Yeovil's Virtual Museum

The Will of Mary Darley

The 1731 Will of Mary Darley, Widow

 

In the Name of God Amen I Mary Darley of Yeovill in the County of Somerset Widow being in good health of Body and of a perfect sound mind and understanding but willing to prepare for Sickness and Mortality do make and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and Form following that is to say I recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God And my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently buryed at the discretion of my Executrix herein after named And as for and concerning my Worldly Estate and Goods I give and dispose thereof as followeth Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my Grand Daughter Mary Reeks the full sum of one hundred pounds of Lawfull money of Great Britain to be paid unto her by my said Executrix within three months next after my Death Also I give unto my said Grnd Daughter Mary Reeks my best Bed Bedstead Curtains Valences and all other things thereunto belonging Item I give and bequeath unto my Grandson William Reeks the sum of Fifty pounds of like Lawfull money to be also paid unto him by my said Executrix on his attaining his full age of one and twenty years Item I give and bequeath unto my four other Grand Children John Reeks Thomas Reeks Charles Reeks and Sarah Reeks the Sum of ten pounds apiece of lawfull money to be also paid unto each of them by my said Executrix on their attaining their respective ages of one and twenty years Item I give unto my Sister Hannah Nowis Six pence per Week for and during all the term or time of her natural life And my will and desire is that my said Executrix shall lay out and bestow at her death thirty shillings towards her Funeral Expences Item all the rest residue and remainder of my Goods Chattells and Personal Estate whatsoever not herein before given I doe hereby give and bequeath unto my dear and Loving Daughter Elizabeth Wife of John Reeks of Yeovill aforesaid Sadler whom I make Sole Ex[ecu]trix of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all former Wills by me made In Witness whereof I the said Mary Darley have hereunto set my hand and Seale the twenty third day of March in the Fifth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King George the Second And in the Year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and thirty one

The mark of Mary Darley

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Mary Darley to be her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who subscribed our names as Witnesses hereto in her presence and at her request

Tho Knight       John Bunn       Edward Fitzherbert

Transcribed by Bob Osborn