Will of William Dawtrey, of Doddinghurst, 23 Apr 1758

In the Name of God, Amen

I William Dawtrey now living in the parish of Doddinghurst in the County of Essex ____ myself of More in the parish of Petworth in the County of Sussex Esquire being of Sound and perfect Mind Memory and Understanding, praise be to God for the same Do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following

First and principally I bequeath my soul to Almighty God from whom I received it hoping to be Saved through the only ___ of my Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And my body I commit to the Earth whereof it was made to be buried amongst my Ancestors in the chancel adjoyning to the Parish Church of Petworth aforeeaid to be buried in such private and discrete manner as shall be by my Executor though fit and convenient and as concerning that worldy Estate which it hath pleased God to make me his Steward and I dispose of, I Will bequeath and Devise the same as follows

First my Will is that all my Just Debts Legacys and funeral Charges be paid and discharged within one year after my Decease by my Executor hereinafter named and the annuitys hereinafter mentioned as they shall become due and payable And I do Subject and charge my Landed Estate Except that part of it which I have hereinafter Given away upon Lives with the Annual Payment of them and if my Executor his heirs or assigns do not pay them as is hereinafter directed then such Annuitants shall have full power to take possession of the Landed Estate aforementioned and pay themselves out of the Rents and Profits thereof according to such proprtion might be refused to be paid

Item, I give and bequeath to Mrs Mary Stone of Forest Hall in the County of Essex One Diamond Gold ring of One hundred Guineas value

Item, I give and bequeath to the late Mrs Mary Tyril now wife of John Comyns Esquire the Sum of One hundred Guineas in Gold.

Item, I give and bequeath to my said Good old freind John Comyns One Diamond Gold ring of One hundred Guineas value

Item, I give and bequeath to my friend John Russell of Stubbens One Diamond Gold Ring of One hundred Guineas value

Item, I give and bequeath to my niece Rebecca Luther One Annuity or yearly Rent charge of One hundred pounds a year to be paid to her annually in money without deduction by my Executor his heirs or assigns for and during the Term of her Natural Life

Item, I give and bequeath to my niece Amy Luther One Annuity or yearly Rent charge of One hundred pounds a year to be paid to her annually in money by my Executor his heirs or assigns without any deduction for and during the Term of her Natural Life

Item, I give to my late servant poor Elizabeth Stokes the sum of fifteen pounds to be paid her within three months ___ after my decease and also one annuity of Six pounds a year to be paid to her annually by my Executor his heirs or assigns in money for and during her Natural life

Item, I give to poor Richard Jones my servant One Annuity of Six pounds a year to be paid to him Annually in money by my Executor his heirs or assigns for and during the term of his Natural Life if he lives with me at the time of my Decease

Item I Give Devise Limit and Appoint unto my Servant Edward Newburn All that my farm and Manor called Pussey Hall with all its Appurtenances and all the Lands which John Russell Rents of me as the same are Situate in Conson in Essex if the said Edward Newburn shall live with me at the time of my Decease but not to raise the Rent higher than it now is lett for To hold to him for and during the Term of his Natural Life and no more

I Give unto the said Edward Newburn all my wearing apparel forever

Item I Give Devise Limit and Appoint unto my Servant Elizabeth Shallet All that my Farm called Bassetts late in the occupation of the widow Bush with the Appurtenances as the same are Situate in Wilingate in the County of Essex To hold to her the said Elziabeth Shallet for and during the Term of her Natural Life if she lives with me at the time of my decease but not to raise the Rents higher than it now is

Item, I Give and bequeath to my Servant Francis Earls One Annuity of Eight pounds a year to be paid him annually in money by my Executor his heirs or assigns for and during the Term of his Natural Life if he shall live with me at the time of my decease

Item, I give and bequeath to poor Sarah Eves who is an Inhabitant of Procton in the said County of Essex One Annuity of Six pounds a Year to be paid to her Annually in Money by my Executor his heirs and assigns for and during the Term of of her Natural Life

Item I Give and bequeath to every one of my Servants that shall live with me at the time of my decease fifty pounds apiece in money who have nothing now Given them by this my last Will and Testament

Item I Give to my Cousins Cassandra Perrott and Martha Perrott each of them a Diamond Gold ring each Ring to be of One hundred Guineas value

Item I Give to my Cousin John Harris of Trowball Esquire One Diamond Gold Ring of One hundred Guineas value.

