Joseph Swannell 1775

This is the last will and Testament of Joseph Swannell of Stony Stratford in the County of Bucks. Gentleman. I resign my soul to Almighty God in humble hopes of Forgiveness of all my Transgressions through the mediation of my blessed Redeemer I Will that all legal debts I shall owe at the time of my decease with my Funeral Expenses be paid I give and devise All that Messuage or Tenement with the Outhouses and Appurtenances thereto belonging situate in Castle Thrupp in the said county of Bucks to my son William Swannell his Heirs and Assigns for ever. I give and devise all that Messuage or Tenement with the Garden and Appurtenances there to belonging in which I now dwell and which I lately purchased of John Norman to my son Joseph Swannell his Heirs and Assigns for ever. I give and devise all that Messuage or Tenement with the Appurtenances thereto belonging situate and being in Cornhill in the City of London and now in the Occupation of Richard Wells Stationers to my sons William Swannell and Joseph Swannell and their Heirs In trust that the said William and Joseph Swannell or the Survivor of them or the Heirs of such Survivor do permit and suffer my dear Wife Mary Swannell to receive the rents Issuses and Profits thereof to and or her own sole and separate use for and during the term of her natural Life And from and after her decease In trust that they the said William Swannell and Joseph Swannell or the Heirs of such Survivor do as soon as conveniently may be after my Wifes decease sell and dispose of the same Premises for the best price that can be reasonably had or got therefor the same with the Money arising by Sale thereof In trust to pay the following Legacies To my said son William Swannell Two Hundred Pounds To my said Son Joseph Two Hundred Pounds To my Daughter CatherineTwo Hundred Pounds To my Daughter Frances Two Hundred Pounds To my Daughter Ann Twenty four Pounds To my Grand Daughter Mary Panter Fifty Pounds and I direct that the said several Legacies is paid unto the several Persons to whom the same are bequeathed as they respectively attain their Age or Ages of twenty one Years or Marriage which shall first happen And in case any one or more of my said Children or my said Grand Daughter shall die before his or her or their Legacy or Legacies shall become due or payable unmarried and without having any Issue living at his her or their decease I direct that the Legacy or Legacys of him her or them so dying shall be equally divided amongst my surviving Children living at the time of his her or their decease And my Will is and I do hereby declare that the receipt or receipts of the said William and Joseph Swannell or the Survivor of them or their Heirs or such Survivors shall be a sufficient Release and Discharge to the Purchaser or Purchasers of the same Premises for the purchase Money and that the Purchaser or Purchasers of the same Premises shall not be answerable for the Application of the particular Money And I direct that my Executors herewith named or the Survivor of them immediately after my decease do Give Receipts Aquittances and Discharges to my Son in Law Charles Panter and to my Son in Law William Nicholls for all Sum and Sums of Money which they or either of them shall owe me at the time of my decease And I direct that my said Trustees or the Survivor of them the Heirs of such Survivor retain to themselves all such Expences they shall sustain or be put into in the Execution of this my Will nor be answerable to the loss of any Money except by their own wilful neglect or default or be answerable each for the other but each for his own Act and Receipt only All the rest residue and remainder of the Money arising form the sale of my said Estate I give and bequeath to be equally divided amongst all my Children living at the decease of my said dear Wife and I give and bequeath all my Personal Estate of what nature or wherever to be equally divided amongst all my Children living at the time of my decease And I direct that the share and shares of the remainder of my said Personal Estate which I have given to my Daughters Mary and Elizabeth shall be paid unto them respectively in such manner and in such shares and proportions as my said Executors of the Survivor of them shall think proper and that the same or any part thereof shall not be subject or liable to the Debts demands or controul of their respective Husbands the same being intended only for their own use and benefit And I constitute and appoint my said dear Wife and my said Sons William and Joseph Executrix and Executors of this my Will hereby revoking all former Wills by me made and do ratify this Writing contained in two sheets of Paper as and for my last Will In Witness whereof I the said Joseph Swannell have to the first sheet set my hand and to the second my hand and seal this fourth day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred and seventy four. Joseph Swannell Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator Joseph Swannell as and for his last Will in the presence of us who have subscribed our Names as Witnesses at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other Wm Godfrey Wm Mason Edwd Grant

This will was proved at London the thirtieth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy five before the worshipful Francis Simpson Doctor of Law and Surrogate of the Right Worshipful Sir George Hay Knight of Laws Mater Keeper or Commissary of the Purgative Court of Canterbury Lawfully Constituted by the Oaths of William and Joseph Swannell the Sons of the deceased and two of the Executors named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first sworn duly to administer Power reserved of making the life Grant to Mary Swannell Widow the Relict of the said deceased and the other Executor named in the said Will where she shall apply for the same