1775 Will of Walter FRANKHAM
Ref: PCC Prob 11/1006
Proved: 1775 Apr 4 Written: 1769 Dec 22
Transcribed by Lee Paltridge
In the Name of God Amen
I Walter FRANKHAM of Bitton in the County of Gloucester Brassworker being but weak of body but of sound mind and memory do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following ffirst my Will and Desire is that all my Debts and ffuneral expenses be paid and discharged Item I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah FFRANKHAM All my ffreehold Estate together with all my Goods [illegible word] and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever to be used and enjoyed by her for and during her natural life and from and after her decease I give the same and every part thereof to all my Children to be equally divided between them Share and Share alike provided nevertheless that if my said wife should happen to depart this life before any or either of my Children shall attain to the age of twenty one Years then my Will is that all my Real and Personal Estate above mentioned and every part thereof shall be applied to the support and Maintenance of such Child or Children till they and every of them arrives to the age of twenty one years and then to be equally divided as above mentioned and lastly I make and ordain my said Wife Sarah ffrankham whole and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament hereby declaring and making void all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made I own acknowledge and declare this to be my last Will and Testament and in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty second day of December 1769 Walter ffrankham signed sealed and published and declared by the said Walter ffrankham as and for his last Will and Testament in the Presence of Sam SHEPHERD; Moses FRANKHAM; William STEGER
This Will was proved at and on the fourth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy five before the Right Worshipful Sir George Way Knight Doctor of Laws Master keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by this Oath of Sarah ffrankham Widow the Relict of the Deceased and sole Executrix named in the said Will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first Sworn by Commission duly to administer. Exd.
Transcriber's Notes
Walter FRANKHAM was the oldest son of Walter FRANKHAM and Mary FOWLER, born in Keynsham, Somerset in 1720, and gained settlement in Bitton Gloucestershire in 1768. The wife of the testator Walter FRANKHAM was Sarah SHEPPARD or SHEPHERD, whom he married about 1740 in Brislington, Somerset.
This Will was proved in 1775, five years after it was written just before his death at the end of December 1769. His burial is recorded on 1st January 1770 at St John's Keynsham, not in Bitton where he had gained Settlement only the year before.