Transcription of the Last Will and Testament
Of John Abbs of West Runton, Norfolk
Dated 16 August 1823
This is the last Will and Testament of me John Abbs of West Runton in the County of Norfolk Farmer. I nominate and appoint my Friend Benjamin Barcham of Lower Sherringham in the said County Auctioneer to be sole Executor and Trustee of this my Will and I desire that all my just debts and Funeral and Testamentary Expenses be paid out of my Personal Estate. And I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Susan Abbs the blue Check Vailour Bedstead with the Bed Coverlid and Bedding belonging thereto. And I give and bequeath unto my Son Richard Abbs the Sum of Five Pounds and unto Isaac Abbs Son of my said Daughter Susan the sum of Ten Pounds which Legacies I direct may be paid within six months after my death. And I give and devise unto the said Benjamin Barcham all such and so much as be Freehold or Chartehold of and in all and every my Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments situate and being in West Runton aforesaid or adjoining Parishes with their Rights Members and Appurtenances To hold the same unto him the said Benamin Barcham his heirs and assigns forever Upon Trust nevertheless that he the said Benjamin Barcham or his heirs do and shall within six months after my death absolutely sell and dispose of all and singular the said Freehold Heraditaments either by Public Auction or Private Contract and together or in parcels as to him or they should seem necessary and do and shall enter into sign and execute all necessary Contracts Conveyances and Assurances for effectively conveying and assuring the same to the Purchaser or Purchasers thereof or as he she or they shall direct. And my Will is and I do hereby give full Power and Authority to the said Benjamin Barcham and his heirs within six months after my decease to make sale and absolutely dispose of all such part and said parts and so much as is or are of Copyhold or Customary Tenure of and in my said messuages Lands Tenements and Heraditaments in West Runton aforesaid or adjoining Parishes either by Public Auction or Private Contract and together or in parcels as to him or them should seem necessary and to make sign and execute all necessary Contracts Conveyances and Assurances for effectively conveying and assuring the same to the Purchaser or Purchasers thereof. And I do hereby declare my mind and will to be that the Receipt and Receipts of the said Benjamin Barcham and his heirs shall be a good and effectual discharge and discharges of the respective Purchasers of my said Freehold and Copyhold Estates for their his or her Purchase Money of for so much thereof for which such Receipt or Receipts shall be given and that the Purchaser or Purchasers to whom such Receipt or Receipts shall be given shall not be concerned to see to the application or be in any wise accountable for the misapplication of the Money or any part thereof which in such Receipt or Receipts shall be acknowledged to be received or to the propriety of the Sales to be made pursuant to the directions aforesaid. And I give and bequeath the residue of my Household Furniture Plate Linen China Stock Crafts Goods Chattels and Effects and my Monies and Securities for Money and all other my Personal Estate whatsoever that I shall be possessed of at my decease unto the said Benjamin Barcham his Executors and Administrators In Trust to make sales and absolutely dispose of such Parts thereof as shall be in their nature saleable and collect receive and get in the other parts thereof. And I further declare my mind and will to be that the said Benjamin Barcham and his Executors and Administrators shall and do stand and be possessed of and interested in as well all and singular the monies to arise and be produced from the Sale of my Real Estates hereinbefore directed to be sold and also the Monies to arise from the Sale of my Personal Estate and all other my Monies and Securities for Money, after paying thereout my Debts Funeral and Testamentary Expenses and the Legacies hereinbefore bequeathed, In Trust to pay share and equally divide the same unto between and amongst my Sons and Daughters Francis Abbs, Thomas Abbs, Mary the Wife of Thomas Cooper, Jane the Wife of John Burrele, Susan Abbs, Rebecca the Wife of Richard Pitts and Ann the Wife of James Love share and share alike and to their respective Executors Administrators and Assigns. But in case any or either of my said children shall depart this life in my Lifetime leaving Issue lawfully begotten Then I direct that the part or share or parts or shares of his her or theirs so dying shall go and be equally divided between and amongst such Issue and be vested interests in them on their respectively attaining the age of Twenty-one years the Interest and Dividends whereof in the mean time to be paid and applied for and toward their maintenance education and support. But in case any or either of my said Children shall depart this life in my Lifetime without leaving Issue lawfully begotten then I give and bequeath the Part and Share or Parts and Shares of him her or theirs so dying unto between and amongst the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Issue of such of them as shall be dead leaving Issue such Issue taking per stirpes and not per capita. And I do declare that my said Trustee his heirs Executors and Administrators shall be charged and chargeable only for such money as he or they shall actually receive by virtue of the Trusts hereby created and that it shall be lawful for him and them by and out of the monies which shall come to his or their hands to reimburse himself and themselves all costs charged damages and expenses of and relating to the Trusts hereinbefore declared and hereby revoking all former Wills and Testamentary Instruments I do declare this only to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I the said John Abbs the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament contained in three Sheets of Paper to the tow just Sheets thereof set my hand and tho this third and last sheet thereof set my hand and affixed my Seal the sixteenth day of August in the Year of our Lord Christ One Thousand Eight Hundred and twenty three.
//John Abbs//
Signed sealed published and declared by the said John Abbs the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.
//Wm Withers// //M.A. Withers// //Thos. Deozier//