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[Labelled on outside in a contemporary hand:] 1st Dec 1788 / Sir Thos Blacketts Will This is the last Will and Testament of me Sir Thomas Blackett of Bretton Hall in the County of York (lately called Sir Thomas Wentworth) Baronet. I Give and Devise my Capital Mansion House park and Gardens at Bretton aforesaid and also all and every other of my Manors Messuages Farms Lands Tenements Tythes and Hereditments whatsoever both Freehold Copyhold Customary and Leasehold in the said County of York [struck out from earlier version: ‘and also the Farms I lately contracted for at Flocton and Netherton in the said County’] and also all that my Regality Manor or Lordship of Hexham in the County of Northumberland and the Scite of the dissolved Priory of Hexham with their and every of their Rights Priviledges Members and Appurtenances Together with all the Furniture and Effects in the Abbey at Hexham aforesaid and also all that my Manor of Lordship of Anick Grange in the said County of Northumberland with the Rights Priviledges Members and Appurtenances thereunto belonging and also all my lead Mines within my said Regality or Lordship of Hexham and also all my Estate Right Title and Interest in or to the Patronages Presentations or Rights of Nominations to all and every the Rectories Vicarages Parsonages Benefices and Curacies which belong to me in the Counties of York and Northumberland or either of them or elsewhere and also all and every my Messuages Tenements Farms Lands Tythes Modusses Quitrents Mines Mills and Hereditments situate being or arising within my said Regality or Manor of Hexham the said Manor of Anick Grange and within the Towns Townships Hamlets Vills Precincts or Territories of Broomhaugh, Saint-John-Lee, Wall, Yarridge, Dotland Dotland Park, Westburnhope, Coastley, Westwood, The Bush, Steel, Stublick, Moralee, East and West Allen, Peasemeadows, Sparty Lee, and Old dyke, Black bank, Dirt pot, East Dukesfield, West Dukesfield and Middle Dukesfield, Slaley, Crookt Oak, and Coal pits otherwise Colpits in the said County of Northumberland or within each every or any of them or elsewhere in the said County of Northumberland (Except what I shall wholly devise to my Nephew William Bosville Esquire for his Life) Together with all and singular the Rights Priviledges Hereditments and Appurtenances whatsoever to the said Regality Manors Messuages Tenements Farms Lands Tythes Modusses Quitrents Mines Mills and Hereditments every or any of them belonging or in any wise appertaining and all my Estate Right Title and Interest in or to the Lead Mines in the Parishes of Stanhope and Wolsingham in the County of Durham and also in or to the Office of Moor Man otherwise Moor Master in the said Parishes of Stanhope and Wolsingham and also in and to all and every the Messuages Farms Lands Tenements and Hereditments and each and every of them whatsoever situate and being at Killop and Wellop and Lintzgarth in the County of Durham All which last mentioned Mines Office Tenements Hereditments and Premises are held by me of the Lord Bishop of Durham by virtue of certain Leases thereof respectively granted for and during the Lives of certain Persons in such Leaves respectively mentioned and also all my Estate Right Title and Interest in and to all and every the Tenements and Hereditments known by the names of Nether Reed burn situate and being near Rucup in Weardale within the Manor of Wolsingham in the said County of Durham held by me under a lease thereof granted by the Master and Brethren of Sherborne hospital for my own Life and the Lives of certain Persons therein named And also all and every of my Copyhold Tenements Hereditaments and Premises (which I have surrendered to the use of my Will) within the district of Stanhope in the said Manor of Wolsingham And also certain Parcels of Land Scotch Ile and Rushy Lee in the said Parish of Wolsingham And also all that my Tenement or Farm-hold within the said Parish of Stanhope called Short Thornes And also all that my Moiety or half part of Shields Pasture or Westgate within the said Parish of Stanhope And also all that my one full undivided quarter or fourth part of the Manor of Winlinton otherwise Winlaton in the County of Durham aforesaid and of the Collieries and Coal Mines within and under the same And also all the Messuages Farms Lands Tenements Mills and Hereditaments belonging to me situate lying and being within the said Manor of Winlinton otherwise Winlaton or within the Townships of Bladon and