Will of Sarah Wright late of Cullompton Widow
Proved 16 April 1774
© Crown Copyright
National Archives Catalogue Reference PROB 11/997/106 Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Bargrave Quire Numbers: 138 -183
Transcribed by Art Ames
This is the last Will and Testament of me Sarah Wright of Cullompton in the county of Devon widow made this fourth day of March one thousand seven hundred and seventy three
First I will and direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid off and discharged immediately after my death and I do desire to be buried in the parish church of Cullompton aforesaid by my late husband Mr Wm Wright and in the same manner as he was buried.
I give unto my niece Sarah Agar the wife of Samuel Agar of the City of London confectioner all my rings and jewels and all my wearing apparel of what kind soever
All the rest residue and remainder of my goods and chattels personal estate and effects whatsoever I give and bequeath unto Whitelock Sydenham of Cullompton aforesaid gentlemen and do hereby make and appoint him executor of this my Will upon trust nevertheless and to and for the ends intents and purposes hereinafter mentioned that is to say
Upon trust that the said Whitelock Sydenham his executors and administrators do and shall put and place out all the income and produce of my said goods and chattels and every part thereof at interest on real security or in the public stocks or funds or such other security or securities as the said Whitlock Sydenham and my said niece shall initially approve of and from time to time to alter and change such security or securities when and so often as to the them shall seem meet and do and shall pay the interest produce and profit which shall arrive or be made thereof during the lifetime of the said Sarah Agar unto her the said Sarah Agar to and for her own sole and separate use distinct and apart from her present or any after taken husband and so as he or they shall have no controlling power thereof but be wholly debarred and excluded thereupon and the receipt or receipts of the said Sarah Agar alone from time to time for the same shall notwithstanding her coverture be good and sufficient to discharge the said Whitelock Sydenham his executors and admors of and from so much money and for such time as shall be mentioned in such receipt or receipts
And from and after the death of the said Sarah Agar then upon trust that he the said Whitelock Sydenham his executors or admors do and shall pay all such principal and interest money as shall be then due and owing to the said trust estate unto such person or persons as the said Sarah Agar shall by any instrument in writing to be by her duly executed and to be attested by two or more credible witnesses or by her last Will and Testament in writing to be by her duly executed and attested as aforesd which she is hereby authorized to make and execute notwithstanding her coverture give bequeath direct limit or appoint
And in default thereof then in trust for the executors or admors of the said Sarah Agar provided nevertheless and I do hereby expressly will and direct that in case my said niece shall at any time or time hereinafter see an opportunity of applying the whole or any part of the principal money to her given benefit and advantage and my said trustee his executors or admors shall approve of and consent to the same but not otherwise that then it shall and may be lawful to and for my said trustee his executors or admors to call in the whole of the said principal money or any part thereof and pay apply and dispose of the same to such person or persons and to and for such uses and in such manner parts and proportions as my said niece by any writing under her hand and attested by two or more credible witnesses which she is hereby authorised to make and execute notwithstanding her coverture shall order direct limit or appoint anything herein contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding
Provided also and my will is that the said Whitelock Sydenham his executors and admors do and shall from time to time deduct and retain to himself and themselves out of the trust moneys and estate all such costs charges damages losses and expenses whatsoever as he or they shall or may expend layout suffer sustain or be put unto in about or concerning the management or execution of the said trust or in any wise relating thereto and shall not in any wise be answerable or accountable for any more of the said trust moneys than shall actually come to his or their hands respectively nor with or for any loss or losses that may happen thereof so as such loss or losses be not occasioned through his or their wilful default
In witness whereof I have to this my Will containing two sheets of paper set my hand and seal to each sheet the day and year first above written The mark of Sarah Wright
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Sarah Wright the testatrix as and for her last Will and testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto in the presence of the said testatrix and of one another Henry Brutton Thomas Pannell
On the sixteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy four administration with the Will annexed of all and singular the good chattels and credits of Sarah Wright late of Cullompton in the county of Devon widow deceased was granted to Sarah Agar wife of Samuel Agar the niece of the said deceased and universal legatee named in the said Will she having been first sworn duly to administer Whitelock Sydenham the sole executor and residuary legate in trust named in the said Will having first renounced as well the execution thereof as letters of administration with the said Will annexed of the goods of the said deceased