The Document Chest

1810 will of Robert Donn

Gentleman

 

This is the last Will and Testament of me Robert Donn of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Gentleman I give devise and bequeath unto Henry Whitmash of Yeovil aforesaid Esq[ui]re and William Lambert White of the same place Gentleman all that my Farm Lands and Hereditaments situate lying and being in Yeovil Marsh in the Parish of Yeovil aforesaid in the Occupation of Charles Culliford as my Tenant and also all those Closes of Land called Waindles containing by Estimation Twenty Acres situate lying and being in the Parish of Mudford in the said County now in the Occupation of George Ewens as my Tenant and also all that Close of Land called the Twelve Acres situate lying and being in the said Parish of Yeovil now also in the Occupation of the said George Ewens as my Tenant To hold to them the said Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White their Heirs and Assigns upon the Trusts and to and for the uses Intents and Purposes hereinafter mentioned expressed and declared of and concerning the same that is to say To the use of Thomas Shorland the Elder and Thomas Shorland the younger both of Yeovil aforesaid Surgeons their Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for and during the term of Ninety nine years to commence and be computed from the time of my decease upon Trust that they and the Survivor of them his Executors or adm[inistrat]ors shall and do out of the rents Issues and Profits of the said Hereditaments and Premises comprized in the said Term or by Mortgage or Sale thereof for all or any part of the said Term or by any other lawful ways means levy and raise during the natural life of Elizabeth Halfyard the [word illegible] of the City of Exeter Spinster an Annuity or clear yearly Sum of Thirty pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain and do and shall pay the same Annuity or Yearly Sum to the said Elizabeth Halfyard or her Assigns during the Term of her natural life by equal quarterly payments on the fifth day of January fifth day of April fifth day of July and fifth day of October in every year the first payment to be made on such of the said days as shall next happen after my decease And upon further Trust that they the said Thomas Shorland the Elder and Thomas Shorland the Younger and the Survivor of them his Executors or adm[inistrat]ors shall and do out of the rents Issues and Profits of the said Hereditaments and Premises comprized in the said Term or by Mortgage or Sale thereof as aforesaid or by any other lawful ways means levy and raise during the natural life of Hannah Donn Wife of William Donn of Odcombe in the said County Yeoman one other Annuity or clear yearly Sum of Twenty pounds of like lawful Money and do and shall pay the same last mentioned Annuity or Yearly Sum to the said Hannah Donn or her Assigns during the Term of her natural life by equal quarterly payments on the days hereinbefore mentioned for payment of the said Annuity of Thirty Pounds the first payment to commence on such of those days as shall next happen after my decease provided and I do hereby declare that from and immediately after the decease of the Survivor of them the said Elizabeth Halfyard and Hannah Donn and after all arrears of the said Annuities shall be paid then the said term of Ninety nine years shall cease determine and be absolutely void And from and after the end expiration or other sooner determination of the said Term subject thereto and to the Trusts thereof to the use of Robert Donn the Younger the only Surviving Son of the said William Donn by the said Hannah his Wife and his Assigns for and during his Life and from and after the end expiration or other sooner determination of that Estate by Forfeiture or otherwise in his Lifetime then to the use of the said Henry Whitmash and W[illia]m Lambert White and their Heirs during the Life of the said Robert Donn the Younger In Trust to support and preserve the contingent uses and estates hereinafter given [limited?] from being defeated or destroyed and for that purpose to make [Entries?] and bring Actions as Occasion shall be and require but nevertheless to permit and suffer the said Robert Donn the Younger or his Assigns to receive and take the rents and profits of the said Heredit[ament]s and Prem[ise]s for his own use during his Life and from and immediately after the decease of the said Robert Donn the Younger to the use of the first Son lawfully to be begotten and the Heirs Male of the bodies of such first Son issuing and for default of such Issue to the use of the second third fourth and fifth Son and Sons and all and every other the Son and Sons of the said Robert Donn the Younger lawfully to be begotten severally successively and in remainder one after another as they shall severally be in Priority of Birth and the Heirs Male of the body and bodies of all and every such Son and Sons issuing the Elder of such Sons and the Heirs Male of his and their body and bodies being always preferred and to take before the younger of the said Sons and the Sons Male of his and their body and bodies issuing and for want or in default of such Issue to the use of all and every the daughter and daughters of the said Robert Donn the Younger lawfully to be begotten equally to be divided between or amongst them if more than one Share and Share alike and they to take as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants and the Heirs of the body and bodies of all and every such daughter and daughters issuing And if there shall be a failure of Issue in any such daughter and daughters then as to the part or share or parts or shares of such daughter or daughters whose Issue shall so fail to the use of the remaining or other of the said daughters equally between or amongst them if more than one Share and Share alike and they to take as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants and the Heirs of their respective bodies issuing and in Case there shall be a failure of Issue of all such daughters but one or if there shall be but one such daughter then to the use