Will of James Pitts
Occupation
- 414: Status only, no stated occupation. Use for Widow, Gentleman, Esquire, Indweller etc., if no occupation is given.
Location
Esquire of Henley
| Document reference: | TNA PROB 11/1250 |
| First date: | 23 October 1790 |
| Probate date: | 14 October 1794 |
| Probate court: | London |
Executors, Witnesses and Court Officials etc.
| Executor: | Richard Pope |
| (Surgeon, of Henley) | |
| Executor: | Francis Ruddle |
| (stockbroker, of Queen Square, Bloomsbury, London) | |
| Witness: | William Shipmer |
| Witness: | Elizabeth Lee |
| Witness: | Charles Lee |
| Court Official: | George Harris |
| Other: | Samuel Harman |
| (Linen Draper, of Tavistock Street, Covent Garden: appeared to authenticate style and manner of writing in Codicils) | |
| Other: | William Cook |
| (Carrier, of Henley: appeared to authenticate style and manner of writing in Codicils) |
Bequests
To: Ann Pitts (Great neice)
To Ann Pitts, daughter of my late nephew James Pitts, two hundred pounds.
Bequest Types
Names
To: John Humphrys; Richard Humphrys (Step son)
To my late wife's two sons, John and Richard Humphrys, my executors to provide sufficient Bank Annuities out of my estate to fulfil the provisions of her Marriage Contract.
Bequest Types
Names
To: Richard Pope
To Richard Pope, senior, surgeon of Henley, my freehold estates in Countess's Garden and Abrahams, Hog Lane, Henley; and after the death of my servant Elizabeth Harman, my two houses in Phillis Court Lane; my freehold estate in Fingest, in the occupation of William Denham and Richard East, and my woodland; an annuity of ten pounds per annum on the death of Ann Harman; the dividends on forty pounds Annuities on the death of Elizabeth Harman; one hundred pounds for his trouble as my executor, and all the residue of my estate.
Bequest Types
Location of property
Names
To: Deborah Pope
To Mrs Deborah Pope, all my unbequeathed plate; and to her and Richard Pope's daughter, Deborah, my gold watch with the gold case.
Bequest Types
Names
To: Richard Pope
To Richard Pope junior, my gold studs.
Bequest Types
Names
To: Mary Frewin; Jane Birch
To Mrs. Mary Frewin, widow of Brightwell, Berks and Mrs. Jane Birch, widow of Satwell, Berks, sisters, fifty pounds each
Bequest Types
Names
To: William Clenton
To William Clenton, of Bagshot, Surrey, ten guineas
Bequest Types
Names
To: Bateman
To Mrs. Bateman, of Henley, widow of Nathaniel Bateman, twenty guineas
Bequest Types
Names
To: Elizabeth Harman (Servant)
To my servant, Elizabeth Harman, my two houses and gardens in Phyllis Court Lane, for her lifetime but she has to insure them, and on her death to pass to Richard Pope Senior; the dividends from forty pounds Bank Annuities in trust and on her death to pass to Richard Pope Senior; one hundred pounds; all my linen clothes; all my beds and bedding plus two pairs of servants' sheets; all the contents and furniture in the front and back chambers; my smallest gold watch in the shagreen case; six table spoons with a crest; one silver pint mug with cypher and crest; and one silver half pint mug with cypher and crest.
Bequest Types
Location of property
Names
To: Thomas Harman (Servant)
To Thomas Harman, my servant, all my clothes, except my linen; silver spurs; one hundred pounds provided that he is still employed by me at my death otherwise all the above are revoked and he shall receive ten guineas only. An additional one hundred pounds to him [by codicil]
Bequest Types
Names
To: Christ Hospital
To Christ Hospital, London, one thousand pounds in Bank Annuities
Bequest Types
Names
To: St. Bartholomew's Hospital
To St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, five hundred pounds in Bank Annuities
Bequest Types
Names
To: St. Luke's Hospital
To St. Luke's Hospital for Lunatics,London, eight hundred pounds in Bank Annuities
Bequest Types
Names
To: Bethlem & Bridewell Hospitals
To Bethlem & Bridewell Hospitals, London, five hundred pounds in Bank Annuities
Bequest Types
Names
To: Benjamin Goodwin
To Benjamin Goodwin, of Bix, road worker, five shillings per week for life
Bequest Types
Names
To: Francis Ruddle
To Francis Ruddle, Stock broker of London, one hundred pounds for his trouble as executor
Bequest Types
Names
Transcript
| 0001: | In the Name of God Amen |
| 0002: | I James Pitts of Henley upon Thames in the County |
| 0003: | of Oxford being of sound Mind and Memory do make |
| 0004: | and Declare this my last Will and Testament in the |
| 0005: | manner following (that is to say) after the payment |
| 0006: | of my Debts Legacies and Funeral Expences also |
| 0007: | allowing my Executors hereinafter named all Disbursem[en]ts |
| 0008: | and Expences attending the Execution of this my Will I |
| 0009: | Give and Bequeath all my Real and Personal Estate |
| 0010: | and Effects wheresoever and of what kind soever in |
| 0011: | manner following Imprimis in my Marriage |
| 0012: | settlement with Elizabeth my late wife Deceased provision |
| 0013: | is there made on her two Sons John and Richard |
| 0014: | Humphrys after my Decease referrence being thereunto |
| 0015: | had will more fully appear desiring my Executors to |
| 0016: | sell out a sufficient Sum of Bank Annuities standing |
| 0017: | in my Name as may be necessary to Discharge the said |
| 0018: | Marriage Contract I Give [↑to] the Governors and Treasurer |
| 0019: | of Christ Hospital in London for the time being one |
| 0020: | thousand Pounds in reduced Bank Annuities standing |
| 0021: | in my Name to be by them applied for the use and |
| 0022: | benefit of the said Charity for ever I Give to the |
| 0023: | Treasurer and Governors of Saint Bartholemews |
| 0024: | Hospital London for the time being five hundred |
| 0025: | Pounds [↑in the] three per Cent reduced Bank Annuities |
| 0026: | standing in my Name to be applyed [↑by them] for the use and |
| 0027: | benefit of those unfortunate objects for ever I |
| 0028: | Give to Ann Pitts the Daughter of my late Nephew |
| 0029: | James Pitts a Sum Issuing out of my Personal Estate |
| 0030: | as may be necessary to settle upon her for her own |
| 0031: | Emolument out of my Bank Securities that I may be |
| 0032: | Possessed of standing in my Name at the time of my |
| 0033: | Decease [↑a Sum] as may be equal in value to purchase |
| 0034: | one thousand Pounds in the three per Cent reduced |
| 0035: | Bank Annuities at the time the Transfer is made |
| 0036: | by my Executors within the space of three Months |
| 0037: | after my Decease the Stock to be a nominal one |
| 0038: | thousand Pounds [the remainder of this line and part |
| 0039: | of the next has either been erased or left blank] |
| 0040: | which at present is thirty pounds per Annum |
| 0041: | I appoint Mr Rich[ar]d Pope Sen[io]r Surgeon in Henley with |
