William Campion - Will 1741

In the name of God Amen I William Campion of Rushden in the County Northampton Gentleman being sick and infirm of Body but thanks be to God of a sound and disposeing mind and memory Doe this seventeenth day of December in the yeare of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty make constitute and appoint this my last will and testament in Manner and form following that is to say first and principally I commend my Soul to the mercy of Almighty God hopeing through the Meritts and Mediation of my blessed Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ to receive free pardon and forgiveness of my sins and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently Interred at the discretion of my Executor hereinafter named and as for this worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased Almighty 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 funerall Expenses be justly paid and discharged Also I give and devise all my Messuages Cottages Closes Lands Tenements and hereditaments with their and every of their Appurtenances situate standing lyeing and being in Sharnbrook in the [county of Bedford …] with for and dureing the Term of her naturall life and from and after her decease then I give and devise the same unto my naturall son William Campion his heirs and assignes forever Also I give and devise unto my said loveing wife for and dureing the term of her naturall life one annuity or yearly rent charge of two pounds to be I living out and charged upon all my Freehold Coppyhold and Bondhold Messuages Cottages Closes Lands Tenements and hereditaments with their and every of their Appurtenances situate standing lyeing and being in Rushden aforesaid and to be paid unto her my said wife yearly and every year by equall portions on two usuall feasts or days of  payment that is to say the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle and the feast of St. John Baptist and the first payment thereof to be made on the first of the same feasts or days as shall next happen after my decease And my will is and I doe hereby direct that all the same annuity and yearly rent charge and every part thereof shall be as aforesaid payed without any Manner of deduction or abatement thereof or thereout to be made of or for my taxes charges payments billing or things whatsoever And my will also is and I doe hereby direct that in Case any part of the said annuity or yearly rent charge shall be behind and unpaid by the space of twenty days after any of the said feasts or days of payment whereon the same ought to be paid as aforesaid the same being lawfully demanded then and in every or any such Case or Cases it shall and may be lawfull to and for my said wife into and upon all or any of my same Messuages Cottages Closes Lands Tenements and hereditaments with their and every of their Appurtenances to enter and the same to have hold and Enjoy and receive take and enjoy the rents issues and profitts thereof untill therewith and thereby all such of the said annuity or yearly rent charge as shall be so behind and also such Charges and Expenses as shall be concerning the same shall be discharged Also I give and devise all my same Messuages Cottages Closes Lands Tenements and hereditaments with their and every of their Appurtenances situate standing lyeing and being in Rushden aforesaid (being charged and chargeable and subject and liable to the said annuity or yearly rent charge as aforesaid) unto the said William Campion his heirs and assignes forever Also I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter Hannah Campion the summe of one hundred pounds to be paid to her imediately after my death Also I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter Elizabeth the wife of William Blossom of Rushden asforesaid Blacksmith the sume of seventy four pounds to be paid to her imediately after my death Also I give and bequeath unto my Grandson William Blossom the summe of five pounds to be paid to him imediately after my death Also I give to my daughter Susannah Hurth the sume of two shillings and six pence and my will is and I do hereby charge all my real Cotage  in Rushden aforesaid [& in two] equall …. with the payment of the aforementioned bequests All the rest and residue of my Goods Chattells and personall Estate whatsoever and wheresoever I give and bequeath unto the said William Campion And I do hereby make constitute him the said William Campion sole Executor of this my last will and Testament And I do hereby revoke all former wills by me made In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written

                                                                                    the mark   X   of William Campion

Signed sealed published and declared by the above named
William Campion the Testator to be his last will and testament
in the presence of us three whom he desired to attest the same
and who sett our hands as witnesses hereto his presence
And the words (and my will is and I do hereby charge all my real Estate in Rushden
aforesaid and my personall Estate with the payment of the above  mentioned legacys)
being first mentioned of all which we are witnesses

Samel Lantoff

the mark of    X    Lews Lantoff

Robert Stevens    

3 June 1741 William Campion the sole Executor named in the above written will was sworn well and faithfully to fulfil the same

            before me  J Browne  

NRO Ref: N Will 03 Jun 1741 Wm Campion