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.
The last part of this will shows a summary of the Names, Places, Properties and Vessels mentioned in the will.
Popps William
Late of the Parish of Wivenhoe
Proved the 2nd February 1789
1 In the name of God, Amen I William Popps of Wivenhoe in the
2 County of Essex Twine Spinner and Rope-maker being weak and infirm in Body but of sound and disposing
3 Mind Memory and Understanding (thanks be given to Almighty God for the same) Do make this my last Will
4 and Testament in manner following (that is to say) First and principally I commend my Soul into the
5 hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping through the Merits of Jesus Christ my Redeemer to obtain
6 remission of all my Sins and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my
7 Executors herein after named And as to the temporal Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I
8 dispose thereof in the following manner I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Mary Popps the Sum
9 of Ten Pounds to be paid her out of my Personal Estate and Effects as soon as may be after my decease Also
10 I do hereby will direct and appoint that my esteemed Friends Daniel Blyth of Elmstead in the said County of
11 Essex Gentleman and John Minter of Colchester in the said County Merchant or the survivor of them or the
12 Heirs of such Survivor do and shall with all convenient speed after the expiration of three Kalender Months
13 from the time of my decease sell and dispose of All that my Copyhold Messuage or Tenement called Rogers
14 or otherwise with the Appurtenances thereto belonging and now in my own occupation situate in Wivenhoe
15 aforesaid and holden of the said Manor by Copy of Court Roll (and which I have duly surrendered to the Use
16 of this my Will) And also all other my Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments whatsoever holden
17 of the said Manor to the best purchaser or purchasers and for the most Money that can be got for the same
18 And I do hereby further Will and direct that the receipt or receipts of the said Daniel Blyth and John Minter or
19 the survivor of them or the heirs of such Survivor shall be good and sufficient discharge and discharges to such
20 Purchaser or Purchasers for so much of the Purchase Money as shall be comprised in such Receipt or Receipts
21 and after Payment of the Purchase Money to the said Trustees or the survivor of them or to the Heirs of such
22 Survivor such Purchase or Purchasers shall not be answerable or accountable for any Loss Misapplication or
23 Nonapplication thereof or of any part thereof but shall be absolutely discharged therefrom Also I do
24 hereby further Will and direct that my said Wife Mary Popps shall and may have the Liberty to reside in and
25 occupy my aforesaid Messuage or Tenement and Premises and have the use of all my Household Goods and
26 Furniture during the aforesaid three Months next after my decease without paying any Rent or rendering
27 any other Satisfaction for the same And out of the monies arising by the Sale of my Said Estate I give and
28 bequeath the Sum of One hundred pounds part thereof Unto my said Wife Mary Popps to and for her own
29 Sole Use and disposal to be paid her as soon after the Sale of my said Copyhold Estate as may be over and
30 besides the Sum of One hundred pounds which she my said Wife will be intitled to in Case she survives me
31 by virtue of the Bond given by me to my Marriage with her And which I direct shall be paid her at the
32 time specified in such Bond out of my personal Estate and Effects And which said Sum of One hundred pounds
33 hereby given to my said Wife out of the Monies arising from the Sale of my said Copyhold Estate I further
34 Will and direct shall be considered in lieu, bar, full satisfaction and discharge of all Dower Right of Thirds
35 and free Bench which she my said Wife can or may claim or demand of and from the said Copyhold Estate
36 and also of and from all or any part of my Personal Estate and Effects other than what is herein before
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37 given to her And I further Will and direct that if my said Wife shall refuse to join in Conveying the said
38 Copyhold Estate herein before directed to be sold, to a purchaser or purchasers thereof as aforesaid Then and in
39 such case I hereby make void the said Legacy of One hundred pounds herein before given to her Also I give and
40 bequeath unto my Grandaughter Mary Ann Carter the Sum of twenty pounds of good and lawful Money of
41 great Britain Also I give and bequeath unto my Grandson James Fulcher the like Sum of Twenty pounds
42 of like lawful Money of great Britain to be paid them respectively at their respective attainments of the Age
43 of twenty one years out of my personal Estate and Effects Also I give and bequeath unto the aforesaid
44 Daniel Blyth and John Minter my Executors herein after named the Sum of Two pounds and two shillings
45 apiece over and above all their reasonable Charges and Expenses in and about the execution of this my Will
46 and of the Trust hereby in them reposed And after payment of my just Debts Funeral Expenses the Monies
47 which my said Wife may happened to be intitled to by virtue of my said Marriage Bond, the aforesaid several
48 Legacies together with the Charges of proving and attending the execution of this my Will and other incident
49 Expenses I give and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my ready Monies, Monies out at Interest
50 Book Debts, Stock in Trade and all other my personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of
51 what nature or kind soever together with the residue of the Monies arising from the Sale of my said Real Estate
52 unto my two Daughters Mary Ann Carter the Wife of John Carter of Wivenhoe aforesaid Yeoman and Sarah
53 the Wife of John Fulcher of Saint Mary White Chapel in the County of Middlesex Bricklayer their Executors
54 Administrators and Assigns to be equally divided between them share and share alike And lastly I do hereby
55 make nominate constitute and appoint the said Daniel Blyth and John Minter Executors of this my Will
56 and hereby revoking and making void all former and other Will and Wills by me at any time heretofore made I
57 publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I the said William Popps the Testator
58 to this my last Will and Testament contained in two Sheets of Paper have to each Sheet set my hand and Seal and
59 my Seal to the Label by which the are affixed together this first —day of June in the Year of our Lord One
60 Thousand seven hundred and eighty six
Wm Popps
61 Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator
62 William Popps as and for his last Will and Testament in the
63 presence of us who in his presence and at his request have
64 hereunto subscribed our Names as Witnesses
John Barrell
Saml Sargeant
Wm Mason
68 The twenty eight day of January 1789
69 Daniel Blyth and John Minter the Executors within named were
70 sworn to the truth of this Will and to the due performance thereof
71 and also that the whole of the goods chattels and credits of the Deceased
72 does not to the best of their knowledge or belief amount in value to
73 the sum of six hundred pounds
74 before me
Nat Forster Surrogate
The Testator died in the parish of
Wivenhoe the 7th Instant
Proved on the Twenty eight day of February January in the Year
of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty nine before the
Reverend Nathaniel Forster Doctor in Divinity Surogate by the Oaths
of Daniel Blyth and John Minter the Executors to whom Admin
was granted they being first sworn duly to Administer
A Summary of Names, Places and Properties named in this Will
Name Place Relationship Line
Mary Popps Wife 8, 24, 28, 37, 47
Daniel Blyth Elmstead Executor 10, 18, 44, 55
John Minter Executor 11, 18, 44, 55
Mary Ann Carter Grandaughter 40
James Fulcher Grandson 41
Mary Anne Carter Daughter 52
Sarah Fulcher Daughter 52
John Barrel Witness 65
Saml Sargeant Witness 66
Wm Mason Witness 67
Nathaniel Forster Surrogate
Properties Place
Mussuage called Rogers Wivenhoe 13
Comments about this page
The Copyhold tenement or Messuage referred to as Rogers is listed on the 1799 Survey Map of Wivenhoe. Three parcels (No 13, 14 and 19) have that name. See https://www.wivenhoehistory.org.uk/content/topics/resources/maps-of-wivenhoe/1799-survey-map-wivenhoe
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