WILLIAM LOWNDES of ASTWOODBURY – WILL
I William Lowndes of Astwoodbury in the County of Bucks Esquire being by gods blessing of sound memory and in good health do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to day): In the first place I bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator humbly hoping that by his Mercy and the Merits and Intersession of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ it shall appear with Joy before the most glorious Trinity and have the full fruition of Eternal Life, my body I desire may be interred in the same grave or very near the remains of my late most dear faithful and loving wife in the chancel of Astwood Church by daylight in a very private but devout manner, as to my temporal estate I do order and dispose of the followeth: I give to the poor of Astwood twenty pounds to be distributed to and amongst them on the day of my funeral. I also give to the respective treasurers for the time being of Christs and St. Bartholomew’s Hospitals in London and of the City Coat Hospital of Tothill Fields, Westminster the sum of one hundred pounds to each and every one of them for the benefit of the poor children and infirm people therein and whereas since my settlements upon marriage of my eldest son now William Lowndes-Stone Esquire with Catherine his present wife of my estates at North Crawley in the aforesaid County of Bucks, I have purchased there two other small farms now in the occupation of John Burge and William Whiting respectively which I hereby give and devise to him my aforesaid son, his heirs and assigns for ever and I hereby also give and bequeath to my granddaughter Catherine Lowndes-Stone the sum of one thousand pounds to be paid to her at the age of 21 years or day of marriage which shall first happen and to my grandson William Lowndes only son of the aforesaid William Lowndes-Stone the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid to him at the age of 21 years and this only as a mark of affection for him.
ITEM
I give and devise to my other grandsons of my late son Richard Lowndes by Mrs Bridget Dalston of Penrith in Cumberland his wife the sum of two thousand pounds apiece to be paid to them by my executor hereinafter in this my Will named when they respectively shall have attained the age of twenty one years with interest in the meantime for the said legacies after the rate of three per cent per annum towards their maintenance and support and if either of my said grandsons William and Richard shall happen to die before his said legacy shall become payable then the legacy of him so dying shall go and remain over to the survivor of them and if both of them my said grandsons shall die before they shall have attained their respective ages of 21 years then I give and bequeath the whole of their respective legacies amounting to the sum of four thousand pounds or so much thereof as shall not be issued for their benefit as hereinafter is by me directed to my aforesaid eldest son William Lowndes-Stone nevertheless it is my Will that he my eldest son and executor hereinafter named and his executors or administrators shall and may at his and their discretions at any time or times before the said sums of money hereby by me given to my aforesaid grandsons, sons of my later son Richard deceased respectively shall become payable raise and apply any or such part of the said legacies not exceeding five hundred pounds to each of them for their better Education preferment advancement putting forth or otherwise for the benefit for them my said grandsons or either of them respectively as to my executors or administrators shall deem necessary or expedient.
Also I hereby give to my daughter Bridget Lowndes the interest of five hundred pounds hereinafter further given to her sons, William and Richard Lowndes to be computed after the rate of three pounds per cent per annum for and during her natural life to be paid to her by my executor, his executors or administrators by even quarterly payments on the four most usual days of payment in the year and the first payment to be made on such days as shall happen after my decease and also the sum of fifty pounds to but herself and her aforesaid two sons mourning and I do hereby give a devise the said last mentioned sum of five hundred pounds to my said grandsons, William and Richard in equal shares and to be paid to them within three calendar months after the decease of their aforesaid mother together with interest for the same to be computed after the rate of three pounds per cent per annum from the quarter day next preceding such her decease provided they shall then have attained their respective ages of twenty and one years but in case either of them shall die before the age of twenty one years or after he hath attained that age before the decease of his sais mother then the share of him so dying shall go and be paid to the survivor of them by my said executor, his executors or administrators and in the case of both of them shall happen to die before they shall have attained their respective ages of twenty one years or after they shall have respectively attained that age before the decease of their said mother then and in such case the said sum of £500 given to them as shall sink into residue of my personal estate for the benefit of my eldest son and executor.
