source 70:
Will of Thomas Fletcher [born 8 Nov 1713]
Proved at Prerogative Court of Canterbury 28th February 1795

This is the last will and testament of me Thomas Fletcher the elder of Abingdon in the county of Berks late Ironmonger and Malster being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding and calling to mind the uncertainty of this life do make the same in manner following First I order my just debts to be paid and satisfyed (sic) then I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Fletcher the sum of four hundred pounds of good and lawful money of Great Britain immediately after my decease also I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Fletcher the sum of four hundred pounds of like lawful money of Great Britain also I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Fletcher all my household goods household stuff and implements of household plate linnen (sic) and woollen and every article of my household furniture which I shall be possessed of at my house in Abingdon aforesaid and which he shall immediately take possession to his own sole and separate use also I give and bequeath unto my said sons Joseph and Thomas Fletcher and to the survivor of them his executors and administrators the sum of three hundred pounds of like lawful money of Great Britain upon trust that they the said Joseph Fletcher and Thomas Fletcher and the survivor of them his executors and administrators do and shall within twelve calendar months next after my decease invest the same in their joint names or in the name of the survivor of them his executors and administrators in some of the public parliamentary funds of this kingdom and upon further trust to receive the interest and dividends thereof from time to time and to pay the same to my daughter Mary Williams for and during the term of her natural life for her sole and separate use whose receipt alone for the same whether sole or several shall be sufficient discharge to my said trustees or the survivor of them his executors and administrators and that the same shall not be subject to the debts coverture or intermedling (sic) of any husband she may intermarry with and from and immediately after her decease I give and bequeath the capital or principal sum of three hundred pounds of the stock herewith purchased unto and amongst all and every of the children of my daughter Mary Williams and to paid them severally equally share and share alike when and they shall respectively arrive to the age of twenty one years and in the case of the death of either of the children of my said daughter Mary Williams before he she or they shall have attained the age of twenty one years as aforesaid the share or shares of him her or them so dying shall go equally amongst the survivors or survivor of them as they he or she arrive to the age of twenty one years as aforesaid also I give and bequeath unto my said trustees before named Joseph and Thomas Fletcher and to the survivor of them his executors and administrators the further sum of three hundred pounds of like lawful money of Great Britain upon trust that they my said trustees and the survivor of them or their executors or administrators of such survivor do and shall within twelve calendar months next after my decease lay out and invest the same in some of the parliamentary funds of this kingdom and do and shall receive the interest and dividends thereof from time to time and divide the said principal stock and all interest accruing from the same unto and amongst all the children of my daughter Elizabeth late wife of William Copeland of Abingdon aforesaid Butcher equally and in the same manner and under and subject to the same rules restrictions and dispositions in every respect as the children of my said daughter Mary Williams are entitled to receive their legacy after the decease of their mother in all respects and to all intents and purposes also I give and bequeath unto my said trustees before named and to the survivor of them his executors and administrators the further sum of three hundred pounds of like lawful money of Great Britain upon further trust that they my said trustees and the survivor of them his executors or administrators of such survivor do and shall within twelve calendar months next after my decease invest the same in some of the parliamentary funds of this kingdom and receive the interest and dividends thereof from time to time and pay and apply the interest and dividends thereof from time to time to and for the separate use of my daughter Sarah Edgington during her life free from the coverture of her husband and that the same shall not be subject to his debts or the debts of any other husband she may hereinafter have and after her decease to apply the interest and dividends and capital stock thereof unto and amongst all the children of my said daughter Sarah Edgington equally in the same manner and upon the same contingency in all respects and to all intents and purposes as I have hereinbefore directed in respect of the three hundred pounds bequeathed in trust for my said daughter Mary Williams and her children I also give unto my son John Fletcher the sum of four hundred pounds of like lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to him by my executors hereinafter named within twelve months next after my decease also I give and bequeath unto my son William Fletcher the sum of four hundred pounds of like lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto him by the executors hereinafter named within twelve months next after my decease also I give and devise unto my said son Joseph Fletcher and to his heirs and assigns for ever all those my messuages or tenements spinning houses and premises with their appurtements situate lying and being in the Ock Street in