In the Name of God Amen
I Elizabeth Bennett of Hitchin in the County of Hertford Widow being (I thank God) of Sound perfect and disposing mind memory and understanding Do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following
(that is to say) First I Give Devise and bequeath All and Singular my Messuages Cottages Fields Closes Lands Grounds Tenements hereit[amen]ts and Real Estate whatsoever and wheresoever both Freehold and Copyhold with their and every of their Rights Profits and Appurt[enance]s (having Surrendered or Intending to Surrender such part thereof as is Cophyhold to the use of my last Will) unto my Brother John Jeeves and to his heirs and Assigns for ever
Item I Give and bequeath unto the several persons hereinafter named the several Legacies or Sums of Money hereinafter mentioned to be paid to them respectively by my Executors hereinafter named out of the Personal Estate I shall Dye possessed of within Twelve Months next after my Decease
(that is to say) I Give and bequeath unto to Brother Michael Jeeves and to my Sister Sarah Whittingshall Widow the Sum of Eighty pounds apeice of Good and Lawful Money of Great Britain
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Said Brother John Jeeves the Sum of Forty pounds of like lawful Money
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Nephews and Neice Namely William Jeeves John Jeeves and Hannah Lucas Widow (the Several Children of my late Brother William Jeeves Deceased) the sum of Fifty pounds of like lawful Money to be Equally Divided between them Share and Share alike
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Neice Elizabeth the Wife of Robert Ralphs (Daughter of my late Sister Mary Samm deceased) the Sum of Twenty pounds of like lawful Money
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Nephews and Neices (namely) Mary Kirbey Widow
Susan the Wife of Edward Draper and to the Several Children of Alice the late Wife of Joseph Jefferys and which said Mary Kirbey Susan the Wife of Edward Draper and Alice the Wife of Joseph Jeffereys are the Several children of my late Sister Alice Young deceased the Sum of Forty pounds of like lawful Money in manner and by the proportions following (that is to say) I Give and bequeath the Sum of Twenty Six
pounds thirteen Shillings and four pence (being two Third parts of the said Sum of Forty pounds) to the said Mary Kirbey and Susan the Wife of Edward Draper equally to be Divided between them Share and Share alike And I Give and Bequeath the Sum of Thirteen pounds Six Shillings and Eight pence (being the remaing part of the said Sum of Forty pounds) to the several Children of the said Alice Jeffereys Deceased equally to be Divided between them Share and Share alike
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Nephews and Neice (namely) John Barnes Mary the Wife Joseph Mardall and William Barnes (the Several Children of my late Sister Ann Barnes deceased) the Sume of Thirty pounds of like lawful Money to be Equally Divided between them Share and Share alike
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Servant Jane Andrews who now lives with me the sum of Twenty pounds of like lawful Money
I Also Give to my Sister in Law Sarah Jeeves, the Wife of my said Brother John Jeeves and to the said Jane Andrews the Sum of Five pounds apeice to but themselves Mourning
Item all and Singular my household Goods household Stuff Goods Chattels Debts to me owing and ready Money Security and Securities for Money and all the rest and residue of my Personal Estate of what nature kind or Quality soever or wheresoever (after my Just Debts, the above said Several Legacies and my Funeral Expenses are thereout first paid and discharged) I Give and bequeath unto my Said Brothers John Jeeves and Michael Jeeves and to my said Sister in Law Sarah Jeeves equally to be Divided between them Share and Share alike
And Lastly I Do hereby make nominate and Appoint my said Brothers John Jeeves and Michael Jeeves and my said Sister in Law Sarah Jeeves Executors and Executrix of this my last Will and Testament Thus Revoking and making Void hereby all and every former and other Will and Wills by me at any time or time heretofore in any wise made or Declared Do Declare this to be my last Will In Witness whereof I the said Elizabeth Bennett have to this my last Will and Testament contained in two Sheets of Paper set my hand and Seal to each of the said Sheets the Seventeenth Day of November in the Second Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third King of Great Britain &c. And in the year of Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Sixty one - the mark of Elizabeth Bennett Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Elizabeth Bennett as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us, and attested by us in her presence and at her request Matthew Foster – Jno. Newman – Simon Dove
This Will was proved at London the Sixteenth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and sixty eight before the Worshipful William Compton Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipful George Hay also Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully Constituted by the Oath of John Jeeves the Brother of the Deceased and one of the Executors of all and Singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased he having been first Sworn duly to Administer (Powere reserved of making the like Grant to Michael Jeeves the Brother also of the said Deceased and Sarah Jeeves (Wife of the said John Jeeves) the other Executor, when they or either of them shall apply for the same.
