Richard Houlditch 1736
Hampstead, Middlesex
This is the last will andtestament of Richard Houlditch of Hampstead in the county of Middlesex Gentleman made when of sound mind memory and understanding First I commend my soul to God and my body to the earth to be interred in a very private manner at the direction of the executrix hereinafter named and as to my temporal estate I give and dispose of the same as follows (that is to say) I will and direct that all my just debts be in the first place paid and satisfied and next I will and direct that My dear and loving wife Jane shall have and receive to her own use the sum of four thousand pounds principle money which is now placed out of interest in the hands of Sr. William Chapman baronet and Thomas Emerson sugar refiner and is secured by their bond bearing date 4 day of January 1733 and which was part of the money arising due to her as part of the settlement made before my marriage to her and allowed to her by the trusthood of the late South Seas Directors estates in the year 1720 and I also give and devise to my wife and her assigns for her life in __ and full satisfaction of all right _____ And interest which she might have or be entitled to after my decease for her ___ or otherwise all that the priory of Holbeach in the county of Lincoln with the Glebe and Tithes and other appurtenances thereto belonging which I lately purchased and which are now rented by Mrs. Ann Claxon (Claxon?) at the yearly rent of 460 pounds to hold the same to my said wife and her assigns for and during her life she my said wife paying and performing during her life the yearly rents and covenants required in the leasehold to be paid and performed on the lessees part and also _____ and filling up from time to time in her life at her own proper cost and charges the life and lives now and hereafter to be put and nominated in the said lease within six months after the death of such respective life or lives or sooner if the same can be conveniently done And I also give and devise to my said wife all the arrears and rents of the said Rectory Glebe and tithes which shall be due at my decease and from and immediately after the decease of my said wife I give and devise the said Rectory Glebe and tithes with the appurtenances to my son Richard Houlditch with my daughters Frances Jarman (now wife of Dr. Wm Jarman) Jane Houlditch and Mary Houlditch and their heirs to be equally divided between them share and share alike to hold as tenants in common and not as joint tenants therefore to prevent any rift or feud that may arise touching or dividing the rents and profits of the said rectory and premises I recommend it to them to sell as soon as conveniently may be after my said wife's decease and to divide the money arising from such sale amongst them in equal shares and proportions. And as for my estate of Downham near Ely in County Cambridgeshire of the yearly value of two hundred and twenty five pounds ten shillings or thereabout which was granted to me by the present bishop of Ely for three lives whereof my son Richard Houlditch was one and for whose life only I now hold the said estate (having sold and disposed of my interest in the said estate for the other two lives therein and the benefit _______ thereof to St. John Lad__ Bart for a valuable consideration) I give and devise the said estate and all my remaining right and interest to another with the arrears in rent thereof which shall be due to me at my decease to my said son Richard Houlditch And whereas I gave with my daughter Francis Jarman upon her marriage to Mr. Wm Jarman the sum of two thousand pounds for her portion and advancement in marriage therefore I devise her now no further than her share of the residue of my estate hereinafter given to and for the benefit of my other children And I give to my daughter Jane Houlditch the like sum of two thousand pounds to be paid to her as conveniently may be after my decease And I give to my said wife whom I appoint guardian of my daughter Mary Houlditch the sum of two thousand pounds in trust to place out the same at interest on some ____ security or some parliamentary or public security on ____ and to pay and apply this interest or product or so much thereof as my said wife her executors administrators shall think proper and convenient for her my said daughter Mary's education and maintenance till her age of twenty one years or day of marriage before such age with the consent of my said wife (if living) first had and obtained and then to pay the said two thousand pounds and all interest remaining due thereof or to assign the securities for the same to my said daughter Mary But in case my said daughter Mary shall before her said age of twenty one years or marry before such age without such consent of my said wife as aforesaid then I give and bequeath the said sum of two thousand pounds to my said other children to be divided among them in equal shares
This entry at the bottom of the page before proceeding to the next page: Examined by me Nath Pallen Not. Pub
and proportions And I give and bequeath to my loving friend Mr. John Wilde [?] one hundred pounds desiring him to continue his friendship with my dear wife and children and to give them his best advise and assistance in all affairs wherein they may require it And I also give to each and every one of my daughter Jarmans children which shall be living at the time of my death the sum of one hundred pounds and I also give to my sister Ann Graylon [?] ten guineas for mourning and to my brother and sister Garwood the like sum of ten guineas for mourning And I give to my dear wife all my jewels plate rings linen household goods and furniture whatsoever and all the rest and residue of my personal estate not herein before given and disposed of after payment of my just debts legacies and funeral expenses I give and bequeath to my said son Richard Houlditch and my daughters Francis Jarman and Jane Houlditch and Mary Houlditch to be paid and divided equally to and among them share and share alike And lastly revoking all other wills be me heretofore made I publish and declare this to be my last will and testament And I nominate and appoint my said dear and loving wife Jane Houlditch my sole executrix thereof not doubting in her care in the just and fair performance thereof or of her generosity and kindness to such of my said children by her as shall best deserve it and shall behave most dutifully to her in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fourth day of August in the year of our Lord 1735 Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said testator to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our hands as witnesses John Vincent Jeb. Cooke T. Fowkes [?]
This willwas proved at London the twenty third day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred thirty six before the worshipful Stephen Cottrell Doctor of Laws surrogate to the right worshipful John Bottsworth Doctor also of Laws Master Hooper as commissary of the prerogative court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Jane Houlditch widow the relict and executrix named in the said will to who administration was granted of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of said deceased being first ____ duly to administer.
Richard Houlditch will (1736), Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Prob 11/680, image 328, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, downloaded from http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline