Will of Robert Watson of Shipton, baker, 1816 (proved 1817)

Herts RO, 253AW6

This is the last Will and Testament of me Robert Watson of Shipton in the Parish of Winslow in the County of Bucks Baker First I Give and Devise unto my Fathers in Law John Webb of the Parish of Wicken in the County of Northampton Farmer and George Dickins of Deanshanger in the Parish of Passenham in the said County of Northampton Maltster All that my Copyhold Messuage Cottage or Tenement with the orchard Pightle and all other the Rights Members and Appurtenances thereunto belonging situate and being in Shipton in the Parish and Manor of Winslow aforesaid and now in my own occupation To hold the same unto and to the use of the said John Webb and George Dickins their Heirs and Assigns upon trust nevertheless as hereinafter mentioned Also I give and bequeath unto the said John Webb and George Dickins All and every my household Goods and Furniture Linen Plate Goods Chattels Rights Credits ready Money personal Estate and Effects of what nature or kind soever To hold the same unto the same John Webb and George Dickins their Executors Administrators  and Assigns Upon Trust that they the said John Webb and George Dickins or the Survivor of them or the Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns of such Survivor Do and shall as soon as conveniently may be after my decease collect and get in all such Sum or Sums of Money as may then be due to me or my Estate And sell and dispose of the said Messuage Cottage or Tenement Orchard Pightle Hereditaments 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 so to be collected and got in and arising by the Sale and Disposition of my said Copyhold and Personal Estates  In the first place to pay off and discharge all such Debts as I shall justly owe at the time of my decease and my funeral and testamentary Expences Then upon Trust (after paying satisfying and discharging the Costs and Charges incident to and attending the Sale and Disposition of my said Copyhold and Personal Estates) That they the said John Webb and George Dickins or the Survivor of them his Executors or Administrators do and shall lay place out and invest the residue of the Monies which shall arise as aforesaid  upon such Security or Securities as they may think proper at Interest and to call in and place out the same or any other of

[p.2] my Monies as they from time to time shall think proper Upon Trust to pay and apply the Interest thereof and every part thereof to and for the support Maintenance Education and bringing up of \my/ four Children William Watson John Webb Watson George Watson and Elizabeth Watson during their respective Minorities in such Manner as they my said Trustees shall in their discretion think most proper And upon further Trust  when and as my said children shall severally attain the said Age of twenty one years to call in and pay to them respectively one equal fourth part or share of the Monies so to be placed out as aforesaid and which I do hereby give and bequeath unto them my said children respectively accordingly And my Mind and Will is that in case of the decease or deceases of any or either of my said Sons or Daughter hereinbefore named under the Age of twenty one years and without leaving any Child or Children of his her or their Body or Bodies lawfully begotten that the part or share of him her or them so dying shall be paid to the Survivors of them my said Sons and Daughter equally share and share alike and be paid and payable to them respectively at the same time or times as his her or their original parts  or share of the Monies aforesaid are hereinbefore directed to be paid as aforesaid And my Mind and Will is and I do hereby declare and direct that the Receipt or Receipts of the said John Webb and George Dickins or the Survivor of them his Heirs or Assigns shall be a good and sufficient discharge to the Purchaser or Purchasers of my said Copyhold Estate or any part thereof And after such receipt or receipts such 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 John Webb and George Dickins joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament and also Guardians and Trustees to my said Sons and Daughter respectively during their Minorities as well of their Persons as of their Fortunes by me hereinbefore  given and bequeathed to them And my Mind and Will also is and I do hereby direct that my said Executors and Trustees shall be each of them answerable for his own

[p.3] Acts and Deeds only and not the one of them for the other of them And that they or 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 or default And also that they shall retain all their Costs Damages and Expences in the Trusts 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 Robert Watson the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament contained on three sheets of paper at the bottom of each of the first two Set my hand only and to this third and last sheet thereof my Hand and Seal this fourteenth day of June in the Year of our Lord Christ One thousand Eight hundred and sixteen

[signed] Robert Watson

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said
Robert Watson the Testator as and for his last Will and
Testament in the presence of us who at his request  in his
presence and in the presence of each other  have hereunto 
set our names as Witnesses thereof
[signed] Chas Willis
Tom  Bull Jnr. [?]
Dav Norris 

The 20th. Day of Nov 1817 John Webb and George Dickkins the joint Executors of this Will were duly sworn as Such and the personal Effects of the Testator Sworn to be under fifty pounds before me
Jonathan Brigges
Surrogate


Notes

Robert Watson bought the property from John Henly, glover, on 20 Jan 1808, but he was already the occupier. He appears to have established the bakehouse, which would have been a new venture in Shipton and probably not very successful.

William Watson, son of Robert and Mary, was baptised at Tingewick in 1804. John Webb Watson, son of Robert and Mary, was baptised at Swanbourne in 1806. George Watson, son of Robert and Mary, was baptised at Winslow in 1808. Presumably Mary predeceased Robert and was the daughter of John Webb. George Dickins was either the father of a previous or later wife or Robert's stepfather.

There was a sale of the house, bakehouse and contents on 18 July 1817. The house and bakehouse were still for sale in 1829.

The house was probably Rosemary Cottage or The Pyghtle. John Henly inherited it from his father John Henly, yeoman, in 1776. His father, also John Henly, held a messuage in Shipton when he died in 1741.

Copyright 20 February, 2018