- Will of Joseph Andrew the elder dated 18 May 1771
I Joseph Andrew of the parish of Lofthouse in the county of York, Yeoman, being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to God, calling into mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die, do make and ordain this, my Last Will and Testament;
That is to say principally and first of all, I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body I commend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors, nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Almighty Power of God and as touching such worldly [goods] wherewith it has [pleased] God to bless me in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.
First, I give and bequeath to my son James Andrew the sum of One Hundred pounds.
Also, I give and bequeath to my son Isaac Andrew the sum of Forty pounds but if he should die before that it should come due, the same to be equally divided among his children when they come to the age of twenty one years.
Also, I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Jackson the sum of Twenty pounds. All which legacies to be paid at the end of twelve months after the decease of my wife Eleanor Andrew, provided none of the effects be diminished or lost but if that they should be decreased, the above said legacies shall be decreased in proportion to that loss, all but the twenty pounds to my daughter Mary Jackson.
And likewise, I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Jackson all that house or tenement and garden adjoining thereunto on the south side of the said house, or tenement, likewise a [illegible] and property of a back house, all which are in the occupation and possession of the said Mary Jackson, during her natural life if she keep unmarried. But if she should marry and go to another place to dwell, then she shall receive but half the rent, which the said house, or tenement shall be let for the remainder of her natural life.
Also, I give and bequeath to my wife, Eleanor Andrew, all the rest and residue of my goods and effects whatsoever, to dispose of as she shall think fit, during her natural life. Whom I likewise constitute, make and ordain my said wife, sole Executrix of this, my Last Will and Testament and from and after her decease, give the same to my son Joseph Andrew whom I likewise make and appoint him, my son Joseph Andrew, instead thereof sole executor of this, my will, in trust for the intent and purpose in this, my will contained.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eighteenth day of May in the year of Our Lord, one thousand, seven hundred and seventy one.
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Joseph Andrew as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us, who in his presence and the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names.
Matthew King
George Maseris. Signed, Joseph Andrew
William King
Attached to the Will is an Administration Bond dated 1st July 1776 in which:
Eleanor Andrew of Lofthouse in the county of York, Widow and George Longbottom of Guisborough in the said county, Carrier, are bound in the sum of £340 to perform and execute the Will and Testament of Joseph Andrew, Yeoman, the deceased.
A True Inventory of all and singular the Goods and Effects of Joseph Andrew, Yeoman deceased. Praised at Lofthouse this Eighteenth day of June in the Year of Our Lord, One thousand seven hundred and seventy six. By us whose names are hereto subscribed.
His purse and apparel £5.0.0
Household goods and furniture 20.0.0
A Freehold Messuage. £30.0.0
Ditto. £20.0.0
Owing from sundry persons. £95.0.0
Total. £170
William Rigg
Thos Boyes
Wm King
There is a further note attached, dated 19th November 1787, when there must have been a dispute in Chancery, regarding the executorship by Deborah Andrew, daughter of Joseph the younger, regarding both her father's Will and that of her grandfather. The same note is attached to both Wills. It reads:
In Chancery between Deborah Andrew, Spinster by her next friend - Complainent and
James Andrew, Zachary [illegible] Hicks! Mary Jackson, Thomas Jackson and William Hatton and Jane his wife - Defendents.
"The writing contained on the other half sheet of this paper [the Will] was produced and shewn to William King upon the time of his examination of witnesses in this cause at the house of Thomas Robson [illegible] in Guisborough in the county of York, upon his examination on the part of the complainant and was also produced and shewn to George Mascrip at the time of his examination, on the part of the said complainant and was also produced and shewn to Matthew King at the time of his examination on the part of the said complainant and by them severally deposed to the nineteenth day of November 1787, before us."
John Preston, Henry Newton, W H Wailey
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