| 0042: | Mr Francis Ruddle of Queen Square Bloomsbury in |
| 0043: | London Stock Broker Executors of this my Will I direct that |
| 0044: | one Executor shall not be liable or answerable for any |
| 0045: | Act one for the other in the Execution of it I also Give to |
| 0046: | each of my Executors one hundred Pounds for their Trouble |
| 0047: | which it may Cause em I give to Mrs Mary Frewin of |
| 0048: | Brightwell Widow to Mrs Jane Birch of Satwell Widow |
| 0049: | both Sisters in the County of Berks to each of them |
| 0050: | Fifty pounds I Give to Mr Will[ia]m Clenton of Bagshot |
| 0051: | in the County of Surrey ten Guineas I Give to Mrs |
| 0052: | Bateman resident in Henley the Widow of Mr Nath[aniel] |
| 0053: | Bateman twenty Guineas I Give to my Executor Mr |
| 0054: | Richard Pope Sen[io]r all and every part with the |
| 0055: | appurt[enance]s of my Freehold Estates in Henley as occupied |
| 0056: | by myself comprising my Dwelling House Countess's |
| 0057: | Garden and Abrahams in Hog Lane to have |
| 0058: | Immediate Possession thereof after my Decease except |
| 0059: | those two Houses and Gardens situate in Phillis Court |
| 0060: | Lane bequeathed to Eliz[abeth] Harman during her Life |
| 0061: | and after her Decease the whole to become fully the |
| 0062: | Property of the said Richard Pope to him his Heirs and |
| 0063: | Assigns for ever subject nevertheless Provided the said Richard |
| 0064: | Pope pay unto my Servant Ann Harman an Annuity |
| 0065: | of ten Pounds P[e]r Annum in equal half yearly |
| 0066: | Payments during her natural Life and after her |
| 0067: | Decease I Give the said Annuity of ten Pounds |
| 0068: | P[e]r Annum to the said Rich[ar]d Pope to him his Heirs |
| 0069: | and Assigns for ever I Give to Mr Rich[ar]d Pope Sen[io]r |
| 0070: | all and every part with the Appurtenances of my |
| 0071: | Freehold Estate at Fingest in the County of Bucks |
| 0072: | in the Occupation of William Denham and Richard |
| 0073: | East as Tenants therein also the Wood Land in my |
| 0074: | own Possession to the said Richard Pope to him his |
| 0075: | Heirs and Assigns for ever I Give to my Executors Mr |
| 0076: | Richard Pope and Mr Francis Ruddle Forty Pounds |
| 0077: | P[e]r Annum part of my long Bank Annuities In |
| 0078: | Trust nevertheless that my said Executors invest |
| 0079: | within two Months after my Decease unto my |
| 0080: | Servant Elizabeth Harman the said Forty Pounds |
| 0081: | P[e]r Annum long Bank Annuities in order she |
| 0082: | may receive the Dividends and produce thereof as |
| 0083: | they shall become due for her sole benefit and support |
| 0084: | during the Term of her natural Life and after her |
| 0085: | Decease I Give the said Forty Pounds per Annum |
| 0086: | in Bank long Annuities |
| 0087: | Pope for the full Term of their Establishment to him |
| 0088: | and his Heirs I Give unto the said Elizabeth Harman |
| 0089: | one hundred Pounds also to the said Elizabeth all |
| 0090: | my Linen Wearing Apparel also all the Beds and |
| 0091: | Bedding with two additional pair of Servants sheets |
| 0092: | with all the Goods and Furniture in the Front and |
| 0093: | Back Chamber which she and the Servants usually |
| 0094: | lieth in I Give to the said Elizabeth my smallest |
| 0095: | Gold watch in a Shagreen Case studded with Gold |
| 0096: | N??? and a green Case belonging to it also six table |
| 0097: | spoons with my Crest a storke also one silver Pint |
| 0098: | Mug with a Cypher F.P.S. and the Crest a Stork |
| 0099: | also one Silver 1/2 pint Mug with the same Cypher and |
| 0100: | Crest Also I Give to the said Elizabeth Harman |
| 0101: | after my Decease my two Freehold Houses in Phillis |
