Contributed by Helen Billing
In the Name of God Amen I John Wittmill of Tingewick in the County of Bucks Yeoman being of sound mind Do Make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) first I comend my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter named and as touching the disposition of all Temporal Estate I give and dispose thereof as followeth I Will that all my debts and funeral charges shall be paid and discharged Also I give and bequeath unto Robert Hunt and John Keeble both of Tingwick aforesaid and their heirs All my copyhold Estate in Tingwick aforesaid in which I now dwell in In Trust that they the said Robert Hunt and John Keeble Do permit and suffer my said wife Ann to live in the said Estate to pay the interest mony and breed up my children which if she cannot do Then that the said Robert Hunt and John Keeble do sell the said Estate and pay the Mortage Money and Interest and remainder of the Money of such Sale to be Equally divided amongst my four Children share and share alike when they attain the age of one and Twenty years and if any of them shall happen to dye before they shall attain such age then the share of such child or children dying to go among the rest surviving children and my Will and meaning is that upon such sale my wife Ann shall have out of the Interest Money five pounds a year during her life if she keep herself single and unmarried but if she marry then to have One Shilling to be paid by my Trustees and the Remainder of the profits of such monies to be for the Maintenance of my said children Also my Will and meaning is that the said Robert Hunt and John Keeble shall be allowed all expenses and charges that they or either of them shall be at in the discharge of their Trust and performance of this my Will All the rest and residue of my personal Estate after my Debts are paid I give to my Children also to be divided amongst them and I do make and Appoint my wife Ann my full and whole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said John Wittmill have hereunto set my hand and seal this five and twentieth day of April 1744
John Wittmill.
Signed sealed published and declared by the Testator in the presence of us whose names are subscribed as Witnesses and attested by us in the presence of the Testator, The Mark of Ann Keeble John Clark Wm Lawley
Proved the 6th day of March 1745 before John Stephens Clerk Surrogate by the oath of Ann Wittmill Widow Relict and sole Executrix to whom admon was committed she being first sworn duly to administer.
Archdeaconry of Buckingham
Reference:
DAWe: 8/123
DAWf: 85/235