The Document Chest

1789 will of John Butler

Esquire

 

This is the last Will and Testament of me John Butler of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Esquire I give and devise all my Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments situate lying and being in the several Parishes of Yeovil Preston Martock and Chard and elsewhere in the said County of Somerset unto my good Friends my Kinsman James Butler of Martock The Rev[eren]d Joshua Toulmin of Taunton Mr Peter Daniel of Yeovil and the Rev[eren]d Harry Toulmin Son of the aforesaid Joshua Toulmin now of [Chowbout ?] near Manchester their heirs and assigns to the uses upon the trusts and to and for the intents and purposes herein after mentioned expressed and declared of and concerning the same (that is to say) To the use of my Nephew John Butler Dight for and during the term of his natural life without impeachment of or for any manner of waste And from and after the determination of that Estate by forfeiture or otherwise in his life time Then to the use of the said James Butler Joshua Toulmin Peter Daniel and Harry Toulmin and their Heirs during the life of the said John Butler Dight Upon Trust to support and preserve the contingent uses herein after limitted from being defeated and destroyed and for that purpose to make entries or bring actions as the case shall require But nevertheless to permit and suffer the said John Butler Dight and his assigns during his life to receive and take the Rents and Profits thereof to and for his and their own use and benefit And from and after the decease of the said John Butler Dight then to the use and behoof of the first Son of the Body of the said John Butler Dight lawfully begotten or to be begotten and of the Heirs of the Body of such first born Son lawfully issuing and for default of such Issue then to the use and behoof of the second third and all and every other Son and Sons of the said John Butler Dight lawfully to be begotten severally successively and in remainder one after another as they and every of them shall be in Seniority of Age and in Priority of Birth and of the several and respective Heirs of the Body and Bodies of all and every such Son and Sons lawfully issuing the Elder of such Sons and the Heirs of his Body issuing being always to be preferred and to take before the younger of such Sons and the Heirs of his or their Body or Bodies issuing and for default of such Issue Then to the use and behoof of John Butler (Son of Robert Butler of Severals within the Parish of Crewkerne in the said County of Somerset by my Niece Rachel his Wife late Rachel Dight Spinster) for and during the term of his natural life without impeachment of or for any manner of waste and from and after the determination of that estate by forfeiture or otherwise in his life time then To the use of the said James Butler Joshua Toulmin Peter Daniel and Harry Toulmin and their Heirs during the life of the said John Butler Upon Trust to support and preserve the contingent uses herein after limitted from being defeated and destroyed and for that purpose to make entries or bring actions as the case shall require but nevertheless to permit and suffer the said John Butler and his assigns during his life to receive and take the Rents and Profits thereof and of every part thereof to and for his and their own use and benefit and from and after the decease of the said John Butler then to the use and behoof of the first Son of the Body of the said John Butler lawfully to be begotten and of the Heirs of the Body of such first born Son lawfully issuing and for default of such Issue then to the use and behoof of the second third and all and every other Son and Sons of the said John Butler lawfully to be begotten severally successively and in remainder one after another as they and every of them shall be in Seniority of Age and in Priority of Birth and of the several and respective Heirs of the Body and Bodies of all and every such Son and Sons lawfully issuing the Elder of such Sons and the Heirs of his Body issuing being always to be preferred and to take before the younger of such Sons and the Heirs of his or their Body or Bodies issuing and for default of such Issue Then to the use and behoof of James Butler Joshua Toulmin Peter Daniel and Harry Toulmin aforesaid to be equally divided between them their Heirs and Assigns for ever And I hereby empower the said John Butler Dight and John Butler when in Possession of my said devised Estates to grant Leases thereof for any term not exceeding twenty one years in possession at the improved Rents and without taking and Fine I give and devise all and singular my Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments situate lying and being in the province of Nova Scotia in North America unto and to the use of the said James Butler  Peter Daniel and Harry Toulmin their Heirs and Assigns for ever Upon Trust to sell all and singular the said last devised Messuages Lands Tenements and Heredit[ament]s at such time and in such manner as my said Nephew John Butler Dight shall think fit and