William Brutnell of Scalford 1798 Will
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Archives PR/T/1798/34
In the Name of God Amen I William Brutnal of Scalford in the County of Leicester Yeoman being of sound and disposing mind do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say)
First I request that my Trustees herein after named will make an Inventory and Valuation of my real and personal Estate to the best of their judgement in order that an equal division or value thereof may be made between my two Children William Brutnal the younger and Elizabeth Brutnal
Then I do Give and devise All that my Freehold Messuage or Tenement Yard and Orchard thereunto adjoining and belonging situate standing and being in Scalford aforesaid and now in the Tenure of John Milson his Assignee or Assigns Unto my two Friends John Exton the younger and Thomas Cobley both of Eastwell in the said County of Leicester Grazier their Heirs and Assigns Upon this Trust that they or the Survivor of them or the Heirs and Assigns of such Survivor do and shall yearly and every year receive the rents of my said Messuage or Tenement and Hereditaments and with such rent pay and dispose thereof for and towards the Maintenance and bringing up of my said two Children William Brutnall and Elizabeth Brutnall until they severally attain their respective Age and Ages of Twenty one years and when and as soon as my said son William Brutnall shall attain his Age of Twenty one years Then I Give and devise my said Messuage or Tenement Yard Orchard and Hereditaments unto my Son William Brutnall his heirs and Assigns for ever Subject nevertheless and chargeable with the payment of such sums of money as my personal Estate shall fall short of making my said two Children equal in fortune
Also I Give to my said Son William Brutnall my Large square Oak dining Table to be delivered unto him immediately after my death by my Executors hereinafter named
Also I Give to my said Daughter Elizabeth Brutnal half a Dozen silver Tea spoons and mahogany Tea board and swing Glass to be delivered unto her immediately after my decease by my said Executors
And Lastly all the rest residue and remainder of my Household Goods other Goods Stock Cattle Chattels ready money and Securities for money and all other my personal Estate whatsoever or wheresoever (not herein before by me specifically disposed of) my Debts and Funeral Expences being first paid I Give and bequeath the same unto my said two Friends John Exton and Thomas Cobley their Executors Administrators and Assigns Upon this further Trust That they my said two Friends and Trustees or the Survivor of them or the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor do and shall as soon as conveniently may be after my death sell and dispose thereof in the best manner they or the Survivor of them shall think proper and with the money arising from such sale apply and dispose of the same on Government or other good Security or Securities at Interest and with the Interest and Dividends arising therefrom pay and dispose of the same for and towards the further support and Maintenance of my said two Children William Brutnal and Elizabeth Brutnal until they severally attain their respective Age and Ages of Twenty one years and when and as soon as they arrive at their said several and respective Age and Ages of Twenty one years Then I do direct my said Trustees John Exton and Thomas Cobley or the Survivor of them or the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor to pay such Sum of money and the Interest that may then be due for the same unto my said two Children in manner following (that is to say)
Unto my said Daughter Elizabeth the whole or such proportion thereof as will make her fortune equal with her Brother’s to whom I have devised my real Estate and in Case my personal Estate shall exceed the value of my real Estate then I direct my said Trustees (after payment of my said Daughters proportion of personalty) to pay the remainder or Surplus of such personal Estate unto and between my said Son and Daughter in equal Shares But my mind further is That in Case my said personal Estate shall not amount unto the value of my real Estate Then I do subject and charge my said Messuage or Tenement and Hereditaments with such Sum of money as my personal Estate shall happen to fall short of making my Daughters fortune equal with my Son
And I do hereby nominate and appoint my said two Friends John Exton and Thomas Cobley joint Executors in Trust of this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former Wills by me made
In Witness whereof I the said William Brutnal the Testator have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty ninth day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety eight
William Brutnal
Signed sealed published and declared by the said William Brutnal the Testator as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have set our names as Witnesses to the due Execution hereof
John Hazlewood
John Harby
Tho Clarke Jur
9th October 1798
Let a probat be made to John Exton and Thomas Cobley the joint Executors within named
They being duly sworn as well to the faithful Execution of the Will as that the Testator’s Goods Chattels and Credits do not amount in Value to the sum of One hundred pounds
Before me Tho: Ford Surrogate