Last Will & Testament of Robert Lankshear [transcription] [Page 1] This is the last Will and Testament of me Robert Lankshear of Caswell Farm in the Hamlet of Curbridge in the Parish of Witney in the County of Oxford Farmer (that is to say) First I will that my Debts and Funeral Expenses shall be paid and satisfied. Also I give and devise unto Susannah my Wife All and singular my Lands Tenements and Hereditaments situate and being in Hailey in the parish of Witney aforesaid and elsewhere. And all my Estate and Interest therein To hold the same unto the said Susannah my Wife her Heirs and Assigns forever. Also I give and bequeath unto my Friends Thomas Wright of Curbridge aforesaid Farmer Jonathan Arnatt of Lew in the parish of Bampton in the said County of Oxford Farmer and John Leech of Witney aforesaid Gentleman. All my Term and Interest in the said Farm called Caswell Farm which I now hold and Rent And also all and singular my Implements and Utensils in Husbandry Cattle Corn Grain Hay and Farming Stock and all my Monies and Securities for Money Goods Chattels and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever Upon the Trust hereinafter mentioned that is to say Upon Trust that they the said Thomas Wright Jonathan Wright and John Leech their Executors and Administrators to and shall out of my said personal Estate put and place out at Interest the Sum of Five hundred Pounds on Government or other good Security and pay the Interest and Produce thereof half yearly from time to time to my Daughter Mary the Wife of Edmund Clare for and during the Term of her natural Life and her benefit alone notwithstanding her Coverture shall from time to time be a good and sufficient Discharge to the said Thomas Wright Jonathan Arnatt and John Leech their Executors Administrators and Assigns for the same and every part thereof And from and after the Decease of my said Daughter Mary the Wife of the said Edmund Clare Then upon Trust that they my said Trustees their Executors Administrators and Assigns do and shall call in and pay or transfer the said principal Sum of Two hundred [Page 2] Pounds unto and amongst all and every the Children of my Daughter Mary the Wife of the said Edmund Clare equally share and share alike when they shall attain their respective Ages of twenty one years the Interest and produce thereof to be paid and applied for and towards their Maintenance Education and support in the mean time And also upon Trust that they the said Thomas Wright Jonathan Arnatt and John Leech their Executors and Administrators do and shall put and place out at Interest the further Sum of five hundred Pounds on Government or other good Security and pay the Interest and produce thereof half yearly from time to time to my Daughter Susannah the Wife of John Clare for and during the Term of her natural Life and her Receipt alone notwithstanding her Coverture shall from time to time be a good and sufficient discharge to the said Thomas Wright Jonathan Arnatt and John Leech their Executors Administrators and Assigns for the same and every part thereof And from and after the Decease of my said Daughter Susannah the Wife of the said John Clare Then upon Trust that Robt Lankshear - ? - they my said Trustees their Executors Administrators and Assigns do and shall call in and pay or transfer the said last mentioned principal Sum of Five Hundred pounds unto and amongst all and every the Children of my said Daughter Susannah the Wife of the said John Clare equally share and share alike when they shall attain their respective ages of Twenty one years the Interest and produce thereof to be paid and applied for and towards their Maintenance Education and Support in the mean time - And also upon Trust that they the said Thomas Wright Jonathan Arnatt and John Leech their Executors and Administrators do and shall put and place out at Interest the further Sum of five hundred Pounds on Government or other good Security and pay the Interest and produce thereof half yearly from time to time to my Daughter Ann the Wife of William Lankshear for and during the Term of her natural Life and her Receipt alone notwithstanding her coverture shall from time to time be a good and sufficient Discharge to the said Thomas Wright Jonathan Arnatt and John Leech their Executors Administrators and Assigns for the same and every part thereof And from and after the Decease of my said Daughter Ann The [Page 3] Wife of the said William Lankshear Then upon Trust that they my said Trustees their Executors Administrators and Assigns do and shall call in and pay or transfer the said last mentioned principal Sum of Five hundred pounds unto and amongst all and every the Children of my said Daughter Ann the Wife of the said William Lankshear equally share and share alike when they shall attain their respective Ages of twenty one Years the Interest and produce thereof to be paid and applied for and towards their Maintenance Education and Support in the mean Time And also upon Trust that they the said Thomas Wright Jonathan Arnatt and John Leech do and shall by and out of my personal Estate as soon as conveniently can be after my Decease pay unto my Daughters Elizabeth and Hannah the Sum of Five hundred pounds each To whom respectively I hereby give and bequeath the same And also upon Trust that they the said Thomas Wright Jonathan Arnatt and John Leech their Executors and Administrators do and shall put and place out at Interest on Government or other good Security the further Sum of five hundred Pounds and pay the Interest and produce thereof half yearly from time to time unto my said Daughter Elizabeth for and during the Term of her natural Life And I will and direct that the same shall not be in anywise subject to the control or liable to the Debts or Engagements of any Husband she may hereafter marry And her Receipt alone whether she be covert or sole shall from