approve of and in case of his Death before a compleat Sale then by and of the proper authority of them the said Trustees respectively And it is my Will and I do hereby declare that the clear Monies arising from such Sale or Sales after payment of all incidental and necessary Expences shall be disposed of as my Personal Estate hereinafter mentioned and that in the mean time and until such Sale or Sales be effected the Rents and Profits of the said Premises in Nova Scotia shall be received by the said John Butler Dight for his own proper use and benefit during his life and after his Death by the Person or Persons who shall be entitled to the income of my Personal Estate And I do hereby order and direct that the Purchasor or Purchasors of all or any part of my Estate hereby directed to be sold after payment of the Purchase Money shall be obliged to see or attend to the application thereof but that the Receipt of my said Trustees their Heirs or Assigns shall be a sufficient discharge for so much Money as shall be therein expressed And I do hereby injoin the said John Butler Dight and require him upon pain of losing the provision intended for him by this my Will to procure a a Royal Licence and Authority for him to take and use my Sirname and Arms and to have the same recorded in the Heralds Office I give unto the said John Butler Dight all my Household Goods Plate and Furniture together with my Watches and the Chains and Seal used therewith Rings (except my best Diamond Ring) and Books and also my Horses Chariot Hay Corn Wood and Coals and Wine and other Liquors in my Cellars I give unto my said Trustees and their Heirs In Trust for Meliora Burges Wife of the said John Butler Dight one Annuity or yearly Rent charge of one hundred pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain for and during the term of her natural life clear of all Taxes and Deductions whatsoever to be paid half Yearly on the twenty fourth day of June and the twenty fifth day of December every year the first half Yearly payment thereof to be made on such of the said Days as shall first happen after my Death And I hereby charge and subject my Estate at Preston aforesaid with the payment thereof And I herby empower my said Trustees respectively in case of nonpayment of the Rent Charge hereinbefore given to them in trust as aforesaid or any part thereof at the days or times whereon the same is appointed to be paid to recover the arrears of the said Rent Charge distress upon the Premises charged therewith in the same manner as Landlords are by Law enabled to recover Rents reserved or Common [word illegible] and in case any half yearly payment of the said Rent charge shall be unpaid by the space of thirty days then I empower my said Trustees respectively to enter upon the premises charged with the said Rent charge and hold possession and receive the Rents and Profits thereof until it may or shall be thereby or otherwise paid all arrears of the said Rent charge and the Costs and Expences attending such entry and taking possession I also give unto the said Meliora Burges Dight my best Diamond Ring Also I give and bequeath unto my said Trustees In Trust for my Sister Elizabeth Wife of John Dight one annuity or Yearly Sum of twenty pounds for and during the term of her natural life Also I give and bequeath unto my said Trustees for my Sister Sarah Wife of Adam Newman the like Annuity or Yearly Sum of twenty pounds for and during the term of her natural life I give and bequeath unto my said Trustees In Trust for my Niece Mary Freeland Daughter of my Sister Sarah by her first Husband Robert Porter one Annuity or Yearly Sum of ten pounds for and during the term of her natural life which three said several Annuities last mentioned my Will is shall be paid out of my Personal Estate without and Deductions whatsoever by eaqual half Yearly Payments on the the twenty fourth day of June and the twenty fifth day of December in every year the first payment to be made on such of the said Days as shall first happen after my decease And I direct that the said Annuity or Rent charge of one hundred pounds and the said several Annuities of twenty pounds twenty pounds and ten pounds shall be paid into the respective hands of them the said Meliora Burges Dight Elizabeth Dight Sarah Newman and Mary Freeland for which their Receipts about (notwithstanding their present or future Covertures) shall be sufficient discharges it being my intention that the said Rent charge and Annuities or any of them shall not be liable to the Debts controul or Engagements of their present or any future Husband or Husbands I give unto Elizabeth Kelly and Rachel Kelly Daughters of James Kelly by his first Wife Rachel Coils one Annuity or Yearly Rent charge of ten pounds apiece for and during the terms of their natural lives respectively to be issuing out of my Farm called Gudgrou Farm in the Province of Nova Scotia which I purchased of the late Joshua Manger Esquire and was heretofore the property of Lieutenant Governor Franklin and to be charged on no other part of my Estate either Real or