In the name of God Amen
I, John Winsall of Desborough in the County of Northampton, Serge Weaver, being weak and infirm but of
sound and disposing mind and memory do make and appoint this to be and contain my last will and testament
in manner and form following (that is to say)
First all that my litte[?] piece or parcel of new Enclosed Land or Ground lying and being within the Fields
of Desborough aforesaid, containing by Estimation one acre or thereabouts, be the same more or less, I give
and devise unto my Sister Elizabeth Winsall her heirs and assigns forever.
Item all that my Messuages or
tenement with the appurtenances situate and being in Desborough aforesaid and now in my own occupation, and
also all those my two other tenements or dwelling houses in the several tenants of Thomas Chapman and John
Webster[?], and all that my Close of pasture containing by Estimation three acres and an half or
thereabouts be the same more or less, and also all that my other close of pasture or inclosed ground
containing by Estimation eight acres or thereabouts be the same more or less, and also all that my other
close of pasture or inclosed Ground containing by Estimation seven acres or thereabouts be the same more
or less ,all which premisses are lying and being within the parish of Desborough aforesaid, I give and devise unto my said Sister Elizabeth Winsall for and during the term of her natural life; and
from and after her decease then I give and devise my said Messuages, tenements or dwelling houses, several
closes of pasture or inclosed Ground last mentioned with each and every of their appurtenances unto my
Nephew John Winsall, oldest Son of my Brother
Samuel Winsall, and to his Heirs and assigns for ever.
Fifty Pounds - equates to about £7,425 in 2005
Item I give and bequeath unto my said Brother Samuel Winsall the Sum of Fifty pounds to be paid by my
Executrix hereinafter named within six months after my decease.
Item all and singular my household goods and other goods, chattels and credits, Stuff in trade, personal
Estate of what nature or kind soever or wheresoever, I give and bequeath unto my said Sister Elizabeth
Winsall for her sole use and benefit and do hereby nominate constitute and appoint her sole Executrix of
this my last will and testament.
In Witness whereof I, the said John Winsall, the testator, have to this my last will and testament set my
hand and seal this Eleventh Day of June in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy
eight John Winsall (#) signed, sealed, published and declared by the said John Winsall, the testator, as and
for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto
in his presence, at his request and in the presence of each other John Hall —
George Sumner — John Webster.
Probate
This Will was proved at London on the sixteenth day of January in the year of Our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and ninety before the Right Honourable Sir William Wynne, Knight, Doctor of Laws, and Master
Keeper or Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted, by the Oath of Elizabeth
Thorpe, formerly Winsall, wife of Josiah Thorpe, the sister of the deceased and sole Executrix named in the
said will to whom admon was granted of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of the said
deceased having been first sworn by Commission duly to administer.
Notes:-
"Fifty pounds" - this equates to about £7,425 in 2005
Value calculated from the information in
Inflation: the
value of the pound 1750-2005 (House of Commons Library Research Paper 06/09)
The original will has no punctuation or separate
paragraphs. As this makes it hard to read I have
inserted some punctuation and broken the text into separate clauses.
"[?]" following a word means that the word on the original document is unclear and the
transcription may be incorrect.
" [???] " means that a whole word was illegible and could not be guessed at.
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