Barlow or either of them in the said County of Durham And also all my Share of Stella Grand Colliery in the said County of Durham Unto Thomas Richard Beaumont of Hatfield in the said County of York Esquire the said William Bosville Esquire and John Erasmus Blackett of Newcastle in the County of Northumberland Esquire & Luke Noble of Bretton and the survivors and survivor of them their and his Heirs Executors and administrators To and for such Uses Trusts Intents and Purposes and for the benefit of such Person and Persons as hereinafter particularly mentioned that is to say Upon Trust that they my said Trustees or the Survivor of them or the Heirs of such Survivor do and shall receive the Rents Issues and Profitts of all and every the said Tenements Hereditaments and Premises ( Except my said Manors house Park and Gardens which I would not have let or demised) And also work and carry on All my Lead Mines in the same manner and to the same extent as they are now wrought and carried on until my natural son Thomas Wentworth shall attain the age of Twenty One Years And out of such Rents Issues and Profits and what shall arise from my said Lead Mines to keep my said Mansion house, Park and Gardens and all the Buildings belonging or appertaining thereto or to any other part of my said Estates and also the several Dams for the support of the Lakes near to my said Mansion house in perfect Repair Order and Condition And also out of such Rents Issues and Profitts to renew from time to time as it may be necessary All and every or any (if they my Trustees think proper but not otherwise as I totally vest the same in their discretion and power) Lease or Leases I now hold of the Bishop of Durham or any other Person or Persons whom soever And also out of such Rents Issues and Profitts to maintain and educate and also to Pay and allow such yearly and other Sums unto the said Thomas Wentworth as my said Trustees shall think proper untill he shall attain the age of Twenty one Years And I give and bequeath unto the said Thomas Richard Beaumont William Bosville and John Erasmus Blackett & Luke Noble their Executors and Administrators All my Silver Plate Pictures Books China linnen and Household Furniture and all other Effects whatsoever in and about my said Mansion house at Bretton and all the Implements Utensils and other Effects which shall happen to be at the Time of my death in and about any of my Offices Stables Coach houses Granaries Gardens or Buildings appurtenant or belonging to my said Mansion house at Bretton aforesaid Upon Trust during the minority of the said Thomas Wentworth to preserve and take care of the said Plate Pictures Books China Linnen Household Furniture and other Effects so bequeathed to them as aforesaid except such Effects as are in their nature perishable which I would have sold and the money arising therefrom kept for the benefit of the Person or Persons who would by this my Will have become intitled to such Effects if they had not been sold. And where and so soon as my said Son Thomas Wentworth shall attain his said age of Twenty One Years Then as to for and Concerning All such part and parts of my said Estate and Hereditaments (Except as herein first accepted) as is and are descendible or of the Nature if Freehold Customary or Copyhold UPON TRUST to the USE and BEHOOF of my said Son Thomas Wentworth for and during the Term of his Natural Life without impeachments of or for any manner of Waste AND from and immediately after the determination of that Estate Then to the USE and BEHOOF of the said Thomas Richard Beaumont William Bosville and John Erasmus Blackett & Luke Noble and the survivors and survivor of them their and his Heirs for and during the Life of him the said Thomas Wentworth UPON TRUST to support and preserve the contingent Remainder hereinafter limited from being defeated or destroyed and for that Purpose to make Entries or bring Actions as occasion shall require but nevertheless In Trust to permit and suffer him my said Son Thomas Wentworth and his Assigns during the Term of his Natural Life to receive and take the Rents Issues and Profits of the said Hereditaments and Estates to and for his and their own Use and Benefit And from and immediately after the decease of the said Thomas Wentworth THEN TO THE USE and BEHOOF of all and every or any of the child and children of the Body of the said Thomas Wentworth lawfully to be begotten and living to attain the age of Twenty One Years in such shares and proportions manner and form and for such Estate and Estates or