Personal and if by any casualty the Yearly Rents of the said Farm shall not be sufficient to discharge the same two Annuities or Rent charges then and in such case and from time to time as often as it shall so happen during the lives of them the said Elizabeth Kelly and Rachel Kelly or either of them my Will is that they shall receive no more than the annual produce thereof to be equally divided between them but if the said Gudgrou Farm shall be sold under the Trusts aforesaid then the same shall be sold Free and discharged from the Annuities charged thereon and in that case my Trustees are to lay out a sufficient part of the clear Monies arising from such Sale in Government Securities as a Fund to answer the payment of the same annuities my Will is and I do expressly declare that if any of them the said Elizabeth Dight Sarah Newman Mary Freeland Elizabeth Kelly and Rachel Kelly shall assign or dispose of or Mortgage or charge the Provision hereby intended for them respectively or any part thereof or shall attempt so to do then and in such case the Annuity or Yearly Sum to which such person or persons would be otherwise entitled shall be absolutely forfeited and be from thenceforth for the Sole benefit of the Person intitled to the [Residuum ?] of my Personal Estate under this my Will I give unto John Dight Son of sister Elizabeth [Dight ?] thirty pounds and his Son twenty pounds I give unto Thomas Dight Son of my sister Elizabeth Fifty pounds I give and bequeath unto John Newman Son of my Sister Sarah the Sum of one hundred pounds I give unto Robert Newman Son of my Sister Sarah two hundred pounds I give unto Richard Piercy now a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy now resident at Mill Hill Bristol Fifty pounds I give unto Edmund Batten of Yeovil Attorney at Law Fifty pounds but this last Legacy is not to cancel any Debt he may owe me at my Death all which Legacies my Will is shall be paid in twelve Months next after my decease I give unto the said John Butler Five hundred pounds in case he attains the age of twenty one years but not otherwise and my Will is and I do hereby direct my said Trustees in the mean time and until the said John Butler shall attain the Age of twenty one years or die under that age to lay out and expend the Interest and proceeds of the said Five hundred pounds at such times and in such manner as they shall see most expedient in giving the said John Butler with the assistance of his parents a Liberal Education I give unto each and every of the Children of the late Michael Franklin Esquire formerly Lieutenant Governor of the said Province of Nova Scotia who shall be living at the time of my decease the sum of Fifty pounds apiece to be paid out of my Real and Personal Estate in Nova Scotia aforesaid or the produce thereof and from and out of no other part of my Estate whatsoever And as to all the rest and residue of my Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever that I have power to dispose of or am intitled to and not herein before by me otherwise disposed of I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof to them the said James Butler Joshua Toulmin Peter Daniel and Harry Toulmin upon Trust that they do convert the whole into Money and place out the same at Interest together with the clear Monies arising from the Sale of my Nova Scotia Estate on such Government or Real Security or Securities as they shall approve of with full power and Authority to alter vary and change the same Securities at their discretion and do pay the Yearly Interest and proceeds thereof unto my said Nephew John Butler Dight for and during the term of his natural life for his own use and benefit and from and after his decease I dispose of the said Principal Monies and Securities as follows (that is to say) I give the sum of two thousand pounds unto and amongst all and every the present and future Child and Children of the said John Butler Dight by his present Wife except an eldest or only Son who shall live to attain the Age of twenty one years or be married but not otherwise equally to be divided between them and to be paid them respectively when and as they sevrally accomplish the age of twenty one years or be married and in case any of the said Children (except as aforesaid) shall die under the Age of twenty one years and unmarried then the share or shares of him her or them so dying shall go to the Survivors or Survivor or others or other of them equally between them if more than one and be paid to such Survivors or Survivor or others or other of them at their respective ages of twenty one years or Day of Marriage and such proviso or condition of Survivorship or accruer is to be extended as well to the Surviving or Accruing as to the original shares and in case any Younger Son shall become an oldest or only Son and in virtue thereof and of the Limitations aforesaid shall become intitled to my aforesaid Estate at Preston in Possession before he attains the Age of twenty one Years or marries then and in every such case the share of every such younger Son shall survive or accrue