For the Stamp Office

Copy of the Will of Samson Shepheard
Of Cornwood Devon
Yeoman deceased

File of the Executors Mary
Shepheard of Cornwood
Devon the wife of
Richard Shepheard Laborer

Proved in Archdeacon's
Court of Totnes 28th
Of July 1956

© Crown Copyright

Devon Record Office 1078/IRW/S/537

Transcribed by Wayne Shepheard

This is the last Will and Testament of me Samson Shepheard of the parish of Cornwood in the County of Devon Yeoman. First and principally I recommend my soul to Almighty God and my body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried. I give and devise unto my friends Servington Savery of Fowelscombe in the parish of Ugborough in the said County Gentleman and Robert Sercombe of Wisdom in the parish of Cornwood aforesaid Yeoman and to their heirs and Assigns all that my Messuages Tenement and Farm called East Rooke situate within the parish of Cornwood aforesaid And also all other my Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments whatsoever with their and every of their rights member and appurtenances situate lying and being in the said parish of Cornwood or elsewhere in England To have and to hold the said Messuages Tenements Lands and hereditaments with their and every of their rights members and appurtenances unto the said Servington Savery and Robert Sercombe their heirs and Assigns Upon trust nevertheless and to and for the ends intents and purposes hereinafter mentioned that is to say Upon trust that they the said Servington Savery and Robert Sercombe their heirs or Assigns do and shall as soon as conveniently may be after my decease either by public auction or by private contract make absolute sale and dispose of the same messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments either together or in Lots for the best price or prices that can or may be reasonably obtained for the same and do and shall (after payment of all Incumbrances on the same hereditaments and all and singular my just debts and funeral expenses) divide and pay the money arising by such Sale or Sales hand amongst my daughters Mary Shepheard, Thomasin Ford, Harriet Elliott and Amy Prideaux Gray and my grandson William Shepheard Edgecombe share and share alike equally to be divided amongst them to and for their won use and benefit the shares of such of them as are married to be paid to them for their separate use and benefit free from the debts controne management or Engagements of their husbands and to be disposed of as my said married daughters shall by Deed or Will direct or appoint which I hereby direct they shall have power to make notwithstanding their Coverture Provided nevertheless and it is my Will that any Conveyance or Conveyances Assignment or Assignments of the said hereditaments and any other deed or deeds duly executed by my said Trustees to any purchase or purchases shall be good and valid to all intent and purposes and that it shall not be necessary for any purchasers to see or attend to the application or nonapplication of his her or their purchase money but that the receipt or receipts of my said Trustees for the same shall be good and valid both in Law and Equity Provided also and it is my Will that my said Trustees shall not be answerable or accountable for more monies than they shall actually receive nor for any loss or losses except such as shall happen by their Wilful default or neglect and that the one of them shall not be answerable for the other of them or for the acts deeds or defaults of the other of them but each for himself and his own acts deeds or defaults only and that my said trustees shall reimburse to themselves all such losses and expenses as they may pay or sustain by the trusts hereby in them reposed and a fair remuneration for their time trouble and pains in and about the same. Also I give and bequeath unto my said daughters Mary Shepheard, Thomasin Ford, Harriet Elliott and Amy Prideaux Gray and my Grandson William Shepheard Edgecombe All and singular my monies Securities for money Goods Chattels personal and testamentary Estate and Effects of what nature or kind soever for their own use and benefit equally to be divided between them share and share alike And thereby nominate and appoint my said daughters Mary Shepheard, Thomasin Ford, Harriet Elliott and Amy Prideaux Gray and my said Grandson William Shepheard Edgecombe whole and sole and joint Executors residuary Legates of this my Will. In Witness whereof I have to this my Will contained in two sheets of paper set my hand seal to wit to the first sheet thereof my hand and to this last sheet my hand and seal this Seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty.

The above writing and the writing in the preceding sheet contains a true Copy of the original Will of Samson Shepheard late of Cornwood in the County of Devon Yeoman deceased the same having been carefully examined therewith by me