Will of Hugh Chamberlen, of St Paul, Covent Garden, 26 Jul 1723

In the Name of God, Amen

This twenty sixth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and three, I Hugh Chamberlen of the Parish of St Paul Covent Garden in the County of Middlesex Doctor in Physik being in perfect health and of sound mind and memory yet considering the uncertainty of Life do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following

First and principally I recommend my Soul to the Infinite Mercy of God my body to the Earth to be decently buryed at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named but would not have the Expenses of my funeral exceed two hundred pounds

I give to my three daughters Mary, Anna Maria and Charlotte Chamberlen the Annual Sum of one hundred pounds a year for and during the Term of Thirty years to commence from my death and fully to be complete and ended and charged

All my Real and personall Estate with the payment thereof to be paid Quarterly at Michaelmas Christmas Lady Day and Midsummer without deduction for Taxes to be paid by them to such person as I have or shall direct

I also give my said daughters the Gross Sum of one hundred pounds of Lawfull money to be disposed of as I shall appoint

Item I bequeath to my wife commonly called the Lady Crew the sum of five hundred pounds and all the arrears of Rents of her Jointure Lands which shall be one at my death together with her Jewell and paraphernalia and such plate as she was possessed at our Marriage as shall be unaltered and undisposed of at my death provided and upon condition she shall not _____ any Dower or Thirds out of the Estate which I have settled on my daughter Mary Chamberlen or any Dower or Thirds or any other part of my Real or Personall Estate other than what is hereby given her and do within two months after my death at the request Costs and Charges of my daughter Mary Chamberlen Execute a Release of Dower and Thirds in and to the said Estate and all her right and Title to my Real and Personall estate Except as aforesaid and on further Condition She Indemnify my Executors from all charges of the Law Suit with Mr Crew and others in contesting John Crew’s Will and if my said wife shall refuse to Execute with Release or shall not indemnify my Executors as aforesaid then I give the said sum of five hundred pounds and the said Arrears of Rents and Plate to my said daughter Mary Chamberlen And if my said wife shall recover her Thirds out of the said Estate settled by me on my said daughter Mary Then I give my said daughter Mary as recompense for the Loss she shall Sustain by such recovery the further sum of one thousand pounds over and above what is hereby given her

Item I give my said daughter Mary the further sum of fifteen hundred pounds in lieu of Drakes Farm and other Lands by me lately sold and which Lands I had given her by a former Will and the reason I have made no larger provision for my said wife is because she has an ample provision out of her former husbands Estate out of which I have had little or no profitt and becase at her imprtunity I gave the sum of one thousand pounds to her niece Mrs Betty Aston and another thousand pounds which by our Marriage Agreement if I had outlived her I gave her power to dispose of

Item I bequeath to my niece Elizabeth Aston the sum of twenty pounds of lawfull money and to such of my servants as shall have lived with me seven years one years wages and to the rest of my servants who shall be in my service at my death forty shillings apiece

I give to my Man Servant all my wearing Apparell and Linen I usually weard if he is in my service at my death

Item I give to the poor of the several parishes of St Pauls Covent Garden and Saint Clements Danes in the County of Middlesex and to the poor of Alderton in the County of Suffolk five pounds to each parish to be distributed by the Ministers of the said respective parishes as they shall think fit

