16 January 1788 Will of Amy Lester of Blandford Forum, widow (proved 27 August 1788)

The original document can be obtained online from The National Archives.

Source: TNA, PROB 11/1169

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This is the last Will 
and Testament of me Amy Lester of Blandford Forum in the
County of Dorset Widow First it is my Will and desire to be
buried in aprivate and decent manner at Mappowder
in the County of Dorset I give to my Sister Margaret the
Wife of the Reverend Thomas Coker of Mappowder aforesd
and also the said Thomas Coker and to Bridget Bowles
Widow of my late Nephew William Thomas Bowles Ten
Guineas each and to my Sister in Law Jane Bowles of
Tour Malling in Kent Five Guineas to buy them Mourning
to be paid to them respectively by my Executor hereinafter
named immediately after my decease I give to the poor of
the Parish of Mappowder aforesaid the Sum of Ten pounds
and to the poor of the Parish of Donhead Saint Andrew
in the County of Wilts the sum of twenty pounds which
said Sums I direct shall be paid and distributed by the
Minister and Churchwardens of the said parishes as they
in their discretion shall think fit within six Months next
after my decease And whereas under and by virtue of the
last Will and Testament of my late Sister Ann Nairue deceased
I have a power of disposing of one Moiety or half part of
two hundred pounds Bank Stock now or late standing in
the Name of the said Ann Nairue Now by Virtue of
the said power I do hereby give and dispose of the said
Moiety			of the said two hundred pounds
Bank Stock unto my Great Nephew Charles Bowles of
					  Winchester


Winchester in the County of Southampton Gentleman his
Executors Administrators and Assigns In Trust to pay and
apply the Interest Dividends and Annual Produce thereof to
my Sister the said Margaret Coker during the term of her
natural life whose receipt alone from time to time notwithstanding
her Coverture shall be a sufficient discharge to my said
Trustee for the same And from and immediately after the decease of the said Margaret Coker then in trust to pay and apply the
said Interest Dividends and annual produce unto and equally
between my Great Nieces Frances the Wife of the Reverend
Edward Lambert and Amy the Wife of the Reverend Peregrine
Bingham for and during the term o their joint Lives and
whose receipts alone from time to time notwithstanding their
Covertures shall be sufficient discharges to my said Trustee
for the same And from and immediately after the Death of
either of them the said Frances Lambert and Amy Bingham
Then In Trust to pay apply assign over and transfer the
said Moiety of the said two hundred pounds Bank Stock and
all the Interest Dividends and annual produce that shall be
due thereon unto the Survivor of them the said Frances
Lambert and Amy Bingham whose Receipt alone shall be
a good and sufficient discharge to my said Trustee for the
same And that the same or any part thereof shall not be
subject or liable to the Controul Debts or Engagements of their
present or any Future Husband the said Frances Lambert
or Amy Bingham may then have Also I gvie and bequeath
unto the said Charles Bowles the sum of three thousand 
pounds Stock now standing in my Name in the three per
Cent Consolidated Bank Annuities In Trust nevertheless and
to for and upon the several uses Trusts Intents and purposes
hereinafter particularly mentioned (that is to say) In Trust that
he the said Charles Bowles his Executors Administrators or
Assigns shall and do pay and apply the Dividencs Interest
and Annual Produce of one thousand pounds part thereof
unto and for the benefit of my Niece Elizabeth the Wife of
the Reverend Just Alt of Mixbury in the County of Oxford
and her Assigns for and during the term of her natural
Life whose receipt alone notwithstanding her Coverture
shall be a sufficient Discharge to my said Trustee for the
same And that her present or any Future Husband shall
have nothing to do therewith nor shall the same  be
liable to his or their Debts Controul or Engagements And from
and after her decease In Trust to transfer assign over and
pay the said Sum of one thousand pounds together with the
Interest and dividends that shall be due thereon unto and
amongst all and every the Children of my said Niece
Elizabeth Alt equally between them share and share alike
if more than one and if but one then to such only Child his
or her Executors Administrators or Assigns the same to be
paid and payable to them as and when they shall severally
attain their respective Ages of twenty one years or be
married which shall first happen And as to the further Sum
of one thousand pounds other part of the said Sum of three
						     thousand


thousand pounds In Trust that he the said Charles Bowles
his Executors Admors or Assigns shall and do pay and apply
the Dividends Interest and annual produce thereof unto and
for the benefit of my Niece Ann the Wife of William Johnson
and her Assigns for and during the term of her natural
life whose receipt alone I hereby direct shall be a sufficient
Discharge to my said Trustee for the same And that her
present or any future Husband shall have nothing to do
therewith nor shall the same be liable to his or their Debts
Controul or Engagements And from and after her decease In
Trust to Assign over and pay the said last mentioned sum of
one thousand pounds and the Dividends thereof and the
accumulating Interest to grow due thereon unto and amongst
all and every the Children of my said Niece Ann Johnson
equally and between them share and share alike if more than
one and if but one then to such only Child his or her Executors
administrators or Assigns the same to be paid and payable
to them respectivley when and as they shall severall attain
their ages of twenty one years or be married which shall
first happen and as to the further sum of Five hundred
pounds other part of the said Sum of three thousand pounds
In Trust that he the said Charles Bowles his Executors 
Administrators or Assigns shall and do pay apply and dispose
of the Interest Dividends and produce thereof unto my Great
Niece the said Frances Lambert for and during her natural
life whose receipt alone shall be a sufficient discharge to
my said Trustee for the same and that her present or 
any Future Husband shall have nothing to do therewith
nor shall the same be liable to his or their debts Controul
or Engagements And from and after her decease In trust to
pay and apply and dispose of the said Sum of Five hundred
pounds and the accumulating Interest and Dividends thereof
unto such Person or Persons and for such use or uses Intents
and purposes as she the said Frances Lambert shall by
Deed or will direct limit or appoint And for want of such
direction Limitation or appointment In Trust to pay
apply and dispose of the same unto the Executors Admors
or Assigns of the said Frances Lambert And as to the further
  Sum of Five hundred pounds residue of the said Sum of
three thousand pounds In Trust that he the said Charles
Bowles his Executors Administrators or Assigns shall and do by
and out of the Interest Dividends and annual produce thereof
pay unto my Niece Catherine Philips one annuity or Clear
yearly sum of Five pounds for and during the term of her
naturel Life by Four quarterly payments in the year And
In trust to pay apply and dispose of the residue of the
Interest Dividends and annual produce arising from the
said last mentioned Sum of Five hundred pounds equally
between my Great Nephew and Nieces Henry Bowles and
Margaret Bowles and Sarah Bowles son and Daughters 
of my said late Nephew William Thomas Bowles and the
Survivor of them for and during the life of the said
						 Catherine


Catherine Philips And from and after the decease of the said
Catherine Philips In Trust to transfer assign over and pay
the said last mentioned sum of Five hundred pounds and the
dividends thereof and the accumulating Interest to grow due
tehreon unto and amongst all and every the Children of the
said Catherine Phillips equally between them share and share
alike if more than one and if but one then to such only Child
his or her Executors Administrators or Assigns the same to be
paid and payable to them whem and as they shall severally
attain their respective Ages of twenty one years or be married
which shall first happen I give and bequeath unto all and
every the Children of my said late Nephew William Thomas
Bowles and of my three Nieces Elizabeth Alt Catherine Philips
and Ann Johnson that shall be living at the time of my
decease the sum of two hundred pounds a piece (except unto
my Nephew Isaac Lester Philips son of my said Nice
Catherine Philips to whom I give and bequeath the sum of
one hundred pounds only) all which said Legacies I hereby
direct shall be paid and payable to them at their respective
ages of twenty one years or Days of Marriage which
shall first happen And in Case any or either of the said Children
should die before their respective Legacy or Legacys shall
become payable as aforesaid Then and in such Case I give
the share or shares of him her or them so dying unto his
her or their surviving Brothers or Sisters if any share and
share alike and if none then to his her or their Executors
Administrators or Assigns And I do hereby order and direct
that the said Charles Bowles his Executors Administrators
and Assigns to lay out and Invest the Legacies or Sums
of two hundred pounds and one hundred pounds of such of
my said Great Nephews and Nieces as shall be in their 
Minority at the time of my Decease in his own Name in
the public Funds and to pay and apply such and so much
of the dividends Interst and produce as well of the said
Legacies given to my said Great Nephews and Nieces as
also of their respective shares and parts of the said Sums
of Five hundred pounds hereinbefore mentioned for and
towards the Maintenance and Education of my said Great
Nephews and Nieces during their respective Minoritys as the
said Charles Bowles shall in his discretion think fit Also I
give and bequeath unto Catherine the Daughter of my
late Niece Barbara Lisle Wray deceased the Sum of two
hundred pounds which I direct shall be paid by my Executor
within on year after my decease for her use into the Hands
of her Father Charles Wray Esquire whose receipt alone
shall be a sufficient discharge for the same Also I give
and bequeath all those my Lands Tenements and Estates
situate and being at Rowlesbury within the parish and
Manor of Helton in the said County of Dorset which I hold
by Lease granted by the Right Honorable Lord Rivers
and all my Estate and Interest therein unto the said
Charles Bowles his Executors Administrators and Assigns
						  Also


Also I give and bequeath unto the said Charles Bowles the
sum of two hundred pounds now vested in and secured upon
the Tolls of the Weymouth Turnpike together with the Interest
which shall be due and growing thereon at my decease In
trust he the said Charles Bowles his Executors Administrators
or Assigns do and shall in the first place pay unto Dorothy Wyatt
of Donhead Saint Mary in the County of Wilts Widow one
Annuity or yearly Sum of Five pounds to be paid by half
yearly payments at Lady Day and Michaelmas the first
payment thereof to be made on such of the said Days as
shall happen next after my Decease for and during the
term of her natural Life and the overplus of such Interest
I will and direct shall from time to time be paid and
applied by the said Charles Bowles his Executors Administrators or Assigns for and
towards defraying the expences of Educating Maintaining and
bringing up of the said Isaac Lester Philips Son of my said
Niece Catherine Philips during his Minority And after his 
attaineing the Age of twenty one years then to his own use
and benefit And from and after the decease of the said
Dorothy Wyatt I give and bequeath the said Sum of Two
hundred pounds and all Interest then due thereon unto the
said Isaac Lester Philips his Executors Administrators and
Assigns