to the other or others of the said Children in manner aforesaid and after the Death of my said Nephew John Butler Dight and until the said Portions shall become payable my said Trustees shall pay interest at four pounds per centum per Annum thereon unto the Guardian or Guardians of the Children for the time being presumptively entitles to the Principal to be by such Guardian or Guardians applied in for and towards the maintenance and education of the same Children respectively And after full payment of the said sum of two thousand pounds I give and bequeath the [residuance?] of the said Principal Monies and Securities together with the said Sum of two thousand pounds in case no Daughter or younger Son of the said John Butler Dight by his present Wife shall attain the Age of twenty one years or be married unto and for the Sole and proper use of the Person or Persons who at the time of the Death of my said Nephew John Butler Dight will be beneficially entitled to my Estate at Preston by virtue of this my Will And I do hereby further declare that the Sums to which any Daughters of my said Nephew John Butler Dight may be entitled to under this my Will shall be paid into their own hands for which their Receipts alone (whether Covert or Sole) shall be sufficient discharges It being my Will that the same shall not be liable to the debts controul or disposition of any Husband or Husbands they may happen to intermarry with I make and appoint the said James Butler Joshua Toulmin Peter Daniel and Harry Toulmin Executors In Trust of this my last Will and Testament to each of whom I give the Sum of one hundred pounds for their trouble I give and devise unto the said James Butler Joshua Toulmin Peter Daniel and Harry Toulmin their Heirs and Assigns All Manors Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments Mortgaged to me in Fee with their and every of their Rights Members and Appurtenances To hold the same unto and to the use of them the said James Butler Joshua Toulmin Peter Daniel and Harry Toulmin their Heirs and Assigns in order to enable them to reconvey or transfer such mortgaged Estates for the purpose of carrying into Execution the trusts of this my Will And I further direct for the better carrying into Execution the Trusts of this my Will that from time to time and as often as my said Trustees shall by Death be reduced to the number of two or less before the accomplishment of the said several trusts it shall and may be lawful to and for the Survivors or survivor of them to nominate and appoint one or more new Trustee of Trustees so as to make up the number four and no more to be existing at any one time To the intent that such my Real and Personal Estate as is vested in them as aforesaid may be transferred conveyed and assigned to such New Trustee or Trustees jointly with the Trustee or Trustees then existing for the accomplishment of the said several Trusts and the Survivors of such new Trustees in the event of any of their Deaths shall in like manner and in persuance of such appointment as aforesaid fill and keep up their number to Four who shall all of them have the like power and authority to act in the aforesaid several trusts according to the true intent and meaning of the same as fully and amply to all intents and purposes as if I myself had appointed them in and by this my last Will and Testament And I hereby impower as well the said James Butler Joshua Toulmin Peter Daniel and Harry Toulmin aforesaid as also such new Trustee or Trustees to be nominated and appointed as aforesaid to compound any Debt which may appear to them doubtful or desperate and to submit to Arbitration all disputed Suits and differences concerning my Real and Personal estate And I direct that they respectively shall be wholly indemnified and saved harmless by and out of the said Premises for or on account of any loss which may happen in the due execution of the several Trusts hereinbefore committed to them without their default or negligence and that they or any of them hall not be charged or chargeable with or accountable for more Monies than they shall respectively receive by virtue of the Trusts aforesaid nor the one of them for the other or others of them nor for the Acts Deeds or Receipts of the other and it is my particular request that my Executors do employ my good Friend Edmund Batten Attorney at Law now residing in Yeovil as Agent in the Management of the Business and Affairs of the said Trusts who shall from time to time Account with the said Trustees for all Monies received and shall be allowed what the said Trustees shall think reasonable for his Labour and Trouble and all Costs and Charges to which my said Trustees shall be put to in the Execution of the aid Trusts hall be defrayed out of the said Trust Estate In Witness whereof I the said John Butler the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament written or contained in six Sheets of paper to the first five sheets thereof set my name and to this sixth and last my hand and Seal this eleventh day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine

