The Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies DAWe: 85/23 DAWf: 90/23

John Johnson 1754

In the Name of God Amen this is the last Will and Testament of me John Johnson of Castlethorp in the County of Bucks Maltster as followeth (that is to say) First I Will order and direct and appoint that all such just Debts as I shall owe at the time of my Decease together with my funeral Charges shall be fully paid and satisfied Item I Give and devise all and singular my Messuages Cottages Malting or Kiln Closes lands Tenements and Hereditaments whatsoever in Castlethorp aforesaid or elsewhere within the Kingdom of England with their and every of their Appurtenances unto my two ffriends Charles Gibbs of Towcester in the County of Northampton Gentleman and Thomas Nichols of Castlethorp aforesaid Yeoman and their Heirs In Trust nevertheless and to and for the intents and purposes hereinafter limited and declared of and concerning the same (that is to say) In Trust to permitt and suffer my Dear and loveing wife Martha Johnson and her Assigns to receive and take the rents Issues and profits thereof for and during the term of her natural life if she shall so long continue a Widow and unmarried But in case she shall marry again then my Will and meaning is and I do hereby direct and appoint that my said Trustees or the Survivor of them or the Heirs of such Survivor shall sell and dispose of my said Estate for the best price they can gett for the same and dispose of the money arising there from to and amongst all my Children that shall be then living share and share alike Item all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Goods Chattells and personall Estate whatsoever and wheresoever I Give and bequeath unto my said wife Martha Johnson for and during so long time as she shall continue my Widow and from and after her Intermarriage I Give the same unto the said Charles Gibbes and Thomas Nichols or the Survivor of them or the Executors or Administrators of such Survivor to dispose of the same amongst all my Children that shall be then living share and share alike And my Will and meaning is and I do hereby further direct and appoint that it shall and may be lawful for my said Trustees or the Survivor of them or the Heirs of such Survivor and my said wife at any time during her Widowhood to sell and dispose of all or any part of my Real Estate for the payment of my Debts if there shall be occasion And I do further direct and appoint that if my said wife shall not marry again that it shall and may be lawfull for her in and by my last Will and Testament in Writing attested by three Credible Witnesses to give devise and bequeath of all my said Reall and personall Estate to and amongst all my Children that shall be then living in such shares and proportions as she shall think proper or to charge my said Reall Estate with the payment of any Summe or Summes of money to my Younger Children as she pleases And I do hereby make and Constitute my said wife Martha Johnson sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all former Wills by me heretofore made In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament set my hand and Seale the Twenty Seventh day of March in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven Hundred and fforty Nine John Johnson Signed Sealed published and declared by the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who attested the same in the presence of the Testator and of each other Elizabeth Wood Ann Johnson Daniel Gostlow

Proved the 22nd day of April 1754 before the Worshipful John Butterworth Dr. of Laws Official by the Oath of Martha Johnson Widow Relict and sole Executrix to whom Administration was committed she being first Sworn duly to Administer