Source: TNA, PROB 11/680
If you came to this page directly, then you might want to know that I have additional family history information on my website.
I George Duke of Andover in the County of Southampton Gent do make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following First I will that my debts and Funeral Expences be paid and discharged And I hereby Charge all my reall and Personal Estate with the payment thereof Item I give and devise unto my Son George his Heirs and Assigns all those two Meadows with the Appurtences in Andover lately purchased of Mr Joseph Hinxman and all those Lands called Bowlands with the Appurtenances in the Common Fields of Andover late Blakes Item I desire that my Friends Thomas Earle Esqr Thomas Gatshouse Esqr and Dr Duke to accept of a ring of a Guinea Value each as an acknowledgment of the great respect and Civility to me And I do desire Mr William Hunt to Accept of another ring of the same Value Item I give unto my Dear Mother Five Guineas and to my Father in Law Edward Hanson and my Mother Hanson Five Guineas each Item I give unto my Son George All my Books and Plate Except the Gold Watch which I give unto my Daughter Jane with all her Mothers Apparell Item I give unto my Dear Brother Robert Duke and to my Brother in Law Edward Hanson ten Guineas apeice Item I give unto the said Robert Duke and Edward Hanson All my Leasehold Estates Houses and Lands with the Leases thereof and all other my Personal Estate whatsoever In trust that they may Sell and dispose of the same in their own discretion for the use and benefit of my Five Children George Jane Robert Edward and Thomas equally to be deivided between them Share and Share alike my Daughters Share to be payable the the day of Marriage or Age of One and twenty years which shall first happen Provided that such Marriage be with the Consent and Approbation of my Extors in trust herein after appointed and not otherwise And my all Sons Shares to be payable at their respective Attainment to the Age of One and twenty years and the Interest and Proceed of their Fortunes to go to their Support & Maintenance And in case any of my Sons dye before their attainment to the Age of One and twenty years or my Daughter dye before such Age or Marriage with Consent as aforesaid then his her or their Shares to go to and be divided between the Survivors equally Nevertheless I do hereby declare my Will and meaning is that it shall and may be Lawfull to and for my said Executors to Apprentice out all or any of my said Sons and to pay for such Apprenticeship or Clerkship any Sum in their own Discretion not Exceeding the Sum of One hundred pounds to be paid and allowed out of such Childs respective Fortune And I do hereby Will Order and declare that neither of my said Executors shall be any wise accountable in Law or Equity for the Act or Deed of the other nor either of them be answerable for any Loss that may in the Execution of this Trust happen But it shall be Lawfull for them to reimburse himself and themselves all such Costs Expences or Damages which they or either of them shall bear Sustain or be put to for or by reason of trust hereby in them reposed And I do hereby make Ordain and Appoint the said Robert Duke and Brother Edward Hanson Joynt Executors of this my last will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and Seal the twenty third day of March One thousand seven hundred and thirty Five Geo Duke Signed Sealed Published and declared to be the last Will and Testament of the above named George Duke the Testator in the Presence of us who have hereunto Subscribed our names as Witnesses at his request and in his Presence Jane Andrews Sarah Batchelor Saml Andrews 17 April 1736 I make this a Codicill to my Will Vizt I give unto my Daughter Jane all my Linnen and a Chest of Drawers Geo Duke 24th May 1736 I George Duke Gent do give and bequeath unto my Sister Mary the Wife of Mr John Bowles and to my Nephew Samuel Andrews the Sum of Five Guineas apeice And to the two Maid Servants that shall be Living with me at the time of my decease One Guinea apeice to be paid to them respectively by my Executors imediately after my decease to buy them Mourning And I do appoint this is as a Codicill and to be taken as part of my last Will and Testament Geo Duke Witness Jane Duke 10th of November 1736 Appeared Peronally William Hunt of New Inn in the County of Middlesex and Edward Gale of New Inn aforesaid Gentlemen and made Oath that they well knew and were Acquainted with George Duke late of Andover in the County of Southampton deceased for many years before and to the time of his death and during such time have often seen him write and Subscribe his name and thereby became well Acquainted with his manner and Character of Hand Writing and having now seen and perused a Codicill wrote at the foot or bottom of his last Will and Testament of the Tenor following 17 Aprill 1736 I make this a Codicill to my Will Vizt I give unto my Daughter Jane all my Linnen and a Chest of Drawers Geo Duke Say and depose that they verily believe the same and the name Geo Duke sett and subscribed thereto to be all of the proper hand Writing of him the said George Duke deceased And having likewise seen and perused the Name Geo Duke set and Subscribed to a paper Writing marked No 2 Purporting a Codicill to the Will of the said deceased and dated the twenty fourth day of May One thousand Seven hundred and thirty Six and hereto Annexed they say and depose that they verily believe the same Geo Duke set and Subscribed thereto to be of the proper hand Writing of him the said Duke deceased Willl Hunt Edward Gale The same day the said William Hunt and Edward Gale were Sworn to the trust of this attestation before me J Andrew Surrogate This Will was proved at London with two Codicills Annexed the twelfth day of November in the year of Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and thirty Six before the Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oaths of Robert Duke Esqr the Brother and Edward Hanson Executors in the said Will named to whom Administration was granted of all and Singular the Goods Chattells and Creditts of the said deceased being first Sworn by Commission duly to Administer
Last Modified: Friday, 30-Dec-2011 18:52:31 NST