In the Name of God Amen I Sir John Wittewrong of Stanton alias Stanton Berry in the county of Bucks Barronett being infirme as to bodily health but of sound and disposing mind and memory praised be Almighty God for the same do make and Ordain and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following that is to say Whereas I am seized in Fee of all that Mannor or reputed Mannor of Stanton alias Stanton Berry with the rights members and Appurtenances thereunto belonging and of severall Messuages Farms Lands Tenements Hereditaments Mills Waters Fishings Meadows Pastures Feedings Woodground Estates and Farms scituate lyeing and being in the severall Parishes Villages Hambletts or Feilds of Stanton great Lindford and Bradwell or some of them or elsewhere in the County of Bucks I do hereby give and devise and bequeath all that my said Mannour Messuages Mills Lands Tenements Meadows Pastures and all other my Lands Tenements and Hereditaments whatsoever in possession reversion Expectancy or remainder lyeing or being in the said County of Bucks unto my good Friends Henry Cartwright of Golden Square in the Parish of Saint James’s in the county of Middlesex Esq Richard Cole Esq late Lieutentant Colonel of my Regiment of Foot in Ireland and George Brewster of Lincoln’s Inne in the county of Middlesex Gent and to the Survivor of them and to the Heirs and Assigns of the Survivor of them for ever To have and to hold the said Mannor Messuages Mills Lands Tenements Woods Meadows Pastures Hereditaments and Premises with their and every of their Appurtenances unto the said Henry Cartwright Richard Colman and George Brewster and the Survivor of them and to the Heirs and Assigns of the Survivor of them for ever without impeachment of wast and with for liberty and power to commit wast upon this special trust and confidence nevertheless that they the said Henry Cartwright Richard Cole and George Brewster and the Survivor of them and to the Heirs and Assigns of the Survivor of them shall and doe sell and dispose of all and singular the said Mannor Messuages Mills Lands Tenements Hereditaments and Premises with their Appurtenances so soon after my decease as conveniently may be to the best Purchasor and for the most money day and the Survivor of them can get for the same either by sale of the whole together or in parcels as they or the Survivor of them shall think most proper and advisable and that they and the Survivor of them shall and do by and out of the moneys arising by such sale pay and satisfie all such just debts as I shall owe or and stand indebted at the time of my decease to any person or persons whatsoever and subject there unto that they my said Trustees shall and doe pay unto my son George Wittewrong the sum of four Hundred pounds and unto my son William Wittewrong the sum of eight hundred pounds and unto my Daughters Mary and Martha and to each of them the sum of one thousand pounds apiece and to my Daughters Lucy and Susanna and to each of them had the sum of eight hundred pounds a piece Item I Will direct and appoint that out of the rents issues and profits of my said Estate my said Son George shall have yearly paid him for his better subsistence the sum of twenty pounds by half yearly payments and my son William the sum of forty pounds and my Daughters Mary and Martha fifty pounds a piece and my said Daughters Lucy and Susanna forty pounds apiece to be paid them severally and respectively for their Subsistence by half yearly payments from the time of my decease during and until my said Sons and Daughters shall respectively have their respective portions fully paid and satisfied and from such time as he and her of my said Sons and Daughters shall have had an revised his her or their said respective portion or portions the said yearly sums to cease and by no longer paid to him or her of them Item I give devise and bequeath unto the said Henry Cartwright Richard Cole and George Brewster and to the Survivor of them and to the Survivor of them and to the Heirs and Assigns of the Survivor of them one thousand pounds out of the moneys to be raised by the sale of my said reall Estate And I do hereby direct and appoint that until the said one thousand pounds shall be raised as aforesaid my said Trustees shall in the first place have take and receive the yearly sum of fifty pounds out of the rents Issues and profits of my said Real Estate in the County of Bucks Upon trust and confidence that they the said Trustees shall pay and apply the said yearly sum of fifty pounds and the said sum of one thousand pounds to such uses and purposes only as a are a shall by my Writing or Deed under my hand or Verbally direct and as the residuary part of the moneys to be raised by Sale of my said Estate shall herein after by directed and to no other use intent or purpose and that without trendring account for the same or any part thereof to any person or persons whatsoever Item I give devise and bequeath unto Mrs Margaret Beaumont who now resides and Cohabits with me all my plate Jewells Gold Watch and Seals their and two affixed and all my goods Household goods Utensils of Household Limnen