Documents > Will relating to John Pottrell, dated 25/11/1777
The below will was sourced from Wills of Littlebury, Essex as transcribed by Jean Dee. and was proved on 04/06/1779.
| Person of interest / Location | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| John Kent | Executor | |
| Nehemaih Perry | Executor | |
| John Parker | Executor | |
| Thomas Hall Fiske | Witness | |
| James Andrews | Witness | |
| Peter Sullens | Witness | |
| Jane Pottrell, Wife | Beneficiary of: · £40 · Buildings and land in Chrishall · £30 annuity |
|
| Rebecca Pottrell, Daughter | Beneficiary of: · Peverells and Hobsary farms, Arkesden |
I have yet to locate "Peverells" (Possible corruption of Potterells in Langley?) but I believe Hobsary farm is now called "Hobs Aerie" farm |
| Ann Pottrell, Daughter | Beneficiary of: · £500 annuity from Rebecca's farms |
|
| Henry Pottrell, Brother | Beneficiary of: · £50 |
|
| John Pottrell, Nephew | Beneficiary of: · £100 |
|
| Richard Pottrell, Nephew | Beneficiary of: · £50 |
|
| Elizabeth Pottrell, Neice | Beneficiary of: · £50 |
This is the last Will and Testament of me John Pottrell of Littlebury Green in the parish of Littlebury in the county of Essex made this twenty fifth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven concerning the estate and effects of which I have a power to dispose. And first I give unto my loving wife Jane the sum of forty pounds for her own use and private purse And I give and devise to her the messuage or tenement orchard and two closes of land with their appurtenances late Thomas Abrahams at Broad End in Chrishall in the said county now in the occupation of Thomas Loveday her brother (being all freehold) for the term of her natural life And one annuity or yearly sum of thirty pounds to be paid to her from and out of my farms and estates in Arkesden in the said county to commence and become payable to her at the times and in manner hereinafter mentioned and to continue for the term of her natural life clear of all taxes and outgoings whatsoever over and besides the further provision hereinafter intended for her during the time she shall continue to assist in the management of the farm I now occupy under and as tenant to the Earl of Bristol and over and besides the household goods hereinafter given to her when she shall have occasion to have such and use the same And I declare the same as all intended to be so given to her for and in lieu of all her other claims whatsoever as my widow in or to my real & personal estates whatsoever and not otherwise. And I give and bequeath unto my brother Henry Pottrell the sum of fifty pounds And to his son my nephew John Pottrell the sum of one hundred pounds And to his my brother Henry's other three children Richard Elizabeth and Ann Pottrell the sum of fifty pounds a piece All which legacies I direct to be paid within twelve months next after my decease And all those my several messuages farms lands and hereditaments commonly called Peverells and Hobsary in Arkesden aforesaid or in any other adjoining parishes with their rights members and appurtenances I give and devise unto my eldest daughter Rebecca and her heirs for ever Charged nevertheless and I do hereby charge the same farms and lands and each of them and every part and parcel thereof so devised to my said daughter Rebecca and her heirs with the payment of one annuity or yearly rent charge of thirty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain being the annuity above mentioned unto my loving wife and her assigns for the term of her natural life free from all and all manner of taxes and every deduction whatsoever to be paid by even and equal half yearly payments upon Midsummer day and Christmas day in every year but not to commence or be payable to her until the time herein after mentioned (that is to say) the said annuity shall become due and payable only on the first of the said days of payment which shall next happen after the provision hereinafter intended to be given to her upon her engaging after my decease to assist in the care and management of the business of the farm and land I now occupy as tenant to the Earl of Bristol shall cease and determine from thenceforth to continue for all the term of her natural life [my note: the reading of this preceding sentence is so odd that I wonder whether I failed to transcribe a line of the Will] And further charged and I do hereby also charge the several farms and lands called Peverells and Hobsary and each of them with their appurtenances with the payment of five hundred pounds which I do hereby given and devise thereout unto my daughter Ann as an addition to her fortune to be paid to her at her age of twenty one years or upon the day of her marriage which shall first happen but without any interest for the same in the mean time [many sentences re what was to be done if the thirty pound annuity was not paid and if the £500 legacy was not paid] And all and every other my estates in houses and lands as well freehold and copyhold as leasehold with their and every of their appurtenances whether in possession reversion or remainder I give and devise unto my said daughter Ann her heirs executors administrators and assignes absolutely & forever And all my silver plate which I shall leave at my decease I give unto my said two daughters to be equally divided between them or their guardians hereinafter named soon after my decease and in the meantime to be used or kept for them till they themselves shall severally have occasion to make use of them And all my wearing apparell of all kinds I give unto my said nephew John Pottrell And of my other household goods & furniture of household which shall be left after my decease I give unto my said loving wife such part and