537. Mary MASON of Wivenhoe, Widow, 1812. PROB 11/1533/215

The last Will and Testament of me
Mary Mason of Wivenhoe in the County of Essex Widow being sick
and weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory made in
manner following I desire to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors
hereinafter appointed and my worldy Estate I dispose of as follows to wit I
give and bequeath unto my Sister Ann Simpson Spinster now living with me
the sum of twenty pounds of lawful English Money And to my Sister Sarah
now the Wife of William Dowman of Colchester in the said County Broker
the sum of ten pounds of like money to be paid to them within six months
next after my decease And I give to my brother John Simpson of Great
Horksley in the said County Yeoman and to my said two Sisters Ann Simpson
and Sarah Dowman all the interest and Dividends whatsoever which shall be
due and owing to me at the time of my decease to be equally divided between
them share and share alike And I do hereby direct authorize and empower
my Executors hereinafter appointed with all convenient speed after my decease
to sell out call in and receive all such principal money in the public funds of
the Government or on any other Security or Securities whatsoever as shall be
due and owing to me at the time of my decease and from and after paying
and discharging thereout all my just debts funeral expenses the charges
attending the proving and executing this my Will with other incidental expenses
the aforesaid Legacies to my two Sisters and of ten pounds hereinafter given to
Isaac Fitch one of my Executors hereinafter appointed I give and bequeath the
net residue and remainder of such monies so by me directed to be sold out and
collected and got in as aforesaid unto my said brother John Simpson and my
said two Sisters Ann Simpson and Sarah Dowman equally to be divided
between them share and share alike And I give my Eight Day Clock
unto my Cousin Mary late Mary Simpson spinster now the Wife of Samuel Bruce
of Great Horksley aforesaid Shoemaker also I give to Sarah the Wife of the
said Isaac Fitch my large Gilt Looking Glass and as to my wearing apparel
Clothes and linen of every sort as well household linen as otherwise I give the
same to be equally divided between my said Sisters Ann Simpson and Sarah
Dowman share and share alike And I do hereby nominate and appoint
my said brother John Simpson and they said are Isaac Fitch the sum of ten 
pounds of the Parish of Rayne in the said County Farmer joint Executors
of this my Will and do give the set Isaac Fitch the sum of ten pounds of
lawful English Money over and above his reasonable charges and expenses as
such Executor And I direct my household Goods chattels furniture and effects
not otherwise by this my Will hereinbefore particularly disposed of to be sold
by my said Executors and the money arising thereby after deducting all
reasonable charges attending such Sale together with all the rest and
residue of my personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever not otherwise
by this my Will disposed of I give to be equally divided between my said
brother John Simpson and my said two Sisters Ann Simpson and Sarah
the Wife of the said William Dowman share and share alike And my Will
is that if my said Sister Ann Simpson should happen to die before her
said legacies or parts and shares or any of them shall become due and payable
according to this my Will That then the Legacy or Legacies or parts and
shares of any of them shall become due and payable according to this
my will her my said Sister Ann so dying shall go to and be equally
divided between my said brother John Simpson and my said Sister Sarah
Dowman share and share alike at the time my said Sister would have
been entitled to receive the same if living And in case of the death
of my said brother John Simpson and Sister Sarah Dowman or either
of them before their respective Legacies or parts or shares shall become and
payable then my Will is that the part and share or parts and shares
of him my said brother John so dying shall go and be paid to such
one or more of his children as shall live to attain the age of twenty
one years equally to be divided between them share and share alike if
more than one and that the Legacy Part and share or parts and shares of my
said Sister Sarah Dowman so dying as aforesaid shall go and be paid to

Her only child Sarah the wife of the said Sarah Isaac Fitch at the time
her said Mother would have been entitled thereto if living And hereby
revoking all other Wills by me at any time heretofore made I declare this
only to be and contain my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twentieth day of July in the Year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and ten The mark of (X) Mary Mason
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testatrix Mary Mason as in for
her last Will in Testament in the presence of us who in her presence at her
request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names
as witnesses Joseph Coney John Diss.

Proved at London 13th of May 1812 before the wh[orshi]pful Charles Townley
D[octo]r of Laws Surr[ogate] by the Oath of Isaac Fitch one of the Ex[ecut]ors to whom adm[inistrati]on
was granted having been first sworn duly to administer Power reserved to
John Simpson the bro[the]r and other Ex[ecut]or.