Will of Thomas Willis of Hanham, 15 Jun 1786

In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Willis of the hamlet of Hanham in the Parish of Bitton in the County of Gloucester Quarrier being in health of body and of sound mind memory and understanding thanks be given to Almighty God for it But considering the frailty of this mortal life the certainty of death and the uncertainty thereof and being willing and desirous to settle things in order do make and declare this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say.

First I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my only Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ my body I commend to the earth to be decently intered at the direction of my executors hereinafter named

Item I give devise and bequeath unto my well beloved Wife Elizabeth Willis six shillings per week to be paid to her by my Executors for and during her natural life and at her death to be decently Intered by them

Item I give devise and bequeath unto Grace Willis wife of James Willis of the City of Bristol my old clock and Ten Pounds to be paid to her by me executors in one month after my decease.

Item I give devise and bequeath all the rent and rents of all that eight tenements or dwelling houses situated at a place called Bishops Park within the Diocese of the City of Bristol and allso all the rent and rents of all that six tenements or dwelling Houses sittuated and being at a place called The Batch and also all the rent and rents of all that estate called Late Hudd and also all the rent of that estate wherein I Now live all which are sittuated and being, in the Hamlet of Hanham in the Parrish of Bitton in the County of Gloucester and all the rents of all that estate lands leasehold estate cottages and tenements that I shall be posessed of at the time of my death unto my son Robert Willis to my son Samuel Willis to my son Thomas Willis to my daughter Elizabeth Waters to my daughter Bethia Lapham to my daughter Hester Lear to my daughter Susanna Britton and to my grand daughter Ann Derick to be equaly divided between them share and equal share alike by my executors two times in any year after my decease that is to say on the Twenty Fifth of April and on the Twenty Ninth Day of October in every year during ther trust the said six shillings per week being first paid to my wife during her life and after her death it shall remain to my aforesaid children and grand daughter as an in the same manner as my aforesaid rents is mentioned to remain, but my executors also shall first pay costs and discharge all and all manner of taxes land rates assessments impositions and payments whatsoever now are or which shall or may be taxed noted assessed l imposed on any of my estates or premises or any part or parcel thereof and shall discharge all needful and necessary repairations and amendments whatsoever during the time of their trust and my said executors shall keep one book or more in which shall faithfully justly and truly be entered all the rents of my aforesaid estates and all money paid by my executors touching or concerning the same and shall bring in open their receipts for the maintaining of the same and the books truly and justly kept my executers shall suffer the same books on every time of payment hereinbefore mentioned to be examined and inspected unto by any or either of any sons or daughters or any person or persons of whom either of them shall chose for that purpose to see if the said books is truly and justly kept and the remaining sum or sums of money in my executors hands received from my estates on every day of payment shall be equally divided share and equal share alike by my executors as afforesaid and shall be paid unto them for and during their natural life and after their death to their children and to their respective executors administrators and assigns for and during my term and interest therein and if my son Thomas Willis shall die and leave no child at the time of his death that then his part shall be paid equally to my aforesaid children and granddaughter or to their children if any or either of them shall be dead and if any or either of my said sons or daughters shall die and leave no child at the time of their death that then his or her part shall be paid to his or her executors and administrators for and during my term and intrest therein in relation to the trust of my executors and that one of them shall not be answerable for the acts or receipts of the other but each for his own acts and receipts only

Item I give devise and bequeath unto my son Robert Willis to my son Samuel Willis to my son Thomas Willis to my daughter Elizabeth Waters to my daughter Bethia Lapham to my daughter Hester Lear to my daughter Susanna Britton and to my grandaughter Ann Derick All my household goods chattels rents debts monies secureties for moneys and any other substance not hereinbefore mentioned whatsoever moveable and immoveable of what kind nature and quality soever the same are and in what place or places soever the same shall be found as well in my own custody or posession as in the possession hands power and custody or any other person or persons whatsoever to be divided between them share and equal share alike in one month after my decease by my executors except the said Ann Derricks part shall remain in the hands of any executors until she shall arive at the age of Twenty One years or for such time as they shall adjudge to be for her advantage or to purchace any premises with the same and make the same to her lawful born children after her death but nevertheless it shall be for her use and need and take have and receive the rents and intrest thereof to her own proper use but if she shall have no children then her part and share shall be paid and divided amongst my other children as aforesaid and my executors shall purchase a life or lives for any term or terms of years and procure a new lease or leases for any of my aforesaid premises but it shall be in trust for my aforesaid children as aforesaid they shall have the rents thereof for and during such term and terms as shall be purchased by my executors,

And that my will shall be truely performed I do make and ordain my son Robert Willis and my Son in law Thomas Waters to be whole and sole executors in trust of this my last will and testament thereby revoking all former will or wills by me at any time heretofore made

I do declare this to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the Sixth day of September in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Five

Thomas Willis

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Willis as and for his will and testament in the presence of us

John Whittuck
The Mark of William Fudge
The Mark of Hanna Fudge

This Will was proved at London the fifteenth Day of June in the Year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred and eighty six before the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert Doctor of Laws Master Keeper of the Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oaths of Robert Willis the son of the deceased and Thomas Waters the Executors named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first sworn by commission duly to Administer