Will of John Mudford late of Cullompton Clothier
Proved 14 July 1709
© Crown Copyright
National Archives Catalogue Reference PROB 11/509/356 Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Lane Quire Numbers: 133 – 176
Transcribed by Art Ames
In the name of God Amen the eighth day of June in the seventh year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Anne by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland and Queen Defender of the Faith etc and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eight I John Mudford of Cullompton in the county of Devon clothier being but weak of body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to Almighty God do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following
And first I revoke all former Wills by me made and declare this to be my last and only Will and I give my soul to God Almighty and my body to decent buriall in hopes of a joyful resurrection unto everlasting life through the merits and mediation of our blessed Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ
Item I give and devise unto Lydia my dear wife an annuity or yearly payment of twenty pounds per annm free and clear of all taxes to be paid by my executor herein after named by quarterly payments (that is to say) five pounds at the end of three months after my decease and so five pounds every three months and for the term of her natural life free and clear from all and all manner of taxes or outgoings whatsoever that shall or may be hereafter be imposed by reason of the said annuity by Act of Parliament or otherwise and for the true payment thereof I do not only charge my executor but also all my estate both real and personal with the payment thereof and this my devise to her of twenty pounds per ann I intend over and besides the settlement I made on her on my marriage with her and over and above what rings jewels cloaths and money she has of her own and what I after marriage gave unto her
And whereas I before marriage gave her one hundred pounds in money the which is put out at interest for her and in the hands of Mr Peter Warren of Bradninch but the security taken for the same is in my name my will is that she shall have that hundred pound likewise and the said security and the interest that is due for it
Item I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Mary Mudford daughter of my son William Mudford the sum of one thousand pounds to be paid when she shall attain unto the age of one and twenty years and in the meantime for her present support maintenance and education I give her twenty pounds per annm to be paid to her by quarterly payments untill she attain the said age of one and twenty
And whereas my son Thomas Mudford by his Will did give to my said granddaughter the summe of one hundred pounds my will is that if in case her father my son William Mudford happened to have a son of his body lawfully to be begotten that then the said hundred pounds so given her by my son Thomas Mudford shall be included in and be part of the thousand pounds that I have devised to her as aforesaid
And whereas there have been for some years a difference and separation between my said son William and Hannah his wife which hath been a great grief to me I do charge each of them on my blessing to be reconciled each to other and to live amicably together as man and wife ought to do
Item I give and devise unto Anne Mudford and Mary Mudford both daughters of William Mudford deceased the summe of ten pounds to each of them provided they attain the age of one and twenty years and if either of them do happen to die under one and twenty then the whole to remain to the survivor
Item I give to my daughter-in-law Hannah Mudford one piece of broad gold and one guinea to buy her a mourning ring and desire her to be reconciled to her husband and to forgive all that’s past and never to mention anything that may provoke him to anger
Item I give unto Jane Mudford my daughter-in-law one piece of broad gold to buy her a mourning ring
Item I give unto George Mudford of Honiton one guinea
Item I give unto my cousin George Mudford of Cullompton one guinea
Item I give unto Arthur Davis of Cullompton one guinea
Item I give unto Richard Evans one piece of broad gold
Item I give unto Nicholas Rossiter ten shillings
Item I give to John Norman John Bird and Robert Hayman five shillings to each of them
Item I give unto the poor of the parish of Cullompton the summe of five pounds to be distributed amongst them at the end of one month after my decease
Item I give and devise all my lands of inheritance unto my son William Mudford and to the heirs males of his body on the body of Hannah his wife lawfully begotten or to be begotten and for want of such issue to the heirs of the body of my said son William Mudford and for want of such issue to my own right heirs for ever
And I also give and devise unto my said son William all my goods cattle chattels leases bonds and securities for moneys and all other my substance whatsoever but subject to the payment and discharge of my legacies herein given and I do make him whole and sole executor of this my last Will and Testament and I again desire him and his wife to be reconciled and to live amicably and happily together
In witness whereof I the said John Mudford have published this to be my last Will and Testament and have hereunto put my hand and seal the day and year first above written
John Mudford
Sealed and published in the presence of us and we sett our names in Mr Mudford’s presence
Henry Trump Geo Palmer William Dowrich Nicholas Rossiter
Probate in Latin