Abingdon aforesaid and now in the occupation of John Collins or his undertenant also I give and bequeath unto my son Richard Fletcher the sum of one hundred pounds of like lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto him by my executors hereinafter named within twelve months next after my decease also I give and bequeath unto my son Isaac Fletcher the sum of seven hundred pounds of like lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto him by my executors hereinafter named at the age of twenty one years and in the meantime my said trustees and the survivor of them his executors and administrators shall place the same out at interest in the public funds of this kingdom and receive the interest and dividends thereof from time to time and pay and apply such interest and dividends thereof or so much thereof as they or the survivor of them his executors or administrators shall think necessary for and
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money and other necessary expenses of my said son the said Isaac Fletcher during his minority and …?… to pay apply or transfer the said principal sum of seven hundred pounds or the stock therewith purchased and the remaining dividends thereof unto him my said son Isaac at his said age of twenty one years as aforesaid and also I give and bequeath unto my daughter Hannah now the wife of Mr Tomer of Southampton in the county of Hants Brazier the sum of three hundred pounds of like lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto her by my executors hereinafter named within twelve months next after my decease also I give and bequeath unto my daughter Martha the wife of Nathaniel Roberts the sum of three hundred pounds of like lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto her by my executors hereinafter named within twelve months next after my decease also I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rebecca the sum of five hundred pounds of like lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto her by my executors hereinafter named when she shall arrive to the age of twenty one years and in case any or either of my children who at the time of my decease shall be under the age of twenty one years shall happen to die and depart this life before their or either of their legacies shall become payable that then and in such case it is my will that the legacy or legacies of him her or them so dying shall be paid unto and amongst all my children equally who shall be then living share and share alike and I do direct that my executors and trustees do and shall pay and apply the interest and dividends of the several sums of money hereby bequeathed unto such of my said children as shall be minors at the time of my decease or so much thereof as shall be necessary for and towards the board maintenance clothing and education of such minors until they shall severally arrive to their respective ages of twenty one years as aforesaid and then to pay and apply the principal and the surplus and dividends remaining or being due thereon or on account thereof unto him or them accordingly I also give and bequeath unto my son Richard Fletcher the legacy or sum of one hundred pounds of like lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto him immediately after my decease by my executors hereinafter named upon condition that he pays to my sister in law Rebecca Fletcher the widow of my late brother Isaac Fletcher interest for the said sum of one hundred pounds after the rate of five pounds for one hundred pounds by the year half yearly for and during the term of her natural life which said interest I give unto her accordingly also I give and bequeath unto each of my grandchildren who shall be living that day twelve months next after my decease a legacy of five guineas each of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto each of them on that day by my executors hereinafter named whose several receipts alone notwithstanding their infancy shall be good discharged to my said executors for the same as it is my will each of them will be paid his or her legacy on that day also I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Elizabeth Combes Williams and my grandson John Copeland the legacy or sum of fifty pounds each of lawful money of Great Britain over and above what I have given unto them by this my will as grandchildren amongst my other grandchildren also I give unto my grandson John Copeland my shagreen watch which I now wear also I give and bequeath unto my late wife’s sister Mrs Wilder the like …?… of sum of fifty pounds to be paid unto her immediately after my decease by my executors hereinafter named also I give and bequeath unto my servant Lydia Tring the sum of five guineas provided she lives with me at the time of my decease but not otherwise and as to all my leasehold and other estates goods stock in trade chattles (sic) ready money securities for money and other personal estate and effects whatsoever not by me hereinfor disposed of that shall remain after payment of the several legacys (sic) before mentioned my just debts funeral expenses and the proving of this my will I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto and between my two sons Joseph and Thomas Fletcher to be equally divided between them share and share alike to hold to them their executors administrators and assigns and lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my two sons the said Joseph and Thomas Fletcher joint executors of this my will and trustees for the purposes aforesaid and I do hereby revoke and make null and void all former and other wills by me heretofore made ordering publishing and declaring this only to be my true last will and testament In testimony whereof I the said Thomas Fletcher the testator to this my last will and testament contained in these four sheets of paper to oath of which I have set my hand and seal this twenty sixth day of March one thousand seven hundred and ninety three //Thos Fletcher sen signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Fletcher the elder the testator 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 subscribed our names as witnesses thereto //W Peisley (?) J. P. Nash Thos Nash
