Stephen England, Kingsbury Bishop. Somerset WILL Proved 8 March 1758 PROB 11/836

In the name of God Amen, I Stephen England of East Lambrooke within the parish of Kingsbury Bishop and County of Somerset do with my own hand (revoking all former wills by me made) make this my last will this thirteenth day of August one thousand seven hundred fifty four as follows. First I give and devise to my loving wife Joane England all the right and 11th I have in all the estates lying and being in Cheddon Fitzpaine in the County aforesaid with three hundred pounds twelve months after my death together with my chest of drawer, the bed and bedstead with all its furniture being in kitchen chamber which I usually lie on and right to live in the house I now live in together with the use of as many of my household goods as she shall stand in need of until my son Henry England shall attain his age of one and twenty years (and he was born the fifth of February one thousand seven hundred thirty six) with all my goods in Cheddon? aforesaid. Item I give and devise to my son Edward England and his heirs for ever all that farm called Burrow Hill Farm lying in Burrow aforesaid with that close called Burrow Hill with the close of four acres thereto adjoining with the cottages that do thereto belong which I formerly bought of Mr James Walters and others. I likewise give to my son Edward my close called Barramoores? in the parish of Muchelney and my three acres of meadow lying in Kingsbury Broad Mend which I hold by Thomas Royses life and formerly bought of him. Item I give to my son Edward all that messuage and tenement lying in Lake and formerly bought of the widow Frances Pillars? for a long term of years I have therein he paying thereout unto my son in law Mr Thomas Rossiter for the first child he shall have born of the body of my daughter Elizabeth after my death the sum of fifty pounds when such child shall attain the age of one callendar month but dying before that time the legacy to be void and nothing to be paid for that child so dying before that age and the further sum of fifty pounds for the second and the said sum of fifty pounds for the third and the like sum of fifty pounds for the fourth child (and no further) of the body of my said daughter to be born and living to the above said age but any or all of them dying before that age the legacy to any or all of them so given and dying before that age to be void and nothing to be paid. Item I give to my grandson Thomas Rossiter the sum of fifty pounds half a year after my death. Item I give and devise to my son Edward and his heirs for ever all those lands bought of Mr John Webb lying in Burrow aforesaid with their appurtenances together with the mortgages and bonds I have on the other part of the said Mr John Webbs estate lying in Burrow aforesaid with all arrears of interest he paying thereat unto my son Richard England during the term of his natural life the sum of five pounds free of all rates and taxes every quarter day to wit Michaelmas, Christmas, Lady Day and Midsummer the first five pound to be paid the first quarter that shall happen after my death upon this condition that he my said son Richard doth never prosecute my executor for the hundred pound his grandfather have gave him and he bath already received and if he doth I then give the annuity to my son Henry England for the term. I also give to my son Richard the best bed and bedstead with its furniture in hail chamber with all the money both upon bonds and bill Peter Channing oweth me. Item I give to my apprentice Samuel Doble the sum of twenty shillings when he shall attain his age of four and twenty years. Item I give my books to my wife and children she dividing them, as she shall think fit. Item I give and devise to my son Henry and his heirs my closes called Kings Close and Keeles? Leaze for the term of the lives of my son Edward and wife Joane by whose lives they are held and my will is that they shall permit and suffer my said son Henry England quietly to enjoy and take the rents and profits thereof during their lives and shall on request to them made by my son Henry or his heirs surrender into the hands of the Lords of the Mannor of East Lambrook all their right and tithe to the same to his or their use and benefit and upon their refusal so to do I give all the legacies to them before given to my said son Henry and his heirs forever. All the rest of my lands. messauges and tenements, goods. Chattels and credits both real and personal wheresoever and whatsoever not before given. I give and devise to my son Henry England and his heirs for ever he paying my legacies and discharging my funeral expenses and do make him sole and whole executor of this my last will and desire my wife and son Edward to prove this my will and take the care and guardianship of him during his minority and raise money to buy further lives in the above said closes for his use and benefit. In witness whereof I have to this my fast will set my hand and seal the day and year above Stephen England

Signed, sealed, published and declared to be the last will of me Stephen England in the presence of us who set their hands at my request and in my presence John Proud, George Russell; Samuel Clark

This will was proved at London the eighth day of March in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight before the Right Honorable George Lee, Knight, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court at Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Henry England the son of the deceased and sole executor named in the said will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased having been first sworn by commission duly to administer

Transcnbed from a photocopy by Dave Woolven, 2 Aspen Way. Malpas Park, Newport, South Wales, NP2O 61,13 Tel 01633 858359 3 June 2000