Documents / Wills etc

This is the last will and testament of me James Snitch of Southill in the County of Bedford, Butcher. First I direct all my first debts, funeral and testamentary expenses to be duly paid and satisfied. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rebecca Snitch the bed, bedstead and furniture belonging which she now uses, one pair of sheets, one pair of blankets, two pins broke tables, one oval looking glass, six rush bottom chairs, a fender and set of fire irons for her own use. I give and bequeath unto my son Frank Snitch all my silver and silvated goods and as to all the remainder of my household goods and furniture I desire my dear wife Elizabeth Snitch to select and make choice of so much thereof as she pleases for her own use and the use of my son Charles James Snitch which I do hereby give and bequeath to them respectively and the residue thereof I give and bequeath to my said son Frank Snitch absolutely. I give and bequeath to my servant Charles Wright such part of my working appoorch as my said wife may think proper to choose for him. I give and bequeath to my said wife Elizabeth Snitch one annuity or clear yearly sum of twenty pounds for and during the term of her natural life which I direct shall be issuing out of any of the stocks, funds and securities which at the time of my decease shall be standing in my name in the books kept at the Bank of England and subject thereto. I give and bequeath all and every the said stocks, funds and securities unto my said son Frank Snitch and Charles James Snitch equally to be divided between them their respective executor’s administrators and assigns. I give and bequeath to my said son Charles James Snitch the sum of two hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to him by my executors hereinafter named out of my personal estate within twenty months next after my decease. I give and bequeath to my grandson James Snitch son of my son James Snitch the sum of fifty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to him by my said executors out of my personal estate within twenty months after my decease, but if my said grandson shall not then however attained the age of twenty one years then I direct the said legacy to be paid to him when he shall attain thereunto and the interest to be applied by my said executors for his benefit in the mean time I give and devise unto my said wife Elizabeth Snitch all that messuage or tenement situate and being at Shefford in the County of Bedford now or late in the XXX or occupancy of Benjamin Briggs with the rights membery and appintenancy to hold the same unto my said life and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life she keeping the same in good repair and from and immediately after her decease I give and devise the same unto and to the use of my son Frank Snitch his heirs and assigns for ever.

I give and desire unto my said Daughter Rebecca Snitch all that XXX  piece or parcel of pasture land situated and being in the Parish of Clifton in the said County of Bedford containing by situation, five acres be the same more or less now in the occupation of William Clark within the rights membery and appurtenances. To hold the same unto my said Daughter and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after her decease if my said son Charles James Snitch shall be then living I give and bequeath unto my said son Charles James Snitch in addition to the provisions I have XXX  before made for leaving the sum of three hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be raised and paid to him within twenty months next after the decease of my Daughter by sale or mortgage of the said close piece or parcel of pasture land heredetments and premises last mentioned, and subject thereto, and whether my said son Charles James Snitch shall live to become entitled to such last mentioned legacy or not I give and desire the said close piece or parcel of pasture land heredetments and premises last mentioned unto and to the use of my said son Frank Snitch his heirs and assigns forever and as to all the serl residue and remainder of my estate and effects whatsoever whether real or personal not here after specifically desired bequeathed or disposed of subject to the payment of my just debts financial and testamentary expenses I do hereby give and devise and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said son Frank Snitch his heirs executors administrators and assigns forever and I do hereby constitute and appoint my said son Frank Snitch, sole executor of this my will and invoke all other wills and declare this only to be and contain my last will and testament in witness whereof I the said James Snitch the testator have to the first sheet of this my will contained in two sheets of paper set my hand and to this second and last sheet thereof XXXX  my hand and affixed my seal this twenty seventh day of September in the year of my blessed sovereign and redeemer one thousand and eight hundred and nineteen.

In the name of God Amen this eighth day of October in the year of our Lord God 1661. I William Snitch of Potton in the County of Bedford Carpenter being firth and weak in body but perfect memories blessed to Almighty God for it does make this my last will and testament in manner following bits First and primarily I remand my soul into the hands of Almighty God my executor trust by the alone merits of Jesus Christ my redeemer to have remission of all my sinnes and so for that small portion of goods which god hath lent me in this transitory life I do thus dispose of in mannor following. Item I give to my son John Snitch twelve pence. Item I give and bequeath to Grace my wife my freehold house and household stuff with All other accoutrements thereunto belonging during her life and after her decease I give and bequeath that part of my house in which I now live in to my sonne Frances Snitch with all that part of the yard and the little garden place adjoining to the house. Item I give the other part of my house which my son (son in law) William Edwards lives in to be equally divided and separated between my two daughters Alice Edwards and Dorothy Chicheley. Item I do ordayne and constitute and appoint Grace my wife to be sole executrix of this my last will and testament revoking all other former wills whatsoever in witness thereof I have here unto set my hand and sealed this day and year first above written. Item my will is that my sonne Francis and my daughters Alice and Dorothy shall pay each of them the summe of ten shillings apiece so unto my grandchild William Snitch my sonne Thomas Snitch his childe within half a year after the said parties shall XXXX the same house.

