Will of Walter Venning, Mercer of Totnes

Proved 29 October 1814

© Crown Copyright

PROB 11/1561/455, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury

Transcribed by Ros Dunning

In the Name of God Amen I Walter Venning of Totnes in the County of Devon Mercer being in good health and of a sound mind & memory do with my own hand make this my last Will and Testament first I resign my soul to God my Creator hoping & trusting through the merits & sufferings of my blessed Redeemer to obtain pardon of my sins and to inherit everlasting life my body I commit to the Earth to be decently & privately buried by my Executors in trust hereafter named and I direct them to give one Half Crown to each of my six Bearers but no mourning whatsoever is to be given to any person and my Worldly Estate with which it has pleased God to bless me I give & dispose therof as follows (to wit) I will that all my just debts ffuneral Charges and the Expence of proving this my Will be first paid I direct that immediately after my death an Inventory be taken by my Executors hereafter named of all my Stock in Trade Personal Estate & Effects whatsoever Item I give to my dear Wife Ann Venning Ten pounds a year to be paid her as soon as the Rents become due by quarterly payments by me Executors in trust out of two fields or Closes of Land called PitParks lying in Totness as aforesaid now in the occupation of Richd Harris Butcher as Tenant ...... yearly Rent for her natural life & no longer together with all her wearing apparel and one standing Bedstead ffeather Bed and all other necessary ffurniture belonging of her choice and that all my Children will treat her I hope with tenderness & affection Item I give unto my three Sons William John & Walter Venning and to three of my Daughters Elizabeth Anna & Maria Venning their heirs and assigns share & share alike as Tenants in common all those two fields or Closes of Land called PitParks lying in Totness as aforesaid now in the possession of Richd Harris Butcher at a Yearly Rent to me and the only reason why Mary Ann my Daughter is not mentioned to have a share with her Brothers & Sisters in the two fields as aforementioned is that I conceive she will be entitled to her Mother's Jointure in the sum of ffive hundred pounds it being her Mother's Settlement previous to her marriage and what more is in her favour that her both Brothers John & Walter Venning have promised to give up all their claim & right to the same or any part thereof but if any ..... shall happen that she should be deprived of being in possession of the said five hundred pounds then my will is that my Daughter Mary Ann shall have an equal share with her Brothers & Sisters in every part of my Effects also I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth my Silver quart Cup and two gold Rings one marked Benjamin Blackaller 1763 the other marked Samuel Blackaller 1768 and I give my Daughter Hannah my silver pint cup and two gold Rings to be known to them by white Silk to be tied round each Ring also I give unto my Daughter Maria my Gold Watch known by the name of Lloyd North of London .... together with two gold Rings known by some black thread tied round each Ring and a little China Box two Silver Ear Rings two gold wires which were her Mother's & her Mother's wedding Ring Also I give unto my Daughter Mary Ann my Silver Tea Pot & Silver Cream Cup with two gold Rings known by some red Silk tied round each Ring all which particulars & things are to be delivered within one month after my death by my Executors hereafter named & lastly as to all the Rest Residue & Remainder of my Personal & Testamentary Estate of what kind soever and Monies after Payment of my just Debts Legacies I give & bequeath unto my thee Sons William John and Walter and to my four Daughters Elizabeth Anna Maria and Mary Ann Venning to be equally divided share and share alike and I do ordain constitute and appoint my Sons William John and Walter .... Executors of this my Will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this ffifteenth Day of October One thousand eight hundred & six _ Walter Venning

(Attestation Clause)

Peter Baxter _ Nicholas Phillips _ Thomas Cl...

Proved at London 29 October 1814