John Strange, farmer, Shaldeston, will 12 May 1747, proved 30 May 1748.
D/A/We/82/42. Archdeaconry of Buckinghamshire
In the Name of God Amen the Twelfth day of May 1747 I John Strange of Shaldeston in the County of Bucks ffarmer being very weak in body but in perfect mind & memory thanks be given unto God therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body & knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to die, Do make & ordain this my last Will & Testamt. that is to say, Principally & first of all I give & recommend my soul into the hand of Almighty God that gave it, & my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the discrecon of my Executors nothing doubting but at the Generl resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God & as touching such worldly Estate to wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give devise & dispose of the same in the following manner & form & after my debts and pd. & my funeral Expences performed, I will & bequeath to Mary my dear beloved wife & to John my well beloved son all my Goods cattles & debts joyntly together so long as John my Son shall lived unmarried, But if it should fortune John my son to Marry during the natural life of Mary my wife Then my Will & Meaning is yt. John my son shall pay unto Mary my wife the value of one third part of my goods, cattles & debts in heir of her moiety half part of my Goods, Cattle or debts & Mary my wife may give it as she please amongst my Children but to no other person wt. soever, But if Mary my wife & John my Son should live together during the natural life of Mary my wife Then my Will & Meaning is that Mary my wife may give one third of my Goods Cattells & debts as she please amongst my Children but to no other person. I Likewise give & bequeath unto my well beloved son William & to my well beloved daughter Johanna the sum of five Shillings share & share alike to be Levied raised & pd. out of my above named Goods & I do hereby ordain Mary my wife to be my sole Exectrx. of ys. my last Will & Testamt. I do hereby disallow all other Testamts. Will & Exects. by me before named & Willed or bequeathed, Confirming this to be my last Will & Testamt. In Witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this day & year above written, John Strange. Signed Sealed pronounced & declared by the sd. John Strange as his Last Will & Testamt. in the presence of us the Subscribers, James Greaves, William White. Proved to 30th day of May 1748 before Thos. Price Clerk Surrogate by the Oath of Mary Strange widow relict sole Exectx. to whom Adcon. was Comitted she being first sworn duly to Administer.
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John Strange, yeoman, Tingewick, will 19 May 1756, proved 10 Aug 1756
D/A/We/86/92. Archdeaconry of Buckinghamshire
In the Name of God Amen I John Strange of Tingewick in the County of Bucks yeoman being weak of body but of sound and disposing mind and memory considering the uncertainty of this life do make and publish this my last Will and testament as follows And first I desire that my body may be decently interred at the discretion of my Executor hereinafter named And as to all my Estates both real and personal I dispose of the same in manner following (that is to say) I give and devise unto my wife Ann Strange All that my Copyhold Messuage or Tenement wherein I now dwell scituate in Tingewick aforesaid together with all out Houses Yards Orchards Gardens and Appurtenances whatsoever to the said Messuage belonging and also all that my copyhold Close of pasture ground to the same Messuage adjoining or belonging and now in the Occupation of Robert George, And also all that my Copyhold Messuage or Tenement wherein Daniel Dancer now dwells scituate in Tingewick aforesaid with the Close of pasture ground thereto belonging now in my own Occupation and all and singular other the Appurtenances to the said last mentioned Messuage belonging or appertaining (all which premisses as well as all other my Copyhold Lands and Tenements I have already surrendered to the use of my will or to that Effect) To Hold unto my said wife Ann and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after her decease I Give and devise the said first mentioned Messuage or Tenement wherein I now dwell with the Appurtenances And also the said Close in the Occupation of Robert George unto my Great Nephew John Strange of Gawcott (Grandson of my brother Richard Strange of Tingewick aforesaid Baker) and the Heirs of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten And for default of such Issue to my other great nephew John Strange of ffinmere Baker (another Grandson of my said Brother Richard Strange) and to his Heirs and Assigns forever. And also from and immediately after the decease of my said wife I give and devise all that my said other Messuage or Tenement now in the Occupation of Daniel Dancer with the Close and Appurtenances thereunto belonging unto and to the use of my nephew William Strange of Tingewick aforesaid Blacksmith (Son of my said Brother Richard Strange) and his Heirs and Assigns for ever Subject nevertheless and lyable (together with my other Lands Tenements and Hereditaments hereinafter devised to my said Nephew William Strange & his Heirs) to the payment of the several Legacies hereinafter mentioned. Item I give and devise unto my said nephew William Strange and