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Facts and Events
Edward Tuff’s origins have yet to be established. His first confirmed sighting is on 21st October 1739 when he married Martha Squire at Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire.
Edward and Martha stayed in Wootton Bassett after their marriage, and they had at least seven children. Baptisms have only been found for five of them, but Edward and Martha’s wills make clear there were two others. (The baptisms register for Wootton Bassett in the 1740s is quite badly damaged in places with many entries apparently lost.) Edward and Martha’s eldest daughter died when only a few days old in 1740.
At least three of Edward and Martha’s children married in Wootton Bassett: Mary in 1768, and Bartholomew and Thomas both in 1771. Edward and Martha had several grandchildren born in their lifetimes.
Edward’s son Bartholomew died aged 21 in 1773, leaving a widow and baby son.
Edward wrote his will in April 1777, in which he described himself as a gardener. By that time he owned two houses in Wootton Bassett, one of which was rented out to his son John, and the other, on the street called Buthay, was rented to a David Arnold. Edward left the house that John rented from him to John, on condition that he paid Martha an allowance of forty shillings a year. That allowance was to transfer to Edward and Martha’s granddaughter Martha Ovens (their daughter Mary’s daughter) after Martha’s death, until Martha Ovens reached the age of sixteen. Edward left the house on Buthay to Martha for her lifetime, after which it was to pass to their son Thomas.
Edward died a few months after writing his will. He was buried at Wootton Bassett on 23rd November 1777. His age is not recorded, but he and Martha had been married for 38 years. Martha survived him by eight years.
References
- ↑ Church of England. Wootton Bassett Parish Registers, 1584-1938. (Chippenham: Wiltshire Record Office).
Buried 1777 / Nov[embe]r 23 Edward Tuff
- Probate Records of the Archdeaconry of Wiltshire (Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, Chippenham)
P3/T/639.
In the Name of God Amen I Edward Tuff of Wootton Bassett in the County of Wilts Gardener being weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory Do make my Last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say) First I give devise and bequeath unto my Son John Tuff All That Messuage or Tenement with the Backside and Garden to the same adjoining and belonging scituate in Wootton Bassett aforesaid now in the Occupation of the said John Tuff To hold unto the said John Tuff his Heirs and Assigns for ever Pro[v]ided always nevertheless that he the said John Tuff his Heirs and Assigns shall and do pay or cause to be paid unto my Wife Martha Tuff one Annuity & clear yearly payment of Forty Shillings a year yearly and every year during so long time as she shall live and shall and do after the decease of my said Wife continue to pay the said Yearly Annuity to my Grand daughter Martha Ovens until she shall have attained her full age of Sixteen Years And I do hereby charge the said Messuage or Tenement and premises with the payment of the same accordingly Item I give devise and bequeath unto my said Wife Martha Tuff All That my other freehold Messuage or Tenement with the Gardens Land and Premises to the same adjoining and belonging scituate in a place called the Buthay in Wootton Bassett aforesaid and which I purchased at two several times of George Heele now in the Occupation of David Arnold To hold unto my said Wife and her Assigns for and during the Term of her natural life And from and immediately after her decease I give devise and bequeath the said last mentioned Messuage or Tenement and premises with the Appurtenances unto my Son Thomas Tuff his Heirs and Assigns for ever provided always that he my said Son Thomas Tuff shall and do pay or cause to be paid unto my said Grand daughter Martha Ovens after the death of my said Wife Forty shillings a year yearly and every year untill she shall have attained her full age of sixteen years and I do charge the said last mentioned premises with the payment of the same accordingly Item I give and bequeath unto my said Wife Martha Tuff All my ready money and securities for money Crops of Garden Stuff of all kings and all other my personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and what kind or nature soever save only such Legacys as are hereinafter by me given and bequeathed and which I do hereby order Will and direct shall be paid by the Executors or Administrators of my said Wife within three months next after her decease namely the Sum of Thirty pounds part thereof to my Son Richard Tuff the Sum of Twenty Pounds, other part thereof to my Son William Tuff Ten pounds other part thereof to my Grandson William Tuff Son of my late Son Bartholomew Tuff deceased and Ten pounds other part thereof to my said Grand daughter Martha Ovens And my Will and meaning is that if my said Grandchildren shall not have attained their several ages of Twenty One years at the decease of my said Wife Then I do hereby further order will and direct that the said Two several sums of Ten pounds given to them as aforesaid shall go and be paid into the hands of my said Son Thomas Tuff his Executors and Administors [sic] In Trust nevertheless that he my said Son Thomas Tuff his Executors or Administrators shall and do pay the said two several sums of Ten pounds unto each of my said Grandchildren so soon as they shall severally attain their said Ages of Twenty One Years together wit such Interest as he or them may make of the same during the mean time And if both or either of my said Grandchildren shall happen to dye before they shall have attained their Age of Twenty One years then I do order will and direct that such Legacy or Legacys shall be equally divided between my said Four Sons or their Familys share and share alike And my will and meaning Also is that if my said Wife shall happen through Old Age or other bodily infirmities to stand in need of any further Support that she may stand in need of more than the Interest that may accrue from the principal monies intended for defraying the Legacys before by me herein given as well as the residue and remainder of my personal Estate That then and in such case I do hereby will and require that my said Sons shall and do equally Join in Supporting my said Wife with any further necessarys she may require or stand in need of for maintaining her in such a station as she hath hitherto been accustomed to live And in case all or any or either of them shall refuse or neglect to Join in such Support That then I do hereby desire and empower my said Wife to take to and employ such part of the said Moneys hereinbefore given her for her life as she may think propper out of the several Sums intended for my said Sons as before mentioned And lastly my will and meaning is that if all my Moneys and Securities and personal Estate may be more than sufficient for defraying or discharging my Debts Legacys and Funeral Expences that then and in such case I do hereby Give and bequeath all such remainder of my personal Estate unto my said Wife Martha Tuff and to her Executors and Administrators And I do give unto my said Son Richard Tuff all such Goods and Households goods as my said Wife shall not be minded to keep for her own use And I do make and Appoint my said Wife Martha Tuff sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament contained in Two Sheets of paper set my Hand and to the last sheet thereof my Hand and Seal the Twenty seventh day of April in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Seven The mark of Edward X Tuff
This Will was signed sealed and delivered by the above named Edward Tuff the Testator and by him published and declared to be his Last Will and Testament in our presence and by us Attested in presence of the said Testator and in the presence of each other}
Moses Sarraude
John Sellwood
Robart Hunt
At Cricklade on the 20th day of May 1778 the sole Executrix was duly sworn
Before me E. Campbell Surr[ogate]
20th May 1778 Wotton [sic] Bassett
The Will of Edward Tuff dec[ease]d
This Will was proved at Cricklade on the 20th Day of May 1778 Before the Rev[eren]d E. Campbell Clk. M.A. lawful Surrogate of the Archdeacon of Wilts & by him Ad[ministrat]ion of the goods & Ch[att]les of the dece[ase]d was granted to Martha Tuff Widow Relict of the s[ai]d dece[ase]d & sole Executrix within named being first duly sworn of the truth of the said Will to perform the same & pay the Debts & Legacies of the dece[ase]d et[cetera] And to make a true Inventory & rend[e]r a just Acc[oun]t when required Sav[in]g the Rights of all persons
Will[ia]m Boucher Not[ar]y Pub[lic] Act[uar]y et[cetera]
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