Thomas Wright of Eaton 1798 Will

Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Archives, Leicestershire Wills and Probate Records 1798

In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Wright of Eaton in the County of Leicester Yeoman being infirm of Body but of sound and disposing mind and Memory and Understanding praised be God Almighty do make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in the following manner and Form That is to say

First of all I give and bequeath my immortal Soul into the Hands of Almighty God hoping for Mercy through the Merits of Christ Jesus my Saviour And my Body I commit to be interr’d in the Parish Church Yard of Eaton aforesaid at the Expences and Discretion of my Executor herein and hereafter mentioned

And as for my Worldly and Temporal Estate which it has pleased God to endow me with I dispose thereof in the following manner

First of all I give and bequeath unto Nathanael Bates the Sum of One Shilling at the Time of my Decease or when called for And I further desire that the aforesaid Nathanael Bates shall not come upon my premises or Hereditaments upon any Account whatsoever

I also give devise and bequeath unto my Grandson Matthew Bates the Sum of four Hundred Pounds of lawful Money of England to be paid at the Age of twenty one Years One Hundred of it is now in Security by Bond from my Wife’s Nephew John Clayton at Keyham in the County which was part of my Wife’s Portion, and the other three Hundred arising from the Profits of my Estate, and Money at Interest

I also give devise and bequeath to my Daughter Ann the Sum of twenty Pounds per Annum, during the Term of her Natural Life, to be paid at half Yearly Payments out of the Profits of my Estate or Lands at Eaton

Also I do give and bequeath unto my Daughter Ann the best Bed and Bedding with Blankets and Sheets and the best thereto belonging and the best Sett of China and also the Tea Spoons and Tray with the Mahogany Tea Table, and half a Dozen of the best Chairs

I also give and bequeath unto my Grandson Wright Thomas Bates the Silver Tankard marked with TW and the rest of the Plate unbequeath’d I give unto my Grandson Matthew Bates, and all the rest and residue of the Household Furniture, as Beds, Bedding, Tables, Chairs, Pewter and Brass, Clocks, &c with Books, Globes, and Weather Glasses, to be equally divided, Share & Share alike betwixt my two Grandsons Wright Thos and Matthew Bates

And I do hereby give devise and bequeath unto my Grandson Wright Thos Bates all that Messuage and dwelling House situate at Eaton aforesaid with all Houses and Hereditaments thereunto belonging and all those pieces and parcels of Land situate lying and being in the Lordship, precincts and Territories of Eaton aforesaid, now in my own and George Blankley’s Occupation, and to continue so untill Michaelmas in the Year One Thousand eight Hundred and one

And my Will and Command further is, that my Grandson Wright Thos Bates when he arrives at the Age of Twenty one Years He shall enter upon and enjoy the above mentioned Estate with the Hereditaments thereunto belonging situate at Eaton aforesaid And my Will and Command further is that if my Grandson Wright Thos Bates should make an Error and run away from his Profession that he is now settled in all his right and Title and Claim to the Estate of Lands & House that I have now devised to him, shall devolve and descend to his Brother Matthew Bates

And I do hereby make and ordain my Grandson Wright Thomas Bates upon his good Behaviour to be the only and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament

And my very dear and worthy Friends Mr Anthony Good of Croxton Kerrial in the County of Leicester Grocer and Mr William Bissill of Knipton Clergyman, in the said County, I make and ordain Overseers of this my last Will and Testament to be Trustees and Guardians for my Grandson Wright Thomas Bates, and I give unto each of them the Sum of three Guineas for their pains to be taken in the Overseeing thereof requiring them in the Name of God to see this my last Will and Testament perform’d accordingly

In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Wright have set my hand and seal this twenty fifth Day of February in the Year of our Lord One Thousand seven Hundred and Ninety five

                                                                                                                Thos Wright his mark

Signed sealed and declared by the said Thos. Wright the Testator as for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in the presence of him & at his Request and in the presence of each other have hereunto set our Names as Witnesses hereunto to the due Execution of this his said Will

Ant Rodgers

Samuel Thorold

John Sills

8 January 1798 probate to Wright Thomas Bates executor

Under £600