his Heirs all that my Copyhold Half yard Land by Estimation lying in the Common ffields of Tingewick aforesaid with the appurtenances which I purchased of Daniel Elliot and all that my Copyhold Quarter of a yard Land by Estimation also lying in the Common ffields of Tingewick aforesaid with the appurtenances which I purchased of [blank] Croxton And all that my ffreehold Quarter of a yard Land in Tingewick aforesaid with the appurtenances which I purchased of Esau Clarke And all other my Messuages Lands and Hereditaments in the parish of Tingewick aforesaid not hereinbefore devised with their Appurtenances To Hold the same unto and to the use of my said Nephew William Strange his Heirs and Assigns for ever Subject to and upon this condition nevertheless that he my said nephew William Strange or his Heirs shall and do thereout by sale of the said premisses or otherwise pay the several Legacies or Sums of money hereinafter by me given and bequeathed (that is to say) I Give and bequeath unto the several persons hereinafter named the several Legacies or sums of money hereinafter mentioned (that is to say) To my nephew Peter Walker of Lonborough (Son of George Walker late of Baston deceased) the Sum of Twenty pounds. To my neice Mary George (wife of John George of Padbury Butcher) the Sum of ffiteen pounds. To my nephew William Strange of Weston (son of my brother William Strange deceased) the Sum of Ten pounds. To my neice Sarah Hall (the wife of John Hall of Kirtleton) the like sum of Ten pounds. To William Thornton of Chetwood Yeoman the Sum of Twenty pounds. To my wife's Sister Elizabeth Parker (the wife of Richard Parker of Kingsutton the Sum of five pounds. To Ellen ffields of Astrop Widow the sum of five pounds. To John Thornton of Finmere the like sum of five pounds. To my nephew Edmund Strange of Tingewick Maltster (son of my brother Richard Strange) the Sum of Ten pounds. To my neice Mary George (the wife of Robert George of Tingewick the Sum of Ten pounds. To my neice Martha Edwin (the wife of Thomas Edwin of Souldern) the Sum of Twenty pounds. To my Neice Mary Clarke (the wife of Abraham Clarke of Whaddon) the Sum of Ten pounds. To my Sister Elizabeth Durrant of Whaddon widow the Sum of Ten pounds. To my nephew Thomas Strange of Whaddon Baker (son of my brother Richard Strange) the Sum of Ten pounds. To my nephew Richard Strange of ffinmere (Son of my brother Richard Strange) the sum of ten pounds. To John Lewsley of Islip Cooper (Son of John Lewsley of Tingewick) the Sum of Twnety pounds. To my Nephew William Chamberlayne (over and above his wages) the Sum of five pounds. All which said several Legacies or sums of money my will is and I do hereby Order and direct shall be paid to the said Legatees respectively by my said nephew William Strange or his Heirs at the end of Twelve Calendar Months next after the decease of my said wife Ann Strange. And that in case any or either of them my said Legatees shall happen to dye before his her or their said Legacy or Legacies shall become due or payable then my will is that the Legacy or Legacies of him her or them so dying shall not be deemed lapsed but shall go and be paid to his her or their legal Executor or Administrator And I do hereby charge and make chargeable Subject and liable all and every my said Messuage Lands Tenements & Hereditaments hereinbefore devised to my said nephew William Strange (son of my brother Richard Strange) and his Heirs with and to the Payment of the said severall Legacies or Sums of money hereinbefore bequeathed accordingly. Item I Give and bequeath unto my said wife Ann Strange and to my neice ffrances Gray the wife of [blank] Gray of Preston Blacksmith All my Household goods and ffurniture Utensils and Implements whatsoever and of what sort or kind soever of and belonging to my Dwelling House to be equally divided between them share and share alike And as to for and concerning all my ready monies Stock of Sheep and other Cattle Corn Grain Hay and implements in Husbandry Rights Credits personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature kind or quality soever the same may be not hereinbefore disposed of after payment of my Debts and ffuneral Expences I Give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said nephew william Strange (son of my brother Richard Strange) to and for his own use and Lastly I do hereby make Constitute and appoint him my said nephew William Strange last named Sole Executor of this my last will and Testament hereby revoking all former and other wills by me heretofore made and do declare this to be and contain my true and only last will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said John Strange (the Testator) have to each of the two first Sheets of this my last will and Testament contained in three sheets of paper set my hand and to this last Sheet thereof my hand and Seal the nineteenth day of May in the year
of our Lord One thousand Seven Hundred and fifty Six. John Strainge. Signed Sealed published and declared by the above named John Strange the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have Subscribed our Names as Witnesses thereunto in the presence and at the request of the said Testator and also in the presence of each other Those words "to Ellen ffields of Astrop widow the Sum of Two punds" being first interlined in the second Sheet. Wm. Turnbull. Edwd. Haswood. Jno.
