Will of Robert Hopkins 1729-1767

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.

In the name of god,Amen. I Robert Hopkins of Wivenhoe in the county

of Essex being very sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect mind memory and understanding

and calling to mind the uncertainty of thistransitory life and that it is appointed for all men

once to die do therefore make this my last will and testament in manner and form.

Following (that is to say) I commend my soul to almighty god who gave it, and my body

to the earth to be decently buried according to the discretion of my executor hereafter named, and

for my temporal state that I shall be possessed off at my decease. I give and bequeath in

manner following, that is to say I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved brother Edward Sanford

all and singular those my copyhold lands and tenements with the appurtenances thereunto belonging now

in the tenure or occupation of the widow Reynolds situated in the parish of Brightlingsea in the said county

of Essex and holden of the said manner by copy of court roll to him the said Edward Sanford for and during

the term of his natural life and after his decease to the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten and if

the said Edward shall die before he shall attain the age of twenty one years or without lawful issue then

I give and bequeath the said premises to my brother Benjamin Sanford and the heirs of his body lawfully

to be begotten and in default of such I give to my brother William Sanford and his heirs foo..ed Secondly

I give and bequeath all and singular that my freehold messugages or tenement called Hartshorn with

the appurtenances thereunto belonging situate in Wivenhoe in the said county of Essex and now in the

occupation of my father John Sanford, to my loving sister Elizabeth, the wife of James Mason of Wivenhoe

aforesaid glazier and to the heirs of her body lawfully begotten or to be begotten, and if she should die

without lawful issue give then to my brother Thomas Sanford and his heirs for ever. And for my personal

states ready monies, debts dues and demands whatsoever and all and singular my wearing apparell

and linnen. I give and bequeath to be equally divided between my brothers John, Thomas, William,

Benjamin and Edward Sanford and my sister Elizabeth wife of the above mentioned James Mason and I

do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said James Mason full and sole executor of this

my last will and testement. In truth for the purpose above mentioned and do hereby in the presence

of those who have hereunto subscribed their names as witnesses revoke and set aside all former wills made

by me or my order declaring this only to be my last will and testement. In witness whereof

I have hereunto set my hand and seal this second day of August in the sixth year of the reign

of our sovereign Lord George the third by the grace of God of Great Brirain France and Ireland King

defender of the faith and in the year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred and sixty six

Signed sealed published and declared by the said

Robert Hopkins as and for his last Will and Testament

in the presence of us and we subscribed our name as

Witnesses by his desire in his presence.

T Durrell

Michael Clark

Rich Wenham                                                             Robert Hopkins