of such remaining or only daughter and the Heirs of her body and for default of such Issue to the use of the second third fourth and fifth Son and Sons and all and every other the younger Son and Sons of the said William Donn on the said Hannah his Wife begotten or to be begotten severally successively and in remainder one after another as they shall severally be in Priority of Birth and the Heirs Male of the body and bodies of all and every such Son and Sons issuing the Elder of such Sons and the Heirs Male of his and their body and bodies being always preferred and to take before the younger of the said Sons and the Sons Male of his and their body and bodies issuing and for want or in default of such Issue to the use of all and every the daughter and daughters of the said William Donn on the said Hannah his Wife begotten or to be begotten equally to be divided between or amongst them if more than one Share and Share alike and they to take as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants and the Heirs of the body and bodies of all and every such daughter and daughters issuing And if there shall be a failure of Issue in any such daughter and daughters then as to the part or share or parts or shares of such daughter or daughters whose Issue shall so fail to the use of the remaining or other of the said daughters equally between or amongst them if more than one Share and Share alike and they to take as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants and the Heirs of their respective bodies issuing and in Case there shall be a failure of Issue of all such daughters but one or if there shall be but one such daughter then to the use of such remaining or only daughter and the Heirs of her body and for default of such Issue to the use of the said William Donn his Heirs and Assigns for Ever I give and devise unto the said Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White all that my Estate lands and Hereditaments situate lying and being in the parish of Sutton Montis in the said County To hold to and to the use of them the said Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White their Heirs and Assigns for Ever upon Trust that they do and shall with all convenient Speed after my decease Sell and dispose of the same either by Public Auction or Private Contract for the most Money that can be reasonably obtained for the same And I do hereby direct that the receipt of my said Trustees or of either of them shall be a good discharge to the Purchaser or Purchasers of the said Estate Lands and Hereditaments and that he she or they shall not be answerable or accountable for the misapplication or Non application thereof I give and devise to the said Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White all that Messuage or Dwelling house wherein I now live together with all my Freehold Estates Lands and Hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever not hereinbefore devised To hold to them the said Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White their Heirs and Assigns upon the Trusts and to and for the uses Intents and Purposes hereinafter mentioned expressed and declared of and concerning the same that is to say To the use of my natural daughter Elizabeth Halfyard the younger daughter of the said Elizabeth Halfyard the Elder which said Elizabeth Halfyard the Younger is now living in my Dwelling house with me and is generally called by the Name of Elizabeth Donn or Miss Donn and her Assigns for and during her Life and from and after the end expiration or other sooner determination of that Estate by Forfeiture or otherwise in her Lifetime then to the use of the said Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White and their Heirs during the Life of the said Elizabeth Halfyard the younger In Trust to support and preserve the contingent uses and Estates hereinbefore given or limited from being defeated or destroyed and for that purpose to make entries and bring Actions as Occasion shall require but nevertheless to permit and suffer the said Elizabeth Halfyard the younger or her Assigns to receive and take the rents and Profits of the said Freehold Estates Lands and Hereditaments last mentioned for her own use during her Life and from and immediately after her decease to the use of her first Son lawfully to be begotten and the Heirs Male of the bodies of such first Son issuing and for default of such Issue to the use of the second third fourth and fifth Son and Sons and all and every other the Son and Sons of the said Elizabeth Halfyard the younger  lawfully to be begotten severally successively and in remainder one after another as they shall severally be in Priority of birth and the Heirs Male of the body and bodies of all and every such Son and Sons issuing the Eldest of such Sons and the Heirs Male of his and their body and bodies being always preferred and to take before the younger of the said Sons and the Sons Male of his and their body and bodies issuing and for want or in default of such Issue To the use of all and every the daughter and daughters of the said Elizabeth Halfyard the Younger lawfully to be begotten equally to be divided between or amongst them if more than one Share and Share alike and they to take as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants and the Heirs of the body and bodies of all and every such daughter and daughters issuing issuing and if there shall be a failure of Issue in any such daughter and daughters then as to the part or Share or parts or Shares of such daughter or Issue shall so fail to the use of the remaining or other of the said daughters equally to be divided between them if more than one Share and Share alike and they to take as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants and the Heirs of their respective bodies issuing and in Case there shall be a failure of Issue of all such daughters but one or if there shall be but one such daughter then to the use of such remaining or only daughter and the Heirs of her body and for default of such Issue to the use of the said Robert Donn the Younger and his Assigns