Miller. Proved the 10th day of August 1756 before John Stephens Clerk Surr. by the Oath of William Strange Nephew and sole Executor to whom Adcon. was committed he being first Sworn duly to administer.
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William Strange, blacksmith, Tingewick, will 15 Aug 1783, proved 30 March 1784.
D/A/We/108/12. Archdeaconry of Buckinghamshire.
This is the last Will and Testament of me William Strange of Tingewick in the County of Bucks Blacksmith made the fifteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty three in manner following that is to say Whereas my late Uncle John Strange formerly of Mixbury in the county of Oxford Blacksmith and afterwards of Tingewick aforesaid yeoman was at a Court held for the Manor of Tingewick aforesaid the 20th day of April 1708 amongst other premises admitted to him and his heirs to two Acres of Land more or less lying and being in the parish of Tingewick aforesaid then called Bunces And Whereas the said John Strange in any by his last will and Testament in Writing dated the 19th day of May 1756 Did after devising certain Copyhold premises therein mentioned give and devise all other his Messuages Lands and hereditaments in the parish of Tingewick aforesaid Not thereinbefore devised with the appurteances unto me the said William Strange my heirs and assigns forever In which general Words the said two acres is understood to be comprized Now for the obviating and preventing all disputes and differences that may at any time arise touching the said two acres of land I do therefore hereby give and devise unto my kinsman John Strange of Gawcutt in the Parish of Buckingham in the county of Bucks Laceman the said two Acres of Land with the appurtenances (and which said two acres since Tingewick ffields has been Inclosed is included in the allotment made to the said John Strange And I also Give and devise to him my said kinsman John Strange All that my Close of Inclosed pasture Ground with the appurtenances thereto belonging lying in the parish of Tingewick aforesaid heretofore in the occupation of my said late Uncle John Strange and now of my Brother Edmund Strange containing by Estimation one acre (be the same more or less) to hold the said two acres of Land and those of Inclosed pasture ground with the appurtenances unto my said kinsman JohnStrange of Gawcutt aforesaid his heirs and assigns for ever charged and chargeable nevertheless with the payment thereout unto my Brother Edmund Strange of the sum of fforty pounds which I direct shall be paid to him immediately after he the said Edmund Strange shall have first paid off and discharged the Condition of a certain bond entered into by me and my said Brother Edmund Strange for the payment of the principal sum of thirty three pounds and Interest to Mr. King of Bicester Excise officer and in case my said Brother Edmund Strange shall happen to depart this life before the said Bond debt is by him paid off and discharged then and in such case I give the said Legacy or sum of fforty pounds unto his two daughters Ann and Susannah Strange to be paid equally between them share and share alike. But upon condition that they the said Ann and Susannah Strange do thereout pay off and discharge the said bond debt. Also I give and devise unto my nephew John Gray of Tingewick aforesaid Blacksmith All that my Messuages or Tenement with the yard Garden outhouses and appurtenances thereto belonging situate and being in Tingewick aforesaid now in my own occupation And also all those my four acres by Estimation of arable land with the appurtenances adjoining to the aforesaid Messuage or Tenement To hold the same unto and to the use of my said Nephew John Gray his heirs and assigns for ever Subject and chargeable nevertheless to and with the payment of the sum of twenty pounds to his Brother Daniel Gray to be paid to him in the following manner that is to sy the sum of five pounds part thereof at the end of twelve Calendar months next after my decease and the remaining sum of ffifteen pounds to be paid to him by my Executors hereinafter named by weekly payments of one shilling a week weekly until by such weekly payments the said sum of ffifteen pounds shall be fully paid off and satisfied. Also I give and devise unto my kinsman Thomas Strange of Whaddon in the County of Bucks Baker all that my Inclosed Close of Pasture Ground with the appurtenances lying in the parish of Tingewick aforesaid in a certain ffurlong there called Langford ffurlong (being part ffreehold and part copyhold such part thereof as is copyhold as also all other my Copyhold Messuages Lands Tenements and heritaments in tingewick aforesaid are already surrendered to the use of my last will and Testament or to that effect) To Hold the said Close and premises with their appurtenances unto and to the use of my said kinsman Thomas Strange his heirs and assigns for ever Charges and chargeable nevertheless with the payment of the several Legacies or sume of twenty pounds a piece to Rose Belton of Whaddon in the county of Bucks and his Sister Martha James in the following manner (that is to say) the sum of ten pounds a pieces part thereof to be paid to them respectively at the end of twelve Calendar months next after my decease and the