chargeable with such Sum and Sums of Money to the other or others of such Child or Children also living to attain the age of Twenty One Years as he the said Thomas Wentworth shall in his Life Time by any Deed or Deeds in Writing under his Hand and Seal to be by duly executed in the presence of and attested by two or more credible witnesses or by his last Will and Testament in writing to be by him duly executed in the presence of and attested by three or more credible witnesses direct limit or appoint And for want or in default of such direction limitation or appointment #(1) OR in Case any such shall be when and so soon as the Estate and Interests thereby limited shall respectively end and determines and as to such part or parts of the said Hereditaments and Estates whereof no such direction limitation or appointment shall be made as aforesaid Then to the USE and BEHOOF of the first Son of the Body of the said Thomas Wentworth lawfully to be begotten and of the Heirs of the Body of such first Son lawfully issuing and for default of such Issue Then to the Use and Behoof of the second third fourth and all and every other the Son and Sons of the said Thomas Wentworth lawfully to be begotten severally successively and in remainder one after another and as they or any of them shall be in seniority of Age and Priority of Birth and of the several and respective Heirs of the Body and Bodies of all and every such Son and Sons lawfully issuing the Elder of such Son and Sons and the Heirs of his Body lawfully issuing being always preferred and to take before the Younger of such Son and Sons and the Heirs of his or their Body and Bodies lawfully issuing And for default of such Issue Then to the Use and Behoof of all and every the Daughter and Daughters of the said Thomas Wentworth lawfully to be begotten to be equally divided between or amongst them (if more than one) share and share alike to take as a Tenant in Common and not as Joint tenants and of the several and respective Heirs of the Body and Bodies of all and every such Daughter and Daughters lawfully issuing AND for want or in default of any such Issue THEN to the Use and Behoof of my three Natural Daughters Diana the Wife of the said Thomas Richard Beaumont Sophia Wentworth and Louise Wentworth equally to be divided between or amongst them share and share alike for and during their respective Natural Lives and to take as Tenants in Common without impeachment of or for any manner of Waste AND from and after the determination of that Estate THEN to the Use and Behoof of the said Thomas Richard Beaumont William Bosville and John Erasmus Blackett & Luke Noble and the Survivor of them and his Heirs for and during the respective Natural Lives of them my said three Daughters Upon Trust to support and preserve the Contingent Remainders hereinafter limited from being defeated or destroyed and for that purpose to make Entries and bring Actions as occasion shall require But nevertheless In Trust to permit and suffer them my said 3 Daughters and their respective Assigns during their respective Natural Lives to have receive and take the Rents Issues and Profits of the said Hereditaments and Estates to and for her and their own Use and Benefit respectively And from and immediately after the decease of my said three Daughters respectively THEN to the USE and BEHOOF of the first Son and Sons of the Body and Bodies respectively of my said three Daughters lawfully to be begotten and of the Heirs Male of such Son and Sons respectively And for default of such Issue THEN to the USE and BEHOOF of the second third fourth and all every Son and Sons of the respective Body and Bodies of my said three Daughters lawfully to be begotten and of the Heirs Male of such Son and Sons severally successively and in remainder one after another as they and every of them respectively shall be in seniority of age and priority of Birth and of the several and respective Heirs Male of the Body and Bodies of all and every such Son and Sons respectively lawfully issuing every elder of such respective Son and Sons and the Heirs Male of his respective Body and Bodies lawfully issuing being always preferred and to take before the Younger of them respectively and the respective Heirs Male of his Body lawfully issuing #(2) And in case one of my said Daughters shall happen to die without such Issue of the Body lawfully to be begotten. Then as to the Share of her so dying without such Issue to the Use and Behoof of the survivors of them my said Daughters to be equally divided between them Share