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The Last Will & Testament of John Blandy of East Grafton

Will of John Blandy of East Grafton - written 28/6/1720
  • He wants to be buried in Great Bedwyn church next to or near his wife Jane[?]
  • To his nephew Stephen Blandy all his leasehold estates lying in East Grafton and all rents and profits arising therefrom and his and his heirs to have them for 14 and 19 years. if the said Stephen Blandy and Elizabeth Earle, daughter of Richard Earle of Wexcombe shall so long live subject to the yearly annuity of £5 per annum to be paid to my sister Elizabeth Tisdale of Wilton. The fee is to be paid in two instalments per year. £5 is also to be paid to his sister Mary Earle wife of Richard Earle of Wexcombe in a similar manner. When 1 sister dies Stephen has then to pay £10 per annum to the surviving sister.
  • To Elizabeth Tisdale, daughter of his sister Elizabeth, widow, £40 to be paid within 12 months of his death.
  • To Susannah Whitlock wife of Robert Whitlock £40 to be paid within 12 months of his death
  • To Anne Earle [his cousin], the daughter of Richard Earle £40 to be paid within 12 months of his death. He also gives his tester bedstead, feather bed, feather bolster, 2 feather pillows, a pair of blankets, 1 pair of sheets, the quilt with the curtains and a valance belonging to the bed.
  • To Mary Earle, daughter of Richard Earle £40 to be paid within 12 months of his death
  • To Elizabeth Earle, daughter of Richard Earle £40 to be paid within 12 months of his death and, my two chests and the box with the red list[?] to it
  • To cousin Mary Spackman £40 to be paid within 12 months of his death
  • To cousin Amy Blandy £40 to be paid within 12 months of his death
  • To cousin Anne Blandy the daughter of Margaret Blandy of Wexcombe, to be paid within 12 months of his death
  • Further give to Elizabeth Tisdale, daughter of his sister Elizabeth Tisdale my blue rug and a pair of canvas sheets
  • To his brother in law Richard Earle of Wexcombe he gives his wearing apparel both linen and woollen
  • Further to sister Mary Earle his screen
  • To Ann Head, wife of Richard Head 1 posenett[?] 1 best brass skillett, his great chest and the highest round table.
  • To Elizabeth Bathholler [?] the lowest round table and a pair of dogs
  • Cousins Stephen Barley of Wroughton and Richard Bunny[?] of Hursbourne Tarrant [Hurstbourne Tarrant?] in the county of Southham [Southhamptonshire - which was the original name for Hampshire] are given some right which I cannot fully understand to retrieve the £40 given above to Elizabeth Tisdale however if she dies before she has spent it all it is to be given to the children of Susannah Whitlock. It could be a right to redistribute the sum after the executors have finished the probate.
  • The same cousins are also empowered to retrieve the unspent part of the £40 given to cousin Anne Earle at her death. It is to "remain equally between the two sisters" - presumably he means his two sisters elizabeth Tisdale and Mary Earle.
  • To cousin Anne Wilkins of Ramsbury - 40 shillings
  • To Richard[?] Tarrants, widow of East Grafton, 10 shillings
  • To Thomas Mildenhall of East Grafton, 5 shillings
  • To the poor of Great Bedwin 40 shillings to be given as bread at my funeral
  • To cousin Elizabeth Durnford the little trunk
  • To the aforesaid Stephen Barley and Richard Bunny 20 shillings each for their care and trouble which may happen during this affair
  • Everything else, including the leasehold by the name of Poundhouse in the parish of ??? is left to nephew Stephen Blandy who is also the sole executor.
  • Witnessed by Richard[?] Hawkins, Mary Hawkins and Mary Bushell

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©Colin Younger 2003