Will – Peter Mulcaster – 4 Apr 1809

This is the Last Will and Testament of me Peter Mulcaster of Langley Lead Mill in the parish of Warden and County of Northumberland Yeoman my soul I recommend to God my Creator and direct my Body to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executor hereinafter named  I give and bequeath unto my Grand Nephew James Mulcaster Grandson of my Brother James Mulcaster deceased the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful british money to be paid him at or within six calendar months after my decease I also give and bequeath unto the said James Mulcaster my copyhold Lands and Tenements in Swinhope East Allendale in the Regality or Manor of Hexham and County of Northumberland with their appurtenances called and known by the name of Blackcleugh and Pryfield house which I have surrendered to the use of my will and which are now respectively in the tenure or occupation of Thomas Whitfield and John Reed as Tenants thereof to hold the same to him the said James Mulcaster his heirs and assigns forever according to the custom of the Manor of which the same are holden and I also give and bequeath unto the said James Mulcaster and his heirs for ever my Allotment on Allendale Common which I have named the Round Meadows and also eight Cow Stints in and upon the Allendale Common pasture making the said copyhold Tenements and the said allotment subject to and charged and chargeable with an annuity or clear yearly rent of fifteen pounds of lawful money of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland current in Great Britain free from all Taxes and deductions whatsoever which said annuity of fifteen pounds I do hereby give and bequeath to John Mulcaster the father of my said Grand Nephew James Mulcaster and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life to be paid and payable within to the said John Mulcaster or his assigns once every year the first payment to commence at the expiration of one year after my decease and I do further give to the said John Mulcaster and his assigns in case the said annuity of fifteen pounds or any part thereof shall remain due and unpaid for the space of twenty eight days the power of entering upon the premises so charged with the same and of distraining for the arrears of the said annuity and in case it shall remain due and unpaid for the space of forty days then I give him the power of entering upon the said premises and of taking the Rents and profits of the same for such arrears I give and bequeath (subject however to certain provisions hereinafter particularly mentioned as to the insufficiency of my personal estate to discharge the Legacies and other demands occasioned by the execution of this my will my copyhold Lands and Tenements called and known by the name of Hopehead being the Residue of my copyhold estate at Swinhope surrendered to the use of my will and which are now respectively in the occupation of John Bell and Teasdale Whitfield and sons with their appurts and also with Ten cow stints in and upon the Allendale Common pasture to my Nephew John Mulcaster son of my Brother Robert Mulcaster deceased his heirs and assigns for ever according to the Custom of the Manor of which the said last mentioned copyhold Tenements are holden subject nevertheless to and charged and chargeable with an annuity or clear yearly Rent of Ten pounds of like lawful money free and clear of and from all Taxes and deductions whatsoever to Ann Mulcaster Widow of my Brother Robert Mulcaster decd. and Mother of the last mentioned John Mulcaster during the term of her natural life and also subject to and charged and chargeable  with another annuity or clear yearly Rent of Ten pounds of like lawful money free of and from all Taxes and deductions whatsoever to Ann Mulcaster Sister of the said last mentioned John Mulcaster during the term of her natural life (to cease however in case of her marriage) the two said annuities of Ten pounds and Ten pounds to be respectively paid out every year and the first payments thereof respectively to commence become due and payable at the expiration of one year after my decease and I do hereby give unto the said Ann Mulcaster the Mother and likewise to Ann Mulcaster the sister of the last mentioned John Mulcaster the same powers of entering upon the said premises and securing any arrears as have already been hereinbefore given to the said John Mulcaster Son of my late Brother James Mulcaster in respect of his said annuity of fifteen pounds and I also give and bequeath unto my said Nephew John Mulcaster son of my late Brother Robert Mulcaster all my copyhold Lands and Tenements called and known by the name of North Moor Houses with their appurtenances and also my Allotment of Allendale Common for and in respect of the same now in the occupation of George Johnson and Thomas Cowan which have been surrendered to the use of this my will to hold the same to him my said Nephew John Mulcaster his heirs and