In the Name of God Amen I John Stevens of Stantonbury in the county of Bucks Yeoman being of sound and disposing Mind Memory and understanding do make publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say) First I give and bequeath to my dear Wife the Sum of Five Hundred Pounds two and for her own proper use and benefit I give and devise unto my Son Thomas All those several pieces and parcels of Land with the Appurtenances situate at Mursley in the said county of Bucks and now in the Occupation of [left blank] Warner his Undertenants or Assigns to hold to him my said Son Thomas his Heirs and Assigns for ever Also I give and devise unto my two Friends John Harrison of Saint Albans County of Hertford Gentleman and William Stevens of Ellesthorpe in the said County of Bucks Yeoman all those my Closes Pieces and Parcels of Land with the Hereditaments and Appurtenances to the same belonging situate and being in the parish of Bow Brickhill in the said County of Bucks and also all my right title and Interest of and in to all and singular the Hereditaments and Premises with the Appurtenances which were given and devise in and by the last Will and Testament of my late Father William Stephens deceased expectant on the death of my Mother Ann Stevens also situate and being in the said parish of Mursley and all other Real Estate whatsoever either in Reversion or expectancy or Remainder which I am in any wise intitled unto or interested in situate in the said County of Bucks or elsewhere To hold to the said John Harrison and William Stevens their Heirs and Assigns for ever upon Trust and confidence nevertheless to sell and dispose of the same as soon as conveniently may be after my decease in such manner as they shall think most proper and apply the Monies arising therefrom in the manner and to for and upon the several uses trusts intents and purposes as I have herein after directed the Residue of my Personal Estate to be applied I Also give and bequeath to the said John Harrison and William Stevens their Executors and Administrators All and singular my Cattle Farming Stock and all other my Personal Estate and Effects of what nature sort or kind soever or wheresoever upon Trust to sell and dispose of the same in such manner as to them shall seem fit and to get in and collect all such Debts as shall be due and owing to me at the time of my decease and to invest the same together with the Monies to arise from the Sale of such part of my Real Estate given and devised to them as aforesaid upon such Security or Securities as to them shall seem meet upon the Trusts and two and for the several ends intents and purposes hereinafter particularly mentioned and declared of and concerning the same (that is to say) upon Trust that they do and shall apply the Dividends and Interest arising from the Sale of the said Estates so given and devised to them as aforesaid and from the Sale of my Personal Estate and Effects for and towards the Maintenance Education and bringing up of my said Son Thomas and all and every of my Daughters as I may happen to leave at my death equally share and share alike until they shall respectively Attain their Ages of twenty One Years and when and as often as they my said Son and Daughters shall respectively attain their said Ages of twenty One Years then Upon Trust to pay and divide the Monies arising from the Sale of my said Real and Personal Estate and Effects equally amongst my said Son and Daughters who shall attain the said Age of twenty One Years when and as they shall respectively attain the same and in case any or either of my said Children shall happen to dye before attaining his her or their age or ages of twenty One Years then the parts or shares of him her or them so dying shall go to and amongst and be In Trust for the Surviving Children and be equally divided between and amongst them share and share alike if more than one and be payable when and as his her or their Original parts or shares shall by Virtue of this my Will become payable and be liable to the same Contingencies of Surviving to and amongst the surviving Child or Children in case of the death of any other of my said Children in manner aforesaid as I have hereinbefore directed concerning his her or their Original part or shares And my Mind and Will further is that the purchaser or purchasers of my said Estates devise to my said Trustees to be sold shall not be obliged or concerned to see his her or their purchase Monies laid out or otherwise disposed of or in any manner Answerable or Accountable for the Nonapplication all lost thereof but upon payment thereof to my Trustees or the Survivor of them his Heirs and Assigns their or his Receipt or Receipts shall be a good and sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers thereof And I do hereby devise the Guardianship Care and Education of my said Son and Daughters during their Minorities to the said John Harrison and William Stevens And I do hereby Appoint the said John Harrison and William Stevens Executors of this my last Will and Testament Provided Always And my Will that they my said Trustees and Executors their Exors and Administrators shall and may at all times deduct and retain to themselves all such loss Costs Charges and Expences as they or either of them shall or may be put unto in the Execution of this my Will and the Trust hereby in them reposed and that neither of them shall be Answerable or Accountable for any loss which may happen to any of the said Trust Monies either by lending the same to my said Wife upon Bond or otherwise to enable her to carry on my Farm for the benefit of my said Children in case they shall be minded so to do unless the same happen by their wilful default or mismanagement nor shall the one of them be Answerable for the Acts deeds the faults or mismanagement of the other of them but each of them for his own Acts and deeds only And lastly I do hereby revoke all former Wills by me heretofore made and do declare this to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said John Stevens the Testator have to this my Will contained in two Sheets of Paper to the first Sheet set my hand and to this second and last Sheet my hand and Seal this twentieth Day of March One thousand Seven hundred and ninety two John Stevens Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said John Stevens the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto Subscribed Our Names as Witnesses Sarah Clare Stantonbury John Clarke Servant to Mr Stevens John Garrard Clerk to S. Garrard Stony Stratford
Probate: 18 March 1794