| The Last Will and Testament of John WATTS, husbandman, of St. Stephen in Brannel, Cornwall, England Date of Will: 23 July 1715 Date of Burial: 3 April 1726 Probate: 18 April 1726 Cornwall Record Office - Ref. No. AP/W/2060 Archdeaconry of Cornwall, Probate Court Transcribed from a copy of the original Will, by David G. W. Anderson on 13 March 2011 [with permission to use on this website given by same |
| In the name of God, Amen. I, John Wats of St. Stephen in Branwell, in the County of Cornwall, husbandman, being sick in body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, in writing hereby revoking all former wills by me made either by word or writing. IMPRIMES (Imprimis): I bequeath my Soul to Almighty God, my maker, hoping through the merits of my Saviour, Jesus Christ to have eternal life, and my body to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executrix, hereafter named: ITEM, I give my brother, Zarrey (Zachary) Wats, one shilling; ITEM, I give my brother, Mellchesack (Melchizedek) Wats, one shilling; ITEM, I give my sister, Elizabeth Rowling, one shilling; ITEM, I give James Wats, the son of my brother, Lewes Wats, one shilling; ITEM, I give Elizabeth, the daughter of my brother, Lewes Wats, one shilling and twenty shillings; ITEM, all the rest of my lands, tenements, goods and chattels, not hereto before demised or bequeath, I do hereby give, demise and bequeath unto my wife, Ann Wats, whom I hereby of this my Last Will and Testament, I do appoint my whole and sole Executrix, willing and directing her to pay all my legacies and just debts. Signed, Sealed, published and Declared by the said John Wats The sign of John Wats (seal) To be his Last Will and Testament In our presence and by us attested In his presence and at his request The 23 of July 1725. Richard Lobb William Lobb The sign of Elizabeth Lobb A true & perfect inventory or particular acct. of all & singular the goods and chattels, rights & credits of John Watts, late of Stephen in Branwell & appraised the 4th day of April 1726, by us Cha. Edwards, James Geach & Amos Bennett Imprimis - His purse & wearing apparel 1 lb 01s 00d A cott house & one half acre of ground 5 lb 00s 00d Item, Two cows 4 lbs 15s 00d Item, Two horses 1 lb 10s 00d Item, Four young Bullocks 4 lbs 00s 00d Item, A young pig 0 lb 05s 00d Item, Two dust beds & steads* 1 lb 00s 00d Item, Two little pans 0 lb 10s 00d Item, Two old brass pots & one iron pot 0 lb 10s 00d Item, six pewter dishes 0 lb 10s 00d Item, Old lumber Stuff 0 lb 02s 06d [for a total of] 19 lbs 03s 06d Cha: Edwards Jas. Geach Amos Bennett *Dust Bed - probably a small 4 poster bed with a back and top panel to keep dust off the bedclothes Ref: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~fordingtondorset/Files/Glossary.html For approx. Value of the Estate � referred to the Web Site � Measuring Worth Purchasing Power of British Pounds from 1264 to Present http://www.measuringworth.com/ppoweruk/ 19 pounds 3 Shillings & 6 pence (1726) would be approx. worth �30,300.00 (2008) using average earnings. |