Providing historical probate information for people from the Henley area
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Will of John Clerke

Occupation

  • 414: Status only, no stated occupation. Use for Widow, Gentleman, Esquire, Indweller etc., if no occupation is given.

Location

Gentleman of Henley upon Thames

Document reference: TNA PROB 11/973
First date: 06 February 1764
Probate date: 19 December 1771
Probate court: London

Executors, Witnesses and Court Officials etc.

Executrix: Ann Clerke
Relationship: Niece
Witness: Edward Atkins
Relationship: Servant
(Servant to testator's brother, Edward Clerke)
Witness: William Ludlow
Witness: Thomas Greenwood
(Testator's servant)
Court Official: George Harris
Court Official: George Hay

Bequests

To: Ann Clerke (Wife)

All my estate both real and personal in trust to my wife for her to sell those parts as required in order to pay my debts, particularly the Bond debt due to my brother Edward Clerke, and other expenses and legacies. The income from the remainder of my estates to my wife for her life and after her death the residue of my estate to my nephew John Clerke, eldest son of my brother Edward Clerke.  If it has been necessary to sell the real and personal estate entirely, then the interest on any surplus, after payment of debts and expenses, to be paid to my wife for life and after her death the surplus to be paid my nephew John Clerke.

Bequest Types

Names

To: Edward Clerke (Brother)

To my brother Edward Clerke, five hundred pounds to be paid within a year of my death

Bequest Types

Names

To: Mary Morris

To Mary Morris, of Hadley, Barnet, two hundred pounds to be paid within a year of my death, if she is still living.  After the death of my wife, I give Mary Morris, if still living, the further sum of three hundred pounds to be paid within one year of my wife's death.

Bequest Types

Names

To: Thomas Prince (Friend)

To my friend, Thomas Prince, Woolen draper, one hundred pounds to be paid within one year of my death.

Bequest Types

Names

To: Edward Munday (Servant)

To my old honest servant Edward Munday,  an annuity of ten pounds per annum for his life to be paid in two half yearly payments on Lady Day and Michaelmas Day.

Bequest Types

Names

Transcript

0001: In the Name of God Amen
0002: I John Clerke of Aston Rowant in the County
0003: of Oxford Esquire now residing at Henley upon Thames
0004: in the said County being in perfect health do make
0005: and Ordain this my last Will and Testament in
0006: manner and form following In the first place
0007: from the Great Esteem regard and affection I have
0008: for my Dearly beloved Wife Ann Clerke I nominate
0009: and appoint her Sole Executrix of this my Will and
0010: Desire that she will in one Week after I am dead
0011: Cause my Body to be Buryed Decently and privately
0012: in the Church of Aston Rowant aforesaid or in any
0013: other Church or Church yard as she shall think
0014: most proper I Give Devise and bequeath unto my
0015: said Dear Wife Ann Clerke All my Estate and Estates
0016: both real and Personal of what nature or kind so ever
0017: whereof I shall Dye Seized and possessed or Intitled
0018: unto In Trust for her to Sell and Dispose of such part
0019: or parts of my said Real and Personal Estate and Estates
0020: as she shall judge fit and proper for the payment
0021: of my Just Debts and particularly all such Bond Debts
0022: as my Good Brother Mr. Edward Clerke is Bound for
0023: and with me and whatever other moneys I may be
0024: Indebted to him and for the Discharge of my Funeral
0025: Expences and the Legacys hereinafter mentioned and after
0026: payment thereof I Give Devise and bequeath the
0027: Rents Issues and profits of the rest and residue of my
0028: said real Estates and the use income and produce of
0029: such part or parts of my Said personal Estate as
0030: shall not or may not be sold and disposed of for and
0031: towards the payment of my Said Debts Funeral Expences
0032: and Legacys unto my Said Dear Wife Ann Clerke for
0033: and during the Term of he natural life and from
0034: and after her Decease I Give Devise and bequeath
0035: the said rest and residue of my said real Estate and
0036: such part and parts of my said personal Estate as
0037: shall not be sold as aforesaid unto my Nephew
0038: John Clerke the Eldest Son of my said [↑good] Brother Edward
0039: Clerke and to his Heirs Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns
0040: for ever And if it shall be thought proper to sell
0041: all my said Real and personal Estate and Estates
0042: for the ends and purposes aforesaid Then and in
0043: such Case I Give and bequeath the Interest and
0044: produce of the Overplus of the Moneys that shall
0045: arise and be made by......Sale of all my said
0046: Real and personal Estate and Estates after payment
0047: of my said Debts Funeral Expences and Legacys unto
0048: my said Dear Wife Ann Clerke for and during the
0049: Term of her natural life and after her decease I
0050: Give and bequeath the said Overplus of the Money
0051: arising by such Sale as aforesaid Unto my said
0052: Nephew John Clerke his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns
0053: for ever I Give and bequeath unto my said Dear
0054: Brother Edward Clerke his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors Five
0055: hundred pounds to be paid by my Said Executors within
0056: one year after my Decease if she can then conveniently
0057: pay it I Also Give and bequeath unto Mary Morris
0058: whom my Wife knows and who now lives at Hadley
0059: near Barnet in Middlesex the sum of Two hundred
0060: pounds to be paid to her by my Said Executrix within
0061: one year after my Decease if she can then conveniently
0062: pay it and the said Mary Morris shall then be living
0063: And I likewise Give and bequeath unto the said Mary
0064: Morris after the Decease of my said Dear Wife if
0065: the said Mary Morris shall be then living the further
0066: sum of Three hundred pounds to be paid to her within
0067: one year next after the Decease of my said dear
0068: Wife I Also Give and bequeath unto my Friend Mr.
0069: Thomas Price Woollen Draper the sum of one hundred
0070: pounds to be paid to him within one year next after
0071: my Decease by my said Executrix or to his Executors
0072: or Adm[inistrat]ors I Also Give Devise and bequeath unto
0073: my Old Honest Servant Edward Munday the Clear
0074: yearly Sum of Ten pounds as an annuity for and
0075: During his natural life which annuity I Desire
0076: may be paid to him by half yearly payments (to
0077: wit) at Lady Day and Michaelmas, the first payment
0078: thereof to Commence on such of the said Days as
0079: shall next happen after my Decease I hereby
0080: revoke all former Wills by me made In Witness
0081: whereof I do Declare this to be my last Will and
0082: Testament contained in three sides of paper to the
0083: first and second sides of which I have set my name
0084: and to the third and last side of which I have set
0085: my hand and seal this Sixth day of February in the
0086: Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and
0087: Sixty four
0088:
0089: John Clerke
0090:
0091: Signed Sealed published
0092: and declared by the said John Clerke the Testator
0093: as and for his last Will and Testament in the
0094: presence of us who in his presence and at his
0095: request have signed our names as Witnesses
0096: thereto
0097:
0098: Edward Atkins Servant to Mr Edward Clerke
0099: William Ludlow
0100: Thomas Greenwood Servants to Mr John Clerke

Preparation of this entry

Post status: Published
Transcript by: the author
Author: Cynthia
Checked by: Anthony Lynch
Date posted: 24th May 2013
Date modified: 11th February 2014
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