James Leadbetter of Long Clawson 1805 Will
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Archives, Leicestershire Wills and Probate Records 1805
In the name of God Amen This is the last Will and Testament of me James Leadbetter of Claxton otherwise Long Clawson in the County of Leicester Husbandman
First I give and bequeath to my loving Wife Mary Leadbetter the sum of twenty Pounds
And as to the Rents and Profits of my real Estate and all my ready Money securities for Money Goods Chattels Cattle Implements in Husbandry and all other my personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever I give and bequeath to my loving Brothers William Leadbetter and Thomas Leadbetter their Executors Administrators and Assigns Upon Trust nevertheless to stand seized and possessed thereof untill such time as my youngest Child shall attain to its Age of twenty one Years for the uses and purposes hereinafter mentioned (That is to say)
I will and direct that my said Trustees shall apply so much thereof towards the maintenance of my said loving Wife Mary Leadbetter as they shall judge suitable to her station in Life till such time as my youngest Child shall attain its age of twenty one years (provided she shall continue my Widow and remain unmarried and reside with my Children and assist my said Trustees in managing such Business or Businesses as they my said Trustees shall think fit to carry on for the Benefit on my Children)
And I also will and direct that my said Trustees shall apply so much of my said Rents of my real Estate and of my personal Estate or the Profits thereof towards the maintenance and education of my Children till my youngest Child shall attain its said Age of twenty one years as they shall think fit
And I give and bequeath all the said Rents and my personal Estate which shall then be in the possession of my said Trustees to all and every of my Children in equal shares and proportions to be paid and delivered to each of them respectively when and as soon as my said youngest Child shall attain the age aforesaid and I direct that my said Trustees shall pay and deliver the same to each of them accordingly and in case one or more of my Children shall die before that time and leave no Issue lawfully begotten then I give his her or their share or parts so dying to the Survivour or Survivours in equal shares and parts
But in Case my said loving Wife Mary Leadbetter shall be married or discontinue to reside with my Children as aforesaid then and in either Case I direct that my said Trustees shall pay her ten Pounds a year from the time she shall be married or discontinue to reside with my Children as aforesaid out of the Rents of my real Estate (including therein the Dower which she shall be entituled to) out of the said Rents untill my then youngest Child shall attain its said Age of twenty one years And as soon as it has attained that age then I give and devise all my real Estate in Harby in the said County or elsewhere to my son John Leadbetter his Heirs and Assigns forever Subject nevertheless to and charged and chargeable with the payment of ten Pounds a year which I hereby give to my said loving Wife Mary Leadbetter during the then remainder of her natural Life to be paid to her by half yearly payments on the fifth day of April and the tenth day of October in every year the first half yearly payment to be made on the first of the said Days of payment as shall first and next happen after my decease
And Lastly I appoint and ordain my said loving Brothers William Leadbetter and Thomas Leadbetter Guardians and Curators to my Children during their Minority and Executors in Trust of this my last Will and Testament
In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament set my hand and Seal this twenty fifth Day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and five
The mark of James Leadbetter
Signed Sealed published and declared by the within written James Leadbetter (the testator) as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have set our Hands as Witnesses to the due execution thereof having observed the words “such” and “set” to be interlined
Robt Goodacre
Michael Chester
The mark of Mary Morris
April 2 1805
Let probat be granted to William Leadbetter, & to Thomas Ledbetter the joint executors of the above written will: they being sworn to the due execution thereof: & made oath that the whole personal effects of the deceased, at the time of his death did not amount, in value, to the sum of six hundred pounds.
Sworn before me
Tho: Ford Surrogate