and Share alike and to take as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants and of the several and respective Son and Sons Daughter and Daughters of such Survivors for such and the same Estate and Interests therein as is and are hereinbefore directed and limited of and concerning their respective former Shares and in case two of my said Daughters shall happen to die without such Issue of their Bodies Then to the Use and Behoof of the surviving Daughter and of the surviving Son and Sons Daughter and Daughters of such surviving Daughter for such Estates and Interests therein as is and are hereinbefore directed and limited of and concerning her respective former Share in default of such Issue then To the Use and Behoof of all and every of the Daughters & Daughter of the respective Body and Bodies of my said 3 Daughters lawfully to be begotten to be equally divided between & amongst them share & share alike & to take as Tenants in Common respectively & of the <Heirs male>of the Body & Bodies respectively of all & every such respective daughter & Daughters lawfully Issuing And in Default of all such issue then To the Use and Behoof of my 3 daughters Share and Share alike as Tenants in common not as joint tenants their heirs & assigns for ever And in Case my and I do hereby will and impower my said Son Thomas Wentworth by any Deed or Deeds as Counsel shall advise to charge such part and parts of my said Hereditaments and Estates as shall be sufficient for securing the payment of any Sum or Sums of Money not exceeding One Thousand pounds yearly to or for the benefit of any Woman or Women when he shall happen to marry or take to Wife such annual payment to be made for the Live or Lives only of such Wife or Wives for her or their Jointure or Jointures and I do also hereby will and declare that it shall and may be lawful to and for and I do impower any and every of the person and persons who for the time being shall be in the possession of the Messuages Lands Tenements Tythes Hereditaments and Premises respectively in and by this Will given and devised (by and with the consent of the Trustees of my said Will to be testifyed in writing under their Hands and Seals) TO EXCHANGE any part of such Messuages Lands Tenements Tythes Hereditaments and Premises with any other Person or Persons whomsoever for any other Messuages Lands Tenements Tythes Hereditaments and Premises being of equal or better value and such Hereditaments and Premises so to be given in Exchange shall immediately from the time of the execution of the Conveyance and conveyances thereof be absolutely freed and discharged of and from the Trusts of this my Will and such Hereditaments and Premises so to be taken in Exchange shall immediately from the time of the execution of the Conveyance and conveyances thereof be and become Subject and liable to all each and every of the Trusts of this my Will AND in case my said Son Thomas Wentworth shall live to attain the age of Twenty one years Then I do order and direct my said Trustees to deliver over unto him All the said Plate Pictures Books Household Furniture and other Affects ( except such as shall be so sold) BUT in case of his decease before he attains his said age of Twenty one years or afterwards without leaving any child or children at the Time of his decease or born in due time afterwards and such child or children or Children (if he should leave any) not living to attain the Age of Twenty one Years or marriage (being Females) OR without having made any disposition of the same to such Child or children according and agreably to the Power hereinafter for that purpose to <therein> given my other personal Estate Then I do order and direct that the same shall sink into and become part of my personal Estate and to be applied in and for the several Trusts and purposes hereinafter thereof mentioned and I do also charge all my said Hereditaments and Estates with the payment of the several Legacies and Annuities hereinafter asserted In Case my personal Estate shall be insufficient for that purpose And in case he my said Son Thomas Wentworth shall live to attain his said age of 21 yrs or shall before he attains such age or afterwards depart this Life leaving Issue of his Body lawfully to be begotten Then I do Give and Bequeath unto each of my said 3 Daughters her heir and heirs & assigns respectively But in case any of my said Daughters shall happen to die unmarried Then the Legacies or Legacy of them or her so dying shall go and belong to my Surviving Daughters equally to be