Source: TNA, PROB 11/1597
If you came to this page directly, then you might want to know that I have additional family history information on my website.
This is the last Will and Testament of me Sophia Carter of Portsmouth in the County of Southampton Spinster whereby I humbly commend my soul to God and dispose of all my worldly Estate and Effects in manner hereinafter mentioned whereas in and by the last will & testament of my late Father Sir John Carter deceased bearing Date the twenty third day of February one thousand seven hundred and ninety two he gave all his Estates and property he then had or might have at the time of his decease both real and personal wheresoever situated unto his trustees thereinafter named with full power and authority to sell mortgage or dispose of the same directing that they should pay and discharge all debts or incumbrances that might be due from him at the time of his decease and that they should likewise have power to sell or dispose of his share or shares of any business he might be connected in under the Firm of William Pike & Company or any other Firm thereby to prevent any trouble or inconvenience to his said partners Trustees Guardians or Executors by reason of any Child or Children he might leave under the age of twenty one years and further directing that if any of his real or personal Estates or property after discharging his debts should remain unsold his said trustees should have full power to sell or dispose of the same to the best advantage and to lay out the monies arising therefrom on any security or securities they should approve to be divided as thereafter directed and the said Testator thereby gave and bequeathed to his wife Dorothy all his household Furniture Plate Linen and China and wine for her own use and benefit and likewise the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid as therein mentioned and the rest residue and remainder of his Effects both real & personal he gave and bequeathed between his said wife and the Child or Children he had or might have by her to be equally divided share and share alike as Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants with such further directions respecting the same as are therein contained and the said Testator thereby nominated and appointed his said wife Henry Bonham Esquire of Petersfield since deceased and Arthur Atherley Esquire of Southampton his trustees Executors and Guardians to his said Child or Children that he might leave at the time of his death with full power to act in any respect as the said Testator during his lifetime and after giving further directions concerning his Copartners hi?? property by a Codicil to his said Will bearing date the twentieth day of February one thousand seven hundred and ninety four the said Testator by another Codicil thereto bearing date the ninth day of December one thousand eight hundred and seven reciting that since the making of his said will his two Daughters Ann and Susannah were married to Captain Eveleigh and Captain Giffard on whom he had settled enpart of his Freehold Estates one hundred pounds annually to each of them directed that the said Charge of one hundred pounds per year was to be part of what might come to them at his death under his said will and his other Children were to be entitled to one hundred pounds per year each of his said property to be on the same Footing as his said Daughters and the said Testator thereby further directed that if either of his Children then living should be married and leave Child or Children the said Child or Children should be entitled to their Father or Mothers share that is one sixth part of his property except should his wife survive him that she was to be entitled to one hundred pounds per annum during her life and at her decease to come equally to his said Children which during her life would be one seventh part as by his will she was to be equal to each of his Children and further directed that what his said wife should take as her share or part of his property at her death was to be equally divided to his Child or Children or their heirs as therein before mentioned as by the said recited Will and Codicils proved in the Prerogative Court of the Archibiship of Canterbury reference being thereto had will now fully appear and whereas my said Father departed this life leaving my Mother the said Dorothy Carter and six childr?? Children him suriving namely Ann Evelegh Susannah Giffard Dorothy Carter Mary Carter who has since intermarried with Mr Edward Carter John Carter and myself and whereas I am desirous of giving myshare and Interest of and in the said Property Estates and Effects and of and in the Profits & increase arising therefrom and of and in any purchase or purchases made thereby to my said Mother for her life and after her decease unto and amongst my said Brother and Sisters in such manner that their respective parts may go with their own original shares of and in such property Now I do therefore hereby give devise and bequeath all my share & Interest whatsoever of and in the Property Estates and Effects given and devised by and comprised in the Will of my said Father and of and in the profits and increase arising therefrom and of and in any purchase or purchases made thereby unto my said Mother for and during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after her decease I give devise and bequeath the same unto my said Brother and Sisters to be equally divided between them share and share alike as Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants and their several and respective heirs Executors and admors and assigns but if either of them my said Brother and Sisters shall leave any Child or Children it is my will that such Child or Children shall be entitled to their Father or Mothers share Provided always and my will is that nothing herein contained shall be construed to lessen abridge or affect the powers and authorities of the trustees for the time being under the will of my said Father to sell and dispose of the proprty thereby devised or to manage the same and all the residue and remainder of my real and personal Estate and Effects after payment of my debts Funeral Expences and the Costs of proving this my will and the Expences incidental to the execution thereof I give devise and bequeath unto my said Mother her heirs and Executors admors and assigns for ever and I do hereby nominate and appoint my said Mother the said Arthur Atherley and my said Brother Executors of this my Will and Lastly I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other wills by me made and declare this only to be & contain my last will and Testament In Testimony whereof I the said Sophia Carter have hereto set my hand and seal that is to say my hand to the two sheets hereto annexed and my hand & seal hereto this thirty first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen Sophia Carter LS Signed sealed published and declared by the said Sophia Carter the Testatrix as and for her last Will & testament upon the day of the date in the presence of us who in her presence in the presence of each other and at her request have subscribed our names as Witnesses hereto Susanna Carter Charles [Hentler?] Mary Wells Proved at London 15th October 1817 before the Judge by the Oaths of Arthur Atherley Esqr and John Carter Esquire the surviving Exors to whom admon was granted having been first sworn duly to admr
Last Modified: Wednesday, 17-Aug-2011 11:49:22 NDT