William James of Eastwell 1735 Will and Inventory
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Archives, Leicestershire Wills and Probate Records 1735
In the name of God Amen I William James of Eastwell in the County of Leicester Grazier being of Sound and perfect health in Mind and Memory And Considering the Uncertainty of this Life do Make and Ordain this My last Will and Testament in Manner and form following (That is to Say)
Impris I Give my Soul to God that gave it me and my body I commit to the Earth to be Decently buried at the Discresion of my Executors here in after Named And as for my Worldly Estate which has pleased God to Bless me with I Give and Dispose thereof as follows
Impris I Give and Bequeath all and Singular My Goods Cattle Chattells Stock Right Credits and personal Estate whatsoever (My Debts and funeral being first paid and Discharged) Unto Thomas Hourd of Eastwell aforesaid Joel Shuttlewood of Goadby in the county of Leicester Nathaniel Stone of Goadby aforesaid In Trust that they the said Tho: Hourd Joel Shuttlewood Nathaniel Stone And the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors and Admors of such Survivor Do Sell the same as soon as they can conveniently (my household Goods Excepted) And with the Moneys raised by such sale as aforesaid to pay the same in Manner and form following (That is to say)
That they the said Thomas Hourd Joel Shuttlewood and Nathaniel Stone and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor shall and will pay Give and Dispose of one moyety or full half part of [about four words hidden in a fold] sale as aforesaid unto my son William James when at Attains that Age of Thirty Years and not before Except the Good liking of my Executors And my Mind and Will is that they putt the Same out at Interest Upon Mortgage Bond or otherwise as they shall be Advised so to Doe and the Interest or proceed thereof to go on forward at Interest Until he Attains his Said Age of Thirty years
And As for and concerning the other moiety or full half part of the Moneys (raised by such sale as aforesaid) to Give pay and Dispose of the same Unto my Three Daughters Anne James Mary James and Grace James when they severally And Respectively Attain their Age or Ages of five and Twenty Years or twelve months after my Decease Share and Share Alike And I also Desire that they the said Thomas Hourd Joel Shuttlewood and Nathaniel Stone And the Survivors and Survivor of them And the Executors and Adminstrators of such Survivor will place And put our my said three Daughters Anne James Mary James and Grace James parts and Shares at Interest Upon Mortgage Bond or otherwise And with the Interest And Proceed thereof to pay the Same unto My said Three Daughters Anne James Mary James and Grace James Untill they Severally Respectively attain their said Age or Ages of five And twenty years for their Maintenance and Education
And if it shall Happen that Any of my said Children William James Anne James Mary James or Grace James Shall Dye and Depart this Life before they attain their Severall and Respective Age or Ages of Thirty years and five and twenty years then the Share or Shares of him her And them so Dyeing Shall go and be paid to and Amongst the Survivors and Survivor of them Share and Share alike and at such time & times as the same ought to be paid as aforesaid
As for my Household Goods not yet disposed of I Give My Son William James that Green Bed which I always Lye in with its furniture and two pair of Sheets allso all my wearing apparell and cloth for mans wear And two Chests as he Shall Choose and the Clock and all the Rest of my household Goods I Give to my Three Daughters Anne, Mary, & Grace Share and Share alike
Allso My Mind and Will is that if my Son William James shall have any Matter or Concern Dealings in any Case will any of the Family of the Dixons of Eastwell aforesaid (viz) to marry or be partner with any of them then I Give and Bequeath him my said Son but one Shilling And the Remainder of his said half part or Moiety I Give to be Equally Divided Amongst my three Daughters aforesaid
Item I give unto Thomas Hourd Joel Shuttlewood and Nathaniel Stone the Sum of Ten Shillings and Sixpence apiece for their Trouble they or any of them shall be at in the Management and Direction of this affair And allowing them and Every one of them all Reasonable Charges & Expences which they or any of them shall susteign or be put unto for or by Reason of the Execution of this my Last Will and Testament or anything Relating thereunto and I do hereby make and appoint them the said Thomas Hourd Joel Shuttlewood and Nathaniel Stone full and joynt Executors of this my last will and Testament revoking all former Wills by ma Made
In Wittness whereof I the said William James the Testator have hereunto sett my hand and Seal the Twenty first Day of January Anno Dom 1734/35
Will James
Signed Seald published and declared by the Said William James the Testator as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us and attested by us in the presence of the said Testator
Tho Hourd
George Kellham
Mary Hord
Joell Shittlewood one of the within Named Extors was Sworn the 14th Apr 1735 and power at the Same time reserved for the other Extors by us
Geo: Newell
An Inventory of all and singular the Goods Chattells and Creditts of William James late of Eastwell in the County of Leicester Farmer deceased taken and appraized the second day of Aprill anno Dni one thousand seven hundred and thirty five by us whose names are under written
| In the house place | |||
| Impris Table Clock and fire Grate &c | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| In the Kitchen | |||
| Brass pewter Tubbs barrells &c | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| In the blue Chamber | |||
| One bed and furniture &c | 2 | 10 | 0 |
| In the Green Chamber | |||
| One bed and furniture &c | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| In the Cheese Chamber | |||
| Cheese and Shelves &c | 1 | 10 | 0 |
| In the Brown Chamber | |||
| Two beds five Wheeles and Stock Cord | 2 | 00 | 0 |
| In the Dairy | |||
| Cheese press two tables and board panchions & Churns | 1 | 10 | 0 |
| In the Stable | |||
| Four Mares and Gears &c | 14 | 15 | 0 |
| In the barn | |||
| Corn unthrashed and other things and hay | 8 | 10 | 0 |
| In the yard | |||
| Two Swine Waggon Carts Manure and other Lumber | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| In the fields | |||
| Sixty Seven Sheep | 33 | 1 | 0 |
| Twenty three beasts | 35 | 10 | 0 |
| Corn Growing | 12 | 00 | 0 |
| Debts due to the deceased | 6 | 14 | 9 |
| Purse and apparell | 8 | 11 | 0 |
| Unseen and forgot | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 151 | 6 | 9 |
Thos Hand
Joel Shuttlewood
William Dunsmore