ITEM
I give and devise to my now only daughter Clara Lowndes the sum of £6000 to be paid to her within 3 months after my decease and I also further give and confirm to her a Brilliant Diamond pair of earrings that did belong to her late dear mother deceased as also several gold and silver coins, medals and silver plate in my daughters custody in Duke Street, Westminster or in my office of Auditor of his Majesty’s Land Revenue in New Palace Yard which were formerly given her by myself and others.
I also further give my said daughter Clara Lowndes a large silver oiler lamp and appurtenances for tea drinking also two shagreen cases out with twelve large silver knives and forks and the other with twelve desert silver handled knives, forks and spoons with all my other silver-plate whatsoever, except what I have by this my Will devised or otherwise disposed of together with all household furniture, woollen and linen belonging to me in Duke Street, Westminster it being my intention that the same shall not be reckoned any part of my Personal Estate to be otherwise disposed of.
I give also to my aforesaid daughter Clara the sum of £100 to buy her mourning, and having made a good provision in my lifetime for my second son Henry Lowndes I moreover give and devise to him the sum of £1000 and also all arrears of fees and salary due to me at the time of my decease arisen or to arise for my office for life out of the Auditors of his Majesty’s Court of Exchequer after deducting therefrom all and every sum and sums of money I may have received from him on Account of the same and this I give him for mourning and whereas by indentures of ;ease and release respectively bearing the date 29th and 30th days of July 1766 a Messuage and divers Closes of Pasture Land and Meadows Ground containing 73 acres at Broughton Stavely at Broughton Holland in the aforesaid County of Bucks now or lately in the occupation of Hughes and purchased by me of my nephew Richard Lowndes of Winslow in the same County Esq stands settled after my decease on my youngest son.
The Reverend Thomas Lowndes vicar of Astwood aforesaid for his life with divers Remainders over in my family now I do by this my Will confirm and declare my appropriation of the said settlement made or intended to be made by or in pursuance of the Indentures before verified or therein mentioned subject nevertheless to the several Trust powers matters and things thereby respectively prescribed according to the true intent and meaning of the same.
ITEM
I give and devise to my aforesaid eldest son William Lowndes-Stone my executor hereinafter named the sum of £300 upon trust to be by him paid out and dispended according to his discretion in the repairing and well amending the Rectorial or Mansion House at North Crawley aforesaid upon or as soon after the decease of the present incumbent the Reverend Charles Cole Rector thereof as conveniently may be but this only in case my aforesaid son Thomas Lowndes succeeds him in the said Rectory and not otherwise.
ITEM
I further give to my son Thomas Lowndes my other large shagreen case with 12 silver handled knives and forks therein and also the sum of £300 to furnish with goods and other necessaries the before mentioned Rectorial House at North Crawley aforesaid as soon as he shall be instituted Rector thereof and not otherwise.
ITEM
I give to my worthy friend Robert Montague of The South Sea House, London Esquire the sum of £200 being indeed but a very small acknowledgement and compense for many services and obligations performed by him for a long series of time to myself and several of my children and family and I entreat his favourable acceptance thereof .
I also give to my niece Mrs Elizabeth Duncombe, my cousins Elizabeth Ann and Mary Duxbury respectively, Peter Francis and his sister Rebecca Francis Spinster the respective sums of twenty guineas apiece for mourning and to my two clerks Messrs James Rowlands and Richard Gray ten guineas each also for mourning and to Joseph Bass my servant in the farm at Astwoodbury in my own occupation the like sum of ten guineas and to him also and to all my menial servants living with me at the time of my decease and to each and every of them respectively one year’s wages.
