Will of the Rev. William Smith, Clerk

Proved 2 May 1808, written 24 December 1807

© Crown Copyright

PROB 11/1480, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury

Transcribed by Dinny Cope (DFHS Member 20688) and Richard Cope

In the Name of God Amen
I  WILLIAM  SMITH,  Rector of Meavy but now resident at St. Budeaux in the County of Devon, Clerk, being weak of body but of a strong sound disposing mind and memory, blessed be God, do this twenty-fourth day of December in that year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seven write and publish this my last Will and Testament in maner following.
That is to say, Imp. I give my son  JOHN  one guinea as having settled more than this amount already bestowed upon him in bringing him to his profession as an Attorney at Law.
I also give my dear wife  AMY  that bed in our chamber over the little parlour in which we sleep, together with the furniture thereunto belonging.
I also give to my dear wife  AMY  six chairs and one xxx chair such as she may xxx proper to reuse?   I also give her six knives and six forks such as she may make xxx together with one article of furniture of some sort which may be in my house at my decease and such as she may think proper to take. 
I also give to my dear daughter  JUDITH,  the wife of    MR.  WILLIAM  VALLACK ,   in consequence of that filial affection I have always experienced from her the sum of two hundred pounds to be paid her immediately after my decease.   
I also give to my dear son  WILLIAM  all my books of Divinity together with my gold watch chain and seal, on which are inscribed the initials of my name.   The watch chain and seal not to be given to him till he attains the age of twenty one years.
I also give all my Mathmatical and Classical books to be divided between my xxx sons  HENRY  TREFUSIS  and  WILLIAM  and all that rest residue and remainder of my goods, chattels, property of two thousand pounds conslidatd personal estate, all monies and securities for money and effects of whatever value or kind I give to   Mr.  WILLIAM  VALLACK  and his wife, my dear daughter  JUDITH  and   ELIAS  LAWRENCE,   Captain in His Majesties Royal Marine  Horxxx   I institute and appoint Executrix and Executors of this my last Will and Testament and Trustees for my young children and in Trust for the following purpuses viz that they devide my property according to the best of their judgement in equal shares amoung my dear wife and children. 
My son  JOHN  only xxx xxx xxx and last of my children living have attained the age of twenty one years are to receive their respective share as soon as convenient after my decease and the rest of my children as soon as they should respectively attain the ages of twenty one years
And it is my will and xxx that my dear daughter  JUDITH  shall have her equal share of my property with my wife and children exclusive of the two hundred pounds (£200) already given her.
It is my will also that if my dear son  ADONIAH  should have occasion to draw? for £100 before he is able to provide for himself then that sum of £100 be advanced to him by my Executors and that £300 already laid out in sending him to the East Indies as a Cadet together with the £100 to be advanced to him in case he should have occasion for it to be xxx as part of his share and deducted accordingly and in case any of my children should not live to attain the ages of twenty-one years that childs share to be equally divided amongst the survivors and I do revoke all former wills by me at any time heretofor made and published and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in Witness thereof I do xxx the said  WILLIAM  SMITH  have to this my last Will and Testament set my hand and seal that day and year first above written.
WILLIAM  SMITH (signature and a seal mark)
Published and Declared by the said   WILLIAM  SMITH  the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us now have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto in the presence of the said Testator and of each other.
JACOB  LAWRENCE,  Burser in His Majesties Royal Navy
MARY  LAWRENCE  daughter of the said JACOB  LAWRENCE
EIZABETH  WORDEN, sister of  LAWRENCE  WORDEN

This Will was proved at London the 2nd day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight before the Right Hon. Sir  WILLIAM  WYNNE  SMYTHE, Dr. of Law,  Master Keeper of Commxxx of the Perogative Court of Cantebury lawfully executed by the xxx of  WILLIAM  VALLACK  Esq., and  JUDITH  VALLACK, the daughter of the deceased and two of the Executors named in the said will to whom admin. was granted of all and singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said departed having been first sworn in duly to administer xxx  reserved of xxx xxx to  ELIAS  LAWRENCE   Esq., the xxx Executor named in the said xxx at or shall apply xxx xxfor the same.
End,