Forasmuch as it is appointed for all men once to die, I
John Wheston of Desborough in the County of Northampton, Gentleman, being in
health in Body and of sound mind, memory and understanding, but considering the uncertainty of man's life and
desirous to dispose of that Worldly Substance wherewith it hath pleased Almighty God to bless me whilst I
enjoy a perfect mind and understanding — rendering me capable so to do, Do therefore make and ordain this my
last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say
In the first place I resign my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God my Creator and Redeemer
And as for my Body I commit to the Dust out of which it was formed expecting a happy Resurrection of the
same through the Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ my Savour
And as for my Worldly Estate both Real and Personal I give, devise and dispose of the same in manner
following to wit
First my Will is and I give and devise unto Ann Dexter, Spinster, eldest Daughter of Robert Dexter of
Desborough aforesaid, Gentleman, and her Heirs all and singular my Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments and Real
Estate whatsoever and also I give and devise unto the said Ann Dexter and her Heirs the Reversion in [???] of
all my Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments expectant upon the death of my Mother in law, Mary Wheston, and also
all my Estate, Rights, Title, Interest, Property, claim and demand whatsoever whereby or wherein I have any Estate
either in Possession, Reversion, or Remainder To have and to hold the same unto the said Ann Dexter her Heirs
and Assigns for ever
And also I give and bequeath unto my Brother in law one Guinea to buy him a Ring
And also I give and
bequeath to the said Ann Dexter, she paying all my just Debts and Funeral Expences, All my moveables and
Personal Estate and Effects of what nature or kind soever
And lastly I do appoint the said Ann Dexter full and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament
And
in Testimony whereof that this is my last Will and Testament I, the said John Wheston, have set my Hand and
Seal this twenty fifth Day of May one thousand seven hundred and forty three — John Wheston — Signed,
Sealed, Published and Declared by the first above named John Wheston as and for his last Will and Testament
and then subscribed by us a Witness thereto in his presence — William Dawkins Parratt or Price —
John Vardon
Probate
On the fourth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight Admon, with
the Will annexed, of all and singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of John Wheston, late of Desborough in the
County of Northampton, deceased, was granted to Jane Dexter, Spinster, the Sister and one of the Executors of
the Will of Ann Dexter, Spinster, deceased, whilst living the sole Executrix and Residuary Legatee named in
the said Will having been first sworn Duly to administer, The said Ann Dexter survived the said Testator but
died without having taken upon her the Execution of the said Will.
Notes:
Mary Wheston is described as John's mother-in-law but having the name surname as John it is
more likely that she was his step-mother (it was a common way of referring to a step-mother). As
all virtually all John's estate is left to Ann Dexter, a spinster, it may be that Mary Wheston
was the mother of Ann and Jane by an earlier marriage. The legacy of one guinea, to buy a
ring, to John's unnamed brother-in-law (possibly step-brother?) looks rather like a slight!
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. The spelling follows that
of the original.
"[?]" 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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