08 October 2020
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The will of William Norton from 1824 - just one of the beautiful wills illustrated in the November issue of Family Tree
In the November issue of Family Tree Dr Diane Brook looks at a marvellous range of documents that have survived the passage of time - and urges us not to give up hope that the very manuscript we need for that vital family history clue is out there somewhere
Tune into the Family Tree podcast episode 15 to hear Diane speak about her research and thoughts on these extraordinary documents, which sometimes re-emerge many centuries after they were last seen.
Read Diane Brook's article in the November issue of Family Tree, on sale 11 October. To buy your copy of the November today, click here.
To read the transcripts of the collection of original wills that Diane has in her collections, please see below.
Will of William Norton of Kimmage, Co. Dublin, 1824.
Transcript: [line by line]
I William Norton of Kimmage in the County of Dublin
Esquire, in my own handwriting do
make this my last Will and
Testament hereby revoking any other Will or Testament heretofore made or declared by me. Whereas I am possessed of certain
lands in the County of Dublin called the lands of Rathredding producing to me a yearly sum of one hundred and three pounds per Annum,
now I hereby Will and bequeath said property called Rathredding as aforesaid to my only son Theophilus Norton Esq.re ^Lieutenant of the Company of
Battle Axe Guards, subject nevertheless to a yearly Annuity to be paid by him out of same to my Wife Margaret Norton otherwise Ryan
during her natural life of one hundred pounds per Annum which said Annuity of one hundred pounds per Annum I bequeath to my said
Wife in lieu and in bar of dower or thirds, and in full satisfaction thereof, and I further desire that said lands shall stand chargeable with
said annuity as aforesaid of one hundred pounds to my said Wife, and at my Wifes decease, it is my will and desire that said Annuity
shall go to my said only son Theophilus Norton, his Executors, Administrators, or assigns, the rest residue and remainder of my
property of every description whatsoever I leave to my said son Theophilus Norton, and I hereby appoint the said Theophilus Norton
Sole Executor of this my last Will and testament, and in Witness whereof I have put my hand and affixed my seal this Eleventh
day of May one thousand eight hundred and twenty four. Wm Norton Seal Signed sealed and delivered by the above
named William Norton, as and for his last Will and testament by us who in his presence, and in the presence of each other
and at his request ave affixed our hands as Witnesses thereto … John Page ...Mifmin(?) Sam Page t? Pub
Ent.d at the Vice Treasurer's
office, Dublin Castle
7th May 1830.
Thomas Lansdown of High Littleton, will, 1789
Transcript: [line by line]
I Thomas Lansdown of High Littleton in the County of Somerset Tallow Chandler …
September ...one thousand seven hundred and Eighty six …
bequeath unto my Son Lawrence Lansdown and his Heirs...Land...
Parish of High Littleton... except...
several occupations of Samuel Brimble, James Bush, Thomas Chivers Joseph Smith John Selway James Swain Robert Chivers and George James)
and Assigns forever... my beloved Wife Jane Lansdown …
Life my Cottage ...occupation ...Samuel Brimble...James Bush
Thomas Chivers ...[rest of the tenants, named again]
Term of the
(that is to say) ...my Daughter Mary Bond...
I give and ...my Daughter Betty Bush... my Daughter Hannah Pow...
during her …. my Daughter Martha Trinder...
always and …
during their
so to do that
them or such of them
my said four Daughteres
...unto my Grandson William Bond...
and bedstead...
my said Wife...
Term of her...
with it appurtenances
day and Christmas Day
[more lines, witnesses]
Probate document with seal:
[24 April 1789]
[printed with handwritten additions]
William Batt of Doulting, will, 1791
Transcript: [line by line]
In the name of God Amen I William Batt of Newman street in the parish of
Doulting in the County of Somersett Yooman being sound of mind and health do make and
ordain.....I give my
Son in Law Richard White the sum of fifty pounds …
...my Grandson Edward Lambert one Shilling … to Nancy Lambert the
wife of the aforesaid Edward Lambert …
...to my Grandson William Budgett …
… the said William Budgett...
…. above payment...
...to my Grandaughter Elizabeth Chambers …
...my Son in Law Edward
Green Soapboiler of the parish of Stoke St. Michael ….
...in Newman street in the parish of Doulting...
...to the said Edward Green...
...to the said Edward Green all my
livestock...
nevertheless...
… Edward Green...sole Executor
Estates...
paying all my just debts In Witness whereof I have..
fourth day of March … one thousand seven hundred and ninety one. [SIC]
William Batt [mark?] We whose names are ...wittness...
