Will of William Walker, brandy merchant, 1810 (proved 1812)

National Archives, PROB 11/1539/9

This is the last Will & Testament of me William Walker of Winslow in the County of Bucks Brandy Merchant First I give & bequeath unto my Brothers John Walker and George Walker and my Nephew Edward Walker Son of the said John Walker all my wearing apparel and ornaments of my person of every nature and kind to be divided among them equally share and share alike also I give and bequeath unto my Neice Mary the Daughter of the said John Walker the Legacy or Sum of twenty pounds and to Mary Sparks and Sarah Bottomly both of Royston in the County of Cambridge the Legacy or Sum of ten pounds apiece to be buy them mourning and to my esteemed Friend Richard Barton of Winslow aforesaid Innholder the Sum of one Guinea to buy a Mourning ring all which said Legacies I direct to be paid to the said several Legatees within six months next after my decease also I give and devise unto the said Richard Barton and Charles Willis of Winslow aforesaid Gentleman all and every my messuages Cottages Lands tenements Heredit(ament)s and real Estate situate standing and being in Fleet End in Royston aforesaid and within the parish of Bassingbourn in the said County of Cambridge or elsewhere with the respective rights members and appurts thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining to hold the same unto and to the use of the said Richard Barton and Charles Willis their heirs and assigns upon trust nevertheless as hereinafter mentioned also I give and bequeath unto the said Richard Barton and Charles Willis all my ready monies and securities for money and all other my personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever not hereinbefore by me otherwise disposed of to hold the same unto the said Richard Barton and Charles Willis their Executors Adm(inistrat)ors and Assigns upon trust thay they the said Richard Barton and Charles Willis or the Survivors of them his heirs Executors Adm(inistrat)ors and Assigns do and shall as soon as conveniently may be after my decease sell and dispose of the said Messuages Cottages Lands tenements Heredit(ament)s real Estate and premises and also my said personal Estate and Effects for the most money and best price or prices that can be reasonably had or gotten for the same and the money arising by the Sale and disposition thereof In the first place to pay

[p.2] off and discharge all such Debts as I shall Justly owe at the time of my decease my Funeral & testamentary Expences and the several Legacies or Sums of money by me hereinbefore given and bequeathed as afors then upon trust after paying satisfying and discharging the costs & charges incident to and attending the Sale & disposition of my said real and personal Estates to pay and divide what shall be and remain of the said monies unto and among my said two Brothers and Nephew the said John Walker George Walker and Edward Walker my two Neices Margaret Field and Frances [blank] Daughters of my said Brother John Walker and Charlotte Burking of Peckham Orchard in the County of Surrey Daughter of Rhode Langham equally share and share alike and which I do hereby give and bequeath unto them the said John Walker George Walker Edward Walker Margaret Field Frances [blank space] and Charlotte Burking respectively accordingly and my mind and will also is and I do declare and direct that the receipt or receipts of the said Richard Barton and Charles Willis or the Survivor of them his heirs or assigns shall be a good and sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers shall be absolutely acquitted and discharged  of and from the same and they or any of them shall not be answerable or accountable either in Law or equity for any loss or damage which shall or may happen for or by reason of any misapplication \or non application/ of the said purchase monies or any part thereof and I nominate and appoint the said Richard Barton and Charles Willis Joint Executors of this my last will & testament and my mind and will also is and I do hereby direct that my Executors and trustees shall each of them be answerable for his own acts and deeds only and not the one of them for the other of them & that they and either of them shall not be answerable for any more monies than shall be actually received by them or come to their hands respectively nor for any loss or reduction therein without their or one of their wilful neglect of default and also that they should retain all their Costs Damages and Expences in the trust or Executorship of this my will out of the Estate and Effects in them respectively vested by virtue thereof or out of the monies arising therefrom In Witness whereof I the said William Walker the testator have to the first sheet of this my will contained on this and the foregoing sheet of paper set my hand only & to this Second and last sheet thereof my hand and Seal this twenty fourth day of Nov(ember) in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand Eight hundred and ten W Walker [signature] Signed sealed published and declared by the said William Walker 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 Jn^o. Mayten [signature] // W^m. Jones [signature] // Robert Jessop [signature]

[p.3] Proved at London 3rd November 1812 before the worshipful John Daubeny Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oaths of Richard Barton and Charles Willis the Executors have been first sworn duly to administer.

Notes

William Walker kept the Punch House 1807-11, but evidently did not own the building. There is nothing in the will to show that he was related to any of the other Walkers in Winslow.