In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Lowndes residing in the Parish of St. Margarets Westminster Batchelor of Laws Rector of North Crawley and Vicar of Astwood both in the County of Bucks being sound in Mind and Body do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say In the first place I bequeath my Soul in to the hands of my Creator who gave me my Life and in whom I trust for the forgiveness of all my Sins through the Mediation of Jesus Christ Our Lord and Saviour my Body I desire may be buried in the Chancel of Astwood carried in three Coffins (namely one Leaden and two Elm by an Hearse and one Coach attending with a flat Stone over it specifying my Age and Name and how long Vicar of Astwood aforesaid by day light and in the most Private manner And as to my temporal Estate I dispose of it in the following manner Imprimis I give to the Poor of Astwood and North Crawley each ten Guineas to be distributed by my Executor or Executors on Christmas Day ensuing my decease the former of which Place I have been vicar above 42 years from this Date Item I give Thomas Chetwood my Servant for his faithful and assiduous Service to me near 11 Years two hundred Pounds Principal Money together with all my wearing Apparel Watch and also my Horses in my possession at my decease if he continues with me at my decease as my Servant and also Mouring And I give to my Nephew Richard Lownes of Red Lyon Esquire Attorney at Law One hundred pounds for said Civilities I have received from him and also I give to Elizabeth Winton Maid Servant in Park Prospect Westminster a Years Wages if living with me at my decease And also to Mary Ellis Wife to John Ellis helping my Sons at Astwood Bucks twenty Pounds Principal Money The Remainder and Residue of my Estates if any and Effects of what nature soever and wheresoever which I shall at my decease be seized or possessed of or entitled unto or interested in I give next him or Heir at Law whom I appoint my Executor after all my debts and Funeral Expences are paid In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament Written with my own hand this thirteenth day of January seventeen hundred and ninety five contained in this one sheet of Paper to which I here first set my hand Thomas Lowndes
12th Janry 1798
On which Day appeared Personally Henry Lowndes of Abingdon Street Westminster in the County of Middlesex Esquire William Hare of the Parish of Saint George Hanover Square in the same County Gentleman and Milbourne Blome of the same Parish Gentleman and by virtue of their corporal Oaths deposed as follows to wit and first the said Henry Lowndes for himself Brother and only next of kin of the Reverend Thomas Lowndes late of the Parish of Middlesex Clerk and Rector of North Crawley and Vicar of Astwood in the County of Bucks deceased who departed this Life on the twenty seventh day of December now last Past and this dependant saith that on the same day very shortly after surly the death of the said deceased the last Will and Testament of the deceased hereunto annexed bearing date the thirteenth day of January One thousand seven hundred and ninety five was found by this dependent and Thomas Chetwood the deceased Servant in a Drawer in the Parlour of the deceases House in Park Prospect Westminster And this deponent saith that on opening and reading the same we observed an obliteration at the conclusion of the twenty first and commencement of the twenty second line of the first side of the said Will in manner as thereon now Plight and condition as which found by this dependent as aforesaid And these dependents William Hare and Milbourne Blome for themselves acquainted with the said Reverend Thomas Lowndes Clerk deceased and have several times …line write and also subscribe his Name and thereby came well to know and be acquainted with his manner and character of Handwriting and subscription and having now carefully viewed and perused the Paper Writing hereunto Annexed Purporting to be and contain the last Will and Testament of the said deceased as aforesaid beginning thus “In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Lowndes residing in the Parish of St Margarets Westminster Batchellor of Laws” ending thus “Written with my own Hand this thirteenth Day of January seventeen hundred and ninety five contained in this one Sheet of Paper to which I here first set my Hand” And thus subscribe Thomas Lowndes” these respondents say they these respondents do say that they readily and in their Consciences believe the Will beginning ending and subscribed as aforesaid with the whole Wills and contents thereof to be all of the Proper Hand writing and Subscription of him the said Reverend Thomas Lowndes Clerk deceased Henry Lowndes Wm. Hare Milbourne Blome were Duly sworn to the truth of this Affidavit Before me J: Fisher Surr Prest Geo: Boggs Nor. Pubs
This Will was proved at London the thirteenth Day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight before the Worshipful John Fisher Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Honourable Sir William Wyne Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Henry Lowndes Esquire the Brother and Only next of kin of the deceased and as such the Executors named in the said Will to whom administration of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased was granted he having been first sworn duly to Administer