and Furniture of all sorts and kinds whatsoever to her own sole and separate use exclusive or of any power or Control whatsoever Item I give devise and bequeath and do hereby appoint that my said Trustees do and shall out of the monies to be raised by Sale of my said Reall Estate as aforesaid also pay unto the said Margaret Beaumont the sum of one thousand pounds for her owne sole use and benefit and into her owne hands and to be at her own sole dispose exclusive of any power of Control whatsoever and her receipt to be my said Trustees sufficient discharge for the same Item I Will direct and appoint that out of the rents issues and profits of my said Reall Estate the said Margaret shall have yearly paid her for the better subsistence of herself and her two sons John and Wittewrong herein after named the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds by halfe yearly payments from the time of my decease unto the said Margaret shall have the said Legacy of one thousand pounds fully paid and satisfied Item I Will and appoint that they the said Henry Cartwright Richard Cole and George Brewster and the Survivor of them and to the Heirs Executors and Administrators of the Survivor of them shall and two out of the moneys to be raised by sale of my said real Estate as aforesaid pay unto my said natural son John I the said Margaret Beaumont the sum of one thousand pounds and to Wittewrong my natural Son by the said Margaret the sum of one thousand pounds and I do what hereby Will direct and appoint that if either of my said two natural sons John and Wittewrong shall happen to dye during his minority that then and in such case the Legacy here in before given to him of them so dyeing shall goe and be paid unto the Survivor of them and I doe hereby devise and appoint that the said Margaret Beaumont their Mother shall have the sole Guardianship of my said two natural sons as to the government of their persons education and bringing up during their minorityes and that there several Legacyes hereby given and bequeathed to them and the Interest or produce and Increase thereof shall from time to time be paid for their use education and maintenance bringing up and for their advancement as she the said Margaret shall from time to time direct and appoint and be subject to her Control and her Receipts alone to be from time to time a good and sufficient discharge and discharges to my said Trustees for what thereof she shall at any time receive thereof Item I give devise and bequeath unto the said Henry Cartwright Richard Cole and George Brewster my said Trustees and to each of them the sum of twenty five pounds and doe hereby Will direct and appoint that they the said Trustees shall and lawfully may have retaine deduct and take to themselves out of my said Estate all such costs charges and expences as they any or either of them their or either of their Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns shall or may be at sustaine or be put unto for or by reason or means of four in the Execution performance of the Trust hereby in them reposed and shall have and by allowed also reasonable compensation for their time and trouble therein over and besides their said Legacies herein before given them Item all the rest residue and remainder of the said moneys to be raised by the Sale of my aforesaid Reall Estate herein before mentioned and appointed to be sold as aforesaid not herein before given and disposed of I give devise and bequeath the same unto the said Henry Cartwright Richard Cole and George Brewster and the Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor In Trust nevertheless to and for such uses intents and purposes only as a are a shall by any Letter or Writing or any Deed or Deeds by me Signed direct order and appoint for want of such Order direction or appointment in Writing then to be paid and applyed to such uses and purposes only I the said Sir John Wittewrong shall at any time give my Verbal order and directions by word of mouth to the said Henry Cutter Richard Cole and George Brewster or to any or either of them touching and the disposall of and applyeing such residuary parte of my said Estate whatsoever the same may be or amount unto in confidence of the trust I reposed in them and to be by their or either of their Order and direction applyed and disposed in such manner as they or any or either of them shall think proper and as near to my mind and intention to them or either of them declared as they alone shall adjudge and take the same to be in their discretion and for no other use intent or purpose whatsoever but to be solely under their power control or direction and appointment and not in any other manner paid or applyed converted or disposed of And Whereas Sir John Wittewrong my Grandfather and Sir John Wittewrong my Father those long since deceased or one of them was or why are seized in their demeane as of fee all had some other good Estate of Inheritance of and in diverse Messuages Wharfs Tofts pieces or parcels of ground and Buildings thereon erected within the City of London and the liberties and permits thereof which Erections and Buildings