Wills

 

The following known wills relate to our family.

 

Emmanuel Gillingham, who died 11 December 1727 at Corscombe, Dorset

 

Martha Gillingham, who left a will on 15 October 1739 at Benvil, Corscombe, Devon

 

Samuel Groves, who was buried in Evershot on 17 May 1826

 

 

The will of Emmanuel Gillingham,

 who died 11 December 1727 at Corscombe, Dorset

 

In the name of God Amen. I Emmanuel Gillingham the Elder of Benvill within the parish of Corscombe in the county of Dorset, blacksmith, do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say);

 

First I recommend my soul into the hands of the Father of Mercies hoping through the merits of my saviour Jesus Christ to have full pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and to inherit everlasting life, my body in hope of a joyful resurrection, I commit it to the earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executrix herein named.  And as touching the distribution of my temporal estate and worldly goods which it hath pleased God to bestow on me, I dispose of the same as followeth and my will is that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid and discharged. 

 

I give unto my son Emmanuel Gillingham all my working tools, implements and things whatsoever which belong to my smith's trade, and all such iron and coal as I shall leave at the time of my death. And also I give unto my grandson Emmanuel Gillingham (immediately after the death of Martha my wife) my table board frame and form now within my dwelling house, and also my ......... pan or copper and my washing tub.

 

Item; I give unto my son Parcival Gillingham the sum of forty three pounds lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to him immediately after my death. I also give and devise unto my son Parcival all that house with the plot of ground thereunto belonging, containing about six goads (more or less) silvate, lying and being against the highway in Benvill Lane, which was formerly our Buffor's, to hold the same unto my said son Parcival, his heirs and assigns forever.

 

Item; all my household goods (not herein already given) I give unto Martha my wife during the term of her natural life, and from and immediately after her death my will is that all the aforesaid household goods (so given to my wife) shall be equally parted between my four daughters, Grace, Martha, Mary and Prudence, their executors and assigns.  I also give unto Martha my said wife (during her natural life) the interest of eighty pounds, which said eighty pounds is now due to me on a mortgage on certain lands within the parish of East Chelborough within the said county of Dorset, and from and immediately after the decease of Martha my said wife I give and bequeath the said eighty pounds to be divided and paid to and amongst my three sons and four daughters and my son in law in manner following; to wit, fifteen pounds, part of the said eighty pounds, to my son William, fifteen pounds more thereof to my son Joseph, fifteen pounds more thereof unto my son John, ten pounds more thereof unto my daughter Grace, ten pounds more thereof unto my daughter Mary, five pounds more thereof unto my daughter Martha, five pounds more thereof unto my daughter Prudence and five pounds more, residue of the said eighty pounds unto my son in law Matthew Snaydon.

 

Item; all my close of arable land containing about four acres (more or less) silvate, lying at or near a place called Hoar Stone within the parish of Corscombe aforesaid, (which I now hold by lease) which said close I give and bequeath unto my son William to hold to him and his executors, administrators and assigns for and during all such term as shall be therein to come at the time of my death.

 

Item; all my ploughfarthing and all other my implements belonging to husbandry I give and bequeath the same unto my two sons William Gillingham and Parcival Gillingham to be equally parted and divided between them share and share alike. And whereas I have given my said son in law Matthew Snaydon the aforesaid sum of five pounds, it is to the intent that he and his son William shall be a friend in trust to assist my said wife concerning this my will in the best manner he may or can.

 

Item; all the rest and residue of my personal estate I herewith give unto Martha my wife whom I make whole and sole Executrix of this my will, revoking all other wills by me heretofore made. In witness of which I have hereunto set my hand and seal the two and twentieth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty eight.

 

Emmanuel Gillingham

 

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the testator Emmanuel Gillingham as and for his only last will in the presence of us who all subscribe our names hereunto as witnesses in his presence.

