1747 - Mary DOCWRA of Ware, Herts.

Will was written on 28 January 1744[1745]
Will was proved on 20 July 1747

In the Name of God Amen I Mary Docwra of Ware in the County of Hertford Widow being (I thank God) of sound Mind Memory and Understanding do make this my last Will and Testament in manner following That is to say

ffirst I give and bequeath unto my Nephews Samuel Dickinson Rivers Dickinson and Richard Dickinson and unto my Neices Rebecca Dickinson Judith Dickinson Mary Dickinson Sarah Dickinson and Elizabeth Dickinson (the children of my late Brother Rivers Dickinson deceased) the Sum of ten pounds apeice of lawfull Money of Great Britain to be paid unto them respectively within three Months next after my decease

And if it shall happen that any of the said Legatees shall die before their said respective Legacys shall become due and payable to them respectively by virtue of this my Will Then I do hereby will and order that the Legacy and Legacys of them or any of them so dying shall go be paid and divided unto and amongst the Survivors and Survivor of them share and share alike And I do hereby give the same unto such Survivors and Survivor accordingly

Also I give and bequeath unto my Nephews Richard Dickinson Joseph Dickinson and Nathaniel Dickinson and unto my Neices Mary Mansell Judith Bull Martha Dickinson and Sarah Dickinson the Children of my late Brother Joseph Dickinson deceased the Sum of ten pounds apeice of like lawfull Money to be paid unto them respectively within three Months next after my decease

And if it shall happen that any of the said last mentioned Legatees shall die before their said respective Legacys shall become due and payable to them respectively by virtue of this my Will Then I do hereby will and order that the Legacy and Legacys of them or any of them so dying shall go be paid and divided unto and amongst the Survivors and Survivor of them share and share alike And I do hereby give the same unto such Survivors and Survivor accordingly

Also I give and bequeath unto my Sister Sarah Cass and unto my Nephews Rivers Grindall and Richard Grindall the sum of ten pounds apeice of like Money to be paid unto them respectively within three Months next after my decease

And if it shall happen that the said Sarah Cass Rivers Grindall and Richard Grindall or any of them shall die before their said respective Legacys shall become due and payable unto them respectively by virtue of this my Will Then I do hereby will and order that the Legacy and Legacys of them or any of them so dying shall go be paid and divided unto and amongst my said[!] Neices Sarah Grindall Elizabeth Grindall Rachael C?sar and Susannah Grindall and the Survivors and Survivor of them equally share and share alike And I do hereby give the same unto them my said Neices and to the Survivors and Survivor of them accordingly

Also I give and bequeath unto my Neice Mary Kettle the Sum of Thirty pounds of like lawfull Money to be paid to her within three Months next after my decease And in case my said Neice Mary Kettle shall happen to die before the said Legacy of Thirty pounds shall become due and payable to her Then I will and order that the same Legacy of Thirty pounds shall go be paid and divided unto and amongst all the Children of her my said Neice Mary Kettle equally share and share alike And I do hereby give the same to such Children accordingly

Also I give and bequeath unto my Sister Judith Godfrey and unto my Neice Elizabeth Garbrett the Sum of ten pounds apeice of like Money to be paid to them respectively within three Months next after my decease And if it shall happen that the said Judith Godfrey and Elizabeth Garbrett or either of them shall die before their said respective Legacys shall become due and payable unto them respectively by virtue of this my Will Then I do hereby will and order that the Legacy and Legacys of them or any of them so dying shall go be paid and divided unto and between my Neices Judith Evans and Mary Evans and the Survivor of them share and share alike And I do hereby give the same unto them my said Neices Judith Evans and Mary Evans and to the Survivor of them accordingly

Also I give unto my Neice the said Mary Kettle my black padusoy Gown and Coat Also I give unto my said Neice Mary Mansell my Silver Coffee pot

Also I give unto my said Neice Mary Dickinson my pair of Siver Salvers

And lastly all the Rest Residue and Reminder of my personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature and kind soever (my Linnen excepted) subject and after payment of my just debts ffuneral Expences (which 'tis my desire may not be great as I would be privately interred) the Money Legacys herein before by me given and other necessary Charges I do hereby give and bequeath the same unto my said Neices Sarah Grindall Elizabeth Grindall Rachael C?sar and Susannah Grindall and the Survivors and Survivor of them equally share and share alike

Nevertheless is my Will and desire that the Rest of my Wearing Apparell may be distributed in such manner as I by any Note under my Hand shall direct my Executrix to distribute the same provided further nevertheless and it is my express Will and Meaning that if my said Neice Rachael C?sar shall have recored either at Law or in Equity the Money she is now sueing for or the Representative or Representatives of William Morley deceased before the said several Legacys herein before bequeathed shall become due and payable Then and in such case do hereby will order and direct that all such Money and share of my personal Estate which she shall be entitled unto by virtue of this my Will shal go be paid and divided unto and amongst my said other Neices Sarah Grindall Elizabeth Grindall and Susanna Grindall and the Survivors and Survivor of them equally share and share alike And I do hereby give the same unto them my said Neices and to the Survivors and Survivor of them accordingly

And I do hereby make nominate and appoint my said Neice Elizabeth Grindall full and sole Executrix of this my Will And hereby revoking all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made I do declare this to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Mary Docwra to this my last Will and Testament contained and written in two Sheets of paper have set my Hand to each Sheet thereof and to the last Sheet thereof have put my seal this Twenty eight day of January in the year of our Lord Christ One Thousand seven Hundred and fforty four -

Mary Docwra -

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Mary Docwra as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have set and subscribed our Names as witnesses to the same at her request and in her presence - Edith Eppy, James Windus -

I give to my Sister Cass such part of my wearing Apparell as she shall be pleased to accept of both Linnen and Woolen and the Rest amongst my Neices Sarah Grindall Elizabeth Grindall Rachael C?sar and Susanna Grindall equally (Except my blue and white damask Gown which I give to my daughter in Law Mary Docwra) And I desire my Executrix to deliver and distribute the same accordingly As Witness my Hand the seventeenth day of June 1747 -

Mary Docwra - Witness herto - Mary Mead, James Windus.

This Will was proved at London (with the Codicil annexed) Before the Worshipfull Robert Chapman doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth also doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted, The Twentieth day of July in the year of our Lord One Thousand seven Hundred and fforty seven By the Oath of Elizabeth Grindall Spinster the sole Executrix named in the said Will To whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattells and Credits of the deceased being first sworn duly to administer.

PRO, catalogue reference: PCC Prob/11/755, will of Mary Docwra, widow of Ware, Herts., (proved) 20 July 1747 (dated 28 January 1744[1745]).

Transcription by Odd Ottesen, Kristiansand, Norway, 14 November 2003.

Transcriber's Note: Mary Docwra was widow of John Docwra of Ware, whose will is also in this section.