were by the dreadful Conflagration which happened in the said City of London in the year of our Lord one thousand and sixty and six burnt downe and demolished and soon after my said Grandfather and Father or one of them for encouraging the rebuilding of the City of London did in or about the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and sixty seven by one or more Lease or Leases grant or demised to one or more person or persons Body or bodys Corporate all the said severall Wharfs Tofts peicies and parcels of ground Hereditaments and Premises for the Erecting making and building thereon severall Messuages or Tenements Wharfs and houses and for other purposes in such respective Indentures of Lease particularly mentioned for a term or time of sixty years or some such long terme and under some certain considerable yearly ground rent reserved therefore there which Lease or Leases are now expired or near expiring now my mind and Will further is and I do hereby give devise and bequeath unto the said Henry Cartwright Richard Cole and George Brewster and to the Survivor of them and to the Heirs and Assigns of the Survivor of them for ever all the said Wharfs pieces or parcels of ground Tofts Houses the erections and buildings there on erected standing and being with their and every of their rights members and appurtenances and all Arrears of such reserved ground rent that shall at the time of my decease hapning remain due and unpaid for any part or parcel of the Premises and all my Estate right title Inheritance property claime demand reversion and reversions remainder and remained as Equity of Redemption or other Estate or Interest whatsoever either at Law or in Equity or otherwise in Expectancy or remainder or possibilities whatsoever To have and to hold all and every the said Messuages Tofts parcels of ground and Premises to them the said Henry Cartwright Richard Cole and George Brewster and the Survivor of them the Heirs and Assigns of the Survivor of them for ever and to have take and receive the rents Issues and profits there are of and of every part and parcel there of In Trust nevertheless to and for the severall uses Trusts Intents and Purposes hereinafter mentioned declared and appointed that is to say In Trust that they the said Henry Cartwright Richard Cole and George Brewster and the Survivor of them and the Heirs and Assigns of such Survivor shall and do so soon after my decease as conveniently may be Sell and dispose of the said Wharfs Tofts peices or pasture ground Messuages or Tenements Hereditaments and is mentioned to lye in London and the liberty and precincts thereof and every part and parcel there of with their and every of their Appurtenances and out of the moneys to be raised by such Sale I hereby give devise and bequeath unto the said Wittewrong my natural son the further sum of one thousand pounds over and besides the said Legacy of one thousand herein before given him Item I give devise and bequeath unto the said John my natural Son by further sum of one thousand pounds over and besides the said Legacy of one thousand pounds herein before given him and to my Brother James Wittewrong the sum of one hundred pounds to be also raised by such Sale of the premises in London and I do hereby also give devise and appoint that the said George Brewster shall and doe out of such moneys have take and detained for his owne use the further sum of five hundred pounds over and besides the said legacy of twenty five pounds herein before given him to and for the payment of which said four last Legacyes I had doe also further is subject all the said rent and Arrears of rent due and to grow due for the said Premises in London which shall be unpaid at the time of my death hapning and subject there unto upon this further Trust that they my said Trustees and the Survivor of them and the Heirs and Assigns of such Survivor shall and do place and put out at Interest on Government or other good Securities all the rest and residue of such moneys as shall be had raised received or made by and from such Sale and the other rents and Arrears of rent of the said Premises in London Subject to the Provisoe herein after mentioned and all costs and charges my said Trustees or either of them shall be put unto or sustained by reason of the Trust hereby in them reposed and shall and do pay over and Satisfie a unto the said Margaret Beaumont all the Interest or produce and Increase thereof from time to time as the same shall be received into her the said Margaret own hands and two and for her sole and separate use and benefit exclusive of all other power and Control whatsoever and from and after the decease of her the said Margaret then upon this further Trust and confidence that they my said Trustees shall and do assigne over pay or deliver all such moneys and Securities for money to be taken made or raised by such sale of my said Estate in London and the rents and profits after the payment and deductions aforesaid unto my said natural son Wittewrong when he shall have Attained his full age of twenty one years and in case of his death hapning before he attains his said age of