In the name of God Amen. This thirteenth day of January Ano Domini 1718 I Martha Snitch of Potton in the County of Bedford widow (being sick in body but of sound perfect mind and memory praised be God) do make this my last will and testament in manor and form following (that is to say) imps I give and bequeath unto William Rauffs of Biggleswade the sum of twenty shillings and unto his daughter Mary the sum of ten shillings and two of my best shifts to be paid and delivered to them within three months next after my demise by my Executor hereafter named them I give and bequeath unto my loving niece Anne Cooke all the rest of my goods and chattels herein not before bequeathed and whom I make constitute and appoint sole executrix of this my last will and testament revoking all former wills whatsoever by me heretofore made in witness whereof of I have hold to set my hand and seal this day and date first above written.

In the name of god amen I John Snitch of Potton in the County of Bedford labourer being sick in body but of sound perfect disposing mind and memory (thanks be to Almighty God for the same) Do make this my last will & testement in manner form following (that is to say) impris I give and devise unto my dear and loving wife Sarah all that freehold, and late situate in Horsloe Street in Potton aforesaid with the appurtenances now in my own occupation what so in I now dwell for that terme of her natural life and after or her decease I give and devise the same to my son Thomas and his heirs forever. Item I give and devise unto my son John Snitch all that house and close Copyhold held of the Mannor of Potton Regis situated in Horseloe Street between the ground of Sir Burgoyne in the north and the ground of Edmund Bumberry on the south abutting east on the back land west on Horseloe Street and now in the occupation of Thomas Prior and also all that close or pightle or pasture ground being copyhold and held of the mannor of Potton Burdotts and now in my own occupation lying between this ground of Mr John Phipps on the south a leasehold close now in my own occupation on the north and also full and also full and free liberty for him John Snitch (my son) his heirs and all others to whom shall and at all times hereafter to have XXXX XXXXX and XXXX with workXXXX XXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXX in by and through XXXXX hold Close to the said XXXXXX Copyhold XXXXX to have and to hold the said copyhold XXXX and XXX and XXX of away XXXXX with XXXX of XXXX XXXX XXX and to XXX XXX and sonne John XXX XXX and appoint XXXX XXX that XXX shall pay unto my wife Sarah the sum of five pounds and in two years bequeath half yearly payments (if that shall so XXX XXX) this XXX XXX XXX XXX within six months XXX XXX my demise and will and mind XXX that if my sonne John shall die without XXX XXX I XXX and XXX this said copyhold XXX XX to my sonne Thomas and his heirs upon XXX aforsaid and I hold by with XXX my XXX sonne John and his heirs and that XXX XXX which and now left standing XXX XXX copyhold copyhold of Burdotts and his XXX hold XXX aforsaid and found lying inXX and that XXX XXX XXX shall XXX and maintained XXX found between XXX and that XXX XXX shall XXX to XXX to XXX copyhold close. Item I give and devise unto my daughter Sarah wife of William Seymour all the leasehold cottage and land now in the occupation of John Daniell and also all that leasehold close thereto adjoining now in my own occupation lying and being in Potton aforesaid abutting east on the close (formaly an orchard) of the late Mr Nicholas Phipps lying next the land north and the last mentioned of copyhold close south except liberty of a way through the same to the copyhold close aforesaid To have and to hold with their appurtenances unto my daughter Sarah and heirs upon condition that land as that XXX and XXX pay unto my said wife five pounds and within two years by equal half yearly payments of twenty five shillings and half yearly (if she shall live so long) the last payment to be made within six month and next after my decease and my will and mind is that if my said daughter shall die without issue be made shall I give and devise the leasehold premises (hereto before appointed) unto my first sonne Thomas and his heirs and assigns. Item all the rest of my goods and chattels unbequeathed I give and bequeath unto my dear and loving wife Sarah who I make sole executrix of this my will hereby revoking all former or other wills by me made in witness wherof I have hereto to set my hand and seal this 29th day of March anno domini 1720.

