Will of William Willis of Hanham, 13 Mar 1739/40

In the name of God Amen

I William Willis the Elder of the Hamlet of Oldland within the Parish of Bitton and County of Gloucester, Coalminer, being Stricken in Years and Infirm in Body but of a sound disposing mind memory and Understanding (thanks be given to God) do make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say)

First I Give Devise and Bequeath unto my Dear and Loving Wife Sarah Willis my Tenement and Dwelling House wherein I now Live together with the barnhouse Garden Orchard and Plot or Row of ground thereunto Adjoyning and Belonging and to hold to her and her Assigns for and during the Term of her Natural Life (in case my time Interest and Term therein should so long continue) and from and Immediately after my said Wife Sarah’s Decease I do Give my said Tenement or Dwelling House Barnhouse Garden Orchard Plot or Row of ground and premises unto my two Sons Henry Willis and Thomas Willis share and share alike

And my Express will and meaning is that my said two sons Henry Willis and Thomas Willis shall and will well and truly pay or cause to be paid within a Twelve month after my said Wife Sarah’s Decease the following Legacies unto my Daughters and my Son William’s Children out of my said Tenement or Dwelling House Garden Orchard Plot of Row of ground and premises (that is to say)

The sum of forty shillings to my daughter Mary Tippet the wife of Isaac Tippet of Lawful money of great Britain to whom I do give the said sum of forty Shillings and to be paid aforesaid

Also the sum of forty Shillings of Lawful money of Great Britain to my Daughter Sarah Williams the Wife of Francis Williams to whom I do Give the said sum of forty Shillings and to be paid aforesaid

Also the sum of forty Shillings of Lawful money of Great Britain to my daughter Hannah Newman the Wife of William Newman to whom I do give the said sum of forty Shillings and to be paid aforesaid

Also the sum of forty Shillings of Lawful money of great Britain to my four Grand Children Edward, Joseph, William and Hannah Willis Sons and daughter of my Late Son William Willis Deceased and to be Equally divided between them share and alike to whom I do give the said sum of forty Shillings and to be paid as aforesaid.

And in case my said two sons Henry and Thomas Willis shall both or either of them Refuse and Neglect to pay all and either of the Above mentioned and Posited Legacies unto my said Natural Children and childs Children when Due then in such case I do hereby make my said Gift and Devise to them or he so refusing to pay the said Legacies Void and of none effect and I do hereby Give my said Gift to him or them of my Tenement or Dwelling house Garden Orchard Plot or Row of ground and premises to all the Rest of my said Natural Children share and share alike

Also I Give to my said Son Henry Willis one Shilling

Also I Give to my said Son Thomas Willis one Shilling

Also I Give to my said Daughter Mary Tippet one Shilling

Also I Give to my said Daughter Sarah Williams one Shilling

Also I Give to my said Daughter Hannahh Newman one Shilling

Also I Give to my Daughter-in-Law Rebecca Willis one Shilling

All my Household goods and Chattles Debts Dues and Demands whatsoever (my Debts being paid and funeral Expenses Discharged) I Give Devise and Bequeath unto Sarah Willis my Dear and Loving Wife whom I do make and Constitute Sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament.

And from and Immediately after my said Wife Sarah’s decease I do Give my said Household goods to my said three Natural Daughters Mary Tippet, Sarah Williams and Hannah Newman Share and share alike and I do hereby Revoke and make Void all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made

And I do hereby nominate and Appoint my very good friends Laurence Price and Roger Earl Overseers in trust of this my Last Will and Testament and to aid and Assist my Executrix in the Execution thereof

In Witness whereof I the said William Willis the Testator hereof have hereunto Set my hand and Seal the thirteenth day of March in the Thirteenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and in the Year of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Nine Forty

The mark of William Willis

Signed Sealed Published and Declared (with the Several Interlinasons) by the said Testator William Willis 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

The mark of Henry Haskins
Faron Sweet
Wllm Dimery

11 of May 1743 The within named Sarah Willis Sole executrix was duly sworn before me

This Will was proved the 11th day of May in the Year of our Lord 1743 before the Worshipful Sir Henry Penrice Knight Doctor of Laws Vicar General in Spirituals of the Right Reverent Father in God Martin by Divine permission Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Gloucester and the Episcopal Consistory Official Principal Lawfully Constituted by Sarah Willis Sole executrix 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