Documents > Will relating to Thomas Pottrell, dated 09/06/1769
The below will was sourced from The National Archives (ref: 11/950) and was proved on 03/07/1769. There is a lot of money here, the £1,200 bequeathed in the Will amounts to about £135,000 in today's money. In addition to the lands and silverware (not to mention the items not listed) it's clear that Thomas was pretty well off!.
| Person of interest / Location | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| John Potterill, Brother | Executor | |
| Robert Adams | Executor | |
| Thomas Potterill, Son | Executor | |
| Nathan Wedd | Witness | |
| Robert Lodge | Witness | |
| Edward day | Witness | |
| Rebecca Pottrell, Wife | Beneficiary of: · All lands, tenements and hereditaments · £300 · Share of tables spoons · The bed, bedstead and bedding(!) and furniture |
|
| Ann Pottrell, Daughter | Beneficiary of: · £300 · Silver salver · Share of tables spoons |
|
| Mary Pottrell, Daughter | Beneficiary of: · £300 · Share of tables spoons · Silver pepper box · Cream pitcher · Pair of silver salts & spoons |
|
| Thomas Pottrell, Son | Beneficiary of: · Silver tankard · Share of tables spoons · All remaining lands and items |
In the name of God Amen I Thomas Pottrell of Foulmire in the County of Cambridge Gentleman do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in the manner following that is to say first I give devise and bequeath unto Rebecca my loving wife all my Vessuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments situate lying and being in Crishall and in any other parish or place in the County of Essex (the copyhold part thereof being surrendered to the rest of my Will) to hold to her the said Rebecca for and during the term of her natural life also I give and bequeath unto the said Rebecca my wife the sum of Three hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid her by my executors within two months after my decease and my desire is that my said Wife shall in case there be no occasion for spending the said three hundred pounds give the same or such part thereof as shall remain at her death unto and amongst my three daughters at her discretion also I give and bequeath unto my three daughters Ann Rebecca and Mary Potterill and to every one of them the sum of three hundred pounds of like lawful money to be severally paid to them within two months after my decease and also I give to my son Thomas Potterill my silver Tankard also I give to my Daughter Ann my silver Salver and to my daughter Rebecca my Silver pint mug and to my Wife son and daughters my table spoons to be equally divided between them also I give to my daughter Mary my silver pepper box cream pitcher pair of silver forks and spoons also I give and bequeath unto the said Rebecca my wife the bed with the bedstead bedding and furniture thereunto belonging standing and being in the room (in my new dwelling house) called the best chamber together with all other the Goods and furniture usually placed and standing in such chamber (save and except the plate that may be in such room) also all my farming stock and all other my goods Chattels and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever. (after and subject to the payment of my just debts legaries and funerial expenses and the charge of proving this my Will) I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my Son Thoams Potterill his executors and administrators and my Will and desire is in case any or either of my said Daughters shall die before their legaries become payable that the lagary or legaries of her or them so dying shall be paid and equally divided to and amongst my said son and his survivors or survivor of my said daughters and I nominate constitute and appoint my brothers John Potterill and Robert Oldams and said Son Thomas Potterill joint executors of this my last will and Testament and so hereby revoke all former Wills by me heretofore made In witness whereof I the said Thomas Potterill the Testator have hereunto set my hand and seal the ninth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty nine Thomas Pottrell signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Potterill the testator as and for his last will and testament in the prescure of us who at his request in his prescure and in the prescure of each other have hereunto set our names as witnesses Nathan Wedd, Robert Lodge, Edward day
This will was proved at London the third day of July in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty nine before the worshipful Andrew Cote [Illegible] Doctor of laws and surrogate of the Right Worshipful George day Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the preprogative court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oaths of John Pottrell by mistake in the Will called Potterill the Brother and Thomas Pottrell by mistake also in the said Will Called Potterill the son of the deceased and two of the executors named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first sworn duly to administer power reserved of making the like Grant to Robert Davis the other Executor named in the said Will when he shall apply for the same.