 

Will Saunders

Christopher Gundry

James Bagg

23 May 1739

 

This will of Emmanuel Gillingham the Elder, late of Benvill in the parish of Corscombe and county of Dorset, deceased, was proved by Martha Gillingham the widow and relict of the said deceased and sole Executrix within named, to whom consideration of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased was granted, she being first sworn faithfully to administer the same according to law.

 

Before me Seth Banks.

 

 

The Will  of Martha Gillingham,

who left a will on 15 October 1739 at Benvil, Corscombe, Devon at Archdeacon's Court Blandford

 

   In the name of God Amen. I Martha Gillingham of Benvill within the parish of Corscombe in the county of Dorset, widow (and executrix named in and by the last will and testament of my late husband Emanuel Gillingham late of Benvill aforesaid, deceased) do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say); First I recommend my soul into the hands of the Father of Mercies of his mercy and only grace I trust to be saved and received into eternal rest through the death and merits of my saviour Jesus Christ, my body in hope of a joyful resurrection from this earth to be devoutly interred with such charges as my executrix herein after named shall think good.  And whereas my said late husband Emanuel Gillingham in his lifetime made provision for all his sons and daughters therefore all such goods, chattels, ready money and personal estate whatsoever now remaining in my own power to be disposed of I give and bequeath the same unto my son Parcival Gillingham. And I do make, constitute, ordain and appoint my said son Parcival Gillingham whole and sole executor of this my will, in witness whereof I the said Martha Gillingham have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand and thirty nine.

 

The mark and seal of Martha Gillingham

 

Signed, sealed and published by the said Martha Gillingham for to contain her last will and testament in the presence of us

 

Anthony Nolly

James Bagg

28 Oct 1741

 

The above will of Martha Gillingham late of the parish of Corscombe in the county and subdeanary of Dorset, was proved by the oath of Parcival Gillingham the natural and lawful son of the aforesaid and sole executor herein named, he being first sworn upon the Holy Evangelists well and truly to administer all and singular the goods, rights, credits and ....... of the deceased according to law.

 

 

The Will of Samuel Groves. thatcher

 

Samuel was born about 1753 and died before 17 May 1826 when he was 73. He was baptised in Evershot, Dorset on 26 January 1755, aged 2 and was buried on 17 May 1826 in Evershot, Dorset.

 

Made and published on this day 17th May in the year 1823 to give and  ------ to my wife MARY, provided her paying any just debts and funeral expenses, All of my freehold & dwelling house situated at Evershot, aforesaid now in my possession together with the two allotment ?gardens and orchard, and also all my household goods, & furniture goods, debts etc, for her and during her years of actual life. And after that occurs, my will & wimb is to give and bequeath my said freehold dwelling house, allotment gardens & orchard, unto my son JOSEPH GROVES of Evershot, aforesaid Thatcher for and at this price of Two Hundred Pounds of lawful money of Great Britain. Where said sum of Two Hundred Pounds shall be equally divided between the whole of my children is JOHANNA (sweet lace)? SAMUEL GROVES, ANN (CURTIS), SARAH GROVES, RICHARD GROVES, JOHN GROVES, and ELIZABETH GROVES, there and there alike. And further it is my will & wimb that if my son JOSEPH GROVES does not like to become the purchaser of the said premises, and at and for the price of Two Hundred Pounds, and there upon trust, I give the said premises to my friends JOHN BASCOMBE of  --------- in the county of Dorset and Clement May? of Frome St Quinten in the said county of Dorset, for them to dispose and sell to the best advantage and price that can be obtained, and to divide the amount between all my children alive and share a life. And I hereby revoke all former wills by us at any time heretofore made an witness and whereof of the said SAMUEL GROVES the testator have to this any last will and testament as to the day and year written above.

WITNESS in the present of SAMUEL GROVES and in the name of JOSEPH GROVES, ANN (JOLY)?, MARY GOLLOP.

 

On this 1st day of SEPTEMBER 1852 - JOSEPH GROVES was granted probate of the goods & chattels of SAMUEL GROVES and MARY GROVES -Widow - the executor now deceased.

 

Source PRO - cat No -11/2158

 

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