John Bell of Colston Bassett 1774 Will
The National Archives PROB 11/1001/20
In the name of God Amen this [blank] day of [blank] in the [blank] year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George the third King of Great Britain France and Ireland &c and in the year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred seventy and two (1772) I John Bell of the parish of Colston Bassett in the County of Nottingham Esquire being of weak and infirm Body But of good sound perfect mind and understanding Thanks be to Almighty God for the same And calling unto mind the uncertainty of this Mortal life do make constitute ordain and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following Revoking and disannulling all and every other Will and Testament heretofore by me made by these presents Ratifying and confirming this to be my last Will and Testament
And first being heartily sorry for my sins past most humbly desiring forgiveness of the same I commit my Soul to Almighty God trusting to be saved thro’ the merits of Jesus Christ and my Body to the Earth to be buried in the most private manner giving away large quantity of Dole Bread giving ten Shillings each with a Coat Waistcoat Breeches Hat pair of Strong Shoe Cloth of Strong Yorkshire about three Shillings yard pepper and Salt Colour to be given to ten of the Poorest Men in Colston Bassett
Item I give and devise ten shillings a piece with a Gown and two Strong Aprons of Check to ten poor Women of Colston Bassett and as for what Real and Personal Estate as it hath pleased God to bestow on me in this life I do order and dispose of the same in the manner and form following that is to say
I will that all the Debts I owe at the time of my decease be paid in a convenient time after my decease By my Executrix hereafter named as can be raised to pay the same
Item I give devise and bequeath all my Estate lying and being in the parish of Colston Bassett in the County of Nottingham with the Rents Issues and Profits whatsoever belonging to the same or any wise appertaining together with all my Messuages Tenements Meadows Timber growing on the same with all other my Real and Personal Estates lying and being whatsoever or wheresoever unto my beloved Sister to her and her Heirs for ever my said Dear Sister Hyde Bell to leave and dispose of all the above at the decease of my dear Sister Hyde Bell to whom in her discretion she shall think worthy of her bequest begging her not to dispose of it out of our Family and if should think it fitting to leave the Estates clear to one person and not put in any other Incumbrances on the same
And I do hereby constitute ordain and appoint my dear and beloved Sister Hyde Bell whole and Sole Executrix and Residuary Legatee to this my last Will and Testament
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand Seal the year and day above written 1772
J Bell Colston Bassett
Signed sealed published and declared by the abovesaid John Bell Esqr the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us
31st August 1774
On Which day Appeared Personally Robert Wilsonn of Lombard Street in the parish of Saint Nicholas … London Stationer and Isaac Bargrave of the parish of St Giles in the Fields in the County of Middlesex Gentleman and severally made Oath as follows to wit that they well knew and were acquainted with John Bell late of the parish of Colston Bassett in the County of Nottingham Esquire deceased and have often seen him write and also Subscribe his name and thereby became well acquainted with his manner and character of hand writing and Subscription and they having now carefully viewed and observed the Paper Writing hereunto annexed purporting to be and contain the last Will and Testament of the said deceased beginning thus In the Name of God Amen this [blank] day of [blank] in the [blank] year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George the third King of Great Britain France and Ireland &c and in the year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred Seventy and two and ending thus In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand Seal the year and day above written 1772 and thus Subscribed J Bell Colston Bassett do depose that they do verily and in their Consciences believe the whole Body and Series of the said Paper Writing or last Will and Testament the word yard in the Sixteenth Line and the word think in the twenty ninth line interlined as also the name J Bell with the words Colston Bassett thereto added and subscribed thereto and the words of Attestation written at the Bottom thereof to be all of the proper handwriting of the said John Bell Esquire deceased
Robt Wilsonn
Isaac Bargrave
Same day the said Robert Wilsonn and Isaac Bargrave were duly sworn to the truth of the Premises
Before me Geo: Harris Surrogate
This Will was Proved at London the first day of September in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy four before the Worshipful George Harris Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipful Sir George Hay Knight also Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Hyde Bell Spinster the Sister of the deceased and Sole Executrix named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first sworn duly to Administer