J[oh]n Butler

Signed Sealed published and declared by the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request have subscribed our Names as Witnesses thereto in the presence of the said testator and of each other

John Howell   Edm[un]d Batten    Solomon Tozer Jun

 

It is my Will and desire that all my Faithful Servants may and shall have a good Suit of Mourning each of them provided they have lived with me one whole year Witness my Hand

J[oh]n Butler

 

Whereas I john Butler of Martock in the County of Somerset Esq[uir]e have made and duly executed my last Will and Testament in Writing bearing date eleventh day of July one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine Now I do hereby declare this present Writing to be a Codicil to my said Will and I do direct the same to be annexed thereto and to be taken as part thereof And I do hereby give and bequeath to my Housekeeper Elizabeth Chissel Provided and on this express Condition that she continues in my Service to the time of my death the sum of ten pounds per Annum during her natural life to be paid her half yearly after my decease by my Executors out of the Interest arising from my Personal Estate I also give unto the said Elizabeth Chissel my Field Bedstead and Curtains with the Bed and Beding Cloths Sheets and Pillow as now used by her And also my little Silver Tea Pot Bo[ugh]t at the late Mr Mangers Auction and I declare this to be a part of this my Codicil notwithstanding it is in the Margin and one of my easy Chairs In Witness whereof I the said John Butler have to this Codicil set my hand and Seal this 28th day of March in the year of our Lord 1791

J[oh]n Butler

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the Testator John Butler as and for a Codicil to be annexed to his last Will and Testament and to be taken as part thereof in the presence of us part of said Codicil being wrote in the Margin

J Salmon     Wm J Harris

 

Whereas I john Butler of Martock in the County of Somerset Esquire have made and duly executed my last Will and Testament in Writing bearing date on or about the [blank] Day of [blank] in the year of our Lord 17[blank] Now I do hereby declare this present Writing to be as a Codicil to my said Will and direct the same to be annexed thereunto and be taken as part thereof And I do hereby give and bequeath to Stephen Westcott the Son of my Cozen Doctor W[illia]m Westcott of Martock aforesaid the Sum of thirty pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor to my Cousin William Westcott aforesaid for the use of the said Stephen Westcott to be laid out at Discretion in Education and so on in one month after my Decease And I do also give and bequeath unto my Sister Newmans Daughter Sarah Newman an Annuity of ten pounds per Annum of lawful Money of great Britain for the term of her natural life And no longer the first payment to be made in one year after my decease and so to be continued on that Day in every Year for the said term and my Will and Pleasure is and I do hereby order and direct the said Annuity so given shall not be sold or transferred to any other person but that the Receipt of her the said Sarah Newman alone shall be deemed a discharge In Witness whereof I the said John Butler have to this Codicil set my hand and Seal the thirtieth day of August one thousand seven hundred ninety & one

J[oh]n Butler

Signed Declared and Published as and for a Codicil to be annexed to the last Will and Testament of him the said John Butler and to be taken as part thereof in the presence of us

Isaac Standerwick     Betty Chessel

 

Martock Aug[u]st 29th 1791 - I Give and forgive unto [John?] Toulmin all the Debt which he may stand charged with on my Books and I hereby forgive all that is therein charged him as given under my hand the Day and year above written

J[oh]n Butler

Witness Betty Chessel

 

