Henry Ward of Grimston then Hoby 1791 Will
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Archives PR/T/1791/167
This is the Last Will and Testament of me Henry Ward of Grimston in the County of Leicester Grazier
First I desire to be buried in a private and decent manner at the discretion of my Executor hereinafter named and as for my Worldly Estate which hath pleased God to bless me with I Give and dispose thereof as follows
In the first place I Give and devise all that my Messuage or Tenement with the Homeclose thereunto adjoining and lately divided into two parts situate lying and being in Grimston aforesaid and now in the Tenure or occupation of William Easom unto my Nephew Henry Copley of Hoby in the said County of Leicester Cordwainer his heirs and Assigns for ever And I do hereby subject and charge my said Messuage or Tenement and Homeclose with the payment of my Debts Legacies and Funeral Expences
Also I Give and devise All that Close of Meadow or pasture Ground with the Appurtenances situate lying and being in the Lordship of Dalby on the Woulds in the said County of Leicester and called by the name of Mill sick Close and now in the Tenure or occupation of Mary Copley Widow unto my said Nephew Henry Copley his heirs and Assigns for ever Subject Nevertheless to the payment of one Annuity or yearly rent Charge of five pounds hereinafter by me given and bequeathed (that is to say)
I Give and bequeath unto my Nephew in Law John Bishop and Elizabeth his Wife and their Assigns One Annuity or Clear yearly rent charge of five pounds to be paid them by four quarterly payments in the year (that is to say) on the twenty fifth day of March the twenty fourth day of June the twenty ninth day of September and the twenty first day of December for and during the Term of their two natural lives and the life of the longer liver of them The first quarterly payment to be made on such of the said days of payment as shall first and next happen after my decease And my mind and Will is that in case the said Annuity of five pounds shall be behind or unpaid for the space of twenty days next after the said days of payment whereon the same ought to be paid as aforesaid Then it shall be Lawful unto and for the said John Bishop and Elizabeth his Wife and their Assigns to enter into and upon the said Close and premises and distrain for the same And the Distress or Distresses there found to take keep sell or dispose according to Law untill such Annuity or such part thereof as shall be behind and unpaid and all Charges attending the same shall be fully paid and satisfyed
Also I Give and bequeath unto my nephew Thomas Dracott of Melton Mowbray in the said County of Leicester Dyer the sum of ninety pounds to be paid him within twelve months next after my Decease
Also I Give and bequeath unto my said Nephew Thomas Dracott and my Nephew Gervas Simpson of Wymondham in the said County of Leicester Grazier the sum of four hundred pounds Upon this special Trust and Confidence that they my said Trustees Thomas Dracott and Gervas Simpson and the survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor do and shall as soon as conveniently may be after my decease put and place out the said sum of four hundred pounds at Interest upon Land or Government Security or Securities and with the Interest arising therefrom Yearly and every year pay and apply the same for and towards the Maintenance and bringing up of my Nephews John Copley and George Copley untill they attain their several and respective age and ages of twenty one years and when and as soon as they shall attain their said several and respective age and ages of twenty one years Then I Give and bequeath the said sum of four hundred pounds and all Interest that shall be then due for the same unto my said Nephews John Copley and George Copley to be equally divided between them share and share alike But my mind and will is that in case either of my said Nephews shall die before they attain their said respective age and ages of twenty one years Then I do direct the share of him so dying to go and be paid to the survivor of my said Nephews John Copley and George Copley And my mind and will further is that in Case both my said Nephews John Copley and George Copley shall die before they attain their said respective age and ages of twenty one years Then I do direct my said Trustees and the Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor to pay the sum of one hundred pounds part of the said sum of four hundred pounds unto my Niece Elizabeth Copley and the sum of three hundred pounds residue thereof unto all and every the Child and Children of my said nephew Henry Copley in equal shares and proportions
Also I Give and bequeath unto my said Trustees Thomas Draycott and Gervas Simpson the sum of one hundred pounds Upon this Special Trust and Confidence that they my said Trustees and the survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor do and shall as soon as conveniently may be after my decease put and place out the said sum of one hundred pounds at Interest upon Land or Government Security and with the Interest arising therefrom yearly and every year pay apply and dispose of the same for and toward the Maintenance and bringing up of my Neice Elizabeth Copley untill she shall attain her age of twenty one years And When and as soon as she attains her said Age of twenty one years Then I do direct my said Trustees and the Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor to pay the said sum of one hundred pounds and all Interest that shall be then due for the same unto my said Niece Elizabeth Copley But my mind and Will further is that in case my said Niece shall die before she attains her said age of twenty one years Then I do direct the said sum of one hundred pounds and all Interest that shall be then due for the same to be paid unto my said Nephews John Copley and George Copley when they attain their said respective Age and ages of twenty one years in equal shares And my mind and Will further is that in case my said nephews John Copley and George Copley shall die before they attain their said respective age and ages of twenty one years Then I do direct my said Trustees and the Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor to pay the said sum of one hundred pounds and all Interest unto my said Nephew Henry Copley
Also I Give and Devise All that my other Messuage or Tenement and Homeclose thereunto adjoining situate standing and being in Dalby on the Woulds aforesaid and now in the possession of my Niece Mary Copley Widow of my late Nephew George Copley deceased unto the said Mary Copley for and during the Term of her natural Life and from and immediately after her decease I Give and devise the said Messuage or Tenement and Homeclose Hereditaments and premises unto my said Nephew Henry Copley his heirs and Assigns for ever
And Lastly all the rest residue and remainder of my Household Goods other Goods Stock Cattle Chattels and personal Estate whatsoever (my debts Legacies and Funeral Expences being first paid) I Give and bequeath unto my said Nephew Henry Copley whom I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint full and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void All other Wills by me heretofore made
In Witness whereof I the said Henry Ward the Testator have hereunto set my hand and Seal this twenty third day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty five
The Mark of Henry Ward
Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Henry Ward the Testator as and for his Last Will and Testament Written on three Sheets of paper to each of the said Sheets he hath set his hand and to the last hath fixed his Seal In the presence of us the Witnesses under Written who have at his request in is presence and in the presence of each other set our hands as Witnesses to the due execution of this his said Will
Mary Stokes
Geo Brewster
T Brewster Junr Clk to Mr Stokes
21st December 1791
Let a probat be made to Henry Copley the sole Executor within named He 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 thousand pounds
Before me J Pigott Sur