Will of William Sanford 1749-1830

 

Wills are generally written without any punctuation or abbreviations. There is often alternative spelling of some words and using upper case letters which do not always mean the start of a new sentence. Neither are they divided into paragraphs but are continuous lines of writing This can make documents difficult to read or understand.

This post shows the Will exactly as it was written with no attempt to break it down into paragraphs. Done in this way it shows exactly how the original document is written. As the documents are sometimes very large each line of writing in the document sometimes takes up two lines when it is transcribed in to the web site.

Summary

William, uncle to Thomas Sanford and Mary Ann Sanford.

He had a daughter, Elizabeth and a son, William to whom he left most of his estate.

There was a bequest made to the rector of St Marys Church of fifty shillings to be paid yearly on Christmas day.

The money was to be used to buy bread which would be distributed in equal shares to 10 poor persons of the parish. He stipulated that they should be in the habit of attending the Communion Table of the said church and receiving the holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper.

Williams son died two years after his father and much of his estate went to Thomas Sanford.

Date of Will: 1829-01-21
Date of Probate: 1831-02-25

Testator: William Sanford

Benjamin Sanford, brother of testator

William Sanford: son of testator

Elizabeth Clark: daughter of testator

Elijah Clark: husband of Elizabeth Clark

Deborah Lewis, widow, niece of testator

Sir James Affleck: former owner of land

Steward Hines: former owner of land, deceased at time of will

[Initial page: Ancestry image 246 of 833]