I John Butler late of Yeovil but now of Martock in the County of Somerset Esquire do make this a third Codicil to my last Will and Testament and do direct the same to be annexed thereto and taken as part thereof I give unto the Executors named and appointed in and by my said Will the principal Sum of one hundred pounds now due and owing to my Friend the Reverend John Noon of Ilminster in the said County on his Promissary Note of hand with full Power for them my said Executors at any time after my decease to call in the said Sum of one hundred pounds and again place out the same at Interest on such Security as they shall approve of and pay and apply the Interest and produce thereof from time to time as the same shall be received unto or for the benefit of John Butler Toulmin Son of the Reverend Joshua Toulmin of Taunton in the said County until he shall attain the age of twenty one years And from and after his attainment of that age In Trust to pay the said Principal Sum of one hundred pounds unto the said John Butler Toulmin for his own proper use In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this third day of September one thousand seven hundred ninety one

J[oh]n Butler

This Writing was Signed by the said John Butler and by him published and declared as a Third Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence of us

Isaac Standerwick    Edm[un]d Batten

 

Martock 6 Sep[tember] 1791

This is my desire that five Guineas be given to ye Rev[eren]d Mr Jardine of Bath to buy a Ring in memory of me I give and forgive to my Cousin William Westcott Fifty pounds out of the Monies he may owe me at the time of my Death as a recompence for his great care and trouble he has taken of me in my last illness over and above his Bill to me As Witness my hand

J[oh]n Butler

Witness Present - Joshua Toulmin    Betty Chissel

 

Martock 8th of September 1791 I give and bequeath unto John Butler the Son of Rob[er]t Butler my Small Silver [Tanker?] and six desert Silver Spoons and Six tea Spoons and I give & bequeath unto Rachel Butler the Daughter of Rob[er]t Butler & Sister of the aforesaid J[oh]n Butler Six Desert Spoons Six Table Spoons one Silver Cream Jugg as Witness my Hand

J[oh]n Butler

Isaac Standerwick    Betty Chissel

 

Whereas doubts have risen in the breast of my Cousin James Butler whether my Gift of my Single Horse Pheaton is good to him having past in my life time without writing Now I hereby confirm the said Gift as Witness my Hand

J[oh]n Butler

Witness  Betty Chissel

 

I desire my Cousin James Butler as one of my Executor to be given to [Catherine?] Dight Daughter [blank] Dight [blank] in lieu of all Sums to be given her Ten pounds the 17th Day of Sept[ember] 1791 and no more

J[oh]n Butler

 

15th December 1791

Appeared Personally Isaac Standerwick of Martock in the County of Somerset Gentleman and Edmund Batten of Yeovil in the said County Gentleman and having been duly sworn to depose the truth severally made oath as follows that they knew and were well acquainted with John Butler late of Martock in the County of Somerset Esquire (who departed this life on or about the twenty fifth day of October last) and with his manner and Character of hand Writing and subscription having frequently seen him write and subscribe his name And referring to the Codicil to the Will of the said deceased hereto annexed beginning thus "Martock Aug[us]t 29th 1791" and ending thus "the Day and Year above written" and thus subscribed "J[oh]n Butler" and also referring to the Codicil to the said Will likewise hereto annexed beginning thus "Whereas doubts have arisen" ending thus "Witness my hand" and thus subscribed "J[oh]n Butler" and also referring to the Codicil to the said Will likewise hereto annexed beginning thus "I desire my Cousin James Butler" ending thus "this 17th Day of Sept[ember] 1791 and no more" and thus subscribed "J[oh]n Butler" these Deponents severally say that they have inspected the subscriptions of the Name "J[oh]n Butler" before referred to as set or subscribed to the said Codicil to the Will of the said deceased and that they verily and in their Conscience belive the same to have been of his the said deceaseds proper hand Writing and subscription

Isaac Standerwick     Edm[un]d batten

Same Day the said Isaac Standerwick and Edmund Batten were duly sworn to the truth of this Affidavit (by virtue of the Commission hereto annexed) before me

W[iilia]m Langdon

 

This Will was proved at London (with eight Codicils) the eleventh day of January one thousand seven hundred and ninety two before the Right Honourable Sir William [word illegible] Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oaths of James Butler Joshua Toulmin Peter Daniell (by mistake in the Will written Daniel) and Harry Toulmin 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 (by Commission) duly to Administer

 

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn