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Will of Elizabeth Blake, widow, Saint David in Exeter

Proved March 1789

© Crown Copyright

PROB 11/1176/207, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury

Transcribed by Elizabeth Kipp

1 In the Name of God Amen
2 I Elizabeth Blake of the parish of Saint David in the County of
3 the City of Exeter Devon do make this my last Will and Testament in
4 the manner following that is to say I desire that I may be
5 buried in a decent and plain manner in the parish Church of
6 Saint Martin in the City of Exeter by the side of my late
7 husband and that the Funeral Service may be performed by the
8 Curate for the time being of the parish of Saint David
9 aforesaid to whom I give three Guineas and one Guinea to the
10 Rector of Saint Martin I desire that ______ no outer
11 Bearers but that the Reverend John Quick Rector of Highley
12 the Reverend Mr Locker Rector of St Lawrence in the City of Exeter
13 the Reverend John Stabback Edward Cleave Esquire Robert Lydstone
14 Newcome Esquire and Mr Richard Thorn will each accept of a
15 Ring of the value of one Guinea I give and bequeath to my
16 three Nephews Narcissus John and William Henry Hatherly
17 one hundred and sixty pounds each of lawful Money of Great
18 Britain to be paid to them respectively by my Executor hereinafter
19 named at the end of eight months next after my decease
20 also I give and bequeath unto my Friend Mr John Codrington
21 of the City of Exeter apothecary the Sum of two hundred pounds
22 of like lawful money upon trust for such person or persons
23 and to and for the Ends Intents and purposes as my Niece Elizabeth
24 Pike wife of Samuel Pike of Northam in the County of Devon
25 Esquire shall by any writing or writings under her hand attested
26 by one or more credible Witness or Witnesses or by her last Will
27 and Testament in Writing or any writing purporting to be or in
28 the nature of her her last Will and Testament attested by two or
29 more Credible Witnesses notwithstanding her Couverture and whether
30 she be Covert or Sole order direct or appoint and for want of
31 and in the meane time until the said Elizabeth Pike shall
32 make some such order direction or appointment as aforesaid to
33 and shall stand possessed of and in the said Sum of two hundred
34 pounds and the dividends and Interest that will be made thereof
35 upon trust for the said Elizabeth Pike her Executors and Admors
36 to and for the Sole separate and peculiar use and disposal of the said
37 Elizabeth Pike and wherewith as with any part thereof her said
38 present or any future husband shall not in any wise intermeddle
39 neither shall the same or any part thereof be in any wise
40 subject or liable to the power Control debts or Engagements of
41 any such husband but the Receipt and Receipts of the said
42 Elizabeth Pike alone or of such person or persons to whom she
43 shall so order direct or appoint the said Sum of two hundred
44 pounds and the Dividends and Interest thereof or any part thereof
45 to be paid as aforesaid shall from time to time be a sufficient
46 and effectual discharge and discharges to the said John Codrington his Executors
47 and administrators for the same or so much and such part
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48 and parts thereof as to such Receipt and Receipts shall be
49 mentioned expressed or acknowledged to be received Also I give
50 and bequeath unto the said John Codrington the like Sum
51 of two hundred pounds upon trust for the separate and peculiar
52 use of my Niece Sarah Mary Drewe the Wife of the Reverend
53 Herman Drewe of Wootton in the County of Dorset with the
54 like power of disposal and appointment and in the same
55 manner as I have hereinbefore declared touching the Legacy
56 of two hundred pounds hereinbefore given for the use of the
57 said Elizabeth Pike also I give and bequeath the like Sum
58 of two hundred pounds unto my Niece Elizabeth Judith Hatherly
59 and I do hereby direct that the aforesaid three several
60 Legacies of two hundred pounds shall be paid by my Executor
61 at the end of eight months next after my decease also
62 I Give and bequeath unto the said Herman the
63 sum of three hundred pounds old South Sea Annuities now
64 standing in my Name upon trust that he the said Herman
65 Drewe do and shall from time to time receive the dividends
66 thereof and lay out and invest the same Dividends in the
67 purchase of other stock or on good Securities until his two
68 daughters Sarah Elizabeth Drewe and Mary Drewe shall
69 attain the age of twenty one years or be married which shall
70 first happen and then do and shall transfer assign
71 and make over the said Sum of three hundred pounds
72 old South Sea annuities and the Dividends thereof and
73 all Stocks Funds and Securities wherein the same shall be
74 invested into and between his said two Daughters
75 Sarah Elizabeth and Mary equally to be divided
76 between them share and share alike and I do hereby
77 declare it to be my Will that if either of them the said
78 Sarah Elizabeth Drewe and Mary Drewe shall happen
79 to die before attaining her said age of twenty one
80 years or being married then the share of her so
81 dying shall go and belong to the Survivor of them
82 and shall be paid and payable to her at the
83 same time as the original Share and I do hereby
84 further declare that in case both of them the said
85 Sarah Elizabeth Drewe and Mary Drewe shall die
86 before having attained such age or have as aforesaid that
87 then the said Herman Drewe his Executors and
88 Administrators shall stand possessed of the said Stocks
89 Funds and Securities and the Dividends and Interest
90 thereof upon trust for all and every other the Child
91 and Children of the said Herman Drewe and Sarah
92 Mary Drewe his Wife equally to be divided likewise
93 then if more then one share
94 and share alike and if but one such Child then to such
95 one only Child the share and shares of such of
96 them as shall be a Son or Sons to be paid and payable
97 to him and them at his or their ages or respective
98 ages of twenty one years and the share or shares of
99 such of them as shall be a daughter or daughters
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100 to be paid and payable to her or them at her or their
101 age or respective ages of twenty one years or Day or
102 respective Days of Marriage which shall first
103 happen and in case any or either of the aforesaid
104 Children shall happen to die without having
105 attained such age or time as aforesaid then the
106 share or shares of him her or them so dying
107 shall go and belong to the Survivors and
108 Survivor of such Children in the same manner
109 as is hereinbefore declared touching his her or
110 their original portion or portions and in case all
111 such Children shall die without attaining sucvh age
112 or time as aforesaid then I give and devise the
113 same Stock Funds and Securities unto the aforesaid
114 John Codrington his Executors Administrators and assigns
115 upon trust for the separate and peculiar use of my said
116 Niece Mary Drewe and with the same power of
117 appointment and in the same manner as I have
118 hereinbefore declared touching the said Sum of two hundred
119 pounds hereinbefore given to the said John Codrington
120 for the use of the said Sarah Mary Drewe
121 Recommending it nevertheless to her to give the same
122 to some part of my family and whereas it is my
123 intention to lay out the Sum of Fifty pounds more
124 during my life in old South Sea Annuities now I do
125 hereby bequeath such Sum of Fifty pounds in case I
126 shall so lay out the same to the said Herman Drewe
127 upon the same trusts as I have hereinbefore
128 declared touching the said Sum of three hundred
129 pounds and in case I should not in my life time
130 lay out such Sum of Fifty pounds in the manner
131 aforesaid I do hereby direct my Executor herein after
132 named to lay out that Sum out of the residue of
133 my personal Estate in the name of the said Herman
134 Drewe who shall stand possessed thereof Upon the
135 trusts aforesaid also I give and bequeath to
136 my two Sisters Honour Hatherly widow and Grace
137 Hatherly widow the Sum of five Guineas each as a
138 token of my affection for them I give to Joan
139 Thomas Six Guineas and to Mary White Sister of Mr
140 Arthur White Apothecary Mrs Waldrond widow of the
141 late Doctor Walrond deceased Mrs Margaret Coles Mrs
142 Isabella Weeks and Miss Francis Broom two
143 Guineas each I give to each of my Maid Servants
144 they shall have lived with me twelve months before
145 my decease three Guineas over and above the wages
146 which may be due to them and Mourning at the
147 discretion of my Executor I give to Ann Mortimer
148 one Guinea if she continues to be employed in my
149 service at the time of my death I give to Mrs
150 Joan Stooke Widow and her three daughters Mrs Margaret
151 Cleave Mrs Margaret Baker Mrs Mary Codrington Mrs
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152 Locker wife of the Reverend Wm Locker Mrs Hannah
153 Newcombe Mrs Frances Stabback the aforesaid Herman
154 Drewe and Samuel Pike Esquire Mrs Elizabeth
155 Hatherley wife of my nephew John Hatherley and
156 Mrs Hatherley wife of my nephew William Henry
157 Hatherley a Ring of the value of one Guinea
158 each I give to the said John Codrington the
159 sum of thirty Guineas a Ring of the value of
160 one Guinea and a Suit of Mourning and do
161 appoint the said John Codrington Sole Executor of this
162 my last Will and Testament and I give and devise
163 unto the said John Codrington his heirs and assigns all
164 and every the Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments
165 which are vested in me by any mortgage or Mortgages
166 in Fee with their and every of their Rights Members
167 and appurtenances upon trust to convey the same upon
168 payment of the principal Sum and Sums and Interest
169 thereby respectively secured I give and bequeath unto my
170 aforesaid three Nieces Elizabeth Pike Sarah Mary Drewe
171 and Elizabeth Judith Hatherley my watch and all my
172 Plate Jewells wearing apparel household Goods
173 and Furniture and all other the Goods and Chattells
174 whereof I shall die possessed except my Monies and
175 Stocks Funds and Securities for Money equally to be divided
176 between them share and share alike all the rest and
177 residue of my Estate and Effects whatsoever and whereso
178 ever I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid
179 three Nephews Narcissus John and William Henry
181 Hatherley all my aforesaid three Nieces Elizabeth Pike
182 Sarah Mary Drewe and Elizabeth Judith Hatherley
183 equally to be divided between them share and share
184 alike and I do hereby declare that the respective Shares
185 of the said Elizabeth Pike and Sarah Mary Drewe of
186 and in my aforesaid watch plate Jewels wearing
187 apparel household Goods and Furniture and the residue
