Yeovil's Virtual Museum

1752 Will of John Francis

Yeoman of Marsh

 

In the Name of God Amen I John Francis of Mash in the parish of Yeovill in the County of Somerset Yeoman being Sick and Weak in Body but of Sound Mind Memory and Understanding Do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) My Will and Desire is that my Executors hereinafter named shall and may lay out and Expend in and about my Funeral Expences the Sum of Twenty pounds or thereabouts I Give and Bequeath unto John Batiscombe Son of Nathaniel Batiscombe of the Parish of Hawk Church in the County of Dorset Yeoman One hundred and five pounds And to Mary Batiscombe Daughter of the said Nathaniel Batiscombe the like Sum of One hundred and Five pounds to be paid them within One Year next after the Decease of my loving Wife Dorcas Francis And I do hereby charge my Real Estate with the Payment of the Same I Give and Devise All my Lands Tenements Hereditaments and Real Estate in Possession or Revertion lying and being in Mash aforesaid within the said parish of Yeoville or Elsewhere unto my Nephew John Francis Son of my Brother Richard Francis of Bewley Farm in the Parish of Tintinhull in the said County of Somerset Yeoman To Hold the said Lands Tenements Hereditaments and Premises unto him the said John Francis and to the Heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten And for want or in Default of such heirs then I do hereby Give and Devise the said Lands Tenements Hereditaments and Premises unto my Nephew Thomas youngest Son of my said Brother Richard Francis and to the Heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten And for want or in Default of such heirs then I do hereby Give and Devise the same unto my Right Heirs forever Subject Nevertheless to the payment of my Bond Debts And my Will and Desire is that they may be paid out of the first and Succeeding Issues and Profits of the said Lands Tenements Hereditaments and Premises And as to all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever I give and Bequeath the same unto my said Nephew John Francis and that my Executors hereinafter named Shall Let him into and Give him the possession thereof when he shall Arrive to the age of Five and Twenty years Subject first to the payment of all my other Debts And I do hereby nominate and Appoint my Brother Richard Francis and John Betiscombe Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former or other Will and Wills by me heretobefore made In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twelfth day of December In the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred Fifty and Two

John Francis

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the abovenamed John Francis as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto Subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto in the presence of the said Testator and in the Presence of each other

Thos Cox      Thos Bartlett      Robert Cayme

This Will was proved at London the Sixth day of June In the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Seven before the Worshipful George Harris Doctor of Laws and Surrogate of the Right Honourable Sir George Loe Knight also Doctor of Laws Master Keeper of Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Richard Francis the Brother of the deceased and one of the Executors 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 duly to Administer (Power reserved of making the like Grant to John Betiscombe the other Executor when he shall apply for the same)

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn