Will of Robert Cool of Oldland, 6 Aug 1745

In the Name of God, Amen.

I Robert Cool the Elder of the Hamlet of Oldland within the Parish of Bitton and County of Gloucester, Coalminer, being well stricken in years and Infirm in Body but of a sound Disposing mind memory andUnderstanding (Thanks be to God) and calling to Remembrance the Uncertainty of my Death do make and Ordain my Will and Testament for the Disposal of my Personal Estate Lease hold Estate Goods and Chattles in manner and form following (that is to say)

First I Give Devise and Bequeath unto my Grandson Charles Cool Son of my Natural Daughter Hester Dimery my Messuages or Tenement commonly called or known by the name of the Mount House together with the Stable and all the Inclosures of ground both new and Old thereunto Ajoining and all Appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging Situate Standing Lying and Being within the said Parish of Bitton and County aforesaid. And to hold to my said Grandson Charles Cool for and during my Time and Form of Years which shall be then to come and Inexpired therein. And my Express Will and meaning is that my said Grandson Charles Cool shall and Will Yearly and every Year during my Form and Interest in the said Messuages or Tenement and premises pay unto my Granddaughter Grace Cool his sister the sum of thirty Shillings of Lawful money of Great Britain (clear of all Taxes Payments and Deductions whatsoever) out of the Yearly Rents Incomes and profits arising out of the said Messuages and Tenement and Premises. And in case my said Grandson Charles Cool shall die Unmarried then my Express Will and meaning is that my said Messuages or Tenement and Premises shall go over and remain to his said Sister Grace Cool for and during my Time and Form of Years which shall be then to come and Inexpired. therein.

Also I give devise and bequeath unto my said Granddaughter Grace Cool my dwelling house wherein I now live together with the Stable Garden and Orchard thereunto adjoyning and all Appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging Situate Standing Lying and being within the said parish of Bitton and County aforesaid. And to hold to my said Grandaughter Grace Cool for and during my Time and Form of Years which shall be then to come and Inexpired therein. And in case my said Grandaughter Grace Cool shall die Unmarried then my Express Will and meaning is my said Dwellin house Stable and Premises shall go over and remain to her said Brother Charles Cool and to hold to him for and during my Time and Form of Years which shall be then to come and Inexpired therein.

Also I Give Devise and Bequeath unto my Natural Daughter Sarah Leonard the Wife of Robert Leonard, Mary Williams my Natural Daughter the now wife of John Williams and to the Natural Children Robert, Samuel, Dinah, Hannah, Hester and William Leonard of my late Daughter Dinah Leonard Deceased the Rents Incomes and profits of my Leasehold that’s commonly called or know by the name of Kingsol Situate Standing Lying and being within the said parish of Bitton and County aforesaid. And to hold to my said Daughters Sarah Leonard, Mary Williams, and Robert, Samuel, Dinah, Hannah, Hester and William Leonard the rents Incomes and Profits arising out of my said Leasehold Estate for and during the Term of two full Years and no longer (that is to say) the one third part of the Rents Incomes and profits arising out of my said Leasehold Estate during the said term of two Years to my said Daughter Sarah Leonard one other third part of the Rents Incomes and Profits arising out of my said Leasehold Estate during the said term aforesaid to my said Daughter Mary Williams the other third part to my said Grandchildren Robert, Samuel, Dinah, Hannah, Hester and William Leonard of the Rents Income and profits arising out of my said Leasehold Estate during the said Term aforesaid (that is to say) share and share alike to be Equally divided between them if my Term and Interest therein should so long continue and from and Immediately after the above said two Years is full Expired then my Express Will and meaning is And I hereby Give Devise and Bequeath my said leasehold Estate commonly called or know by the name of Kingsol with all the Premises thereunto belonging to my said Daughter Sarah Leonard, Martha Williams to my Natural Daughter Amy Betts, the now wife of John Betts and Grace Whittock my Natural Daughter the now Wife of Charles Whittock and to all the Natural Children Robert, Samuel, Hannah, Dinah, Hester, and William Leonard of my late Daughter Dinah Leonard.

In case the Rents Income and profits arising out Yearly out of my said Leasehold Estate for and during my time and term of Years which shall be then to come and Inexpired therein (that is to say) the one fifth part of the Rents Income and Profits arising out of my said Leasehold Estate Yearly to my said Daughter Sarah Leonard During my term and Interest therein, one other Fifth part of the Rents Incomes and profits Yearly out of my said Leasehold Estate to my said Daughter Mary Williams during my Term and Interest therein, one other fifth part of the Rents Income and Profits Arising Yearly out of my said Leasehold Estate to my said Daughter Amy Betts during my Term and Interest therein, one other fifth part of the Rents Incomes and Profits arising Yearly out of my said Leasehold Estate to said Daughter Grace Whittock during my Term and Interest therein, one other fifth part of the Rents Incomes and Profits arising Yearly out of my said Leasehold Estate to my Grandsons and Granddaughters Robert Samuel Hannah Dinah Hester and William Leonard during my term and Interest share and share alike. And in case each or either of my said natural Daughters shall happen to Die before my Time and Term of Years shall be Expired in the said Premises then my Express Will & meaning is that her & hers for parts share or shares in ye said Premises so dying shall go over & remain to all her natural Children share & share alike & my Express Will & meaning is that ye Rents Incomes & profits arising out of ye said premises shall be to & for my said daughter’s own Sole Separate use apart from their Husbands or any other hereafter taken Husband or Husbands free from any of his Intermedling therewith or any of his Contracts Debts or Agreements.