time to time be a good and sufficient Discharge to the said Thomas Wright Jonathan Arnatt and John Leech their Executors Administrators and Assigns for the same and every part thereof and And from and after the Decease of my said Daughter Elizabeth Then upon Trust that they my said Trustees their Executors Administrators and Assigns do and shall call in and pay or transfer the said last mentioned principal Sum of Five hundred pound unto and amongst all and every - (Robt Lankshear - crossed through) the Children of my said Daughter Elizabeth equally share and share alike if more than one But if there shall be only one such Child then the whole to such Child when he she or they shall attain the Age of Twenty one years the Interest and Produce thereof to be paid and applied for and towards his her or their Maintenance Education and Support in the mean time But if my said Daughter Elizabeth shall leave no Child or Children living at the time of her Decease [Page 4] Thenupon Trust to pay or transfer the said last mentioned principal sum of Five hundred Pounds unto the Executors Administrators or Assigns of my said Daughter Elizabeth to and for their own proper Use and Benefit And also upon Trust that they the said Thomas Wright Jonathan Arnatt and John Leech their Executors and Administrators do and shall put and place out at Interest on Government or other good Security the further Sum of five hundred Pounds and pay the Interest and produce thereof half yearly from time to time unto my said Daughter Hannah for and during the Term of her natural Life And I will and direct that the same shall not be in any wise subject to the control?? or liable to the Debts or Engagements of any Husband she may hereafter marry and her Receipt alone whether she be covert or sole shall from time to time be a good and sufficient Discharge to the said Thomas Wright Jonathan Arnatt and John Leech their Executors Administrators and Assigns for the same and every part thereof And from and after the Decease of my said Daughter Hannah Then upon Trust that they my said Trustees their Executors Admin- istrators and Assigns do and shall call in and pay or transfer the said last mentioned principal Sum of five hundred pounds unto and amongst all the Children of my said Daughter Hannah equally share and share alike if more than one. But if there shall be only one such Child Then the whole to such Child when he she or they shall attain the Age of twenty one Years the Interest and Produce thereof to be paid and applied for and towards his her or their maintenance Education and support in the mean time but if my said Daughter Hannah shall leave no Child or Child- -ren living at the time of her Decease Then upon Trust to pay or transfer the said last mentioned principal Sum of Five hundred pounds unto the Executors Administrators or Assigns of my said Daughter Hannah to and for their own proper Use and benefit And also upon Trust that they the said Thomas Wright Jonathan Arnatt and John Leech do and shall by and out of my said personal Estate pay the Sum of One hundred and twenty pounds unto Robert the natural Son of Mary Hackwell late of Hanlake? in the said County of Oxford singlewoman ???? he shall have completed the term of his Apprenticeship ???? [Page 5] Interest in the mean time But in Case the said Robert the natural Son of the said Mary Huckwell shall die before the Term of his Apprenticeship be expired I will and direct that the said Legacy or Sum of One hundred and twenty Pounds shall not be paid or payable but shall lapse and sink into and be considered a Part of the Residium of my personal Estate and Effects And also upon Trust that they the said Thomas Wright - Robt Lankshear - ? - Jonathan Arnatt and John Leech do and shall by and out of my personal Estate pay unto my Brother Thomas Lankshear the Legacy or Sum Ten pounds within one year next after my Decease To whom I hereby give and bequeath the same And I will and direct that my Brothers Joseph Thomas and John shall be found and provided out of my said personal Estate with a new Suit of Mourning each And as to all the Rest and Residue of my said Goods Chattels personal Estate and Effects not hereinbefore given and disposed of Upon Trust that they the said Thomas Wright Jonathan Arnatt and John Leech their Executors and Administrators do and shall after Payment of my Debts funeral and testamentary Charges and Expences pay transfer or deliver the same and every part thereof unto my said Wife Susannah To and for her own proper Use and Benefit To whom I hereby give and bequeath the same And I hereby nominate and appoint the said Thomas Wright Jonathan Arnatt and John Leech Executors of this my last Will and Testment upon the Trusts aforesaid and do hereby revoke all former Wills by me made And I do will and declare that my said Trustees and Executors shall not be answerable for any Monies which shall not actually come to their Hands nor for any loss which may happen otherwise than through their Wilful neglect or Default nor shall either of them be accountable for the other of them But each for his own separate Acts Deeds Receipts and Disbursements only. In Witney whereof I the said Testator Robert Lankshear have to this my last Will and Testament contained in four sheets of paper to each sheet set my Hand and seal this Twentieth day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and Ten - Robt Lankshear -?- Signed Sealed published and declared by the before named Testator Robert Lankshear as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his Request and in his presence and Sight have ????? our names as Witnesses thereto - Ann Wells John Wells W Turner This will was proved at Oxford the 7th nov 1811 before the Revd ???? of Joseph Phillimore L.L.D Chancellor of the Diocese of Oxford by the ???? Thos Wright Jonathan Arnatt and John Leech sole ???? ???? Administration and ????