divided share and share alike I do also give & bequeath & do charge all my said estates (except as aforesaid) with the further sum of 5000 unto my said daughter Dianna the wife of the said Thos Richd Beaumont payable & to be paid unto her or her heirs administrators or assigns within 12 months after my decease with interest for the same after the rate of £4.10s per cent per annum And I do direct my said Trustees to pay the further Sum of One Hundred Pounds to each of my said two Daughters Sophia Wentworth and Louisa Wentworth as an provision for them until what I shall further give unto them as hereinafter next mentioned becomes payable AND I do hereby Give and Devise the further Sum of 4 Hundred Pounds yearly unto my said Daughter Sophia Wentworth clear of all deductions whatsoever payable and to be paid unto her or her Assigns by <.> equal and even quantities at Lady Day Whitsun Michaelmas and Christmas in every year until she my said Daughter Sophia shall marry the first payment thereof to begin and be made at or upon the first of the said Days that shall next happen after my decease AND I do also hereby Give and Devise unto my said Daughter Louisa Wentworth the like Yearly Sum of 4 Hundred Pounds payable at the times and amounts aforesaid AND I do direct that they my said Trustees the said William Bosville Thos Richd Beaumont John Erasmus Blackett & Luke Noble or the Survivors of them his Executors or Administrators shall apply so much of the said last mentioned Annuity to and for the benefit of my said Daughter Louisa as they in their discretion shall see meet for her Maintenance and Education untill she shall attain the age of a Twenty one Years or shall marry (with the consent and approbation of the said William Bosville Thos Richd Beaumont John Erasmus Blackett & Luke Noble or the survivor of them signified in writing under their or his Hands or Hand) which shall first happen But in case my said Daughter Louisa shall marry before she attains such age without such Consent as aforesaid Then I declare that the savings of any of such Annuity and also all the Interest that may arise from such savings together with the sum of Money next hereinafter bequeathed unto her shall be considered as part of my personal Estate and shall not become payable or be paid unto her And I declare that when and so soon as she my said Daughter Louisa shall attain her age of Twenty one Years that the savings of the said Annuity or rent charge with the Interest that may have been made thereof by placing out such savings in the Public Funds of this Kingdom or Real Security (which I impower my said Trustees to do) shall be paid to her my said daughter Louisa or her Assigns And that from thenceforth the said Annuity so left to her my said Daughter Louisa shall be paid to her or her Assigns for and during so many Years as she shall continue to live unmarried And upon the marriage of my said Daughters Sophia and Louisa respectively (the Marriage of my said Daughter Louisa if under age to be with such Consent as aforesaid) I declare the said Annuities so given to her or them respectively shall cease and be no longer payable but sink into the Estates so charged therewith as aforesaid And in lieu thereof I do then Give and Bequeath unto each of them my said Daughters Sophia and Louisa the further Sum of Ten Thousand Pounds together with Interest for the same after the <rate> of Four Pounds and ten shillings per Cent per Annum to be computed from the Time of such Marriages respectively and to be paid half yearly untill the said Sums of of Ten Thousand Pounds shall be reached and paid which I direct shall be done as soon as may be after such Marriages [loose leaf inset in Thomas Blackett’s hand:] Mary Laycock & Ann Laycock daughters of Hepsheba Laycock £100 Legacy each Ann Hill now living & boarding with Hepsheba Laycock in the Town of Bretton & daughter of John Hall labourer of the <furnace> of Bretton, £100 legacy Dougal Wainwright son of William Wainwright living at the House near the Head of the Lower Lake, £100 legacy Thomas Burdett if living as my servant at my Death, £100 legacy [on reverse, the address:] Sir Thomas Blackett Bart., Bretton near Wakefield, Yorkshire And do hereby Give and Devise unto my Sister Diana Bosville (Widow and Relict of Godfrey Bosville late of Gunthwaite in the County of York Esquire deceased) one Annuity or Clear yearly sum of Two Hundred pounds Also I Give and Devise unto my Sister Julia the wife of De Chair one Annuity or Clear Yearly Sum of Two Hundred Pounds payable and to be paid