Yeovil's Virtual Museum

1789 will of Henry Whiffen

of the Pen Mill Inn

 

By this my Last Will and Testament I Henry Whiffen of Penmill Inn near Yeovil Somerset do give and dispose of my Estate and Effects in manner following First I give to Thomas Thompson and George Mayo both of Nether Compton in the County of Dorset the sum of Thirty pounds to be paid to them or the Survivor of them by my Wife and Executrix herein after mentioned within four years after my decease In Trust that they the said Thomas Thompson and George Mayo or the Survivor of them shall place the said Sum of Thirty pounds out at Interest on such Security and at such Rate of Interest as they shall think proper and that they shall pay the Interest thereof to my Wife Jane Yearly for and during the term of her natural life provided she remains a Widow and after her decease or immediately after Contracting Matrimony shall pay Ten pounds thereof to my Son Samuel Whiffin of Sherborne and ten pounds thereof to my Daughter Martha Whiffin of London and the remaining ten pounds to my Daughter Barbara Wife of William Pavit of Bradford And my Will is that of the said parties be deceased before the said Legacies become payable that then and in such case the Sum or Sums hereby bequeathed to him or her so dying shall be equally divided between the Survivors and if two of them shall be deceased that then the whole Thirty pounds shall be paid to the Survivor And my Will is that in case my Wife & Executrix herein after mentioned shall die within four Years after my decease or before the said Thirty Pounds is paid to the said Thomas Thompson and George Mayo as above mentioned that then and in such case the said Thirty Pounds shall be paid immediately after her decease by her Executor or Executors or legal representatives and I hereby impower the said Thomas Thompson and George Mayo to demand and receive the same In Trust for the purposes above mentioned It being my express Will that the said Thirty Pounds should be paid to the said Trustees before my Sons in Law herein after mentioned receive any benefit from this my Will and I hereby charge all my Leasehold and Personal Property with the payment thereof Also I give to my Wife Jane all that my Leasehold Estate and Premises consisting of two Dwelling Houses Outhouses Garden Orchards and Appurtenances situated at Bradford Abbas in the County of Dorset which I lately purchased To hold to her the said Jane for and during the term of her natural life provided she remains a Widow And from and after her decease or immediately after her Contracting Matrimony I give and bequeath all that Dwelling House (part of the above mentioned premises) heretofore occupied and inhabited by William Deering and since by William Medway together with the Garden Orchard and Appurt[enance]s thereunto belonging unto my Son in Law James Higgins To hold to him the said James Higgins his Executors Administrators and Assigns for all such Terms and Estate as I have therein Also from and after the decease or Marriage of my said Wife Jane I give and bequeath all that Dwelling House called Brookes now used as a Silk House (and also part of the above mentioned premises) together with the Barn Stable and Orchard thereto belonging and adjoining and all and every their Appurt[enance]s unto my Son in Law John Higgins To hold to him the said John Higgins his Executors Administrators and Assigns for all such Terms and Estate as I have therein And my Will is that my said Wife should keep the Buildings and Premises before mentioned in good and sufficient Repair at all times during her life time and in case any life or lives by which the said Premises are now held should die that she my said Wife should purchase another Life or Lives therein if it can be done that the said Premises may be kept full stated Also I give and bequeath all my Household Goods both at my Dwelling House where I now live and at the Houses at Madford to my said Wife for her use during the term of her natural life provided she remains a Widow And from and after her decease or immediately after her Contracting Matrimony I give and bequeath the same to my three Sons in Law Thomas James and John to be equally divided between them share and share alike All the remainder of my property of every kind whatsoever and wheresoever I give and bequeath to my said Wife Jane directing her in the first place to pay all my just Debts and Funeral Expences And if my Monies and other personal property should be insufficient for that purpose I hereby charge my Leasehold Estate with the payment of the same And I nominate and appoint my said Wife sole Executrix of this my last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the ninth day of February in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine

Henry Whiffen

This Will of Henry Whiffen contained in two Sheets was duly executed by his signing the first Sheet and Signing and Sealing the Second Sheet and declaring the whole to be his last Will and Testament in presence of us who at his request subscribed our Names as Witnesses in presence of the said Testator and of each other

William Kimber     Tho[ma]s Cole

 

This Will was proved at London the fourteenth day of May in the Year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety before the Right Honourable William Wynne Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Jane Whiffen Widow the Sole Executrix 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