And whereas the sum of ten thousand and five hundred pounds is secured to me my heirs Executors and Administrators by Mortgage and other Securities from Thomas Coke of Scothome in the County of Norfolk Esquire five thousand two hundred and fifty pounds part of which summ of ten thousand and five hundred pounds is the proper money of the Most Noble Katherine Duchess of Buckinghamshire and Normanby as by a Declaration of Trust under my hand and seal appears and the other five thousand two hundred and fifty pounds is my own proper money I now do hereby devise One Moiety of the Mannors Lands Tenements and Hereditaments to be Conveyed by the said Thomas Coke or any other In trust for me And one full moiety of the said sum of ten thousand and five hundred pounds being five Thousand two hundred and fifty pounds and all Interest due or to grow and for the same to the said Katherine Duchess of Buckinghamshire and Normanby by her heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns in performance and Execution of the Trust reposed in me by her Estate. And as to the remaining five thousand two hundred and fifty pounds belonging to me I give two thousand five hundred pounds part thereof to my said daughter Mary Chamberlen And the remaining Two thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds I give to my daughters Anna Maria and Charlotte Share and Share alike and all the rest and residue of my Real and Personall Estate not herein before by me disposed of after my debts Legacies and funeral paid I give and devise the same to my said three daughters Mary Chamberlen, Anna Maria Chamberlen and Charlotte Chamberlen their heirs Executors and Administrators equally to be divided between them share and share alike as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants

And of this my last Will and Testament I do make ordain constitute and appoint my said three daughters Mary Anna Maria and Charlotte my Executrixes

And I hereby expressly revoke all former and other Wills and Codicils by me made and do declare this to be my last Will and Testament in Witness my hand and seal the and year first above written

Hugh Chamberlen

signed sealed published and declared by the said Hugh Chamberlen as and for his last Will and Testament in our presence who in his presence have all subscribed our names as witnesses hereunto

Middleton Walker
William Cooper
Charles Boucher

Codicil of Hugh Chamberlen, of St Paul, Covent Garden, 28 July 1725

Be it known

That whereas I Hugh Chamberlen of the Parish of St Paul, Covent Garden in the County of Middlesex, Doctor of Physik did make my last Will and testament in writing dated the 26^th day of July which was in the year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred twenty and three and thereby did among other Legacies therein mentioned bequeath to my daughters Anna Maria and Charlotte Chamberlen the sum of Two Thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds being the residue of Mr Cokes Mortgage therein mentioned share and share alike

And did by my said Will give the residue of my Real and Personall Estate to my three daughters Mary Chamberlen Anna Maria Chamberlen and Charlott Chamberlen their heirs Executors and Administrators share and share alike as Tenants in Common and not as joint and of my said Will did make my said three daughters my Executors

And whereas I the said Hugh Chamberlen was seized with a lethargie fit and being by the Great Mercy and Goodness of God recovered yet knowing the nature of that Distemper and to prevent the wasting of my Estate in case of a Relapse I the said Hugh Chamberlen by Indenture dated the ninth day of December last past before the date of these presents

And made between me of the one part and the Most Noble Catherine Duchess of Buckinghamshire and Normanby and the Honourable Charles Collier youngest Son of the Right Honourable David Earle of Portmore of the other part therein entering the contents of my said Will

And that I was seized and possessed of the Real and Personall Estate therein and in the Schedule thereunto annexed mentioned I the said Hugh Chamberlen for the considerations therein mentioned did Grant and Assign the said Real and Personall Estate therein and in the Schedule thereunto annexed mentioned and among others a Mortgage from Sir John Webb, Bart for Two thousand pounds and a Mortgage from Francis Cottington Esquire for three Thousand pounds and the Lease of the House wherein I now Live and all my personall Estate to the said Duchess and Charles Collier on several Trusts to be performed in my Life time and after my decease among other Trusts therein mentioned to pay my said daughter Mary Chamberlen the sums of five hundred pounds one thousand pounds and fifteen hundred pounds on the contingencies therein mentioned

And upon further Trusts to apply the sums of five thousand two hundred and fifty pounds therein and in my said Will mentioned in manner following

Two Thousand five hundred pounds part thereof to my said daughter Mary and to pay two thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds residue thereof to my said Daughters Anna Maria and Charlott Chamberlen share and share alike

And upon further Trust to divide the residuum of my Real and Personal Estate among my said three daughters Mary Chamberlen Anna Maria Chamberlen and Charlott Chamberlen share and share alike