residue thereof to be paid by weekly payments of one shillings a week weekly to each of them until the remaining sum of ten pounds a piece by such weekly payments shall be fully paid off and discharged to each of them as aforesaid. And also chrged and chargeable thereout with the further payment unto my said Brother Edmund Strange of the Legacy or sum of twenty pounds and of the further Legacy or sum of ffifteen pounds unto Mrs Sarah Peedle to be paid to them respectively by my said Executors hereinafter named at the end of twelve Caldendar months next after my decease. Also I give and bequeath unto my said Nephew John Gray all and singular my household goods and ffurniture which shall be in and about my dwelling house in tingewick aforesaid at the time of my death. And Whereas I have lately advanced and lent to Edward Gray of Preston Bissett upon Mortgage of a Messuage and premises situate at Preston Bissett aforesaid the sum of ffifty pounds Now I do hereby give and bequeath the said Principal sum of ffifty and all all Interest that shall or may happen to be due to me at the time of my decease unto my Nephew Richard Gray he paying thereout to William Bennett of Preston Bissett aforesaid the sum of ten pounds to whom I give and bequeath the same within one year next after my decease. Also I give to the poor of the parish of Tingewick aforesaid the sum of fifty shillings to be laid out in Bread at the time of my decease by my Executors hereafter named Item as to for and concerning all my ready monies and Securities for money and all such residue of my goods chattels and personal Estate whatsoever as are not hereinbefore by me otherwise given or disposed of I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my Trusty ffriends (my three Nephews) the said John Gray William Strange and John Strange their Executors and adminstrators Upon trust that they and the survivor of them his Executors and administrators do and shall thereout in the first place pay and discharge all my just debts and funeral expences And also do and shall by and out of the residue thereof pay unto the several persons hereinafter named with twelve Calendar months next after my Decese the several Legacies or sums of money hereinafter mentioned (that is to say) unto William Strange of ffinmere the sum or Legacy of seventy pounds unto John George of Tingewick the sum or Legacy of thirty pounds unto William King of Great Horwood the sum or Legacy of sixty pounds unto Sarah Peedle ffifteen pounds unto William Gray the sum of twenty pounds unto Kitty Gray the sumof ten pounds unto Martha James and James Bennett the sum of twenty pounds a piece unto Thomas Blunt Westburn Blunt and Richard Blunt (the sons of Westburn Blunt) the sum of five pounds each unto Richard Blunt and Sarah Blunt of ffencott John Blunt of Handborough William Blunt of Bicester and Mary Jackson of Brill the sum or Legacy of five pounds a piece to whom I give and bequeath the same And my will and mind is that (after payment of my just debts and funeral expences) in case my said personal Estate shall happen to fall short or be insufficient to pay all my Legatees before named their Full Legacys hereby given and bequeathed to them and in such case my will further is that all my said Legatees shall every one of them abate in proportion to the Quality of their respective Legacies and I do hereby order and direct such abatement to be made accordingly But in case there shall happen to be any overplus monies after payment to the several Legatees hereinbefore named their full several and respective sums of money hereby given and bequeathed to them out of my said Personal Estate then I will that such overplus be equally divided between my Executors hereinafter named share and share alike as a Compensation for their care and trouble in executing the Trusts hereby in them reposed and in performance of this m y will And I Will that my said Executors the survivors or Survivor of them shall be saved harmless and Indemnified out of my Estate of and from all damages and expences which shall or may happed to come to them or any of them for or by reason of their or any of their taking upon them the Execution of this my Will And that none of my said Trustees shall be answerable for the receipts and actings of the other of them And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my said three Nephews John Gray William Strange and John Strange joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me made and do declare this to be and contain my true and only last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament (contained in six sheets of paper) set my hand only to the bottom of the five first sheets and my hand and seal to this sixth and last sheet hereof the day and year first above written. Wm. Strainge. Signed sealed published and declared by the above named William Strange the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses. Robt. Miller Wm. Coare. John Tappin.
Proved to 30th day of March 1784 before the reverend William Stockins Clerk Surrogate by the oaths of John Gray William Strange
and John Strange the Nephews and joint Executors to whom adcon. was committed they being first sworn duly to administer.
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