assigns for ever according the custom of the Manor of which the same are holden subject nevertheless to and charged and chargeable with an annuity or clear yearly rent of twenty pounds of like lawful money free of and from all Taxes and deductions whatsoever to my dear wife Elizabeth Mulcaster and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life to become due and payable at four quarterly payments that is to say on the feast of the annunciation of the Virgin Mary the feast of the Nativity of Saint John the feast of Saint Michael and the feast of the Nativity of our Saviour and the first payment thereof to become due and payable upon such of the said feast days as may fall next after the day of my decease and I do hereby declare that I bequeath this annuity to my said wife Elizabeth Mulcaster in lieu and in stead of the respective annuities of Ten pounds and five pounds which I stipulated to give her by an agreement made and entered into previous to our marriage and as a mark of my approbation of her proper and affectionate behaviour towards me and I give to my said wife Elizabeth Mulcaster all the same powers of entering upon the said premises so charged with such annuity and recovering any arrears which may be due of the same as have already been hereinbefore mentioned and given.  I also give and bequeath unto my said wife Elizabeth Mulcaster all the household furniture Beds Bedding and Linen which I shall be possessed of at the time of my decease to and for her own use and benefit and to be disposed of in such manner as she shall think proper and I also give and bequeath to my said wife Elizabeth Mulcaster the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds of like lawful money as aforesaid which sum I received with her upon our marriage subject to an agreement to leave it to her upon my decease or to give it to such of her relations as she might direct if she died before me  I give and bequeath to my three Nieces Mary Lucy and Hannah Mulcaster the daughters of my late Brother Robert Mulcaster each the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds of like lawful money to be paid at or within six calendar months after my decease and it is my will that if any of these three sisters shall die before receiving such Legacy the same shall be paid in equal proportions to the survivors or the survivor I give and bequeath to my Grand Nieces Ann and Hannah Mulcaster daughters of my Nephew John Mulcaster of Langley Mill each the sum of three hundred pounds of like lawful money as they respectively attain the age of twenty one years if under that age at the time of my decease and if above that age at or within six months after that event with like benefit of survivorship I give and bequeath to Frances and Thomas Emerson the daughter and son of my late Niece Lucy Emerson each the sume of one hundred pounds of like lawful money as they respectively attain the age of twenty one years if under that age at the time of my death and if above  that age at or within six months after that event with the like benefit of survivorship and I do give and bequeath to Henry Teasdale Harrison and Robert Harrison sons of my late Niece Margaret Harrison each the sum of one hundred pounds of like lawful money as they respectively attain the age of twenty one years if under that age at the time of my decease and if above it at or within six calendar months after that event with like benefit of survivorship And I do hereby  make ordain nominate and appoint my said Nephew John Mulcaster son of my late Brother Robert Mulcaster sole Executor of this my last will and Testament and my will is and I do hereby order and direct that in case my personal estate shall not be sufficient to discharge the above Legacies and other demands occasioned by the execution of this my will then and in such case my said Executor shall sell the whole if necessary or such part of it as may be so of my said Copyhold Estate at Hopehead in Swinhope and apply the proceeds of the same in and of my personal Estate and Effects in the first place however securing to my late Brother Robert Mulcaster’s widow Ann Mulcaster and likewise to his daughter Ann Mulcaster in such manner as may seem best to my said Executor the respective annuities I have above bequeathed to them and I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other wills by me at any time heretofore made and do declare these presents only to be and contain my last will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the fourth day of April one thousand eight hundred and nine         Peter Mulcaster

Signed sealed published and declared by the above named Peter Mulcaster the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other – Jonathan Holdon – John Robson – John Forster

Proved at London 14th June 1814 before the worpl. Charles Cook Dr of  Law and swore by the oath of John Mulcaster the Nephew & sole Exor to whom admon was granted having been first sworn duly to admr.