Will of Edward Pluckrose : 1768

This is the last Will and Testament of me Edward Pluckrose now residing at the Heath Farm in the parish of Hemelhempsted in the County of Hertford husbandman which I make publish and declare as such in manner following (that is to say) First and principally I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Maker and Creator hoping assuredly through the Merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer to be made partaker of Everlasting Life and my Body I commit to the Earth to be directly buried in the Church yard of Berkhamsted Saint Peter in the said county of Hertford by my Executors hereafter named and as for such worldly Estate as it hath pleased Almighty God of his infinite Goodness to bless me with I dispose hereof as followeth (that is to say) I give and devise unto Daniel Bates of Berkhamsted Saint Peter in the said county of Hertford Baker his Heirs and Assigns for and during the term of the natural life of my Niece Mary Burgin Berkley who is his wife's Sister All that my Messuage Cottage or Tenement situate standing and being in Berkhamsted St Peter aforesaid wherein John Ware Blacksmith doth now inhabit and dwell together with all Houses Outhouses Buildings Barns Stables Shop Yards Gardens Orchards and Backsides to the same belonging with their and every of their Appurtenances upon this Condition nevertheless that he the said Daniel Bates his Heirs and Assigns do or shall out of the rents or profits of the said premises well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto the said Mary Burgin Berkley or her assigns yearly and every year for and during the term of her natural life the sum of five pounds a year by half yearly payments clear of all Taxes and Deductions the first of the said half yearly payments to begin and be made unto the said Mary Burgin Berkley or her assigns at the end of six months next after my decease whose receipt alone without her husband shall be unto the said Daniel Bates his Heirs and Assigns from time to time sufficient discharges for the same and in case the said annuity shall be in arrear or unpaid by the space of thirty days after each half year then I give unto the said Mary Burgin Berkley or her Assigns full power to Distrein upon the premises for the same and such Distress to Dispose of according to Law for satisfying the said Annuity and all Charges attending the making such distress or distresses and in case no distress can be had or found then I give unto the said Mary Burgin Berkley or her assigns a power to receive the rents and profits thereof until she shall be fully paid and when the same become untenanted to let the said premises if she shall think fit and the overplus of the Rents and profits of the said premises unto the said Daniel Bates for and during so long time as the said Mary Burgin Berkley shall live to keep the Buildings and premises in good Repair and from and after the decease of the said Mary Burgin Berkley I give and devise the said Messuage Cottage or Tenement Buildings and premises with their and every of their Appurtenances unto William Pluckrose Bates John Bates and Henry Bates now infants the three sons of the said Daniel Bates and to their Heirs and Assigns for ever equally among them But if one or more of them shall happen to dye without lawful Issue then and in such case I give and devise the part or share of him or them so dying unto the Survivor or Survivors of them I give and bequeath unto my Niece Elizabeth Bates wife of the said Daniel Bates the sum of one hundred and ten pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to her within twelve months next after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto her three sons William Pluckrose Bates John Bates and Henry Bates the sums of one hundred and fifty pounds apiece of like money to be paid to them severally and respectively as they shall attain their several and respective ages of twenty and one year and I desire and my Will is that Interest shall be made or received for the several three Legatys should be yearly applied for their several Maintenances and Educations. Item I give unto my Nephew John Pluckrose the sum of one hundred pounds of like money to be paid to him within twelve months next after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto my Kinswomen Ann Pluckrose Elizabeth Pluckrose Rachael Pluckrose Spinsters the three daughters of Rachael Pluckrose the sum of twenty pounds apiece of like money to be paid to them severally and respectively at their several and respective ages of twenty one years. Item I give unto my Cousins Joseph Russell Spoonmaker Ann Hassell and Elizabeth Rolph all of Poshams and the sum of five pounds apiece of like money to be paid to them severally within twelve months next after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto my Cousin William Daws son of Joseph Daws Blacksmith the sum of twenty pounds of like money to be paid to him at his age of twenty one years in case he shall live to attain that age. Item I give and bequeath unto and among all the Children of my Cousin Joseph Coster of the parish of Rickmersworth that he has by my Niece Sarah his late deceased Wife the sum of twenty pounds of like money to be paid to them severally and respectively at their several and respective ages of twenty and one years. Item I do hereby make Constitute and appoint hence the said Daniel Bates and William Bedford of Burymill End Maltster Joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament and for their trouble in acting as such I give unto the said Daniel Bates the sum of thirty pounds of Lawful money of Great Britain and unto the said William Bedford the sum of twenty pounds of like money Item I give and bequeath unto the before named Mary Burgin Berkley for her life in case she shall outlive her present husband but not else the sum of three pounds a year clear of all Taxes and Deductions by half yearly payments the first half yearly payment to begin and to be made to her at the end of six months after her said husband’s decease Item (from and after payment of all my Debts and Legacys Funeral Expenses and my Executors Charges which my Will is shall be paid them) I give and bequeath unto the said Daniel Bates one of my Executors all the rest and residue of my Monies Securities for Monies and personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever And further my Will is that my Executors shall not be answerable one for the other nor either of them for more monies than they shall actually receive nor for any monies that shall be lost unless it be by their wilful neglects or defaults provided always and I do hereby declare my Mind and Will to be that if my personal Estate shall fall short and not be sufficient to Answer and pay all the legacies hereinbefore given that then and in such case every Legatee shall abate in proportion to his her and their Legacy or Legacies And lastly I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made and Declare this to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Edward Pluckrose the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament contained and written on this and one other sheet of paper hereunto annexed by my hand and Seal to each Sheet thereof this twenty ninth day of November in the seventh year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and soforth And in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty six.   Edward Pluckrose . Signed sealed published and declared by the said Edward Pluckrose the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto wrote our names and Witnesses in the presence of the said Testator and at his request this twenty ninth day of November one thousand seven hundred and sixty six. Thomas Smyth of Burymill End. Francis Chapman of Hempsted Bricklayer. Wm. Ginger Jnr.

 

This Will was proved at London the twenty eighth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty eight before the Worshipful Andrew Coltee Jurarel Doctor of Laws and Surrogate of the Right Worshipful George Hay Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Daniel Bates one of the Executors named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the deceased having been first sworn only to administer power reserved of making the like Grant to William Bedford the other Executor named in the said Will when he shall apply for the same.

| Search & Site Map | Contact me: | ©2007 Derrick Porter