Will of John Sanford 1715-1779

 

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

John Sanford was an Oyster Dredger. He was married to Deborah Sanford, he being her second husband following the death of her first husband, Robert Hopkins.

John and Deborah had 6 children.

When John died his Estate was left to his wife Deborah.

The Will states that on the decease of Deborah all effects would go to his son Thomas.

Should Thomas die, everything would pass to William and in the event of Williams death the Estate would pass to Benjamin.

On Benjamins death it would pass to Edward.

His stock in trade was bequeath to William and Benjamin

His only daughter Elizabeth who was married, would inherit the property in which she was living with her husband and which belonged to John Sanford.

The only bequest to his eldest son, John was a share in household goods and a share in any monies owing

All of these were also shared equally amongst the 6 siblings.

He nominated his wife, Deborah and his son in law to act as executors.

Will of John Sanford

Sanford John

Late of the Parish of Wivenhoe

Proved 9^th August 1779

In the name of God Amen This is the last Will and Testament of me John Sanford of

Wivenhoe in the County of Essex Oyster Dredger First I will and order that all my just Debts and

Funeral Charges and the probate of this my Will be fully satisfied and paid for by my Executor and Executrix

Hereafter mentioned out of my personal Estate within Twelve Months after my Decease which being done

I give Devise and Bequeath to my well Beloved Wife Deborah Sanford all and Singular my Estates and

Effects whatsoever and wheresoever both Real and personal To hold to her the said Deborah Sanford during

The Term of her natural Life and after her Decease I give and Devise to my Daughter Elizabeth the Wife of

James Mason All and Singular that my Copyhold Messuages or Tenements with the Several Appurtenances

Thereunto belonging now in the Occupation of the said James Mason and Situate in Wivenhoe aforesaid To

Hold to her the said Elizabeth Mason and her heirs for Ever I Likewise Give and Devise after the Decease of

my said Wife to my son Thomas Sanford All and Singular that my Freehold Messuages or Tenement with the

Several Appurtenances hereunto belonging now in the Occupation of William Stuttle and Situate in Wivenhoe

aforesaid To hold to him the said Thomas Sanford and his heirs for Ever I Likewise Give and Devise after

the Decease of my said Wife to my Son William Sanford All and Singular that my Copyhold Messuages

or Tenement with the Several Appurtenances thereunto belonging now in the Occupation of Frederick Nicholson

and Situate in Wivenhoe aforesaid To hold to him the said William Sanford and his heirs for Ever I Likewise

Give and Devise after the Decease of my said Wife to my Son Benjamin Sanford All and Singular that my

Copyhold Messuages or Tenement with the Several Appurtenances thereunto belonging `now in the Occupation of

Mary Bragg and situate in Wivenhoe aforesaid and adjoining the former To hold to him the said Benjamin

Sanford and his heirs for Ever I also Give and Bequeath to my said Sons William and Benjamin all

And Singular my Stock in Trade to be equally parted between them Share and Share alike I Likewise

Will direct and order that after the Decease of my said Wife as aforesaid All and Singular my Household

Furniture whatsoever be as near as possibly can divided and parted between my children Elizabeth the wife of James

Mason John Sanford Thomas Sanford William Sanford Benjamin Sanford and Edward Sanford share and share

alike And the Rest and Residue of my Estate and Effects both Real and personal whatsoever and wheresoever

I direct to be sold and the Monies thence arising together with all other Ready Monies and all other sums of Money

Whatsoever due to me in Trade or otherwise howsoever be equally divided between all my aforesaid Children share and

Share alike And do nominate and appoint the said James Mason and my said Wife Deborah Sanford joint executor

And executrix of this my Will declaring this only to be my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all other Wills by

Me heretofore made In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty Second day of

December in the Eighteenth year of the Reign of King George the Third and in the year of our Lord One Thousand

Seven hundred and Seventy Seven

Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Testator

As and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us

And we subscribed our names as Witnesses by his desire in his

Presence and in the presence of each other

Peter Conway      R Hersham

Page 3

James Mason one of the Executors within named

Appeared and was sworn to the truth of the within

Will and to the due execution thereof (powers being reserved

To the other Executors within mentioned) before me

Wm Smythies – Surrogate

NB The Testator died in Wivenhoe on Friday the

25^th June last leaving personal Effects to the amount

Of about £150 certainly under 200£

This Will of John Sanford late of the Parish of Wivenhoe in the County of Essex deceased and Proved on the Fourth Day of August

In the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy nine   Before the Reverend William Smythies Clerk Surrogate by the oath of James

Mason one of the Executors to whom Administration of all and Singular the Goods Chattles and Credits of the said Deceased was granted and

Commited on the Ninth Day of the said month of August he being first sworn duly to Administer (Power being reserved of making the like Grant to

Deborah Sanford Widow the Relict of the Deceased and other Executrix named in the said Will when she shall apply for the same

The last Will and

Testament of

John Sanford of

Wivenhoe the County

Of Essex

Dated 22^nd Dec 1777