In which said Indenture it is provided and declared that it shall and may be Lawful to and for me the said Hugh Chamberlen before I shall be declared incapable to Manage my affairs by the persons therein named by any Deed and Writing Signed with my Name of my own handwriting and duly sealed before four Credible witnesses to revoke alter change and make void all and every the Estates used Trusts matters and things in the said Indenture contained and by the same or any other Deed or Writing Signed Sealed Attested as aforesaid to make any other Grant or Disposition of the same or any part thereof as I shall think fit as by the said Indenture relation being thereunto had may more fully appear

And whereas I the said Hugh Chamberlen have since Marryed my daughter the said Anna Maria Chamberlen to Edward Hopkins of the City of Coventry Esq and in consideration of the said Marriage I did agree to pay or Secure the Sum of Six Thousand three hundred and sixty pounds which together with her share of her Mothers Estate in Land valued at Three Thousand six hundred and forty pounds amounts to the sum of Ten Thousand pounds which was to be in full for her portion and for payment thereof I have with the consent and Privity of the above named Trustees in the said verified Indenture names Assigned to the said Edward Hopkins the said Sir John Webbs Mortgage for Two Thousand pounds and the said Francis Cottingtons Mortgage for Three Thousand pounds and the sum of Thirteen hundred and Sixty pounds part of the sum of five Thousand two hundred and fifty pounds above mentioned due from the said Mr Coke in the said Deed and in my Will named in full payment of the said sum of six Thousand three hundred and sixty pounds which with her share of her Mothers Lands computed at three Thousand six hundred and forty pounds amounts to the Sum of Ten Thousand pounds agreed to be given to the said Edward Hopkins on his Marriage with the said Anna Maria as aforesaid

And therefore I the said Hugh Chamberlen by Indorsement written on the said verified Indenture dated the Eighteenth day of March last past before the date of these presents and Attested by four Credible Witnesses did pursuant to the said power to me reserved Revoke and make void the said Agreement made by the said verified Indenture of Sir John Webbs and Francis Cottingtons Mortgages and the susm of two thousand pounds and Three Thousand pounds thereon due and the Trusts for the said Anna Maria declared by the said verified Indenture and also the Trust declared touching her part and share of the said five Thousand two hundred and fifty pounds and touching the part and share of the residue of my undisposed personal Estate and all other the Trusts whatsoever by the above written Indenture declared for the said Anna Maria my said daughter

And I the said Hugh Chamberlen did thereby declare that my said daughter Anna Maria was fully advanced and that the said Anna Maria should have no part of my personall Estate other than such Legacy as by Codicil hereafter to be made I should give her as by the said Indenture may more fully appear

And whereas I have determined to make some alterations in my said Will and Testament now to the end to keep peace in my family by this present writing I do hereby revoke that part of my will which gives the Residuum of my Personall Estate to my said daughters Mary Anna Maria and Charlott Chamberlen and also the Residuum of my said personall Estate Assigned to them by the above verified Deed

And whereas the fortune of Six Thousand three hundred and sixty pounds given to my said Daughter Anna Maria and secured as aforesaid was decalred by her Marriage Settlement by the said Edward Hopkins and my said daughter together with the Land she is Intitled unto from her Mother to amount together to the sum of ten Thousand pounds and that the same was in full of all provisions by me made to my said daughter Anna Maria

Now I do hereby deaclare the same portion shall be in full of all portions sum or sums of money by me settled on her by any Deed Will or otherwise and that she shall have nothing out of my Real and personal Estate but what is hereby given her

And I do direct that before my said daughter Anna Maria Hopkins takes or retrieves any advantage from what is hereby given that she and the said Edward Hopkins her husband do Release All Right Title Claim and Demand to all sums of money payable to my said daughter by virtue of any Settlement or Disposition made by me in her favour other than what I have given her in Marriage and what I hereby give her