twenty one years that then my said Trustees or assigne and pay over the same unto my said natural son John Provided always and my Will mind and meaning is that for as much my estate and Interest in the premises before mentioned be scituate and lyeing in London and the liberties and precincts thereof are at present disputable and uncertain both as to the Tithe and reall value thereof I do hereby Will devise and direct that if what thereof shall be recovered shall on the shall on the sale there of by this my Will appointed raise over and above the Charge of such Recovery the clear sum of six thousand pounds at least That then out of the money to be so clear raised by such Sale amounting to the sum of six thousand pounds upon trust and confidence that my said Trustees shall pay and apply the same to such use and purposes only as a are a shall by my Deed or Writing under my hand or verbally direct and as the residuary parts of the moneys to be raised by the sale of my Buckinghamshire Estate shall be directed without trending any Account for the same or any part thereof to any person or persons whatsoever otherwise and I shall direct and my mind and Will is that if and in case they the said John and Wittewrong my natural sons shall both happen to dye before they or either of them shall have attained their respective ages of twenty one years not to leaving any Issue of their or either of their bodyes Lawfully Issueing and as she the said Margaret shall be living at such that death of the Survivor of them hapning then and in such case only In trust for her the said Margarett her Executors Administrators and Assigns to and for her sole use and benefit and to be a signed paid and applied as she the said Margaret shall by writing under her hand direct and appoint and her receipt only to be a sufficient discharge to my said Trustees for all their actings and doeings in and about touching and concerning the same pursuant to such her directions Item I doe hereby make nominate constitute and appoint the said Henry Cartwright Richard Cole and George Brewster joint Executors to this my last Will and Testament so revoaking annulling and declaring void all former and other Wills and Testaments at any time heretofore by me made or declared I doe hereby publish and declare this to be and contain my last Will and Testament and none other or otherwise In Witness whereof I have to each sheet of this my Will the same being contained in nine sheets of paper accounting this present sheet for one set my hand and seal at the fort or near the bottom of each sheet and also affixed to my seal to the top of the first sheet hereof this second day of December in the year of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred and twenty one J. Wittewrong Signed and Sealed Published and declared by the Testator Sir John Wittewrong as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have here unto subscribed our names as Witnesses hereunto Thomas Edwards Tho: Green Daniel Hodges
Probate: 01 February 1722
Biography
Wittewrong was descended from a Flemish immigrant, who had settled in England in the sixteenth century, making a fortune as a brewer. His grandfather, the first baronet, fought on the parliamentary side in the civil war and sat for Hertfordshire in one of Cromwell’s Parliaments. He himself sat successively for Aylesbury and Wycombe attached to Lord Wharton, who as lord lieutenant of Ireland procured for him the command of a newly raised regiment on the Irish establishment in 1709. On the raising of new regiments to deal with the rebellion of 1715 he presented a petition to the King stating that he had always supported the Protestant succession and his Majesty’s interest, for which he has spent great sums in the county of Bucks. Has served as a Member of Parliament for more than twelve years [actually six] and is still a Member. During the last ministry much injustice was done him and he rejected several advantageous offers as his principles prevented his entering into the measures that were then on foot. He has had the honour to serve as a colonel of infantry and he would rather be cashiered than sell out. Notwithstanding such a character and his zeal for his Majesty, he has had the misfortune to be excluded from the new levies, several colonels of less standing than him have been preferred, and many persons have had civil employments without anyone having the least regard for the petitioner. He therefore humbly prays for the command of a regiment, or to be put on the excise commission, or in such other employment as his Majesty shall think fit, so that the petitioner’s enemies cannot have occasion to say that he is entirely neglected.
Given a commission to raise a regiment on the Irish establishment, commanded by himself, he steadily voted with the Government. He died 30 Jan. 1722, soon after making a settlement of his estates jointly with his eldest son, who had been forced to flee the country for murder and died in the Fleet of wounds received from a fellow prisoner in 1743. The estate was sold by Act of Parliament in 1727 to Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough.