1818 Sarah Lewis Will, widow of fifteen Acres, Bitton
PCC PROB 11/1603
Proved: 1818 April 27 Written: 1814 Jan
31
Transcribed by Lindsay Olds, Marsha Stringer
This is the last will and testament of me Sarah LEWIS of fifteen Acres in the parish of Bitton in the county of Gloucester widow. I direct all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses to be paid by my executors herinafter named. I give and devise unto my two grandchildren James and Rachael son and daughter of my late son Robert all that my messuage, tenament or dwelling house called Mount Pleasant situated in the parish of Bitton and now in the occupation of my son Isaac to hold the same with the appurts unto them my said grandchildren James and Rachel respectively and their respective sons and assigns forever as tenants in common and not as joint tenants.
(In left margin: I give and bequeath unto my son Isaac the feather bed and bedstead in the front room in the house that I now live in and all the linen belonging thereto to be for his own absolute use and benefit.) I also give and bequeath unto my granddaughters all and all manner of wearing apparel that I may be possessed of at the time of my decease share and share alike.
And I also give and bequeath one half of my household furniture plate Linen china and implements of household and also one half of my farming utensils and implements of husbandry unto my son Thomas to and for his own absolute use and benefit and I direct my executors to set out such goods and make an equal division thereof as they in their judgment shall think fit and I also direct my executors to retain the other moity or half part of the same goods chattels and effects to the use of my son John and to apply the same goods & chattels or to sell the same and apply the money arising therefrom to the use of my said son John in such a manner and in such parts and proportions and at such time or times as they my executors shall in their own proper judgment think fit
and as to all the Rest and Residue of any Real and personal Estate and Effects of what nature or kind soever and wheresoever situated I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my goods friends Mr Robert WHITTINGTON of Swanswick in the County of Somerset and Mr John POPHAM of Beach farm in the said parish of Bitton upon trust that they the said Robert WHITTINGTON and John POPHAM or the Survivors of them or the heirs Executors or advisors of such Survivor do and shall with all convenient speed? After my decease sell and dispose thereof for the most money that can or may be gotten for the same and to reserve the purchase money to arise therefrom and to collect in the debts due to me and when reserved then I direct that the same together with any ready money that I may be possessed of at the time of my decease shall subject to the payment of my said debts funeral and Testamentary expenses be applied and disposed of in manner and upon the trusts and subject to the provisions herinafter ?so..? and declared? of and concerning? the same that is to say upon trust that my Executors for the time being do and shall retain in their own hands one fifth part or share thereof or apply the same or any part thereof or lay out and invest the same or any part thereof in Real or Government Securities and pay the Interest thereof only or any part thereof or the whole or any part of the principal at their own discretion and wiithout any ?outionl? and from time to time as they may think fit to and for the use and benefit of my said Son John and upon further trust as to one other fifth part for the use of my son Isaac his Executors advisors and assigns as to one other fifth part in trust for my Son * [In Right margin, after word Thomas]: George, his Exor, advisors and assigns as to one other fifth part in trust for my Son *.....Thomas,
his Executors advisors and assigns and the remaining other fifth part in trust for my said two Grandchildren James and Rachael, share and share alike.
But I do hereby nevertheless Direct and my will is that any sum or sums of money which my said children or grandchildren or either of them shall have received or may hereafter receive from me in my lifetime Shall be deducted out of their respective shares or be considered and taken as forming part of thereof provided always and it is my Will and I hereby direct that in case either of my said two Grandchildren, James and Rachael, shall depart this life under the age of twenty one years and without issue living of his her or their death or respective deaths then I give and bequeath their portions or share of his or her so dying unto the Survivor of them my said Grandchildren to and for his or her own use and benefit and in case of the death of both of my said Grandchildren under the age of twenty one years and without issue living at their death or respective deaths then it is my will and I hereby direct that the ?ocans or Tutor ots? Of my said Grandchildren so dying of the Residue of my Real and personal Estate and effects before given to them shall go to and be equally divided between and among of all and every of my children that may be then living and the issue if any of any deceased child or children (Inserted between lines: said child or children to take in equal parts shares proportions ............... of a deceased child or children) to take equally between themselves respectively the part or share which then his or her deceased parent if living would have been entitled unto and Further direct my Executors for the time being during the minority of my said two Grandchildren to invest their respective shares and Interests in Government or Real Surity and apply the Interest thereof for their respective use and benefit until the principal monies shall become payable and Hereby declare that the Receipt of any Executors for the time being shall be a sufficient discharge to all persons paying any trust monies under this my Will
and I do hereby further declare that neither of my Executors of trustees shall be answerable or accountable for the other of them or the acts deeds Receipts or defaults of the other of them or for any money received under Receipts in which they may join for conformity only but such of them for his own respective and separate acts deed and defaults only and lastly I hereby nominate and appoint the said Robert WHITTINGTON and John POPHAM Executors of this my Will hereby revoking All other Will and Wills by me at any time heretofore make and declare this only to be my last Will and Testament.
In Witness whereof I (crossed out) the said Testatrix oath to this É last will and Testament contained in one sheet of paper subscribed her name and set her Seal that is to say her name to the first and second side thereof and her name and Seal to this third side thereof .... Of this (blank on will) day of September in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen.
Signed/initialed: Sarah LEWIS
Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Testatrix Sarah Lewis as and forever last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at her request and in her presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses.
Signed: R. WHITTINGTON Junr (?); John MEERE; Elizabeth CAPLE
In left margin: Published by the said Sarah LEWIS as and for her last Will and Testament this 31st day of Jan 1814. Witnesses: Sarah LEWIS; Robt WHITTINGTON, Jr.; John MEERE; Elizabeth CAPLE
Proved at London 27th April 1818 before the Judge by the oaths of Robert WHITTINGTON and John POPHAM the Executors to whom admon was granted. Hon J Brin first ?? by ??? only to adm.
Transcriber's Notes
Sarah, nee NAISH, d/o John NAISH/Sarah; m. Isaac NAISH
| Children | Bap | |
| Rachel | Dec 26, 1764 | d. Oct 23, 1778, Bitton |
| Robert | Jun 24, 1766 | m. Mary THOMPSON; d 1800 |
| John Naish | May 22, 1768 | |
| Sarah | Apr 15, 1770 | |
| Isaac | Feb 23, 1772 | m. Mary Lewis, nee THOMPSON 1802, Bedminster; d Aug 1842 |
| William | Abt 1774 | DOB calculated from MI |
| George | Nov 24, 1776 | |
| Rachel | Apr 2, 1780, Hanham | d. Feb 11. 1797 |
| William | Apr 2, 1780, Hanham | d. Jun 8, 1806, age 32; perhaps really 1774 Wm baptized older |
| Thomas | Aug 4, 1782 | m. Mary Ann |
| Gdau Rachel | d/o son Robert/Mary THOMPSON; m. John MEERE, 1818, Bitton |
| Elizabeth Caple (nee THOMPSON) | d/o Wm. Th/Eliz nee SUMPTION and first cousin of Mary THOMPSON who m. brothers Robert, then Isaac |