John Kirk of Scalford 1772 Will
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Archives, Leicestershire Wills and Probate Records 1772
In the Name of God Amen I John Kirk of Scalford in the County of Leicester Frame Work Knitter being very sick and weak in Body but of perfect mind and memory Thanks be given unto God but calling unto mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament That is to say
First of all I give and recommend my Soule to the Hands of Almighty God that gave it and my Body to the Earth to be Decently Buried at the Discretion of my Executor And as to my worldly Estate and Effects and whatsoever it has pleased God to Entrust me with I give and Dispose thereof as followeth
I Give and bequeath to my son Richard Kirk the sum of five pounds of Good and lawful Money of Great Britain
And also to my Daughter Ann Swain I give the Sum of five pounds and a Tester Bedstead Bed and Bedclothing now standing in my Chamber
And also to my Grandson Samuel Swain I give and bequeath my Great Chest and a little Coffer now standing in my Chamber in my house wherein I now dwell
And also to my Grandson George Swain I give and bequeath my Stocking Frame
And also to my Loving Wife Elizabeth I give and bequeath one full third part of all the profits that shall arise out of all that my Message [sic] or Tenements Situate and being in the Town of Scalford aforesaid
And I also Do give and bequeath to my wife one full third part of all the profits that shall arise out of all that my Close or Piece of Ground situate lying and being in the Lordship of Scalford aforesaid to be paid to her out of the said Rents or income yearly and every year During the Term of her Natural Life
And also I give to my said Wife Six Pewter Dishes and Six Pewter Plates Marked E.C. and her Chest and Box to be at her own Disposal
And also I give to my said Wife all my household Goods furniture and Implements of household (not herein before by me Given or bequeathed) for and During the Term of her Natural life if She remain my Widow
And also I give to my said Wife the Cow and Bees that shall be upon my premises at the time of my Decease And at the Decease of my said Wife I give and bequeath my Silver Tankard to my son John Kirk’s Daughter Ann and at the Decease of my said wife I give and bequeath all the Rest and Residue of my household furniture and Implements of household that is not herein before by me Given and bequeathed to my two Grand Daughters Elizabeth & Ann Swain to be Equally Divided Share and Share alike
And also I give and Demise to my son John Kirk all the aforesaid Message or Tenements and Close and premises as aforesaid Subject to the Payments aforesaid for the Term of his Natural Life
And Also at the decease of my said son John Kirk I give and demise the said Message or Tenements and Close aforesaid to my Grandson Samuel Swain and the Heirs of his Body lawfully begotten forever and in Default of such Issue lawfully Issued forth to his proper Heirs and in Default of such proper Heirs to my own proper Heirs forever
Lastly I give and bequeath to my son John Kirk all the Rest and Residue of my Substance and all whatsoever to me belongeth and appertaineth both Bills Bonds and Debts and all that is not herein before by me given and Bequeathed Whom I do hereby Constitute and appoint whole and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament and my Will is that he is neither to make any Waste or destruction upon any of the premises and if so be that my wife should Marry the household furniture to Descend to the persons they are set for in this my Will
And I do hereby Revoke disallow and Disanul all and every other former Testaments Wills Legacies & Bequests ratifying and declaring this and none other to be my last Will and Testament
In Witness whereof I hereunto set my Hand and Seal this fourth Day of October in the Year of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred and seventy
John Kirk
Signed and sealed published and declared by the said John Kirk as and for his Will and Testament in the Presence of us who in his Presence and in the presence of each other have here unto subscribed our names
Wm Shuttlewood
The 4th day of August 1772 John Kirk the within name Sole Executor was sworn to the due Execution hereof
Before me Thos Myddelton Surrogt
Wm Shuttlewood of Scalford ) Subscribing Witnesses to
Jno Cox of the same ) John Kirk’s Will
Robt Goodacre of Dalby upon the Would )