| 0102: | Court Lane Henley with all the Garden Ground and |
| 0103: | Appurt[enance]s thereunto belonging fixtures excepted being |
| 0104: | only for her Life she keeping the same insured |
| 0105: | Annually during her Life and after her Decease I |
| 0106: | Give the aforesaid two Houses and the whole Premises |
| 0107: | belonging there |
| 0108: | Heirs and Assigns for ever I Give to my Servant |
| 0109: | Thomas Harman one hundred Pounds also to the |
| 0110: | said Thomas all my Wearing Apparel in general |
| 0111: | except the Linen already bequeathed to Eliz[abeth] Harman |
| 0112: | also my Silver Spurs I Give to my Servant Ann |
| 0113: | Harman one hundred Pounds Also to the said Ann |
| 0114: | my Metal Watch No. 1321 by Bayley [↑also one Silver half |
| 0115: | pint Mug a Crest with a[ ???] Also three Silver |
| 0116: | Table Spoons tied together and marked for her all |
| 0117: | the Bequests to Thomas and Ann Harman I Give |
| 0118: | Conditionally provided that if either or both the said |
| 0119: | Thomas or Ann should not be living in my Service |
| 0120: | at the time of my Decease in such Case I revoke all |
| 0121: | the Legacies given to either of them that shall have |
| 0122: | Quitted my Service at the time of my Decease and |
| 0123: | not otherwise [↑and] which ever Servant leaves me before |
| 0124: | my Exit happens then I Give to Thomas or Ann |
| 0125: | ten Guineas for their Faithful Service desiring the |
| 0126: | pecuniary Legacies to my Servants may be paid |
| 0127: | them within two Months after my Decease I Give to |
| 0128: | Mrs Deborah Pope in Henley all my unbequeathed |
| 0129: | Plate also to Miss Deborah Pope the Daughter of |
| 0130: | Mr Rich[ar]d Pope my Gold watch (by Goode) with a |
| 0131: | Gold engraved Case and a shagreen Case to be |
| 0132: | given to her at the Discretion of her Mother I Give |
| 0133: | to Mr Rich[ar]d Pope Jun[io]r my Gold Studs as to [↑the] rest |
| 0134: | and Residue of all my Effects both Real and |
| 0135: | Personal which I am interested in or may be entitled |
| 0136: | unto wheresoever or of what kind soever I Give |
| 0137: | to Mr Rich[ar]d Pope Sen[io]r to him his Heirs and Assigns |
| 0138: | for ever Lastly revoking all Wills by me heretofore |
| 0139: | made I declare this to be my last Will and Testament |
| 0140: | made this twenty third Day of October One thousand |
| 0141: | seven hundred and ninety Witness my hand and Seal |
| 0142: | all the Words interlined by myself in page 1,2,3 |
| 0143: | |
| 0144: | James Pitts [Seal] |
| 0145: | |
| 0146: | Signed Sealed Published and Declared |
| 0147: | by the said James Pitts the Testator as and for his last |
| 0148: | Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his |
| 0149: | Desire in the presence of each other have subscribed |
| 0150: | our names as Witnesses thereto |
| 0151: | |
| 0152: | Elizabeth Lee |
| 0153: | W[illia]m Shipmer |
| 0154: | Charles Lee |
| 0155: | |
| 0156: | I James Pitts of |
| 0157: | Henley Upon Thames in the County of Oxford make |
| 0158: | this as a Codicil to my last Will and Testament |
| 0159: | bearing Date the twenty third Day of October one |
| 0160: | thousand seven hundred and ninety desiring the same |
| 0161: | may be taken and Considered as part thereof also may |
| 0162: | be determinable absolutely I hereby revoke the Legacy |
| 0163: | given to Ann Pitts before mentioned of a sum as might |
| 0164: | be sufficient to purchase for her own Emolument thirty |
| 0165: | Pounds P[e]r Annum in the three per Cent Bank Annuities |
| 0166: | and as I apprehend a Marriage has taken place |
| 0167: | some time since and having had no confirmation of such |
