Will for Thomas Bignall 1816

NRO Northants Wills 1816

This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas Bignall of Yardley Gobion in the parish of Potterspury in the County of Northampton Gardener, First I do will and direct that all my just Debts Funeral and Testamentary Expences be fully paid and satisfied by my Executors hereinafter named, as soon as conveniently may be after my Decease And Give and bequeath unto my Kinsman William Bignall who now lives with me, the son of my deceased Brother William My Executors and Administrators My Horse and Cart and the Tackle and Gears belonging Also all my working Tools and Implements used by me in Gardening or otherwise as also all the Gooseberry Trees (The Fruit Trees being the property of His Grace the Duke of Grafton) growing Crops and all other the Growth and Produce that may be in and upon the Garden and Premises which are now Occupied and rented by me or hereafter may be at the time of my Death And also the use Tenure and Occupation of the Messuage or Tenement Outbuildings Yard and premises as in the which I now inhabit and dwell and may do at the time of my Death as aforesaid until the End of the Term in case I had lived I might has been intitled to have kept the possession thereof from the commencement of my Tenancy viz Michaelmas And that after the end and expiration of the Term aforesaid my Will and Mind is that my Executors do intercede for him with John Roper Esqr Agent to his Grace should I then rent and occupy under him as I now do, that he the said William Bignall now living with me, may be permitted to continue in and yearly rent and occupy the same Messuage Hereditaments Garden and Premises, so long as he behaves himself orderly and respectfully and no longer, But in case my said Kinsman may not be permitted to remain in the House Garden and Premises as I may occupy at my Death no longer than my Term therein as before mentioned, should that happen during his Minority Then I will and direct that my said Executors hereinafter named shall in that case and as soon as conveniently may be sell and dispose of my Horse and cart, and the Tackle and the Gears belonging Implements and Tools of every description, and also all the Stock of Gooseberry Trees and the whole of the Produce then Growing and being in and upon the said Garden and Premises, so Occupied by me at my Death as aforesaid, by Public or Private Sale and for the most Money and best Price and Prices, that can or may be reasonably had or gotten for the same, and the Monies arising from the Sale of every Part thereof that may remain after the necessary Expences of said Sale all deducted and paid, to place out the whole thereof upon Government or other good Security or Securities, and Pay and apply the yearly Interest Dividends or proceeds thereof as they shall from time to time receive the same, to and for the use and benefit of him my said Kinsman William Bignall, who now lives with me, during his Minority and as soon as he shall have arrived at his age of twenty one years, Then to appropriate the whole of the said Principal and Interest, then due and owing for his Benefit Provided it appears to my said Executors, that he is steady and likely to make good and proper use of it, but if not, then they shall be impowered to pay the whole and every Part thereof to him in such proportions and at such time as they shall deem prudent, until the whole principal and Interest Monies, shall have been duly paid to, and received by my said Kinsman William Bignall who now lives with me his Executors or Administrators as aforesaid I Give to my said Kinsman the said William Bignall my Two ffeather Beds both of which I sleep on to preserve them, and with the Bedding, sheets, Blankets, Coverlids, Rugs, Pillows, Bolsters, the Bedstead on which the said 2 Beds lie on being Oak, and the Curtains and Hangers belonging, which are blue and white Checked Linen, and one other Oak Bed stead without Hangings All the rest residue and remainder of my Household Goods Furniture and Implements of Household Plate Linen China and all other kind of stock of Cattle Goods and Chattles not hereinbefore by me given or otherwise pos[sess]ed of, as also all Monies and Securities for Money Book and other Debts, if any, that may be due and owing to me at my Death and that may remain after a sufficient part thereof shall have been sold and disposed of for the payment of all my just Debts ffuneral and Testamentary Expences, the which I direct my said Executors to do if necessary then after due payment thereof as aforesaid, I do give and bequeath the same and every Part thereof to him the said William Bignall living with me, his Mother Sarah Bignall and my Sister Ann Ward, Wife of Thomas Ward of Paulerspury in the County of Northampton aforesaid Wood Factor To and for their equal use and benefit, share and share alike, And I do nominate constitute and appoint Mr John Gibbs of Yardley aforesaid Baker, and Mr. Thomas Smith of Stony Stratford in the County of Bucks Writer, Executors of this my Will and Guardians of my said Kinsman during his Minority, And my Will is and I direct and declare that my said Executors shall and may retain to, and reimburse themselves, out of the Monies that shall come to their respective Hands under and by virtue of this my Will, all such Costs, Charges, and Expences, they may sustain, or be par[t] unto in the Execution thereof, and that they shall not be answerable for any more Monies than shall come to their Hands, nor any less which may happen to the same, or any part thereof, unless through their wilful neglect nor shall be answerable or accountable, the one for the other of them, but each of them for his own Acts and Deeds only And lastly I do hereby revoke all former and other Wills and Testamentary Instruments, heretofore by me made, In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Bignall the Testator, have to this my last Will and Testament, contained in two sheets of paper, and to each sheet thereof set my Hand and Seal, the Eighth day of November in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fourteen

Thomas Bignall X his mark

And Sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Bignall the Testator 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

Job Roberts of Stony Stratford Bucks Tanner

Clara Smith Wife of Thomas Smith of same place Writer

Proved 8th October 1816

Sub £100