to her or her Assigns by equal half yearly portions at the Feasts of Pentecost and Saint Martin the Bishop in Winter the first payment of such annuity being made on the first of such feast days after the decease of the said De Chair her Husband Also I Give and Devise unto my said Nephew Thomas Bosville Esquire the Annuity or clear yearly sum of Three Hundred Pounds payable and to be paid unto him the said Thos Bosville by 2 equal half yearly portions in the year at or upon the Feast of Pentecost & St Martin the said payment thereof to be made at the first of the said Feast Days as shall next happen after my decease and I do hereby direct that the same shall be paid into the proper Hands of the said Thomas Bosville only and not to the Hands of any other Person or Persons whomsoever unless the said Thomas Bosville shall go into or reside in a Foreign Country and in that case I direct that the said Annuity be paid unto his lawful Attorney for that purpose to be appointed during the Time of such his Residence but no longer and I declare that in case the said Thomas Bosville shall make any Assignment of or shall sell Mortgage or Incumbers such Annuity or shall execute any deed or writing for any such purpose Then such Annuity or yearly Rent Charge and the arrears thereof shall immediately from the execution of such Deed or Writing cease to be payable And I also declare that such Annuity shall not be liable to be extended or seized upon for any Debt or Sum of Money which he the said Thomas Bosville may at any time happen to owe to any Person or Persons whomsoever I also Give and Bequeath unto Catherine Margarethe Maria Allott of Bulham Grange in the parish of High Hoyland in the s[ai]d county of York Spinster One Annuity or Clear Yearly Sum of One Hundred Pounds I also Give and devise unto my Steward Luke Noble One Annuity or Clear Yearly Sum of Fifty Pounds and I also give and devise unto my late Housekeeper Mary Potter one annuity or clear yearly sum of £20 And I also give and Devise unto my Butler John Holden one annuity or clear yearly sum of £20 ALSO unto my Servant Joseph Stephenson One Annuity or Clear Yearly Sum of Twenty Pounds ALSO unto my Servant Martin Nowell One Annuity or Clear Yearly Sum of Twenty Pounds ALSO unto Ann Deplidge Widow of the late John Deplidge One Annuity or Clear Yearly Sum of Twenty Pounds ALSO unto my Servant John Deplidge Son of the said Ann Deplidge One Annuity or Clear Yearly Sum of Twenty Pounds ALSO unto Elizabeth Taylor Widow of my late Game Keeper Edward Taylor One Annuity or Clear Yearly Sum of Twenty Pounds I do also impower my said Trustees to maintain and support William Bartholomew (now living at Bretton aforesaid with William Kaye Farmer ) and Richard Bartholomew (now living with Ann Deplidge) so that such maintenance of each of them does not exceed the yearly sum of Fifty Pounds and that the savings thereof if any shall be paid to the <. Bands> of the said William Bartholomew and Richard Bartholomew upon their severally attaining the age of Twenty One Years But in case either of them shall happen to die before he attains such age then the savings if any out of the part of him so dying shall go and be considered as part of my Personal Property and in case they shall live to attain their respective ages of Twenty One Years Then I do Give and Devise the Clear Yearly Annuity or Sum of Fifty Pounds unto each of them under and subject nevertheless to all such and the same Restrictions as are mentioned and declared of and concerning the Annuity devised to my said Nephew Thomas Bosville I also Give and Devise unto William Wilson of Newcastle aforesaid Esquire and his Heirs during the natural life of the said Hepsheba Laycock One Annuity or Yearly Sum of £100 to be paid to the said William Wilson his Heirs or Assigns for and during the natural Life of the said Hepsheba Laycock in Trust for the said Hepsheba Laycock and that the same shall be paid to her own Hands for her own sole and separate Use and that the same shall not in any Respect be liable to the Debts or Control of her present or any future Husband and that her Receipts and no other whether she be covert or sole shall take from time to time be absolute and sufficient discharges for the same And I do give and direct that the same several and respective Annuities hereintofore devised shall be paid to the said several and respective Annuitants for and during their respective natural lives or to their respective Assigns Trustees or Guardians and the said Annuities to my said Nephew Thomas Bosville