedges, gentleman, 1710
National Archives PROB 11/518/344
In the Name of God Amen The Fourteenth day of April In the Ninth year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lady Anne by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith &c. Annoque Dom(ini) 1710 I John Townsend of Hinton in the Hedges in the County of North(am)pton Gentleman being in good health of body and of sound and perfect mind memory and understanding thanks be given to Almighty God for the same Doe make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following (That is to say) First and principally I give and yeild my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping assuredly for Eternal Life through the mercies and merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer And as for my worldly Estate which it hath pleased Almighty God of his infinite mercy and goodness to bless me withall I dispose thereof as followeth Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Walford Forty pounds of good and lawfull money of Great Brittain to be paid unto her within Three Months next after my Decease Item I give and bequeath unto her Seaven Children Hugh John Elizabeth Thomas Francis Mary and Samuel Walford Twenty pounds apiece of like lawfull money of Great Brittain That is to say to each and every of them twenty pounds to be paid unto them at their severall and respective Ages of One and Twenty years of Age But if any or either of them shall happen to dye before they attaine to the said Age of One and Twenty years of Age Then I will that his her or their portion or portions so dying shall be given and paid unto and amongst the other surviving Child or Children share and share alike Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Brett Forty pounds of like lawfull mony of great Britain to be paid unto her within three Months next after my Decease Item I give and bequeath unto her four Children John Edward Mary and Martin Brett Twenty pounds apiece of like lawfull money of Great Britain That is to say to each and every of them Twenty pounds to be paid unto them at their severall and respective Ages of One and Twenty years of Age But if any or either of them shall happen to dye before they attaine to the said Age of One and Twenty years of Age Then I will that his her or their porc(i)on or porc(i)ons so dying shall be given and paid unto and amongst the other surviving Child or Children share and share alike Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Anne Deely Forty pounds of like lawfull money of Great Britain to be paid unto her within three Months next after my Decease Item I give and bequeath unto her Four Children John William Joanna and Mary Deely Twenty pounds apiece of like lawfull money of Great Britain That is to say to each and every of them Twenty pounds to be paid unto them at their severall and respective Ages of One and Twenty years of Age But if any or either of them shall happen to dye before they attaine to the said Age of One and Twenty years of Age Then I will that his her or their porc(i)on or porc(i)ons so dying shall be given and paid unto and amongst the other surviving Child or Children share and share alike Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah Torselle One hundred pounds of like lawfull money of great Britian to be paid unto her within one whole year next after my Decease And also all my household Goods whatsoever and of what nature name or kind soever And alsoe all that my Lease or remainder of a Terme of years thereby granted unto me by my late Lord Crew deceased And alsoe all my Estate right title or interest which I have or might claime to have out of in or unto All that Messuage or Tenement and Lands with their appurtenances in Hinton aforesaid now in the possession of Thomas Torshell and granted to me by the said Lease Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Abigail Browne One hundred and twenty pounds of like lawfull money of great Brittain to be paid unto her within One whole year next after my Decease Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Joanna \Harris/ One hundred and twenty pounds of like lawfull money of great Brittain to be paid unto her within One whole year next after my Decease Item All the rest and residue of my Chattells and personal and real Estate whatsoever which is unbequeathed after that my first Debts shall be paid and my Funeral Expences discharged I give and bequeath unto my loving Son John Townsend whom I make ordaine and appoint full and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament And I doe hereby revoke adnull and make void all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof to this my last Will and Testament I have sett my hand and Seal the day and year first above written.
John Townsend
Signed Sealed published and Declared by the Testator in the sight and presence of us as Witnesses.
William Baynard William Smith William Margetts
[Proved at London before Dr Sir Richard Baines on 7th December 1710 by the oath of John Townsend natural and legitimate son of the deceased and executor named in the will.]
Notes
Although Winslow isn't mentioned in the will, John Townsend was one of the biggest landowners. When his death was recorded at the 1711 manor court it was stated that he held "a messuage and 105½ acres of copyhold land". This passed automatically to his son John, so there was no need to mention it in the will. John Townsend is normally referred to in the court rolls as "Mr Townsend". It's not clear if he was related to the Townsends of Shipton. Most of the holding (a messuage and 80 acres) was acquired by "John Townsend sonne of Martin Townsend of Hinton" from Richard Edmunds in 1654. See Richard Edmunds' terrier, c.1635. John was baptised at Hinton in 1635; his son John was baptised there in 1678.
John the son was the John Townsend of Marsh Gibbon, gentleman, who died in 1714 leaving all his property in Bucks and Leics to his daughter Mary (b.1710), in the management of his wife Mary while the daughter was under age (National Archives, PROB 11/543/98). Mary the daughter was admitted as tenant at the 1715 manor court, "an infant under 5". She subsequently married Henry Guy, and in 1759 they sold to Richard Lowndes a messuage, home close and 105½ acres.
Ann Deely the daughter mentioned in the will doesn't appear to have belonged to the Deeley family of Winslow.