I William Sanford of Wivenhoe in the
County of Essex Oyster Merchant being of sound and disposing mind
memory and understanding praised be Almighty God for the same do
make this my last Will and Testament in manner following that is to
say I give and devise unto my son in law Elijah Clark and Elizabeth
his wife my daughter all that my Copyhold messuage or tenement now in
their occupation with the land hereditaments and appurtenances thereto
belonging which I purchased of the executors of Steward Saines situate
lying and being in the parish of Fingringhoe and all that piece of parcel of
freehold land containing about three acres lying behind the same
which I purchased of Sir James Affleck also situate and being in
Fingringhoe aforesaid to hold the same unto the said Elijah Clark and
Elizabeth his wife and their assigns for and during the term of their
natural lives and the life of the longer lived of them upon condition that
they and the survivor of them shall and do keep the said messuage and
premises at all times in good repair and from and after the decease of the
survivor of them the said Elijah Clark and Elizabeth his wife or other the
determination of their estate and interest in the said premises I give and
devise the same unto my son William Sanford his heirs and assigns for
ever also I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Elizabeth Clark
the sum of fifty pounds of lawful english money to and for her own use and
benefit to be paid to her within three Calendar months next after my decease
or sooner if convenient to my executors to pay the same and for which
the receipt of my said daughter only shall be a sufficient discharge and
also I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Elizabeth Clark one
annuity or yearly sum of fifty pounds of lawful English money free and
clear of and from all deductions whatsoever for taxes or otherwise to
commence from the day of my decease and to be issuing and payable to
her my said daughter for and during the term of her natural life and to be
charged and chargeable as hereinafter mentioned upon and issuing out
of all and every my farm and lands situate in Fingringhoe aforesaid
hereinafter devised to my son William Sanford and to be paid and payable
by even and equal half yearly payments the first of which half yearly
payments shall become due and be made at the end of six calendar months
next after my decease and I will and direct that the said annuity shall
from time to time be paid into the hands of my said daughter Elizabeth
Clark to and for her own sole and peculiar use and benefit exclusive and
independent of the debts contracts control or engagements of her
present or any future husband and not to be assigned anticipated or
incumbered and the receipt only from time to time shall be sufficient
discharge for the same annuity or yearly sum also I give and bequeath unto
the Rector or officiating Minister for the time being of the parish Church
of Wivenhoe one annuity or clear yearly rent charge of fifty shillings of
lawful English money to be paid on Christmas day in every year for ever to
or issuing and payable out of the messuage farm and lands hereinafter
mentioned and to be by the said Rector or officiating Minister on that
day laid out in bread and distributed in equal shares to ten poor persons
residents of the said parish who shall be in the habit of attending the
Communion Table in the said Church and receiving there the holy
Sacrament of the Lords Supper the first payment to be paid on
Christmas day next after my decease and I give and devise unto my
son William Sanford all that my messuage or tenement in which I
now reside situate on the quay in Wivenhoe aforesaid with the
Quay Yards Gardens Buildings Hereditaments and appurtenances
thereto belonging and also all that my messuage or tenement farm
lands and premises situate at Fingringhoe aforesaid formerly purchased
by me and my brother Benjamin of Mistress Searle widow and now in the
occupation of my said son in law Elijah Clark and the ten acres of
land and a Grove held therewith which I purchased of Sir James
Affleck all which said farm and lands contain together seventy
six acres or thereabouts and also all other my freehold and copyhold
messuages lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever and
wheresoever not herein before disposed of to hold all and singular
the same messuages farms lands and premises unto my said son William
Sanford his heirs and assigns for ever but nevertheless as to the said
last mentioned messuage farm and lands in Fingringhoe aforesaid
occupied by  my said son in law Elijah Clark subject and charged and
I do hereby subject and charge the same with with and to the payment of the said
annuity or yearly sum of fifty pounds so bequeathed to my said daughter
Elizabeth for her life as aforesaid and also to and with the said annuity or yearly
rent charge of fifty shillings so bequeathed to the said Rector or officiating
Minister of Wivenhoe for ever as aforesaid and in case the same annuities or
yearly sums or either of them or any part thereof respectively shall be in
arrear or unpaid for the space of thirty days next after any of the days or
times whereon the same ought to be paid as aforesaid then and at any time
or times thereafter when and as often as the same shall so happen it shall
and may be lawful for my said daughter Elizabeth Clark or the Rector or
officiating Minister of Wivenhoe as aforesaid as the case may require to
enter into and upon the said messuage farm lands and premises out of
which the said annuities or yearly rents are to be issuing and payable as
aforesaid or into or upon any part or parts thereof to enter and distrain
for the same or so much thereof as shall be then in arrears or unpaid as
aforesaid and the distress and distresses then and there found and taken to
lead drive carry away and impound and in pound to detain and keep until
the said annuities or yearly sums of fifty pounds and fifty shillings or
such of them as shall be then unpaid and all arrears thereof and all costs
charges and expenses relating to or attending such distress and
distresses shall be fully paid and satisfied and in default thereof in due
time after such distress or distresses shall have been so taken to appraise
sell and dispose of the same distress and distresses
or otherwise to act therein according to Law in like
manner as in distresses taken for Rent reserved
by lease on common demise to the end and intent that thereby she my said
daughter or the said Rector or officiating Minister as aforesaid as the case
may be fully paid and satisfied the said annuities or clear yearly
sums of fifty pounds and fifty shillings and all arrears thereof respectively
and all costs charges and expenses relating to or attending the
recovering or obtaining payment of the same also I give and bequeath
unto my niece Deborah Lewis Widow a suit of mourning and to my said
brother Benjamin Sanford and to my son in law Elijah Clark I give each a
mourning suit and as to and concerning all and singular my household
furniture plate linen china ready money debts due and owing to me bonds
bills and securities for money monies in the public funds and all other my
personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever after payment
and satisfaction of the legacies aforesaid my just debts my funeral and
testamentary expenses and the legacy hereinafter mentioned I give and
bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said son William
Sanford to and for his own use and benefit absolutely and I do hereby
nominate constitute and appoint my said son William Sanford my said
brother Benjamin Sanford and Samuel Wittey of Colchester in the said
County Attorney at law Executors of this my Will and I give unto
the said Samuel Wittey the sum of ten pounds as some acknowledgement for
the trouble he may have therein and thereby revoking all former Wills by me
made I do declare this to be my last In witness whereof I the said William
Sanford the testator have to this my Will contained in four sheets of paper
set my hand to the first three my hand and seal to this fourth and last sheet
and my seal to the label by which they are affixed this twenty first day of
January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty
nine. William Sanford – Signed sealed published and declared by
the said William Sanford the testator as and for his last Will and Testament
in our presence who in his presence at his request and in the presence of
each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses – John G
Chamberlain – Thomas Sanford – Samuel Wittey Junr.

Proved at London 25 February 1831 before the Judge by the oaths of
William Sanford the son Benjamin Sanford the brother and Samuel Wittey
the executors to whom administration was granted having been first
sworn by Commission duly to administer.