| 0168: | an event in such Case I now Give unto the said Ann |
| 0169: | Pitts or by any other Name she may bear two |
| 0170: | hundred Pounds in lieu of the before mentioned Legacy |
| 0171: | of thirty Pounds P[e]r Annum in Bank Annuities |
| 0172: | which I desire my Executors to pay her within |
| 0173: | three Months after my Decease Witness my hand and |
| 0174: | Seal this eighth Day of June one thousand seven |
| 0175: | hundred and ninety one |
| 0176: | James Pitts [Seal] |
| 0177: | |
| 0178: | I Give unto my Servant Thomas Harman |
| 0179: | one hundred Pounds in addition to a former bequest |
| 0180: | in my Will making in the whole two hundred Pounds |
| 0181: | to the said Thomas Harman Witness my hand and |
| 0182: | Seal this tenth Day of October one thousand seven |
| 0183: | hundred and ninety one |
| 0184: | James Pitts [Seal] |
| 0185: | |
| 0186: | I Give unto the President Treasurer and |
| 0187: | Governors of Bethlem and Bridewell Hospitals London |
| 0188: | for the time being Five hundred Pounds in |
| 0189: | Cent reduced Bank Annuities standing in my Name to |
| 0190: | be by them applied wholly to the use and benefit of |
| 0191: | those unhappy objects confined in Bethlem Hospital |
| 0192: | for ever As Witness my hand and Seal this tenth Day of |
| 0193: | November one thousand seven hundred and ninety |
| 0194: | one |
| 0195: | |
| 0196: | James Pitts [Seal] |
| 0197: | I Give and Bequeath unto the Treasurer |
| 0198: | & Governors for the time being of an Hospital called |
| 0199: | St Lukes Hospital in London for Lunaticks the Sum |
| 0200: | of Five hundred Pounds in |
| 0201: | Consolidated Bank Annuities standing in my Name |
| 0202: | to be by them applied towards the Maintenance |
| 0203: | and support of the Incurables in the said Hospital |
| 0204: | for ever As Witness my hand and Seal this sixth Day |
| 0205: | of January one thousand seven hundred and ninety |
| 0206: | two |
| 0207: | |
| 0208: | James Pitts [Seal] |
| 0209: | |
| 0210: | I Give unto my Executors for the benefit |
| 0211: | of Benj[amin] Goodwin of the Parish of Bix Oxon Labourer |
| 0212: | on the Roads five Shillings per Week to be paid him |
| 0213: | punctually during his natural Life and after his |
| 0214: | Decease the above Sum to fall into my Residuum |
| 0215: | Estate - Dated this sixth day of January one thousand seven |
| 0216: | hundred and ninety two |
| 0217: | James Pitts [Seal] |
| 0218: | |
| 0219: | I Give and Bequeath unto the Treasurer |
| 0220: | and Governors for the time being of Saint Lukes |
| 0221: | Hospital in London for Lunaticks three hundred Pounds |
| 0222: | in the three Per Cent Consolidated Bank Annuities |
| 0223: | standing in my Name in addition to a former Legacy |
| 0224: | of Five hundred Pounds to the same Charity under a |
| 0225: | Limitation and Provision as my desire is the above |
| 0226: | may be applied solely towards the Relief and benefit |
| 0227: | of such Patients as may be so fortunate to meet w[i]th |
| 0228: | success to be cured and Discharged in the said Hospital |
| 0229: | for ever As Witness my hand and Seal this tenth |
| 0230: | Day of March one thousand seven hundred and ninety |
| 0231: | two |
| 0232: | James Pitts [Seal] |
| 0233: | 7th Oct[ober] 1794 |
| 0234: | Appeared Personally |
| 0235: | Samuel Harman of Tavistock Street in the Parish of Saint |
| 0236: | Paul Covent Garden in the County of Middlesex Linen |
| 0237: | Draper and William Cook of Henley in the County of |
| 0238: | Oxford Carrier and made oath that they knew and were |
| 0239: | well acquainted with James Pitts late of Henly Upon |
| 0240: | Thames in the County of Oxford Esquire Deceased and |
| 0241: | with his manner and Character of handwriting and |
