Will of Joanna Earle, Widow of Plymouth

Proved 12 June 1755

© Crown Copyright

PROB 11/816/130, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury

Transcribed by Bev Edmonds

In the name of God Amen

I Joanna Earle of Plymouth in the County of Devon widow do make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following that is to say I give unto my Cousin George Glanville son of my Nephew David Glanville my house in Broadwoodland ???[Note: my best bet] with all its Rights Members and appurtances to hold to him his heirs and assigns forever and I also give him my Stirling Watch I give unto my Cousin Elizabeth Glanville dau~ of my said nephew David Glanville the sum of one hundred pounds which I have in the now South Sea Unitys I give unto Martha the Wife of my said Nephew David Glanville twenty pounds for Mourning and I also give unto her and Elizabeth her daughter all my china and all my wearing apparel to be divided equally between them desiring them to keep the same and not suffer any part to be sold. I give to my sister Elizabeth Glanville during her Life the Interest of two hundred sixty pounds and five shillings which I have in the Bank Annuties and after her death I give the same principal sum or Stock to my said nephew David Glanville I further give unto my said sister Elizabeth Glanville twenty pounds for Mourning I give to my Nephew John Glanville and his Wife and children one hundred pounds to be divided between them unto my Nephew Thomas Glanville and his Wife and children eighty pounds to be divided between them to my Cousin John Lovegrove and his Wife and children twenty pounds to be divided amongst them to my Cousin Joanna Worth ten pounds I give unto my Cousin John Bennet five pounds I give to my Cousin Rebecca Jones and her children thirty pounds to be divided amongst them for Mourning to my Cousins John and Jacob Hornbroke ten pounds a piece I give and devise unto unto [sic] my Cousin Robert Hodge five pounds to Joanna Caroline two Guineas for Mourning to my Cousin Nicholas Rundle two Guineas for Mourning to my Cousins Elizabeth and Temperance Caroline a Guinea each for Mourning to my Goddaughter Betty Rundle twenty pounds and unto Mary and Joseph Rundle a Guinea each for Mourning my Cousin Elizabeth Bennet two Gunieas for Mourning to Honour Austin one Guinea I give my Cousin Thomas Hornbrook the younger and his wife Scarfs and Gloves To the Rev. Mr. Baron Scarfs and Gloves and to all my Relations who attend my ffuneral Gloves to my Servants living with me at my death Gowns Hoods and Gloves I give unto my upper Bearers Scarfs and Gloves and to my under Bearers Gloves all to attend my Body to the Grave and I direct that I have a Wainscott Coffin screwed and not nailed the Minnte Bell and Velvet Pall and I order thirty pounds to be laid out in my ffuneral exclusive of the Mourning I have already bequeathed Item I give unto my ffriends Robert Phillips Samuel Brent and William Baron a Guinea a piece with Scarfs and Gloves requesting them to be overseers of this my Will and set the same performed according to my true Fitout and meaning and I do order that all my just Debts and Legacies be paid within three months after my decease all the rest and residue and remainder of my Goods Estate and Effects whatsoever I give to my Nephew David Glanville and my Cousins Robert Rundle the Wife of Nicholas Rundle of Kings and whom I constitute and appoint Joint Executors and Executrix of this my last Will and testament hereby revoking all other Wills whatsever In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the third day of December on thousand seven hundred and fifty four Joanna Earle signed sealed and declared by the said Joanna Earle the Testatrix as and for last Will and testament in the presence of us who hath hereunto Subscribed our names at her Request Eleanor Bowman Sarah Bowman John Pollard

I Joanna Earle of Plymouth in the County of devon widow having lately made my Will and therin requested unto my Cousin Joanna Worth a Legacy Now know all people by those present that I do hereby moreover give and bequeath unto the said Joanna Worth above what I have given her on Will all ffurniture of what kind or natures ever which shall be at the time of my decease in the bath chamber of my dwelling house over the chamber in which I now lodge all which above ....? or ffurniture shall be an the demand of the aforesaid Johanna Worth delivered unto her within the expiration of a Month after my decease In Witness hereof I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal this tenth day of ffebruary one thousand seven himdred and ffifty five Joanna Earle Witness hereunto the Mark of hester Hearn Thos' Hornbrook.

O Joanna Earle of Plymouth in the County of Devon widow do make publish and declare this to be a Codicil to my last Will & testament that is to say Whereas by ny said Will I give to my cousin Thomas Glanvill the sum of eighty pounds now I do hereby revoke the said Legacy and instead thereof I do only give him the sum of forty pounds and whereas I have also given by my said Will to my cousin John Glanvill the sum of one hundred pounds I do hereby also revoke the said Legacy and instead therefore I do only give him the sum of sixty pounds Item I give to my cousin Joanna Worth the sum of five pounds over and above what i have given her by my said Will Item i give to Dianna Bennet five pounds and whereas I have given by said Will the betty Caroline a Guinea I revoke the same and only give her one shilling In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the Twenty fifth day of March one thousand seven hundred and ffifty five JOanna earle. Signed sealed published and declared by the said Joanna Earle as a Codicil to her last Will and testament in the presence of Eleanor Bowman John Polland/Pollard?

This Will was proved at London with two Codicils annexed the tweltth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty five before the Right Honourable Sir George Leed Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissionary of the Prerogative Court of canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oaths of David Glanvill and Rebecca Rundle wife of Nicholas Rundle Executors named in the said Will to whom administration was granted of all Singular the Goods Chattells and Creditsof the deceased having been first Sworn by Commission duly to administer.

Note: The place name Broad............... is very difficult to make out. It could easily mean any name starting with Broad and not necessarily be in Devon. It could also be the name of a house in Plymouth which I think is the most likely scenerio because she is living in Plymouth and it would most likely be the house that she was living in at the time of her death.