All the rest and residue of the ready monies I shall leave and all such debts as are and shall be owing and due to me upon any the Public Funds and Securities or by any Bills, Bonds or other Specialities and all my personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever excepting that what is by me before given in this my Will to my only daughter Clara Lowndes excepting one shagreen case with 12 silver knives and forks and also 6 of the silver spoons now commonly used in my house in Duke Street, Westminster and which I hereby give to my aforesaid youngest so Thomas Lowndes and also excepting some small furniture as Writing Desk and Table in my lower room in the Auditors Office in New Palace Yard and which formerly I purchased myself and now bequeath to my son Henry Lowndes and all other residue of my Real Estate after payment of my Funeral Expenses, Debts, Legacies, Portions, Annuities and Maintenance before in this my Will devised to my respective children, grandchildren and others I hereby give a devise to my aforesaid son William Lowndes-Stone his heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns to be taken and disposed of at his and their free will and pleasure and lastly I do by these presents constitute and appoint him my said eldest son William Lowndes-Stone Sole Executor of this my Will revoking hereby all former Wills and Codicils by me made and I declare and publish this to be my last Will and of my own handwriting and unto which I have set my hand and seal this Seventh day March 1767 and in the seventh year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King George the Third over Great Britain France and Ireland
- Lowndes
This Will was by the above William Lowndes signed sealed by him published and declared as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of the Testator.
Richard Gray J. Rowlands George Wright
CODICIL
I further give to my daughter Clara Lowndes the sum of £300 to pay the Rent and Taxes of the House I now dwell in Duke Street, Westminster for the remainder of the lease thereof from Mr Edward Buckley and of which there are now about three years and 6 months to come and unexpired but if my aforesaid eldest son and executor will take upon himself to pay the Rent and Taxes thereof during the existence and remainder of the aforesaid lease then the said legacy of £300 hereby given to her my said daughter to cease and determine.
2nd April 1767 W. Lowndes Witness George Wright
I give to my daughter Clara Lowndes after my decease £3300 part of my 3 per cent Consolidated Bank Annuities over and above what I have given or may give her by my Will and not as part of such distributive share of the residue of my personal estate if any as she may after my death be entitled to and I declare that this is by me intended as a Testamentary Art and Desire if it may be proved as such.
17th September 1772 W. Lowndes
This is my desire after my decease that my executor or executors should pay to my servant William Speed £20 a year as long as he lives and in case he dies before his wife Frances Speed it is my desire that £10 p.a. should be paid to her as long as she lives
20th July 1774 W. Lowndes
PROVING of WILL 3rd April 1775
Appeared Personally James Rowlands of Lambeth in the County of Surrey Gentleman and Richard Gray of Marsham Street, Westminster in the County of Middlesex Gentleman and being severally sworn on the Holy Evangelists made Oath each for himself as follows that they knew and were acquainted with William Lowndes late of the Parish of St. Margaret’s Westminster in the County of Middlesex Esquire deceased and are well acquainted with his manner and character of handwriting and subscription having often seen him write and subscribe his name having now carefully viewed a writing at the foot or bottom of the Last Will and Testament of the said deceased purporting to be a codicil thereto and also the two paper writings hereto annexed purporting to be two other codicils to the said Will the first of the said codicils beginning thus “Codicil I further give to my daughter Clara Lowndes the sum of £300” ending thus “dated at Westminster 2nd April 1767 and thus subscribed “W. Lowndes” the second of the said Codicils beginning thus “I give to my daughter Clara Lowndes after my decease £3300 part of 3% Consolidated Bank Annuities” ending thus “Witness my hand the 17th Day of September 1772 and thus subscribed” William Lowndes and the third of the said Codicils beginning thus “This is my desire after my decease” ending thus “ should be paid to her as long as she lives 20th July 1774” and this subscribed “W. Lowndes”
They the Appearers do say that they verily and on their consciences believe the whole body and contents of the said two first Codicils the date of the third Codicil and the name W. Lowndes to be subscribed to each of the said Codicils to be all of the proper Handwriting and Subscription of the said William Lowndes deceased.
- Rowlands & Richard Gray
Same day the said James Rowlands and Richard Gray were duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit before
Geo Harris, Surrogate Priest
Henry Stevens Notary Public
On the 6th day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Five Administration with the Will and Three Codicils annexed of all singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of William Lowndes late of the Parish of St. Margaret’s Westminster in the County of Middlesex Esquire Deceased was granted to Henry Lowndes Esquire, The Reverend Thomas Lowndes Clerk and Clara Lowndes Spinster the natural lawful and only children of the said deceased they having been first sworn duly to Administer William Lowndes-Stone Esquire the son of the said deceased, Sole Executor and Residuary Legatee named in the said Will dying in the life and time of the Testat