The document chest
The 1797 will of Thomas Hobbs
Gentleman
This is the Last Will
and Testament of
me Thomas Hobbs
of Yeovil in the
County of
Somerset
Gentleman I give
and bequeath to
my Nephew
Ambrose King the
Sum of One
hundred pounds
of lawful Money
of Great Britain
to be paid in
Sums of Five
Pounds each
every half year
on the twenty
fifth day of
March and the
twenty ninth day
of September
till the said
Sum of One
hundred pounds
shall be paid
the first
payment to be
made on such of
those days as
shall next
happen after my
decease and in
case of the said
Ambrose Kings
death before the
said Legacy of
One hundred
Pounds shall be
fully paid Then
I give and
bequeath the
remainder
thereof that may
be due at his
decease unto and
amongst his
Widow and
Children to be
equally divided
between them and
to be paid as
aforesaid Also I
give and
bequeath to my
Niece Ann Helyar
the Sum of One
hundred pounds
of like Money to
be paid her in
Sums of Five
Pounds each
every half year
on the twenty
fifth day of
March and the
twenty ninth day
of September
till the said
last mentioned
Sum of One
hundred pounds
shall be paid
the first
payment to be
made to the said
Ann Helyar on
such of the said
days as shall
next happen
after my decease
And I hereby
direct that the
same be not
subject to the
Debts Controul
or Management of
her Husband but
that her receipt
notwithstanding
her Coverture
shall be a
sufficient
discharge to my
Executor
hereinafter
named and in
case of her
Death before the
said last
mentioned Legacy
of One hundred
pounds shall be
fully paid then
I give and
bequeath the
remainder
thereof that may
be due at her
decease unto and
amongst her
Husband and
Children to be
equally divided
between them and
to be paid as
last aforesaid
Also I give and
bequeath unto my
Cousin Sarah
Hobbs the Sum of
Ten pounds of
like Money Also
I give and
bequeath the Sum
of Five pounds
of like Money
unto my Cousin
John Barrett
Cordwainer in
Church Lane in
Yeovil aforesaid
Also I give and
bequeath unto my
Cousin John
Barrett
Cordwainer in
George Court
in
Yeovil aforesaid
the Sum of Ten
pounds of like
Money Also I
give and
bequeath unto my
Cousin Eleanor
the Widow of
Thomas Ostler
the Sum of Ten
pounds of like
Money Also I
give and
bequeath unto my
Cousin Samuel
Hammond the Sum
of Ten pounds of
like Money And I
do hereby direct
and it is my
Will that in
case ther said
John Barrett of
George Court
Eleanor Ostler
and Samuel
Hammond or any
or either of
them shall
happen to die
before the said
three last
mentioned
Legacies shall
by virtue hereof
become payable
the Legacies or
Legacy of them
him or her so
dying shall
become lapsed
and sink into
the Residuum of
my Personal
Estate
hereinafter
bequeathed Also
I give and
bequeath unto my
Servant
Annabella Blake
Provided she be
living in my
Service at my
decease but not
otherwise the
Sum of Ten
pounds of like
Money and
Mourning at the
discretion of my
Executor
hereinafter
named all which
Pecuniary
Legacies (except
the two first
mentioned
Legacies for the
payment of which
certain times
are appointed) I
will and direct
shall be paid by
my Executor
hereinafter
named in twelve
Calendar Months
after my decease
Also I give and
bequeath unto
Mary the
daughter of my
late Nephew John
King the Sum of
Five pounds of
like Money to be
paid her by my
Executor at the
expiration of
twelve Calendar
Months after my
decease if she
shall at that
time have
attained her age
of twenty one
years if not
then to be paid
her on her
attaining that
Age Also I give
and bequeath
unto my Nephew
William White
now supposed to
be in
Newfoundland Sum
of Ten pounds if
he ever returns
to England but
not otherwise I
give and
bequeath unto my
Nephew William
King of Yeovil
aforesaid Hair
Dresser All that
my Burgage or
Tenement Shop
Garden
Hereditaments
and Premises now
in my Possession
and in the
possession of
the said William
King and situate
in Yeovil afores[ai]d
together with
the
appurtenances
thereto
belonging To
hold the said
Burgage or
Tenement Shop
Garden
Hereditaments
and Premises
with the
Appurtenances
unto the said
William King his
Heirs and
Assigns for ever
All the Rest
Residue and
Remainder of my
Real and
Personal Estate
whatsoever and
wheresoever
Subject to the
payment of my
Debts Legacies
and Funeral
Expences I give
devise and
bequeath unto my
said Nephew
William King To
hold to him his
Heirs Executors
Adm[inistrat]ors
and Assigns for
ever And I do
nominate
constitute and
appoint the said
William Kin g
whole and sole
Executor of this
my last Will and
testament
declaring it to
be my last and
revoking all
others by me at
any time
heretofore made
In Witness
whereof I have
to this my last
Will and
Testament
contained in two
Sheets of p[aper
set my Hand to
the first Sheet
and to this last
Sheet my Hand
and Seal this
twenty second
day of November
in the year of
our Lord One
thousand seven
hundred and
ninety seven
Thomas Hobbs
Signed Sealed
Published and
Declared by the
said Testator
Thomas Hobbs as
and for his last
Will and
Testament in the
Presence of us
who at his
request in his
presence and in
the presence of
each other have
hereunto
subscribed our
Names as
Witnesses the
word "Widow"
instead of
"Wife" being
first interlined
Jno Ryall
WL White
Tho[mas]
Harvey Junr
This Will was proved at London the
twenty sixth day
of April in the
year of our Lord
One thousand
seven hundred
and ninety eight
before the Right
Honourable Sir
William Wynne
Knight Doctor of
Laws Master
Keeper or
Commissary of
the Prerogative
Court of
Canterbury
lawfully
constituted by
the Oath of
William King the
sole Executor
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