Norfolk Wills: Swanton Novers

© Transcription Copyright Linda Steward, August 2005.

The Will of William DAWSON
of Swanton Novers, Norfolk - 1758

In the name of God Amen I William Dawson of Swanton Novers in the County of Norfolk being sick and weak in Body, but of sound and disposing Mind and Memory Do make constitute and ordain this my last Will and Testament as follth.

ffirst my Will and Mind is that all my just Debts and funeral Charges be paid and discharged immediately after my Decease And what Goods and Chattels and personal Estate it hath pleased God to bestow on me in this World Do dispose thereof as followeth

And my Will and Mind is that all my Stock and Goods Corn and Grain Money and all other things whatsoever to me belonging shall be apprized by two honest Persons that shall be chosen by my Executors hereafter mentioned as soon as conveniently may be after my Decease And what Money that all my said Stock and Goods Corn and Grain Money and all other things whatsoever to me belonging shall remain or the said Stock and Goods and all other things of my mine shall remain in the two and Occupation of Elizabeth my beloved Wife and ffrancis my Son they being accountable to my other borne Children (that is to say) William, Ann, John and Thomas my Children every one of them one Sixth part of the Money that my said Goods and Stock and all other things of mine shall be valued at or apprized as aforesaid After the payment of all my just Debts and funeral Charges to be paid to them as they shall arrive to their respective Ages of twenty one Years

And Do hereby appoint Elizabeth my beloved Wife and ffrancis my Son whole and sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament

And my Will and Mind is that they shall jointly together have hold use and occupy and enjoy all my Stock and ffarm Provided ffrancis my Son behave well and that Elizabeth my beloved Wife keep her Self unmarried

And that they shall bring up the other four of my Children till they are fit to go to Services

And that they the said Elizabeth my beloved Wife and ffrancis my Son shall pay or cause to be paid to William Ann John and Thomas my Children each of them one Sixth part of my Personal Estate as they shall attain to their respective Age of twenty one Years

But if my said Son ffrancis shall not behave well towards his Mother and Brothers and Sister My Will and Mind is that Elizabeth my beloved Wife shall take all of my personal Estate into her own possession and pay to him the said ffrancis one sixth part of my Personal Estate and he shall thereupon be discharged from his being Executor and shall have no further part of my personal Estate & nothing more to do with any of it

And my Will and Mind is that if Elizabeth my beloved Wife shall marry again and have another Husband that from and immediately after that shall happen ffrancis my Son shall take all my personal Estate into his Possession and pay to his Mother one sixth part of the Money that the same was apprized at immediately after my Decease unless the Man that She then be married to be able and willing to give sufficient Security to all my Children or to some Person or Persons that they shall choose for the true? Payment of all their Legacys as they shall become Due And Do hereby revoke and make void all other Wills by me heretofore made and confirm this my last Will and Testament

In Witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and Seal the tenth day of ffebruary in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty three

William Dawson his Mark

Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Testator
to be his last Will and Testament
the word between the fourth and fifth Lines
and the words between the fourteenth and fifteenth Lines
being first Interlined in the Presence of us

Isaac Softly     his Mark           Susanna Springle    her Mark
Thomas Moses

At Gunthorpe April 7th 1758

Elizabeth Dawson one of the Executors within named
was sworn in due form of Law before the
Revd. Saml. Alston Dr. in Di... Surr. ...Com. .........

Ed. by Me Wm. Waller 7th March 1768