188 of my personal Estate and Effects shall be for the respective
189 sole and separate use of my said two Nieces exclusive of
190 their respective husbands in the same manner
191 as I have hereinbefore declared touching the said two
192 several Legacies of two hundred pounds and two hundred
193 pounds hereinbefore bequeathed to the said John
194 Codrington in trust for them as aforesaid and lastly I
195 do hereby declare it to be my Will that the aforesaid
196 John Codrington and Herman Drewe respectively or either
197 of them their or either of their heirs Executors or admors
198 shall not be charged or chargeable with or
199 accountable for any more of the said trust monies
200 and premises than they or he shall respectively
201 actually receive by virtue of the trusts aforesaid nor
202 with or for any loss which shall happen of the same
203 monies and premises or any part thereof so as
204 the same respectively happen without their wilful
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205 defaults or neglects and that my said Trustees their
206 Executors and administrators respectively shall and
207 lawfully may deduct retain to and reimburse
208 themselves respectively out of the said trust monies
209 and premises all such Costs Losses Charges
210 damages and Expences whatsoever as they or
211 either of them shall or may bear sustain or be put
212 unto in or about the Execution or management of
213 the trusts hereby in them respectively reposed or any
214 thing relating thereunto and that it shall and
215 may be lawful to and for the said John Codrington
216 his Executors and administrators to compound any debt
217 or debts that shall or may be due to my Estate
218 and release the person or persons who may be
219 debtor or debtors therein and sign and subscribe this
220 or their consent to the allowance of the Certificate
221 or Certificates of any Bankrupt or Bankrupts
222 and submit to arbitration any matter in dispute
223 relating to my Estate and perform the award to
224 Be made in pursuance to such submission and
225 I hereby revoke all former Wills by me made
226 declaring this to be my last Will and Testament
227 In Witness whereof I the said Elizabeth Blake
228 The Testatrix have to the three first sheets of
229 this my last Will and Testament contained in four Sheets
230 of Paper subscribed my name and to this fourth and
231 last sheet thereof set my hand and Seal the ninth
232 day of August in the year of our Lord one
233 thousand seven hundred and eighty six Eliz: Blake
234 Signed Sealed published and declared by the said
235 Elizabeth Blake the Testatrix and for her last
236 Will and Testament in the presence of us three whose
237 names are hereunto subscribed and who subscribed
238 our names as Witnesses hereto at the desire
239 and in the presence of the said Testatrix and in
240 the presence of each other Rv Lydston Newcombe
241 John Stabback Wm Stabback
242 June the 23rd 1788 I Eliz: Blake give to Mr John
243 Codrington the Sum of thirty pounds over and
244 above what I have given him in my Will in
245 consideration of his great care and attention to me and
246 I also give to Frances Broom twenty pounds over and
247 above what I have given her in my Will provided
248 she lives with me at the time of my Death likewise
249 such Mourning as my Executors or relations shall
250 judge proper this paper I desire may be
251 considered as part of my Will written by my own
252 hand Eliz: Blake
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253 The second day of March 1789
254 Appeared Personally James Pitts of
255 The City of Exeter Ironmonger and Elizabeth Stabback
256 of the said City Spinster and being severally sworn
257 on the holy Evangelists to depose the truth made
258 oath and say that they very well knew and
259 were acquainted with Elizabeth Blake late of the
260 Parish of Saint David in the City of Exeter Widow
261 deceased for several Years before and to the time of her
262 death and also with the manner and Character of
263 hand writing and subscription of the said deceased
264 having often seen her write out witness and subscribe
265 her name to writings and declaring now seen and
266 carefully perused the paper Writing hereunto annexed
267 purporting to be a Codicil to the last Will and Testament
268 of the said deceased beginning thus June the 23rd
269 1788 Eliz: Blake ending thus written by my own
270 hand and thus subscribed Eliz: Blake They these
271 deponents say that they truly and in their consciences
272 believe the whole Body Series and Contents of the
273 said Codicil to the said Gifts of the said deceased and also the Subscription
274 hereto to be of the proper hand writing of the said
275 deceased James Pitts Eliz:Stabback Same Day the
276 said James Pitts and Elizabeth Stabback were duly
277 sworn to the truth of this affidavit before me Mr
278 Shore Commissioner
279 This Will was proved at London with a Codicil
280 The twelveth day of March in the year of our Lord
281 one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine before the
282 Right Worshipful Sir William Wynne Knight Doctor of
283 Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative
284 Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of John
285 Codrington the Sole Executor named in the said Will to
286 whom Administration was granted of all and singular the
287 Goods Chattels and Credits of the deceased having
288 been first sworn by Commission duly to administer

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