This is a codicil to be annexed to and taken as part of the last will and testament of me Thomas Fletcher the elder of Abingdon in the county of Berks late Ironmonger being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding and calling to mind the uncertainty of this life do make the same in manner following wheras in and by my last will and bearing date the twenty sixth day of March in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety three I have given unto my son Thomas Fletcher the legacy or sum of three hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain in manner therein mentioned now I do hereby make such gift or bequest of the said sum of three hundred pounds so given unto my said son Thomas Fletcher as aforesaid null and void and I do hereby give and bequeath unto my said son Thomas Fletcher only the sum of two hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain immediately after my decease and I do give and bequeath unto my son Isaac Fletcher the remaining sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto him by my executors named in my said will at his age of twenty one years and in the meantime the interest and dividends therof as well as the principal thereof until he arrives to the age of twenty one years shall be vested applyed (sic) and disposed of in the same manner and under the same rules restitutions meanings intents and purposes as the legacy of seven hundred pounds in and by my said will is given unto him in manner therein mentioned and in case of his death before the time therein limited shall be disposed of in the same manner as the said seven hundred pounds is thereby disposed of and whereas by my said will I have given and bequeathed the sum of three hundred pounds unto my daughter Hannah the wife of [blank] Tomer of Southampton in manner therein mentioned now I do revoke and make null and void such gift and bequest having already given her the same sum of three hundred pounds and I do give unto her the said Hannah Tomer the legacy or sum of fifty pounds only of lawful money of Great Britain immediately after my decease to buy her mourning to be paid unto her by my executors hereinafter named and I do hereby ratify and confirm all other gifts devises and bequests in and by my said will given devised and bequeathed and do declare this as a codicil to my last will and testament and to be annexed thereto and I do also appoint the executors of my said will also executors of this my codicil In testimony whereof I have to this my codicil contained in this sheet of paper set my hand and seal this twenty eighth day of June on thousand seven hundred and ninety three // Thomas Fletcher sen // signed and sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Fletcher the testator as and for a codicil to be annexed to and taken as part of 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 subscribed our names as witnesses thereto // James Powell Nash // Thos Nash
This is a codicil to be annexed to and taken as part of the last will and testament of me Thomas Fletcher the elder of Abingdon in the county of Berks late Ironmonger and Malster being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding and calling to mind the uncertainty of this life do make the same in manner following first I give and bequeath unto my son in law William Copeland of Abingdon aforesaid butcher the legacy or sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto him by my executors hereinafter named within twelve next (sic) after my decease also I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Sarah Edgington and Miss Burton who now lives with my son William Fletcher of Henley in the county of Oxford the legacy or sum of fifty pounds each of like lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to each of them by my executors hereinafter named within three months next after my decease also I give and bequeath unto the Reverend Mr Thresher of Abingdon aforesaid the legacy or sum of five guineas of like lawful money of Great Britain and I do ratify and confirm all other gifts devises and bequests in and by my said will and codicil thereto annexed given devised and bequeathed and do nominate constitiute and appoint my said two sons Joseph and Thomas Fletcher (the executors named in my said will) the executors of this my codicil in testimony thereof I the said Thomas Fletcher the elder the testator to this my codicil which I order and direct shall be annexed to and taken as part of my will have here unto set my hand and seal this sixth day of October one thousand seven hundred and ninety four // Thos Fletcher snr // signed and sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Fletcher the testator as and for a codicil to be annexed to and taken as part of 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 subscribed our names as witnesses thereto // James Powell Nash // Thos Nash
This will was proved at London with two codicils the twenty eighth day February in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety four before the worshipful Samuel Pearce Parson Doctor of Laws and surrogate of the Right Honourable Sir William Wynne Knight Doctor of Laws and Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oaths of Joseph Fletcher and Thomas Fletcher the sons and 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 duly to administer  [3]