Item I Give to Sir Charles Gowings Son that is my Godson One Diamond Gold Ring of One hundred Guineas value

Item I Give to my Neice Mrs Charlotte Fane the Sum of One hundred pounds in Money

Item I Give to my Cousin William Leaver and to his Son they being both my Godsons the Sum of firty pounds apeice in Money

Item I Give to my Cousin Daniel Richardson of Saddow in Essex and to his Son Anthony Arthur Richardson the sum of fifty pounds apiece in Money

Item I Give to Doctor Willibe Barry of Brentwood the Sum of fifty pounds in Money

Item I Give to my God daughter Miss Comyns of Withol the Sum of fifty pounds in Money

Item I Give to my Godson Mr Baron of Basford Soall in Suffolk the sum of fifty pounds in Money

Item I Give to my Godson George Walton the Sum of fifty pounds in Money

Item I Give to my Godson Brown Chambers the Sum of fifty pounds in Money

Item I Give to my God daughter, Doctor Barry’s daughter the Sum of fifty pounds in Money

Item I Give to my Cousin Amy Leasman of Angmering and to her sister Jane Gratwick the sum of fifty pounds apiece in Money

Item I Give to my Cousin Robert Johns of Shenfield the Sum of fifty pounds in Money

Item I Give to Christopher Tyler the sum of fifty pounds in Money

Item I Give to William Hampton of Grow in Petworth in Sussex the Sum of fifty pounds in Money

Item I Give to my Godson Jonas Barry the sum of fifty pounds in Money

Item I Give to my Godson Charles Freeman the sum of fifty pounds in Money

Item I Give to Hugh Bennet of the Salt Office fifty pounds in MOney

Item I Give to my late Cousin John Gills youngest Son fifty pounds of Money

Item I Give to my poor Labourer Matthew Crow thirty pounds in Money if he work with me at the time of my decease

Item I Give to my Labourer James Dawkins fifteen pounds in Money if he works with me at the time of my decease

Item I Give to my Gardener John Turner if he works with me at the time of my decease the Sum of thirty pounds in Money

Item I Give to Joseph Pratt of Cambridge who is said to be my Godson the Sum of fifty pounds in Money

Item I Give to Joseph Mason of Brentwood fifty pounds in Money

Item I Give to my Kinswoman the wife of Richard Gipps of Bardfield in Essex the Sum of fifty pounds in Money

Item I Give to my God daughters Hester Earls of Ongar and Mary Bush of Blackmore fifty pounds apiece in Money

Item I Give to Mr David Dofsherwy of Southampton Street London the Sum of fifty pounds in Money

Item I Give to John Barns of the Custom House, London thirty pounds in Money

Item I Give to Mr Charles Sheppard Minister of the parish of Doddinghurst a Gold ring of One Guinea value and a black bound of cloth and to his Wife a Gold Ring of a Guinea value

Item I Give to John Galloway of Blackmore the Sum of ten pounds in Money

Item I Give to Isaac Davis of Sutton and to Thomas Majors of Mountnessing Hall each of them a God Ring of a Guinea value

Item I Give to the poor of the parish of Petworth in Sussex the Sum of twenty pounds to be Distributed amongst them by my Executor within one month after my decease

Item I Give to the present poor of the parish of Doddinghurst five pounds to be Distributed amongst them by my Executor within one month after my decease

Item I Give to the said parish of Doddinghurst twenty pounds to be added to the Poors bread Money the Interest thereof to Purchase the poors bread forever

Item I Give to the poor of the parish of Little Bricett and Offten in Suffolk twenty pounds to be Distributed amongst them by my Executor within one month after my decease

Item all the rest and residue of my Estate whatsoever and wheresoever both Real and Personal after my Just Debts Legacies and funeral charges are paid and Discharges which I will may be first paid I Give Devise Limit and Appoint to my Nephew Richard Luther and too his heirs for ever

And I do hereby revoke and make void all former will and wills by me at any time heretofore made or declared in word or writing and so publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament And do nominate Consitute and Appoint my said Nephew Richard Luther whole and Sole Executor thereof

In Witness whereof I the said William Dawtrey have hereunto set my hand and seal thsi twenty third day of April In the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and firty Eight

William Dawtrey

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said William Dawtrey the Testator to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses

John Enever
James Osborne
George Sarling

This Will was proved at London the twenty seventh day of August In the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and fifty eight before the Worshipful George Harris Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Honourable Sir George Roe Knight also Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury Lawfully constituted by the Oath of Richard Luther the Nephew and Sole Executor named in the said Will to whom Administration was Granted of all and Singular the Goods Chattels and ___ of the deceased having been first sworn duly to administer