Also I give Devise & Bequeath unto my said Daughter Mary Williams my Dwelling house situate at Cock Road as well as the premises thereunto belonging to hold to her for ye term of her Natural Life in case my term of Interest should therein so long continue & from & Immediately after the Decease of my Daughter Mary Williams I do give my said Dwelling house and Premises to my Granddaughters Mary and Hester Williams share & share alike & to hold to them loyally for and during my Time and Term of Years that shall be then to come & Inexpired therein.

Also I Give Devise & Bequeath my new build house that stands near ye aforesaid Mount house & all ye Premises thereunto belonging unto my said Daughter Mary Williams and to hold to her for & during ye term of her natural & from & Immediately after my said Daughter Mary’s Decease I do Give Devise and Bequeath my said new Estate house and premises unto Charles Whittock and John Betts to be had and hold unto them ye said Charles Whittock and John Betts & ye Survivors of them & ye Executors and Admins of such Survivors until such time as my Grandson Francis Williams shall Joyn Matrimony with any Woman. Upon this Trust that ye said Charles Whittock & John Betts & ye Survivor & Survivors of them & ye Executors and Admins of such Survivors Do & shall well and truly strive up to ye said Francis Williams on his day of Marriage my said new Estate house & premises & my Express Will & meaning is that my said Grandson Francis Williams shall & with yearly & every year forever pay out of ye said new Estate house and premises ye sum of fifteen shillings apiece to his brother Isaac Williams & to his Sister Dinah Williams & in case my Grandson Francis Williams shall happen to die before he is married then my Will and meaning is that my said new Estate house & premises shall go over & remain to my said Grandson Isaac Williams he always Yearly & every Year forever paying to his sister Dinah Williams ye sum of twenty shillings a Year forever and my Express Will & meaning is that I do hereby Impower & __ my said Trustees Charles Whittock & John Betts to permit and suffer my Son-in-law John Williams to dwell in ye said new Estate house for so long as he shall continue Unmarried & no longer & in case he do Cohabit with any Woman whatsoever in ye new Estate house then in such case my said Trustees shall no suffer my son-in-law John Williams to live any longer therein.

Also I Give to my Natural Daughter Hester Dimery ye sum of one Guinea.

Also I give to my Sons in law Charles Whittock, Robert Leonard, Samuel Leonard, John Betts & William Dimery a Shilling a Piece.

All ye Rest and Residue of my Goods and Chattles Rights Credits Debts Dues Demands Wills Bonds Mortgages Plate Money and Personal Effects whatsoever not herein before given (my Debts & Legacies being paid & Funereal expenses Discharged) I Give Devise and Bequeath unto my said Daughters Sarah Leonard, Hester Dimery, Mary Williams, Amy Betts, and Grace Whittock to be Equally divided between them share and share alike & I do hereby Constitute & Appoint them loyal Executrixes of this my Last Will & Testament & I do hereby Revoke Discard & mark Void all forms & other Wills by me at any time heretofore made declaring this & no other to be my last Will & Testament.

And I do hereby Nominate & Appoint my said Trustees Charles Whittock & John Betts to be Overseers in Trust of this my Last Will & Testament & to see ye said performed according to ye true intent & meaning thereof & to act & assist my Executrixes in ye Execution thereof.

In Witness whereof I ye said Robert Cool ye testator hereof have to this my last Will & Testament Contained in these two sheets of Paper (affixed & together) ye first Sheet thereof set my name & to this Second & last sheet thereof of my hand & Seal this Sixth day of August in ye thirteenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George ye Second by ye Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith & so forth in ye year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and forty five.

The mark of Robert Cool

signed Sealed Published and Declared (With the Several Inter Animacions) by the Said Testator Robert Cool to be and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have Subscribed our Names as Witnesses hereunto in his presence and at his Request

Samuel Whittock Jun
Francis Cool
Hester Jarret

This Will was Proved the 14th day of October in the year of our Lord 1740 before the Worshipful Sir Henry Penrice Knight Doctor of Laws Vicar General in Spirituals of the Right Reverend Father in God Martin by Divine Permission Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Gloucester and of his Episcopal Consistory Offical Principal Lawfully Constituted by Sarah Leonard, Hester Dimery, Mary Williams, Amy Betts and Grace Whittock Joint Executrixes and so forth to whom and so forth having first Sworn well and faithfully to Administer to the said Will and also to Exhibit an Inventory and tender an Account and so forth