In the Name of God Amen! I John Snitch the Elder of Potton in the County of Bedford Yeoman being weak in body but of sound and disposing Mind Memory and Understanding (blessed be God for the same) Do this sixth day of February in the year of our Lord Christ One Thousand seven Hundred and sixty Nine make this my last will and testament in manor following (that is to say) First I give and devise unto my son James Snitch and his heirs all that my Copyhold Notsuage Cottage or Tenement with a Close of Pasture thereto adjoining and belonging with their and every of their appurtenances situate standing and being in Potton aforesaid and now in the occupation of John Seamor or his under tenant’s holdon of the Manor of Potton much manured and which I have surrounded to the use of my toil and also all that my copyhold close or pightle of pasture ground with the appurtenances situate lying and being in Potton aforesaid and holden of the manor of Potton Burdett’s and which I have also surrounded to the use of my Will and now in the occupation of John Dennis or his assigns To have and to hold all and singular the said premises with their and every of their appurtances unto my said Son James Snitch his heirs and assigns for ever subject and chargeable nevertheless to and with the payment throuout of the sum of forty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to my Son John Snitch his executor administrators what for or assigns to be paid to him or thom by my said Son James his heirs or assigns in manner following (that is to say) Ten pounds part thereof within one month next after my decease ten pounds more thereof within two calendar months next after my decease and forty pounds more residue thereof within two years next after my decease also I give and bequeath unto my said son John all my wearing apparel both linen and woollen hats and shoes all the rest residue and remains of my personal estate and effects whatsoever and whosoever and of what kind or nature savour (after my just debts and funeral expenses are fully paid and satisfied) I give and bequeath unto my said son James Snitch to be at his own sole use and disposal whom I do also make constitutes and appoint sole executor of this my last will and testament herby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time heretofore made in witness whoso of I the said John Snitch the Testator have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal the day and year first above written.

This Indenture made this seventh day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty nine and in the twelfth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth BETWEEN Thomas Snitch of Potton in the County of Bedford Labourer of the one part and Francis Snitch of Potton aforesaid Carpenter of the other part WITNESS that For and in consideration of the sum of five shillings of lawful money of Great Britain to the said Thomas Snitch in hand paid by the said Francis Snitch at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents to the receipt herby acknowledge hath bargain and sold and by these present Doth bargain and sell unto that said Francis Snitch his executors and administrator and assigns All that Cottage or Tenement situates standing and being in Horsloe Street in Potton aforesaid and also all that orchard and hemp land to the same adjoining and belonging containing in breadth four poles or thereabouts and in length nine poles or thereabouts all which said premises are now in the possession of the said Thomas Snitch or his assigned and were given and devised to the said Thomas Snitch and his heirs and by the last will and testament of John Snitch late father deceased together with all houses outhouses edifices buildings barns and stable yard garden orchard hemp lands waive privileges heredements and appurtenances whatsoever to the said cottage or tenement and premises belonging or in any wise appertaining and the revertion and revertions and remainder rents and profits the said premises with their appertains and every part and parcel thereof To Have And To Hold the said cottage or tenement and premises hereby bargain and sold or hereby mentioned or intended so to be with their appurtenances unto the said Francis Snitch his executors and assignees from the day next before the day of the date of these present for and during and the full end and term of one whole year from the next ensuring and fully to be complete and yielding and paying therefore unto the said Thomas Snitch his heirs or assign the rent of a peppercorn only on the last day of the said term of the same shall be lawfully demanded to the intent purpose and that by virtue of these presented and by force of the statute made for transferring of uses into possession the said Francis Snitch may be possessed of the said cottage or tenement and premises thereby bargained and sold (or Intended so to be) and be thereby enabled to take and accept a grant or other conveyance of the prevention and inheritance thereof to him and his heirs and Assigned for ever Witness there of the said parties to these presented have here unto interchangeable set their hand and seals.

To the Church Warden and Overseer of the Poor of the Parish of Potton in the County of Bedford To whom so named and underwritten Church Warden and Overseer of the poor of the Parish of Biggleswade in the County of Bedford do herby certify that Thomas Snitch Labourer to a local inhabitant thereof and to do hereby acknowledge and declare him to be and we do herby for us and our successors promise that any family that anytime here after he shall have or now hath shall not become chargeable to any of your parishioners within your said parish of Potton by reason of his and his family residing there or else ware and we do hereby further promise for us and our successors at any time hereafter to record the said Thomas Snitch with his wife and family he now hath or how after shall have whom there unto required In Witness whereof have hereinto set our hands and seal this 8th of day of February in the year of our Lord this 1728.