for Life with remainder to his first and other Sons in Tail Male with remainder to his daughters in Tail General with remainder to the younger Sons of the said William Donn and Hannah his Wife in Tail Mail with remainder to the daughters of the said William Donn and Hannah his Wife in Tail General with remainder to the said William Donn in Fee in the same way manner and form in every respect as the said first devised Estate are herein I give & bequeath to the said Thomas Shorland the Elder my Small Silver Snuff Box I give & bequeath to the said William Lambert White my large Silver Snuff Box and my Horse And as to the Money which shall arise by Sale of my said Estate Lands and Hereditaments at Sutton Montis aforesaid and as to all my Leasehold Estates whatsoever and wheresoever and also all other my Personal Estate Goods Chattels and Effects I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof to the said Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White their Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns upon Trust that they do and shall apply the Rents Issues and Profits dividends and Interest thereof or so much of the same as shall in their discretion be thought proper and necessary in and upon the Maintenance and for the use and benefit of the said Elizabeth Halfyard the Younger until she shall attain the Age of Twenty one years or day of Marriage which shall first happen and upon her attaining the Age or Day of marriage then upon Trust to pay assign or transfer the same and every part thereof unto the said Elizabeth Halfyard the Younger And in Case said Elizabeth Halfyard and the Younger shall; happen to die before attaining the said Age or day of Marriage and without Issue then and in such Case I will and direct that the said Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White and the Survivor of them his Executors and Adm[inistrat]ors shall from thenceforth stand possessed of the same In Trust for and I do give and bequeath the same to the said Robert Donn the Younger his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns to and for his and their own use and benefit to be paid assigned or transferred to him on his attaining the Age of Twenty one Years And it is my Will and I do hereby request and desire that the said Robert Donn the Younger shall be educated and brought up under the direction and management of the said Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White and that so much of the Rents and profits of the said Estates first hereinbefore devised as they shall think proper after the said Annuities are paid shall be applied in and about the maintenance and Education of the said Robert Donn the Younger until he shall attain the Age of Twenty one years And I do hereby authorize and impower the said Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White and the Survivor of them his Heirs or Assigns to raise out of the Rents and Profits of the said Estates first hereinbefore devised such Sum and Sums of Money as they may think proper and necessary for binding and placing out the said Robert Donn the younger as a Clerk or Apprentice And it is also my Will and I hereby direct that as soon as conveniently may be after my decease an Inventory of all my household Goods and Furniture be taken and that the same be wither sold which I do hereby authorize the said Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White to do or that the same be with the dwelling house which I now occupy at the discretion of the said Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White And I do give and devise unto the the said Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White and their Heirs All such Messuages Lands Tenements and Heredit[ament]s if any as I am seized of intitled unto as Mortgagee in Fee with their and every of their Appurt[enance]s and all my Estate and Interest therein To hold unto and to the use of the said Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White their Heirs and Assigns upon Trust for and to be subservient to the directions and meaning of this my Will and to the end that the same Messuages Lands Tenements and Heredit[ament]s last mentioned may at and upon my death become legally vested in them and their Heirs to enable them to make effectual Releases and Conveyances thereof to the person or persons who shall be intitled to the Equity of Redemption thereof or to such other person or persons as he and they shall direct as and when the Sum and Sums of Money secured thereon shall be paid to the said Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White their Heirs Ex[exut]ors or adm[inistrat]ors And I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White Executors of this my Will and Testament upon the Trusts aforesaid Provided nevertheless and my Will is that my said Trustees and Executors and the Survivor of them his Executors and adm[inistrat]ors shall and may at all times in the first place reimburse and indemnify themselves and himself respectively and deduct and retain to themselves Claims [word illegible] respect[ive]ly out of the said trust premises respect[ive]ly all such costs Charges Damages and Expences as they or either of them shall or may at any time expend lay out or be put unto for or by reason or means of all any or either of the Trusts hereby in them reposed and that neither of them shall be answerable for any loss which may happen to any of the said Trust Premises unless such Loss happen through their or his Wilful Neglect or Default nor one for the other of them nor for more Monies that shall actually come to each of their hands respectively but each for his own Acts Deeds Receipts and Neglects and defaults only And I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made and do declare this only to be my last Will and testament In Witness whereof I the said Robert Donn the Testator have to this my Will contained in five Sheets of paper set my hand to each of the four preceeding Sheets and my hand and seal to this fifth and last Sheet this Fifth day of February in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten

Robert Donn

Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Testator Robert Donn as and for his last Will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto Subscribed our Names as Witnesses

Thomas Tomkins     Tho[mas] Shorland Jun[io]r     Rob[er]t Pearson     Sam[ue]l Prat

 

I Robert Donn of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Gent[leman] do declare this to be a Codicil to my last Will and Testament Dated the Sixth Instant and do direct it to be annexed thereto and taken as part thereof Whereas on or about the Twenty first day of November one thousand eight hundred and four I Sold by Public Auction to Thomas Bullock of Yeovil aforseaid Gent[leman] All that Barn Stable and Coach house near Millers Well in Yeovil aforesaid with the plot of Ground thereto belonging except the Road through and over the same but such Sale not being completed and being the Subject of a Suit in His Majestys Court of Exchequer I do give and devise the said Barn Stable and Coach house and Plot of Ground except as aforesaid unto Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White in my said Will named to hold to the use of them the s[ai]d Henry Whitmash & to William Lambert White their Heirs and Assigns upon Trust to complete such Sale in such manner as the said Court shall direct and in Case such Sale shall not be directed by the said Court to be completed then upon Trust to sell and dispose of the same Barn Stable Coach house and Plot of Ground either by public Auction or private Contract for the most Money that can be reasonably gotten for the same And as to the Money arising by such Sale I give and bequeath the same in the same manner as I have given my personal property and by my said Will And I do hereby direct that the Receipt of my said Trustees or of either of them shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchasor of the said Barn Stable Coach house and Plot of Ground and Prem[ise]s and that such purchasor shall not be accountable for the misapplication or Non application of the purchase Money and whereas I have by my said Will given and bequeathed my personal property to the said Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White their Executors adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns In Trust for Elizabeth Halfyard the Younger in my said Will named with a limitation over in Case of her dying without Issue before she shall attain the Age of Twenty one years or day of Marriage Now I do hereby in explanation of that part of my said Will declare that such personal property was intended to vest in the said Elizabeth Halfyard her Executors adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns absolutely upon her attaining the said Age or day of Marriage but in the Event of her dying before without Issue by which I meant and do mean without leaving a Child or Children by her body lawfully to be begotten at her death then it is my Will that such Limitation over as is contained in my said Will shall take Effect according to the Form and Tenor of my said Will And I do give devise and bequeath all my Pews Seats and Sittings in the Church of Yeovil aforesaid unto her the said Elizabeth Halfyard and her Executors adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns absolutely And I confirm my said Will in every other respect In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the Twelfth day of February in the Year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and ten

Rob[er]t Donn

Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Testator Robert Donn as and for a Codicil and to be annexed to 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

Samuel Bradley     Rob[er]t Pearson     Sam[ue]l Prat

 

Proved at London with a Codicil the 26th of June 1810 before the Worshipful Samuel Parson D[octo]r of Laws and [abbreviation illegible, but possibly 'Surrogate'] by the oaths of Henry Whitmash and William Lambert White Esq[uire]s the Ex[ecut]ors to whom Adm[inistrati]on was granted having been first sworn duly to administer

 

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn