1754 George Atkins wrote his will on April 9. [1]
This is the last Will and testament of me George Atkins of Portsmouth Dock in the County of Southampton Esquire whereby I recommend my Soul to God and dispose of my Worldly Estate in manner following that is to say I do in the first place ratify and confirm the Settlement which I made on my wife in prospect of our Marriage And Whereas I am Interested and Intitled to the sum of Two thousand pounds principal money being part of the sum of Three thousand pounds which is secured by Mortgage on part of the Lord Viscount Hereford's Estate (the remaining one thousand pounds being the property of William Martin Esquire) the deeds of which Mortgage are in the hands or custody of Joseph Kirke of Lincolns Inn Esquire and also the sum of Twelve hundred and ten pounds Bank Stock And also the sum of Thirteen hundred pounds of the second subscription of New South Sea Annuities And also the sum of One thousand pounds of the First subscription of New South Sea Annuities And also to the sum of Five hundred pounds principal money due on Bond from Captain Peter Solgard deceased Now I do hereby give and bequeath to my dear wife Isabella all the Interest Dividends Produce and Profits that shall be due and owing on the said several Securities for the respective sums of money above mentioned at the time of my decease to and for her own use and benefit And I also give and bequeath unto my said dear Wife All the Interest dividends produce and profits of the said several and respective sums of money or which shall arise or grow due thereon in for and during the term of her natural life to and for her own use and benefit And from and imediately after the decease of my said wife I give and dispose of the said several and respective principal sums of money in manner following that is to say all and every the said several and respective principal sums (except the said sum of one thousand pounds New South Sea Annuities of the first Subscription) I give and bequeath unto my Nephew John Atkins (son of my Brother Samuel Atkins) and to the Executors and Administrators of my said Nephew John Atkins Absolutely to and for his own use and benefit And I give and bequeathe the said sum of One thousand Pounds New South Sea Annutities of the first Subscription (so excepted as above) unto Willes Orr, Nephew of my said Wife and son of the Reverend Thomas Orr of the Kingdom of Ireland and to the Executors and Administrators of the said Willes Orr absolutely to and for his and their own use and benefit And it is my Will and desire and I do hereby order and direct that in case the said Principal monies due on the before mentioned Mortgage and Bond or either of them shall at any time during the lifetime of my said wife be paid or discharged by the respective persons from whom the same are due, the same be imediately placed out or Invested in some or one of the public Stocks or Funds of the Kingdom for the purpose and to answer the Intent and meaning of this my will in manner as above mentioned. Item I give and bequeath to my said Brother Samuel Atkins the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid to him without Interest at the end of Six months after my decease And I give and bequeath unto my said Brother all my Pictures in Oyl colours except the following vizt the Picture of Charles Cottrel, a Flower piece by Tillemans, a piece of Still life by Snyder, a small picture of a Ship on Fire, a small pair of Landships, a small Frost piece, and the five Sences on copper all which said excepted pictures I give and bequeath to my said Dear Wife Also I give and bequeath to my said Brother the model of his Majesty's Ship the Captain with the Glass case and all that is contained in the Inside thereof Item all and singular other my household Goods and Furniture Plate Linnen Jewels and all other the rest residue and remainder of my Goods Chattels and Estate of what kind or nature soever that I shall be possessed of interested in or intitled to at the time of my decease (my just Debts Legacies and Funeral expences being first paid and satisfied) I give and bequeath unto my said Dear Wife absolutely for ever to and for her own use and benefit And I do hereby nominate and appoint my said wife sole Executrix of this my will to whose discretion I leave the management of my Funeral and Interment requesting only that she will not expend thereon more than the sum of forty pounds And lastly I do hereby revoke all former and other wills by me heretofore made and do appoint and direct this only to be taken as my last will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the ninth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousnad seven hundred and fifty four. Geo: Atkins signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator as and for his last will and Testament the day of the date in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in his presence and at his request George Binsteed Lucretia Prosser Geo. Augtus. Prosser.
1755 The will of George Atkins was proved on January 2. [2]
This will was proved at ondon the second day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty five … by the oathe of Isabella Atkins Widow the Relict of the deceased and sole Executrix named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted …
1787 Isabella Atkins wrote her will on November 14 and added a codicil on December 20. [3]
I Isabella Atkins of the City of Bath in the County of Somerset Widow being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding do make publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in manner following that is to say I give unto my Godson Martin Benson Grandson of my late friend Doctor Oliver the Sum of One hundred pounds to be paid to his Father for the use of the said Martin Benson and his said Fathers Receipt to be a sufficient discharge to my Executor for the same I also give to Mrs Dorothy Lawrence Daughter of my late Friend Mrs Catherine Finley the Sum of Fifty pounds I also give unto my Friend Mrs Margaret Wickham Widow of the late Admiral Wickham the Sum of ten pounds I also give unto Mrs. Martha Finley Sister to Captain Mr. Connell the Sum of twenty pounds I also give to my Friends Mrs. See and Mrs. Vincent the sum of ten pounds a piece all which several and respective Legacies before mentioned I direct shall be paid by my Executor in lawful Money of Great Britain within six Months next after my decease I also give to my Brother in Law Mr. Shales and to his Sister the Sum of Five Guineas each for a Ring I also give unto my Nephews Sister Elizabeth Cottrell and her assigns one Annuity or clear yearly Sum of thirty pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid to her and her assigns for and during the term of her natural Life I also give to Ann Wilson daughter of my late Cousin Samuel Wilson and her assigns one annuity or clear yearly Sum of ten pounds of like lawful Money for and during the term of her natural Life. And I also give to the said Ann Wilsons Sister and her assigns one annuity or clear yearly sum of Ten pounds of like lawful Money for and during the term of her natural Life. [I also give unto my late old faithful Servant Ann Pink wife of John Pink of the Common at Portsmouth One Annuity or clear yearly Sum of twenty pounds of like lawful Money to be paid to her or such person sad she shall from time to time appoint to recieve the same for and during ther term of her natural Life exclusive of her Husband and not to be subject to his Debts Control or Engagements and her Receipt alone or her orden in writing and a Receipt pursuant thereto to be a good and effecual discharge to my Executor for the same] and I also hereby direct that the aforesaid several and respective Annuities or yearly Sums of Money shall be paid by my Executors out of my residuary Estate and Effects which I hereby charge and make liable to and with the payment thereof respectively free and clear of and from all Taxes and deductions whatsoever by equal Quarterly payments on the four folloing days of payment in the year (that is to say) on the twenty firth day of March the tenty fourth day of June the twenty ninth day of September and the twenty first day of December the first Quarters payment of the same several and respective annuities to begin and be made on such of the aforesaid days of payment as shall first happen after my decease and as to all the Rest and Residue of my Monies Securities for Money Stocks Funds Goods Chattles and all other and wheresoever (after and subject to the payment of all my just debts and the aforesaid several Legacies Annuities and my Funeral Expences) I give devise and bequeath the same and every part therof unto my Nephew Chares J. Cottrell his Executors Administrators and assigns to and for his and their own proper use and benefit and I do nominate and appoint my said Nephew Charles J. Cottrell whole and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament and hereby revoking all former Wills by me heretofore made I publish and Declare this to be my last Will and Testament and hereby revoking all former wills by me heretofore made I publish and declare this to be my last and only Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Fourteenth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty seven. I: Atkins Signed sealed published and declared by the Testator the said Isabella Atkins as and for her last will and Testament in the presence of us who have attested the same in her presence and in the presence of each other, William Edwards, Wm. Taylor Chrto. Wm. Edwards.
A Codicil to be added to and taken as part of the last will and testament of me Isabella Atkins of the City of Bath in the County of Somerset Widow. Whereas I have in and by my said last will and Testament in writing bearing date the fourteenth day of November now last past (amongst other things therein contained) given unto Elizabeth Cottrell sister of my Nephew Charles J. Cottrell and her assigns one Annuity or clear yearly Sum of Thirty pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain to be paid to her and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life by such Quarterly days and Times of payment as mentioned in my said Will respecting the same and I did thereby direct that the said Annuity should be paid by my Executor out of my residuary Estate and Effects free and clear of and from all Taxes and my said Nephew Charles J. COttrell sole Executor Now I do hereby revoke the Gift of the said Annuity of Thirty Pounds so frar only as related to the payment of the same to her the said Elizabeth Cottrell and her assigns and instead thereof I hereby Will and direct that y Executor the said Charles J. Cottrell his Executors or Administrators do and shall pay apply and dispose of the said Annuity or yearly Sum of Thirty pounds in such manner as he or they shall in his or their Judgement and discretion think it from time to time for and toward the support and maintenance of her the said Elizabeth Cottrell during the term of her natural Life and that she is not to be intitled unto or to have power to take receive or dispose of the same at anytime or tie in any other way or manner whatsoever And I do hereby ratify and confirm my said will in every respect save only as the same stands altered by this my Codicil which I declare shal be added to and taken and considered as part of my said last will and testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my had and Seal this twentieth day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty seven, I: Atkins Signed sealed published and declared by the said Isabella Atkins as a Codicil to be added to and taken as part of her last Will and Testament in the presence of us William Edwards, Thos. Edwards, Chrto Wm. Edwards.
1788 The will of Isabella Atkins was proved on December 2. [4]
This Will was proved at London with a Codicil the second day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight … by the oath of the Reverend Charles Jeffreys Cottrell Clerk the Newphew of the deceased and sole Executor named in the said Will to whom administration … was granted …
[1] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].
[2] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].
[3] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].
[4] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].