parts as when her care in or about the management of my said farm and farming business as hereinafter is mentioned shall cease she shall make choice of & think proper to take for her own use and convenience And all other my goods chattels stock effects moneys and other my personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever after payment of all my debts funeral expenses and all charges whatsoever incident to the executorship of this my will I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Ann for her own proper use and benefit and make her the only residuary legatee of all which at the time of my decease I shall be possessed & shall be undisposed of [many sentences re appointing guardians (his loving wife & his two executors) & empowering them to run the farms & farming business] And in case one daughter shall happen to die under the age of twenty one years & unmarried I give & devise all the personal estate & share of such daughter so dying unto the survivor of them But should both my daughters happen to die each of them under the age of twenty one years and unmarried then and in such case I give and devise my said two farms called Peveralls & Hobsary with the rights members and appurtenances thereof hereby devised to my said daughter Rebecca unto Thomas Potterell my nephew (the only son of my late dear brother Thomas Pottrell deceased) his heirs and assignes forever Charged nevertheless and I do hereby charge the same when they shall so come to him or his heirs with the payment of the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds apiece unto his three sisters Ann Rebecca & Mary and with the like sum of one hundred and fifty pounds apiece unto Richard Elizabeth and Ann the aforesaid three children of my said brother Henry Pottrell and in the like sum of one and fifty pounds apiece unto Thomas Rush and Ann Hopkins the two children of my late deceased sister Ann late wife of Oliver Rush deceased or to such and so many of my said brothers and sisters children as shall be then living to each and every of whom I do hereby give and devise the same to be paid and payable to them severally & respectively within twelve months next after my said nephews Thomas Pottrell or his heirs shall be in possession of several farms under the contigencys aforesaid [several sentences re powers given to these legatees in the event of non-payment of their legacies] And should both my daughters happen to die each of them under the age of twenty one years and unmarried as aforesaid then & in such case I give & devise all & every the freehold copyhold and leasehold messuages lands tenements and hereditaments hereby devised to my said daughter Ann with their & every of their rights members & appurtenances unto my nephew John Pottrell (the younger son of my said brother Henry Pottrell) and to his heirs executors and assignes for ever And I nominate and appoint my nephew the said Thomas Pottrell and Mr John Parker of [Saffron] Walden the Executors of this my will and I give to the said John Parker the sum of twenty pounds for his care in the execution thereof [many sentences re the rights & responsibilities of the executors and guardians] And I do hereby revoke all former wills by me at any time heretofore made and declare this to be my last will and testament In Witness whereof I the said John Pottrell the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament contained in five sheets of paper set my seal to the label that fixeth them together my hand to the first four sheets thereof and my hand and seal to the fifth and last sheet the day and year first written John Pottrell (L.S.) signed sealed and published and declared by the said John Pottrell the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the preence of us and by us attested in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other the erasures in the third fourth and fifth lines of the fourth sheet being first made Tho Hall Fiske? James Andrews Peter Sullens? John Pottrell of Littlebury Green in Littlebury made a Codicil to his Will on 19 September 1778. First I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint John Kent of Littlebury aforesaid yeoman and Nehemiah Perry the elder of the same place yeoman to be Executors of my said will jointly with John Parker the now only surviving Executor thereof and also guardians of the persons and fortunes of my daughters jointly with the said John Parker and my now wife and I give unto the said John Kent and Nehemiah Perry the elder the like powers authority indemnities & allowances as are given in my said Will to the Executors therein named and I do hereby declare that I entirely rely on the said judgement of my Executors as to the propriety of carrying on the business of the farms and lands I shall occupy at the time of my decease or putting the same as they shall think most for the benefit of my family notwithstanding anything that is contained in my will to the contrary and I give to the said John Kent and Nehemiah Perry the sum of twenty pounds apiece for their care in the execution of my will and hereby confirming my said willin all other matters I declare this to be the codicil thereto [witnesses] Robt Mapletoft Tabram Adams Tho Hall Fiske?
The Will of John Pottrell (with a Codicil thereto annexed) late of the parish of Littlebury in the county of Essex deceased was proved on the fourth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine before the Revd Robert Ganton Clerk Surrogate by the oaths of John Parker John Kent & Nehemiah Perry the executors to whom Administration of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased was granted and committed on the seventeenth day of the same month of June they being first sworn duly to administer.