1786 STEPHEN BATMAN, Carpenter
Ref: GLS 1786/15
Proved: 1786 Written: 1785 Feb 24
Transcribed by Reg Harris
In the name of God Amen. the twenty fourth day of February one thousand seven hundred and eighty five. I Stephen BATMAN of the parish of Mangotsfield in the county of Gloucester carpenter being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to God. Therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I commend my soul unto the hands of God that gave it and my body to the earth. And as touching such wordly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.
First I give and bequeath to Dorothy my wifeall singular my lands tenements or houses goods and all my rights claims and demands whatsoever to be freely possessed and enjoyed by her and even by her to be sold for her subsidence if necessity constrain her thereto (and if not) during all the term of her natural life and at her decease I give and bequeath the same (if necessity has not constrained her to sell it) as follows.
To my son Simon or to his surviving children I give my dwelling house with the appurtenances thereunto belonging together with the back garden and patch of ground before the door to be freely entered upon possessed and enjoyed by him or them from and after the decease of my wife. Provided nevertheless that he or they shall pay out of the same the sum of five pounds of good and lawful money unto my daughter Dinah immediately upon him or them taking possession of the same which sum of five pounds I give and bequeath unto my daughter Dinah afore named to be levied by her out of the said premises provided also that my son Simon or any of his children shall outlive my wife but if he dies before my wife and leaves no surviving child then in that case I also give to my wife to leave to whom she pleases reserving nevertheless that the five pounds for my daughter Dinah to be paid to her out of the same as aforesaid.
Unto my son in law William MAGGS I give the piece of ground next the road commonly called the Little Patch to be entered upon and possessed and enjoyed by him and his children from and after my wifes decease.
And what furniture goods utensils wearing apparel and movables shall be at my wifes decease I give and bequeath unto my children namely Dinah, Nancy, Simon and Betty to be equally shared amongst them.
And I do hereby constitute make and ordain my wife my sole executrix of this my last will and testament and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all and every other former testaments wills legacies and bequests and executors by me in any ways before named willed and bequested ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
Memorandum I have here above given Nancy my daughter only share in movables as above because I had given her and her husband in my lifetime the ground wherein their house stands and the patch of ground by the pitt.
Stephen [X his mark] BATMAN
Witnesses: Issac [X his mark] JAMES, Robert de JONCOURT
Transcriber's Notes
This Stephen BATMAN married Dorothy WHITE 9.1.1750 at Bitton.
Is he the Steven, son of John and Ann of Oldland referred to in John's will of 14.2.1766? No record of his baptism.