And whereas I have given my said Daughter Mary a Farm at Indbrook in the County of Essex of the Value of two Thousand pounds and by my Will and otherwise have given her two Thousand five hundred pounds part of the said Mr Cokes Mortgage and fifteen hundred pounds in lieu of Drakes Faram and one Thousand pounds in money and one Thousand pounds more part of Three Thousand pounds due to me from Charles Tryon Esq. which together makes up Eight Thousand pounds Now I direct that my said daughter Mary shall have out of my personall Estate the further sum of Two Thousand pounds so as to make up her portion ten Thousand pounds

And whereas I have given or settled on my said daughter Charlotte by Will or otherwise the sum of thirteen hundred and sixty pounds part of the said Mr Cokes Mortgage and the sum of three thousand pounds by another Settlement which said sums with their share of her Mothers Estate computed at Three Thousand six hundred and forty pounds amount to the sum of Eight Thousand pounds Now I direct that my said daughter Charlott shall have out of my personall Estate the further sum of Two thousand pounds to make up her portion in Land and money the sum of ten Thousand pounds it being my intention that my said daughters shall have in Land and money Ten thousand pounds apiece

And I do hereby direct that after my debts funerals and Legacies paid the Residuum of my Personall Estate be divided into three equall parts One third part whereof I give to my said daughter Mary her Executors Administrators and Assigns one other third part I give to my said Daughter Hopkins her Executors Administrators and Assigns and the remaining third part I give to my said daughter Charlott her Executors Administrators and Assigns

And I appoint my said daughters Mary Chamberlen Anna Maria Hopkins and Charlott Chamberlen Executors of my Will

And I do hereby confirm my said Will in all other things other than and except what I have hereby thought fit to revoke alter or change

Witness my hand and seal this twenty eighth day of July in the year of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred twenty and five and in the eleventh year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King George by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith

Hugh Chamberlen

Signed Sealed delivered and published by the within named Hugh Chamberlen in the presence of

Nathaniel Pigot
Peter Cosset
John Mead
D. Willemin

Codicil of Hugh Chamberlen, of St Paul, Covent Garden, 5 March 1725/6

Be it known

to all persons whatsoever That I Hugh Chamberlen M D of the parish of St Paul Covent Garden in the County of Middlesex having made my last Will and Testament on the 26^th day of July in the year 1723

I do by this Codicil in all things confirm the same but direct further that Lady Crew my wife provided she doth Release all pretensions to her Dower as in my said Will mentioned and conform in all things to what is therein desired of her and that she never doth at any time hereafter refuse any of my daughters the Doctors they shall bring the Duchess of Buckinghamshire and Countess of Arran admittance to me during any indisposition of mine either in body or mind when ever they shall please or to continue as long as they shall think proper that then she shall have left to the choice of my Executors either my house in King Street with Stable Room for a Coach and pair of Horses during the term of her natural Life and the use of the furniture of her Bedchamber Closet Drawing Room and the Room and use of the furniture thereof which her Servants now enjoy or one hundred pounds per Annum in lieu of this during the Term of her naturall Life which my Executrixs shall like best.

Item I give to His Grace The Duke of Buckingham his Mothers picture done by Zirk in enamel and her picture done by Mr Tahll and my best Diamond Ring I give to her Grace which she gave me

Witness my hand this 5^th day of March 1725/6

Hugh Chamberlen

Appeared 4 Mar 1728

Appeared personally John Jackson of the parish of St James Westminster in the County of Middlesex Apothecary and John Stevens of the same parish Surgeon and by virtue of their Corporall Oaths taken on the Holy Evangelists deposed that they well knew Hugh Chamberlen of the parish of St Paul Covent Garden in the said County Doctor in Physik deceased and have often seen him write letters and other writings and also Subscribe his name and thereby became well aquainted with his manner and Character of handwriting and they having now seen the Schedule hereunto annexed beginning this “Be it known to all persons” and ending tus “this 5^th day or March 1725/6” and thus subscribed “Hugh Chamberlen” do say and depose that they verily believe the said Schedule to be totally wrote and Subscribed by and with the proper hand of the said Hugh Chamberlen Doctor in Physik deceased

John Jackson
John Stevens