Rushden Research Group: will John Church 1748 Wymington

Transcribed by E G Parker, Orewa, New Zealand, 28 Jan 2010

John Church – will 1747/8

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I John Church of Wimmington in the County of
Bedford Grazier being sick and infirm of Body but thanks be to God of a sound and disposing mind and memory Do
this Eighteenth day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand Sevenhundred & forty Seven make this my
last Will and Testament in Manner following (that is to say) First and principally I comend my Soul to Almighty
God hoping in & by the meritorious Death and Passion of my Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to receive free
pardon & foregiveness of my Sins and my Body I comitt to the Earth to be decently interred at the direction of my Executors
hereinafter named and as for this Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I give and dispose thereof as
follows (that is to say) first my Will is and I do hereby direct that all my Just Debts and Funeral Expences be Justly paid &
discharged Also I give to my loving Sons and Daughter John Church Israel Church and Mary Stirgis one shilling apiece &
my blessing I having before provided for them Also I give and devise all that my Tenement now in the tenure or ….
occupation of John Wiles his assignee or assignees Standing & being in Wimmington aforesaid with the appurtenances
unto my loving Wife Ann Church for and during the term of her Natural life and from and after her decease then unto my
Loving Son William Church his heirs & assignes forever Also I give and devise all that my Cottage or Tenement
Wherein the said William Church now dwells in Wimmington aforesaid with the Orchard Garden Yard Barn &
Buildings & Common of pasture for one Cow and five Sheep thereto belonging and also all other my Lands Tenements &
heraditaments with their & every of their appurtenances Situate & being in Wimmington aforesaid …….
elsewhere in the Said County of Bedford unto my Said loving Wife Ann Church for & during the term of her
Natural life & from and after her decease Then unto my loving Son Thomas Church his heirs & assignes forever
Also all the rest & residue of my Goods Chattells& Personal Estate whatsoever & wheresoever I give and Bequeath
unto my Said Son Thomas Church & I do hereby make constitute and appoint him my Said Son Thomas Church full
& Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament And my Will further is & I do hereby direct that my said Son
Thomas Church Shall pay or cause to be paid unto my loving Wife Ann Church the Sum of five pounds of good and
Lawfull money of Great Britain ……….. yearly & every year during her natural life at four usual feasts or days
of payment in every year (that is to say) the feast of the annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary the feast of Saint John
the Baptist the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel and the feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle and the first payment
thereof to be made on the first of the feasts or days of payment as shall next happen after my Death And also my
Will further is & I do hereby direct that the Said yearly sum of five pounds Shall be paid unto my Said loving Wife without
any Deduction or abatement for Kings Tax or otherwise howsoever and my Will further is and I do hereby direct that the
Said Cottage or Tenement Orchard Garden Yard Barns Buildings & Commons & my other Lands Tenements and heraditaments
with their & every of their Appurtenances So given & devised (after the Death of my Said Wife) unto my Said Son Thomas
Church as aforesaid Shall Be (after my Wifes decease) Charged & Chargeable with the payment of the Said five pounds
Yearly unto my Said Wife as aforesaid and also my Will further is and I do hereby direct that my Said Son Thomas Church
shall within one month after my Death enter into One Bond or Obligation in usual form unto my Said Wife Ann Church in the
Penal Sum of One Hundred pounds Conditioned for the payment of the Said yearly sum of five pounds unto my Said Wife on
Such days & times & in Such manner & form as I have herein before directed & appointed the same But in Case my
Said Son Thomas Church Shall neglect or refuse to enter into Such Bond or Obligation ^ Condition for payment of the Said
yearly sum of five pounds as aforesaid That then & in Such Case or Cases I do hereby Give & devise and give & bequeath
all and whatsoever I have hereintofore given & devised & given & bequeathed to my Said Son Thomas Church his heirs
& Assignes forever unto my Said loving Wife her heirs Executors Administrators & Assigns anything herein contained to the
Contrary notwithstanding also I do hereby revoke all former Wills by me made In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and Seal the day & year first above written.

The mark of
John Church

NOTE. His wife Ann (nee Bayes) was buried on 23Jan 1747/8 four days prior to John buried on 27Jan 1747/8, both at Wymington.

(Reverse)
Signed Sealed published and declared by the within named
John Church the Testator to be his last Will and Testament in the
presence of us Three whom he desired to attest the same and who
all set our hands as Witnesses hereto in his presence and the Words
(with conditions) and the Word (and) being all first interaligned of
all which we are Witnesses
Wm Watford
Joseph Weed
Thomas Law

Proving of the Will of JOHN CHURCH 30 Jan 1747/8

This Will Proved on the thirtieth day of January
in the Year of Our Lord (English Style) 1747 Before the Revd
Mr Robert Lambe Clerk Surrogate to the Revd & Worshipfull
John Taylor Clerk M.A. Commissary & Archdeacon of the Arch-
¬deaconry of Bedd lawfully constituted & by him approved and
allowed off And for the Validity of the sd Will lawfully presented
& declared And the burthen of the execution of the said Will was
& is Comitted & granted Unto Thomas Church Son of the decd as
sole Exr named in the said Will being first sworn saveing the
right of everyone.
30Janry1747
John Church
Wymington
30thJanry1747
The Executor within named was
Sworn according to Law
Before Me
Robt Lambe Surr:

Wills - Master Index

Bedfordshire Record Office Ref. ABP/W 1747-48/57