Copy of the Will of John Venton late of Highstead in the parish of Bradford
in the County of Devon Gentleman deceased

Testamentary Trustees Robert Heard of Bradford yeoman and Philip Venton
of Cookbury yeoman both in Devon

Proved in the Principal Registry of the Lord Bishop of Exeter the 19 March 1823.

© Crown Copyright

Devon Record Office - ref. 1078/IRW/V/86

Transcribed by Sheila Howard

Effects Sworn under £800.

Ths. Turner Regr.

In the Name of God Amen I John Venton of Highstead in the parish of Bradford in the County of Devon Gentleman being of sound mind and understanding do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say / I Give devise and bequeath unto Robert Heard of the parish of Bradford aforesaid Yeoman and Philip Venton of the parish of Cookbury in the County aforesaid the sum of Ten pounds, to be paid yearly and every year out of my Estates of Lopthornes and Bason Close, in the parish of Thornbury, in the County aforesaid in equal portions, that is to say Five pounds, out of each of the two Estates of Lopthornes and Bason Close aforesaid in Trust for the sole use and behest of my loving wife Mary, but if my said wife should marry again I then give, my Trust aforesaid the sum of Five pounds to be paid out of the said Estates of Lopthornes and Bason Close in manner and form aforesaid for the sole use and behest of my aforesaid wife, during her natural life, it is further my will that she shall have the Bed on which we have been accustomed to sleep. I give devise and bequeath unto my loving Brother Stephen Venton of Bason in the parish of Bradford aforesaid my Leasehold Estate situate in the Village of Bradford aforesaid. I also give devise and bequeath unto John the Son of my aforesaid Brother Stephen my two Shares in the Birde[?] Harbour and Canal. / I also give devise and bequeath unto Stephen Son of my aforesaid Brother Steph my Leasehold Estate of Lopthornes aforesaid subject to the annual payments aforesaid. I also give, devise and bequeath to Matthew the Son of my aforesaid Brother Stephen my Leasehold Estate of Bason Close aforesaid subject to the annual payments aforesaid. I likewise give, devise and bequeath unto John Venton the son of Thomas Sleeman of the parish of Launcells in the County of Cornwall the sum of Fifty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain, I likewise give devise and bequeath unto each and every of the Children of my Sisters Susanna Sleeman and Hannah Penwarden the sum of Two pounds and two shillings of lawful money of Great Britain. Lastly I give devise and bequeath unto Thomas Son of my aforesaid Brother Stephen all my Freehold Estate called Highstead aforesaid to him and his Heirs for ever, together with all the rest residue and remainder of my property of what description soever, whom I also appoint Executor of this my last Will and Testament, but that no disputes or Actions at Law may arise in disputing my Right to devise my freehold Estate of Highstead it is my Will that my Title thereto together with the Deeds connected with the same be submitted by my Trustees hereafter to be named to some Counsel learned in the Law, by whose opinion all parties to abide, and if it shall appear from such opinion that I have not the right to devise it as above, I then give to Thomas the Son of my Brother Stephen Lopthornes before devised to Stephen Son of my aforesaid Brother, and to the said Stephen I give my Leasehold Estate situate in the Village of Bradford subject to the same yearly payments, as he had to pay out of Lopthornes, my said Brother being sufficiently indemnified as my Heir at Law. It is further my Will and pleasure that all the Rents, profits and Incomes whatsoever arising from my Leashold Estates of Lopthornes and Bason Close shall be put at Interest as they arise for the purpose of adding fresh lives to the Estates if any drop (after paying the yearly aforesaid to my loving wife). It is also my Will that neither of the Sons of my Brother Stephen aforesaid shall have or possess any part of the property devised to them as aforesaid until they attain the full age of Twenty three years, unless my Trustees hereafter to be named shall judge it necessary to advance a part of the yearly profits arising from the property devised to Thomas aforesaid for his Education. And I hereby nominate constitute and appoint the before named Robert Heard and Philip Venton my Trustees for the due execution of this my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this the Twenty first day of January One thousand Eight hundred and Twenty three

John Venton
[..........] whose names are hereunto [..........] in the presence of the [.........] Venton the Testator, and in [........] of each other do [...........] our Names as Witnesses hereto

John Fisher Surgeon
John Cole
Mary Ann Sluggett