and the said William and Richard Bartholomew respectively under the restrictions and in manner aforesaid by two equal portions at or upon the Feasts of Pentecost and Saint Martin in every year without any deduction or abatement whatsoever for or in respect of Taxes or otherwise howsoever and that the first Payment of such several and respective Annuities shall be made (except the said Annuity to my said Sister Julia De Chair) on the first of the said Feast Days which shall next happen after my Decease and I declare if the said several and respective Annuities or sums of money or any or either of them or any part or parts thereof shall be in arrear and unpaid for the space of Forty days next after the same or any of them or any part thereof respectively shall become due and payable as aforesaid (Being first respectively lawfully demanded) Then and so often It shall and may be lawful to and for the said several and respective Annuitants or their respective Assigns Trustees Guardians or Attorneys (under the restrictions aforesaid) during the said Lives of the respective Annuitants into and upon my said Hereditaments (except my said Mansion house Park and Gardens) or any part thereof to enter and <distrain> for the same or so much of the said several and respective Annuities as shall then be in arrear and unpaid and the distress then and there found to impound detain and keep in order that such several and respective Annuities or Yearly Sums or such part and parts thereof respectively then in arrear and unpaid with all the charges attending such Distress and Distresses shall be fully paid and Satisfyed I do also Give and Bequeath the several Legacies or Sums of Money hereinafter mentioned & to the several and respective persons following (that to say) Unto the said Hepsheba Laycock wife of [space left] Laycock of Bretton aforesaid <farmer> One Hundred Pounds payable and to be paid to her only for her care Sole and Separate Use and her Release alone to be a sufficient discharge for the same notwithstanding her Coverture Also unto Elizabeth the daughter of the said Hepsheba Laycock one Hundred Pounds Also unto Thomas Linley (one of my Tenants) Fifty Pounds Also unto Richard Allott of Bretton aforesaid Carpenter Twenty Pounds Also unto William Tweedale of Bretton aforesaid Joiner Twenty Pounds Also unto Joseph Medlam (my Gardener) Twenty Pounds Also unto Richard Stevenson (my Husbandman) Twenty Pounds all which said last mentioned several and respective Legacies I do order and direct to be paid within twelve months next after my decease [This being the maximum size for an individual entry into the database, the full document is available as a PDF download via the link at the top of this entry.]
This document is based upon an older will dated September 12th 1785 and contains many rough draft revisions to it, including several extra loose sheets of amendments. The witnesses to the earlier will were Richard Blacker, George Wilkinson and George Dyson. No witnesses are mentioned on this 1788 update, presumably because it was in purely draft form. This 1788 draft treated his three daughters equally: presumably they were all then unmarried and under 21 years. The 1788 draft recognised that Diana had married T.R. Beaumont in 1786 and hence her situation was legally different. The 1788 amendments and the 1790 Will have few differences in the main provisions of the Will. His son, Thomas Wentworth, and three daughters stayed as the main beneficiaries, with his sisters, Diana Bosville and Julia de Chair receiving only £200 annuities. In the older Will the Trustees and Executors are William Bosville (Thomas Blackett’s nephew) with a long gap after his name into which were added John Erasmus Blackett and Luke Noble in a different hand. In the amendments of 1788, T.R. Beaumont was inserted as an additional Trustee and Executor. In the 1790 Will, Luke Noble was removed, leaving three Trustees and Executors: T.R. Beaumont, W. Bosville and J.E. Blackett. In his final Will of May 29th, 1792 (as quoted in the court action brought by his sisters to challenge that Will), William Cotton replaces William Bosville as one of the three Trustees. However, the sole Executor is now Beaumont. Luke Noble is described in the Will as ‘of Bretton’ and was bequeathed a £50 annuity as ‘my steward’. This database version contains the 1788 draft alone with very occasional mentions of variations from the 1785 version. The PDF version of this document is colour-coded to highlight the differences between it and the 1790 draft will.