I William Whitchurch of Froome in the County of Somerset Gent Imploring the Mercy of —– and One God Do make this my last Will and Testament whereas on the death of my Mother I am intitled to the Inheritance and free Disposition in Fee of three several estates one at Allum in the parish of Badcomb the others in the parish of Froom called Berrow? and Keyford estates and all in the said County I do hereby give devise and bequeath the said estates together with all my personal estates (inserted – and all whatever and wheresoever Real or personal estate) I am or may at any time hereafter be seized possessed of or intitled unto I give devise and bequeath to Richard Maddock of Crane Court Fleet Street London Esquire and Mary Whitchurch my much beloved wife their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns for ever on this special Trust that they and the Survivor of them and the Heirs and Executors of such Survivor shall may and do by Mortgage Sale or otherwise as to them shall seem most fit raise money to pay all my debts whatsoever after which paid Then in trust to raise what money they shall think fit as a portion for my daughter by the said Mary as to them shall seem most prudent But in case of the death of my said Daughter before her age of One and Twenty years then no such portion to be raised or paid Then to and in trust for the use and Benefit of my Son William by my said Wife his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns whether it or any part thereof be real or personal Estate for ever and my Will is that my said Trustees out of my said Estate reimburse themselves all cost Damage and Expenses they or either of them their or either of their Heirs Executors or Administrators be at or put unto for or by means or reason of the Execution of the trust hereby reposed in them And my Will further is that no dispute either in law or equity be in respect to my said estate or any part thereof. But if any be If by any other person and my said Trustees the same be referred to an Arbitration And if any dispute between my said Trustees the same be referred to two indifferent persons to be chosen by my said Trustees and to the same by the Referees be finally ended Lastly in case of the death of my said Son William Whitchurch before he attains his age of twenty One years all my real and personal Estate whatsoever after the Legacy given my said Daughter I give devise and bequeath to my said wife her Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns for ever and I do appoint the said Richard Maddock and my said Wife Executors of this my said Will In Witness whereof I have signed duely published and declared the same in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses the Seventeenth day of December 1745 Wm. Whitchurch. Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us three Witnesses who in the Testator’s presence and at his Request set our names as Witnesses James Brown Robert Newport Lucas Waight.
This Will was proved at London before the Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth Doctor of Law Master Keeper or Commissary of the … … on the Fourth Day of April in the Year…One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty by the Oath of Mary Whitchurch Widow the Relict of the deceased and one of the Executors named in the said Will…
Reference: Transcribed from a digital copy of a handwritten transcription – England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858
Inventory…
A full true and perfect Inventy of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of William Whitchurch late of Frome Sellwood in the County of Somerset but in the Fleet Prison London Deceased which have at any time since his Death come to the hands possession or Knowledge of Mary Whitchurch Widow Relect and one of the Executors named in his last Will and Testament of the said Deceased.
A Quantity of Beer appraised at the value of (216.13.8)
An house and severall —– or pieces of Ground in the Parish of Frome aforesaid of the yearly value of nine pounds and fifteen shillings or thereabouts hold for a Term of ninety nine years or some such Term determinable on the Death of one George Coles.
One —– of Ground in —– parish of Frome also hold for a Term of ninety nine years or some such term as determinable on the Death of Martha Baker of the yearly value of One pound and One shilling or thereabouts.
| A parcel of books appraised at | (5.0.0) |
| Some Drawers and —– less Frame | (1.1.0) |
| One Clock or Watch Case | (1.0.0) |
| Nineteen Pictures | (0.10.0) |
| One Writing Desk | (0.1.0) |
| Fourteen Pewter Plates | (0.10.0) |
| One Pastry Pan | (0.4.0) |
| One Pewter Dish | (0.1.0) |
| One Warming Pan | (0.4.0) |
| One Side Saddle | (0.7.0) |
| One Ha— Saddle | (0.5.0) |
| Twelve Ash —– Bottomed Chairs | (0.12.0) |
| Nine Plumbtree Chair Twig Bottomed | (0.13.0) |
| One Table… | |
| (illegible) | |
| (illegible) | |
| Four Bolster Cases | (0.3.0) |
| Two Course Table Cloth | (0.3.0) |
| Two Small —– | (0.2.6) |
| Two Napkins | (0.1.0) |
| Two Small Blankets | (0.1.6) |
| One Small Rug and an Old Quilt | (0.7.6) |
| Two Pewter Quart Mugs | (0.2.0) |
| In Money | (1.1.0) |
| One Gold Watch left by the Testator —– hand of William Moore Deceased and now as this Exhibitant believes in the custody of Mr. William Parsons Executor of the last Will and Testament of the said William Moore. | |
| One silver watch in the custody of William Bull Gent left as a Security for money borrowed of him. | |
| One diamond ring some plate books bed and linen in the custody of Mr. Stephen Skur—y? but the amount or value thereof this Exhibitant knows not. | |
| Some Household Goods in the custody of Dorothy Whitchurch widow mother of the said deceased but the value thereof this Exhibitant knows not. | |
| Several Debts due on account from diverse? persons to the said Deceased but the several Accounts being misettled —– Exhibitant cannot set forth the Amount thereof. |
Lastly this Exhibitant doth declare that —– Goods Chattels or Credits of or belonging to the said deceased other than those herein before mentioned and set forth have at any time since his death come to the hand possession or knowledge of this Exhibitant. Tyndall
This Inventory was exhibited on the fourth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty by Thomas Tyndall Notary publick the Proctor for Mary Whitchurch Widow the Relict and Executrix named in the last Will and Testament of the said William Whitchurch deceased as and for a —– full perfect and particular Invry of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased which since his death have come to the hands possession or knowledge of the said Mary Whitchurch and or protestation of adding thereto if occasion shall require.
Reference: Transcribed from an original document – The National Archives, Kew
For more information, see Incarceration of William Whitchurch.
Relation to Author: 5th great-grandfather of husband
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