Also I give and bequeath unto the said Charles Bowles
my workd Bed Furniture and appurtenances together with
a Toilet of the same work And also the Bed Bedstead
Firtuniture and Toilet in the Red Room And also the
Mahogany Chairs and Book Case in the Front Parlour
below And also my plate and Linen toggether with my large
plain Silver Watch Also I give and bequeath unto Miss
Elizabeth Carpenter who now lives with me as a recompence
for her Care and Tenderness towards me the sum of one
hundred pounds and also all my wearing Apparel together
with a double Chest of Drawers in my own Room and the
Bed Bedstead and Furniture whereon I now lie Also I give
and bequeath unto my said Great Niece Margaret Bowles
the Watch I now wear with the Gold Chase Case belonging
to the same Also I give and bequeath to my said Great
Niece Frances Lambert the Cheque Bed Bedstead and
Furniture in the Room over the one I now sleep in And
also the Press Bed and Book shelve in my own Room Also
I give to my Maid Servant Jane the Bed Bedstead and
Furniture she lately laid on in the Garrat And I also give
and bequeath unto the said Charles Bowles the sum of one
hundred and Fifty pounds (over and above the said Sum
of two hundred pounds hereinbefore given and bequeathed to
him by this my Will as a Compensation for the Care and Trouble
he may have in the Management and Execution of this my
Will and the trusts hereby in him reposed All the rest 
residue and remainder of my Goods Chattels Effects and Personal
							Estate


Estate whatsoever and wheresoever not herein and hereby
otherwise disposed of I give and bequeath the same unto the said
Charles Bowles his Executors Administrators and Assigns And I
hereby make constitute and appoint the said Charles Bowles
sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby 
revoking all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore
made And my Will is and I do hereby expressly declare that my
said Executor shall not be charged or chargeable with or
accountable for any more of the aforesaid Trust Monies
than he shall actually receive or shall come to his Hands
bi virtue of this my Will or for the Loss of the same or any
part thereof so as such Loss happen without his wilful
neglect or default And also that it shall and may be lawful
to and for him my said Executor in the first place by and out
of my Trust Monies          and Personal Estate to
deduct retain and reimburse to himself all such reasonable Costs
Charges and Expences as he shall sustain be put unto in or
about the performance of this my Will and the Trusts hereby
in him reposed In Witness whereof I the said Amy Lester
have to this my last Will and Testament contained in Five
sheets of Paper set my Hand and Seal (to wit) to the first
four sheets thereof my Hand and to the fifth and last sheet
my Hand and seal this eixteenth day of January in the year
of our Lord on thousand seven hundred and eighty eight
Amy Lester  LS  Signed sealed published and declared by the
said Amy Lester the Testatrix as and for her last Will and
Testament in the presence of us who at her request in her
presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed
our Names as Witnesses thereto  Wa Whitaker  Wm Hannem

I Amy Lester do make this Codicil to my last Will
and Testament in manner following Whereas I have in and by
my said last Will and Testament given unto my Niece Catherine
Phillips one Annuity or yearly Sum of Five pounds to be paid
to her by my Executor therein named out of the Interest 
Dividends and Annual Produce of the Sum of Five hundred
pounds therein mentioned and the remainder of the said Interest
Dividends and Annual Produce of the said Sum of Five 
hundred Pounds I have thereby direted to be paid unto my
Great Nephew and Nieces Henry Bowles Margaret Bowles
and Sarah Bowles during the life of my said Nice Catharine
Phillips as by the said Will appears Now I do hereby revoke
and make void the said bequest or annuity of Five pounds so
given to the said Catharine Phillips And I do hereby direct
that the whole of the said Interest Dividends and Annual
Produce of the said Sum of Five hundred Pounds shall be paid
unto the said HenryBowles Margaret Bowles and Sarah
Bowles in equal shares and proportions during the Life of
the said Catharine Phillips and in all other respects I do hereby
ratify and confirm my said Will In Witness whereof I have
hereunto set my Hand and Seal this tenth day of July one
						    thousand


thousand seven hundred and eighty eight  Amy Lesterr LS  Signed
sealed published and declared by the said Amy Lester as and for
a Codicil to her last Will and Testament in the presence of Diana
Carpenter  Wa Whitaker

This Will was proved at London with a Codicil the
twenty seventh Day of August in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and eighty eight before the Right
Honorable Sir William Wynne Knight Docotor of Laws Master Keeper of
Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully
constituted by the Oath of Charles Bowles the Great Nephew
of the deceased and Sole Executor 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 by Commission duly to Administer



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