Will of Rebecca Taylor of Clifton, 6 Feb 1810

This is the Last Will and Testament of me, Rebecca Taylor of the Hotwells of the Parish of Clifton in the County of Gloucester, widow:

First, I desire to be buried in as private a manner as is possible in the parish Church of Newton.

And whereas by a certain Indenture or Deed of Settlement of five parts made the ninth day of September one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven between John Luther of Myles’s in the County of Essex, Esquire now deceased of the first part, Jane Luther now also deceased of the second part, my husband John Taylor, Esquire since deceased and myself of the third part, Richard Hopkins of Oving, Esquire of the fourth part and John Fane of Worsley in Oxfordshire Esquire, The Reverend Richard Watson now Bishop of Landaff, The Right Honourable Charles, Lord Camden and David Garrick Esquire now deceased, Trustees named and appointed for the uses hereinafter mentioned of the fifth part It is witnessed that my said deceased husband and myself did grant, bargain, sell, release and confirm unto the Trustees, their heirs and assigns all one undivided half part or share of an undivided moiety of certain messuages, lands and hereditaments in the County of Suffolk in trust for the uses herein mentioned and also that they the said Trustees and the survivors and survivor of them should stand so possessed and interested of and in the sum of four thousand, six hundred and forty five pounds Stock in the three per cent consolidated Bank and annuities In trust for the same uses and which Stock now stands in their names.

And whereas by the same Indenture or Deed of Settlement its further witnessed and declared that after the death of my said husband and myself the said messuages, lands and hereditaments or the money for which the same should be sold together with the Stock in the funds as aforesaid should be for the use and benefit of such child or children as should be begotten of us after the execution thereof under such regulations and conditions as are therein mentioned and in case there should be no such child that then one moiety or half part of the said messuages, lands and hereditaments and also of the aforesaid four thousand six hundred and forty five pounds Stock should be at the disposal of my said husband and the other moiety or half part should become subject to such limitations and dispositions as I by any deed or deeds writing or writings or by my last Will and Testament, my writing or any writings purporting or in the nature of my last Will and Testament to be by me respectively signed sealed and delivered in the presence of two or more reliable witnesses may order and appoint.

And whereas we have had no Children born of us since the Deed of Settlement aforesaid was made and several trusts so declared and set forth and we have three sons to wit, John Taylor, Richard Taylor and Henry Taylor and two daughters to wit Charlotte Taylor and Fanny now the wife of Captain Gray all which (both sons and daughters) were born before the execution thereof and of course are not _____ and intitled to any advantage by or under the same.

And whereas one moiety as before set forth has been disposed of by my said deceased husband signed by his last Will and Testament. Now I do in pursuant of the power to me given by the said Deed of Settlement of ordering the disposition and disposal of my moiety or half part of the aforesaid messuages, lands and hereditaments in Suffolk and of the Stock in the three per cent before mentioned hereby declare my will and mind to be as follows and for the offering of which I do knowingly give, devise and bequeath all my said moiety or share in the said messuages, lands and hereditaments in Suffolk and all my right title and interest therein and thereto and to every part thereof and also of in and to the said stock of four thousand six hundred and forty five pounds in the three per cents to the Trustees named and appointed in and by the said Deed of Settlementt and to the survivors and survivor of them and to the executors administrators and assigns of such survivior in trust, to sell, dispose of and apply the same aspect as is set forth in said Deed of Settlement in the same manner as if the said before mentioned children had been born after the execution thereof.

I also give and bequeath the following sums to be paid to the several persons hereinafter named within six months after my decease: to Miss Soonley the sum of fifty pounds, to Mrs Cottle, Mrs Hirst and Ann Soolls the sum of ten pounds each and to Jane Firfield the sum of five pounds, but in case of the previous death of the said Jane Firfield then I give the said sum of five pounds to the said Jane Firfield’s son.

And all the rest and residue of my personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever I give and bequeath to my said daughter Charlotte Taylor whom I name Executrix of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former and other Wills by me made and do declare and pronounce this only to be my last Will and Testament.

In witness of which I have hereto set my hand and seal this sixth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten.

R. Taylor

Signed, sealed, published and declare by the said Testator Rebecca Taylor as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in her presence at her request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses to this our execution thereof.

D Baynton, Attorney, Bristol
Mrs Baynton
J. Hathaway, his Clerk

Probate of Rebecca Taylor of Clifton, 29 Aug 1821

Proved at London 29th August 1821 before the Judge by the oath of Charlotte Taylor spinster, the Daughter, the sole Executrix to whom Administration was granted being first sworn by common duly to administer.