Agreement Concerning Legacy of Thomas Willis

An Agreement made and entered into the……day of February in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and Twenty Five Between Elizabeth Willis of Abingdon Spinster, William Nurse of Hanham and Mary his wife, Thomas Willis and Samuel Willis the younger, both of Hanham aforesaid Yeomen, John Burgess of Kingswood in the parish of Bitton and Jane his wife, Joseph Burgess of Kingswood aforesaid who married Phoebe Willis lately deceased, William Willis of the same place Stonecutter, and Martha Willis of Stapleton Spinster of the one part and Robert Willis of Hanham aforesaid Yeoman of the other part follows

Whereas Thomas Willis late of Hanham aforesaid quarrier by his will bearing date the sixth day of September One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Five gave and bequeathed the rents of the six tenements situate at a place called the Batch and of the Estate called late Huds and also of the estate wherein the Testator then lived all of them situate in the hamlet of Hanham in the parish of Bitton unto his son Robert Willis, to his son Samuel Willis, to his son Thomas Willis, to his daughter Elizabeth Waters, to his daughter Bethia Lapham, to his daughter Hester Lear, to his daughter Susanna Britton, and to his Granddaughter Ann Derrick, equally between them share and share alike during their lives and after their death to their children for and during all the Testators term and interest therein which was for certain lives named in the several leases granted of the same bequeathed property

And whereas the said Samuel Willis the son of the Testator hath since in conjunction with the other Legatees for life purchased the reversion in fee of the same property which by Indenture bearing date the first day of October One Thousand Eight hundred and Fourteen hath been granted to the said Robert Willis and his heirs In trust for them in equal shares and proportions by Sir James Graham Baronet and others

And whereas the said Robert Willis hath contracted and agreed with his Father the said Samuel Willis for the absolute purchase of his the said Samuel Willis’s share of such property and the fee simple and inheritance thereof

And whereas the said Elizabeth Willis, Mary Nurse, Thomas Willis, Samuel Willis the younger Jane Burgess, Pheobe Burgess, William Willis and Martha Willis and also the said Robert Willis are the children of the said Samuel Willis and as such are entitled to a distributive share or portion of the Rents of the property bequeathed by the said Testator in manner afore¬said But inasmuch as the same are of little or no value they have agreed out of natural love and affection for their Brother the said Robert Willis to assign their interest in the same to him in manner hereinafter mentioned

Now therefore the said Elizabeth Willis, William Nurse and Mary his wife, Thomas Willis and Samuel Willis the Younger, John Burgess and Jane his wife, Joseph Burgess, William Willis and Martha Willis do hereby for themselves severally and respectively and for their several and respective executors administrators and assigns agree with the said Robert Willis that in pursuance of their aforesaid agreement and in consideration of the premises they and each of them shall and will whenever thereunto required by and at the costs and charges of the said Robert Willis well and effectually assign to him his executors administrators and assigns All their and each of their estate right title and interest in and to the Rents which may become payable to them on the decease of the said Samuel Willis the Elder under and by virtue of the aforesaid recited bequest contained in the will of the said Thomas Willis deceased and in and to the property out of which the same may be payable To Hold unto the said Robert Willis his executors administrators and assigns for all the estate term and interest to which they and each of them would become entitled by the ways and means aforesaid and by way of survivorship or otherwise As Witness the hands of the said parties the day and year first above written

Signed Elizabeth Willis
Tho Willis
Saml Willis
Jane Burgess
Wm Willis
Martha Willis