Estate Duty Office Will of John Potter of Cullompton, Devon, Yeoman (1814)
© Crown Copyright
Devon Heritage Centre 1078/IRW/P/1080
Transcribed by Art Ames
Proved in the Registry of the Archdeaconry Court of Exeter the 4th November 1814
Executrix Elizabeth Potter of same, daughter
Gods will be done this is mine I John Potter of Cullompton in the county of Devon yeoman do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say)
First I give unto my beloved wife Agnes Potter a bed performed and one article of every sort of useful and necessary household goods furniture and utensils to and for her own use and benefit
Also I give unto my good friends William James of Clisthydon in the said county and Philip Martin of Cullompton aforesaid yeoman all the rest and residue of my household goods and furniture and also all other my goods chattles rights credits property and effects of what nature or kind soever and wheresoever that I shall or may happen to die possessed of or in any way or manner be entitled unto in trust for the uses and intents and purposes hereinafter mentioned concerning the same (that is the say)
In the first place to appraise or value or cause or procure to be appraised and valued all my said household goods (except what is given to my said wife as aforesaid) and also all my stock corn castle and disposable property whatsoever and the same and every part thereof to sell or otherwise dispose in such way and manner as they and my executrix hereinafter named shall or may see or think most fit and proper within one calendar month next after my decease and such of the money arising thereby or that shall or may happen to come to them or either of their hands or be received by or paid to them or either of them by virtue hereof or of the trusts hereby in them reposed to pay or cause to be paid in the first place all my just debts and funeral expenses
And in the next place to pay or cause to be paid unto my daughter Mary Potter the sum of one hundred pounds
Unto my son-in-law Richard Borne the sum of ten pounds and unto my son-in-law William Borne the sum of five pounds within six months next after my death
And to retain in their hands the sum of five pounds for the benefit of my nephew John Potter (son of my brother Robert Potter) to be paid to him at his age of twenty one years together with all the interest and produce thereof (if any) or otherwise to pay and apply the same or any part thereof during his minority in such way and manner as they or the survivor of them shall see or think most of fit and proper for his greatest use or advantage
And in the third place and last place to pay and deliver up all the then rest residue and remainder of my said property and effects (after the deduction of all the necessary expenses attending the execution of the trust hereby in them reposed as aforesaid) unto my daughter Elizabeth Potter under and subject to and charged and chargeable with the payments of six shillings weekly and every week unto her mother my said wife Agnes Potter for and during the term of her natural life
And lastly I hereby nominate and appoint my said daughter Elizabeth Potter whole and sole executrix of this my Will
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the twenty eighth day of December in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand eight hundred and thirteen The mark of John Potter
Signed published and declared by the said John Potter (the testator) as and for to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and also in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereof
Peter Warren John Podger