| 0242: | subscription having frequently seen him write and |
| 0243: | subscribe his name & having now with Care and |
| 0244: | attention Viewed and perused the last Will and Testament |
| 0245: | and six Codicils of the said Deceased the first Codicil |
| 0246: | begining "I James Pitts of Henley upon Thames |
| 0247: | in the County of Oxford" ending "Witness my hand and |
| 0248: | Seal this eighth Day of June one thousand seven hundred |
| 0249: | and ninety one" and thus subscribed "James Pitts" the |
| 0250: | second Codicil begining "I Give unto my Servant Thomas |
| 0251: | Harman" ending "witness my hand and Seal this tenth |
| 0252: | Day of October one thousand seven hundred and ninety one" |
| 0253: | and thus subscribed "James Pitts" the third Codicil begining |
| 0254: | "I Give unto the President Treasurer and Governors |
| 0255: | of Bethlem and Bridewell Hospitals London" ending thus |
| 0256: | "as witness my hand and Seal this tenth Day of November |
| 0257: | one thousand seven hundred and ninety one" and thus |
| 0258: | subscribed "James Pitts" the Fourth of the said Codicils |
| 0259: | begining thus "I Give and Bequeath unto the Treasurer |
| 0260: | and Governors for the time being of an Hospital called |
| 0261: | St Lukes Hospital in London" ending as Witness my hand |
| 0262: | and Seal this sixth Day of January one thousand seven |
| 0263: | hundred and ninety two" and thus subscribed " James |
| 0264: | Pitts" the Fifth of the said Codicils beginning "I Give |
| 0265: | unto my Executors" ending "Dated this sixth Day of |
| 0266: | January one thousand seven hundred and ninety two" |
| 0267: | and thus subscribed "James Pitts" the sixth of the said |
| 0268: | Codicils beginning thus "I Give and Bequeath unto the |
| 0269: | Treasurer and Governors for the time being of Saint |
| 0270: | Lukes Hospital in London" ending "as Witness my hand |
| 0271: | and Seal this tenth Day of March one thousand seven |
| 0272: | hundred and ninety two" and thus subscribed "James |
| 0273: | Pitts" and also having viewed the words "for the time |
| 0274: | being" written between the twentieth and twenty first |
| 0275: | lines of the first side of the aforesaid Will of the said |
| 0276: | Deceased the words "with the Appurtenances" written |
| 0277: | between the 11th & 12th lines [↑of the second side] of the said Will the words |
| 0278: | "after my Decease" written between the Fourteenth and |
| 0279: | Fifteenth lines of the said side the words to him "his |
| 0280: | Heirs & Assigns" written between the 37 & 38 lines of the |
| 0281: | said side and the Words "to him and his Heirs" written |
| 0282: | between the 3rd and 4th lines of the third side of the said |
| 0283: | will they the Appearers say they do verily and in their |
| 0284: | Consciences believe the whole series and contents of the |
| 0285: | aforesaid six Codicils beginning ending and subscribed as |
| 0286: | aforesaid and also the aforesaid recited words written |
| 0287: | in the last Will and Testament of the said James |
| 0288: | Pitts to be all of the proper handwriting of him the said |
| 0289: | James Pitts Esquire Deceased |
| 0290: | |
| 0291: | S Harman |
| 0292: | William Cook |
| 0293: | |
| 0294: | same Day the said Samuel Harman & William Cook |
| 0295: | were duly sworn to the Truth of the above Affadavit |
| 0296: | before me |
| 0297: | |
| 0298: | J Fisher Sur[ro]gate Pst |
| 0299: | Henry Stevens Not[ar]y Pub[lic] |
Preparation of this entry
| Post status: | Published |
| Transcript by: | the author |
| Author: | Hilary Fisher |
| Checked by: | Cynthia Robinson |
| Date posted: | 12th November 2013 |
| Date modified: | 07th May 2014 |