...Testator William Batt …
of each other Edward Perry, John Barratt, John Reynolds.
[END]
[Probate document, printed form with handwritten entries]
By the Tenor....
made known to all Men THAT...twenty seventh day of October …
Hundred and ninety four …
Surrogate...
official principal...
….William Batt late of the parish of Doulting in
the County of Somerset …
hereto annexed ...
concerning his... granted to Edward Green Son in Law of the deceased the sole
Executor …
and Singular
on or before the last day of April next ensuing...
seal of our said Vicar...
behalf/ the day and
our Translation.
Edw.d Parfitt Dep.ts Reg.r
Christopher Evans of Yeovil, will, 1652
Paper, one sheet, three pages
Transcript: [line by line]
[Page 1]
I Christopher Evans thelder of Yeavill in the County of
Somersett Tailor being sicke & weake of body but of sound
& p[er]fect memory doe make & ordaine this my last will & Testam[en]t
in manner & forme …
[interlineated] & to his now wife for teused(?) of their naturall life the
[interlineated] remainder
unto John Evans my sonne ^? & to his heires & Executors for ever
[added line] of him the s[ai]d John Evans for evermore
all that my Messuage & dwellling house scituate in the barrugh
of yeavill in the County of Somersett afores[ai]d in a certaine
street there called Pitlane abutted with the lands of William
Seward on the west & the lands of Anthony Traske(?) on the east
which I formerly purchased of John Sorrell(?) thelder whitebaker
deceased. Item ..sonne Christopher Evans & to
his heires for ever all that acre of land...
of Bartholomew Per Jacob(?) which lyeth in Eastfield
adjoyning
of Yeavill ...my daughter Hester
...Close of Pasture...
neare Yeavill...
[added line] conteyning about 3 acres & halfe
Haire(?) thelder ^ to have & to hold..
heires then to goe & to remaine to my first right heires
[added line] & my will is that my s[ai]d daughter Hester shall …
for evermore upon the severall & under upon …
[added line] the Kitchen yell(?) of my now Dwelling house one whole yeare next ensusring my Decase paying her afore...
conditions & consideration that shee pay my debts & legacy of
[Margin] unto my s[ai]d...
hereafter specified: … my daughter Temperance
Parker the sume of Tenn pounds...
her by my Executrix...
decease Item I give unto my daughter Mary Evans
[page 2]
the sume...
come & demand...
my will is that …
s[ai]d Executrix.... my daughter
Alice(?) Collins the sum of forty shillings..
unto her …
I give unto Christopher sonne of my s[ai]d sonne Christopher
Evans the sume of 5 s(?)...
he shall attaine
I give unto my s[ai]d sonn Christopher Evans all
my wearng apparrel both …
one p[air]e of bootes & a …
which boots & shoes I hereby give to my sonn in
law Robert Parker All the rest …
& Chattells ...
unto my fores[ai]d daughter Hester Evans whom I
make & constitute my sole Executrix …
last will & testam[en]t …
this my last will …
meaning …
buryed And I do further make...
my loving friends Henry Lavor & George
Moore the younger both of Yeavill …
overseeers …
Care that this …
[page 3]
fulfilled in all things, …
shall …
so?? this my will …
they(?)...
advise & …
In witness whereof …
the xxvth day of December in the yeare of Or Lord 1652
signe of
Christoph'r Evanns [signature of surname only][seal]
Signed sealed & declared to bee
the last will & testament of the
s[ai]d Christophr Evans before
Henry Lavor
Samuelrrhippy(?)
Margeri Resthmond(?)
[outside, numbers only, e.g. 2 – 2, 6 18, 50 1-10-0. Presumably sums related to the bequests but not checked.]
Second document, paper, folded, one side written. Outside 'Evans's will'
Transcript:
To all Christian people to whom...Christopher Evans
thelder of yeavill in the County of Somersett Taylor and Christopher Evans the yonge
sonne of the said Christopher Evans thelder send greeting … Christopher Evans
late father of the said Christopher Evans thelder did in and by his last will and
testament ...date five & twentieth day of December in the yeare of our
Lord one thousand sixe hundred fifty and two Give and bequeath...
[more, confirms Christopher Evans the child in the will of 1652 has received his 5 pounds legacy. Also that Hester Evans had married Morgan Richmond of Yeovil, shoemaker, and she has since died. Dated 22 February 1672. Signatures, marks. Remains or marks of seals.]