Providing historical probate information for people from the Henley area

Will of John Stevens

Occupation

Location

Maltster of Henley upon Thames

Document reference: TNA PROB 11/616
First date: 25 June 1727
Probate date: 15 July 1727
Probate court: London

Executors, Witnesses and Court Officials etc.

Other: Richard Stevens
(Father of testator. Trustee and guardian for testator's children and their inheritance)
Other: John Bleckhall
(Brother in Law of Testator. Trustee and guardian of testator's children and ther inheritance)
Executrix: Elizabeth Stevens
(Wife of Testator)
Witness: John Laxton
Witness: George Lake
Witness: Benjamin Bradshaw
Witness: Jonathan Sayer
Court Official: William Strahan
(Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Court of Canterbury)
Court Official: John Bettesworth
(Doctor of Laws of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury)

Bequests

To: Poor

I give to the poor of the parish of Henley five pounds to be distributed amongst them either in bread or money, at the discretion of my Executrix and Trustees  

Bequest Types

Location of property

To: Elizabeth Stevens (Wife)

I give to my wife Elizabeth all my household goods, except my plate which she shall have the use of for and during her natural life

Bequest Types

Names

To: Richard Stevens; Daniell Stevens; Elizabeth Stevens; Mary Stevens (Children)

The residue of my personal estate (including the plate of which my wife has the use during her lifetime) I give to my children Richard, Daniell, Elizabeth and Mary in equal shares. If any of them dies before reaching the age of twenty one or marrying, his or her share is equally divided amongst the survivors.  

Bequest Types

Names

To: John Stevens (Son)

I give to my eldest son John forty pounds to be paid to him when he reaches the age of twenty one. I give him no more because he is otherwise well provided for  

Bequest Types

Names

Transcript

0001: In the Name of God Amen
0002: I John Stevens of Henley upon Thames in the County of Oxon
0003: Malster being sick and weak but of sound mind and Understanding
0004: Do make publish and Declare this my last Will and Testament in
0005: manner and Form Following And first and principally I commend
0006: my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator trusting through
0007: the merits and mediation of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to have
0008: remission of all my Sins and to be made partaker of Everlasting Life and
0009: my body I committ to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion
0010: of my Executrix herein after named and as for my Worldly Estate which
0011: the Lord hath been pleased to bestow upon me I give and dispose
0012: thereof as followeth Impr[im]is I give to the poor of the parish of Henley
0013: aforesaid the sum[m] of Five pounds to be given and distributed to and amongst
0014: them either in Bread or money by and at the discretion of my Executrix
0015: and Trustees herein after named Item I give unto my dear Wife Elizabeth
0016: all my houshold Goods of what nature or kind soever except only my
0017: plate which my will is She shall have the use of for and during her
0018: naturall Life and after her decease my Will is that the same goe with
0019: the residue of my personall Estate herein after given to four of my
0020: Children I constitute and Appoint my said loving Wife full and Sole
0021: Executrix of this my last Will and Testament All the rest residue and
0022: remainder of my personall Estate whatsoever and wheresoever I give
0023: Devise and bequeath unto my beloved children Richard Daniell
0024: Elizabeth and Mary to be Equally divided between them Share and
0025: Share alike and if any or either of my said Four children shall happen
0026: to dye before attaining their respective Ages of one and twenty Years
0027: or days of marriage then my Will is that the Share and part of him
0028: her and them so dyeing shall go to the Survivors and Survivor of them
0029: Item I give and bequeath unto my Eldest Son John the Sum of Forty
0030: pounds to be paid unto him at his attaining the Age of one and
0031: twenty Years and I give him no more because he is otherwise well
0032: provided for Item I constitute and appoint my honoured Father Mr
0033: Richard Stevens and my loving Brother in Law Mr John Bleckhall
0034: to be Guardians and Trustees of and for all my said children to whose
0035: care and management I committ not only my said children but also
0036: what I have herein before given to them desiring them to Improve
0037: what I have herein before given to my said children and to dispose of
0038: the same at Interest or in the way of Trade or placing them out
0039: Apprentices or otherwise as my said Trustees or the Survivor of them
0040: shall think fitting And my Will is that my said Trustees or either of
0041: them shall not be answerable the one for the other or for the Acts
0042: neglects receipts or Defaults the one of the other nor for any money
0043: which may happen to be lost at Interest or in trade or otherwise but
0044: for their respective Acts neglects receipts and defaults only and that
0045: they shall reimburse and pay unto themselves all such moneys cost
0046: and charges as they shall respectively lay out pay or disburse in
0047: respect of this my Will or the Trust hereby in them reposed or by reason
0048: or means of the same I revoke all Wills by me heretofore made or
0049: published and Declare this to be my last Will and Testament only
0050: In Testimony whereof I the said John Stevens the Testator have
0051: hereunto set my hand and Seal the Five and twentieth day of June
0052: in the Year of our Lord God One thousand Seven hundred twenty and
0053: seven
0054:
0055: Jno Stevens
0056:
0057: Signed Sealed published and declared by the
0058: Testator John Stevens as and for his last Will and Testament in the
0059: presence of us who Subscribed our names as Witnesses in his presence
0060:
0061: John Laxton
0062: George Lake
0063: Benj[amin] Bradshaw
0064: Jona[than] Sayer

Preparation of this entry

Post status: Published
Transcript by: the author
Author: Tony Lynch
Checked by: Cynthia Robinson
Date posted: 28th February 2013
Date modified: 20th June 2014