John Sowter

Died about 1750 in Matlock, Derbyshire, England [uncertain]

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Biography

Will

In the name of God Amen, I John Sowter of Matlock Bridge in the county of Derby Gentleman being weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory praised be god for the same do make ordain and publish this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following

...

Item I give and devise all that my house and farm and all the outhouses building closes lands real estate and premises whatsoever with the appartenances thereunto belonging situate and being in over Hackney in the parish of Darley in the said county and now in the possession and holding of James Millward his tenant or tenants and also all that my house and farm with all outhouses buildings closes lands real estate and premises thereunto belonging situate and being in Hackney Lane in the said parish of Barley and now in the possession or holding of John Hollingworth his tenant or tenants unto my nephew John Wolloey his heirs and assigns forever.

Item I give and bequeath unto my said nephew John Wolley fifty pounds sterling.

Item I give and devise all that my house will all outbuildings barns stables and two crofts real estate and premises whatsoever with the appartenances unto my nephew George Woolley his heirs and assigns forever.

Item I give and devise all that my other house in Tansley aforesaid with the croft and appartenances thereunto belonging in the possession or holding of James Stubbing also all that my other house in Tansley aforesaid wherein Godfrey Jervas doth now inhabit and dwell also all that piece of Woody Land at Tansley aforesaid called Rutland Wood also all that peice of land adjoining thereto formerly parcel of the said Woody Land both now in the possession of Richard Black and also all that my farm house with all the outhouses buildings closes lands tenements hereditaments real estate and premises whatsoever thereunto belong with the appartenances situate and being in the parish of Matlock aforesaid and now in the possession or holding of Thomas Wragg his tenant or tenants and commonly called or known by the name of Duffdale Farm unto my said nephew the said George Woolley his heirs and assigns forever.

Item I give and bequeath unto my said nephew the said George Woolley fifty pounds sterling.

Item I give and devise all that my messuage house with all the farm closes lands tenaments hereditaments and premises whatsoever with the appartenances thereunto belonging situate and being in the said parish of Matlock and now in the possession or holding of Samueal Walker unto my late servant Hannah Fros?? spinster for and during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after her decease I give and devise the same and every part thereof with the appartances unto my nephew Anthony Woolley his heirs and assigns for ever.

Item I give and devise all my real estate whatsoever which is not in the possession or holding of Bernard Baston and situate in the said parish of Matlock and also all that my close of land in the said parish of Matlock called Waid Stubbing now in the possession of George Flint with all and singular the rights members hereditaments and appartenances whatsoever thereunto belonging unto my said nephew the said Anthony Woolley his heirs and assigns forever.

Item I give and bequeath unto my said nephew the said Anthony Woolley fifty pounds sterling.

Item I give and devise all that my house and farm and also all my real estate whatsoever at Cliff in the said parich of Critch and which is now in the possession or holding of Elizabeth Ogden widow also all that my on moisty or half part of two several closes of land in the said parish of Matlock now in the possession or holding of Thomas Buckley called the Riddings. And also that my one moisty or half part of a ??? peice of land in Matlock aforesaid called the Rake Close now in the several possessions of Thomas Redfern and James Shar with all and singular rightes members hereditaments and appartenances whatsoever hereunto any of them belonging or apportaining unto my loving sister Ann Woolley for and during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after her decease I give and devise the same and every part thereof with the apportunancees unto my nephew Adam Woolley his heirs and assigns for ever.

Item I give and devise all my real estate whatsoever at Tansley aforesaid which is now in the possession or holding of my cousins Joseph Sawter and William Sawter with all and singular the rights members hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or apportaining unto them my said cousins Joseph Sawter and William Sawter executors administrators and assigns for and during and until this full and term of three years next immediately turning after my decease and fully to be complete and ended rent free not to plow above six acres thereof and from and immediately after the end or expiration of the said term of three years then I give and devise the same and every part thereof with all the rights members hereditaments and apportenances whatsoever thereto belonging unto my said nephew Adam Woolley his heirs and assigns forever.

Item as to all my part or share of the Manor of Matlock aforesaid and also all the rest and residue and remainder of all my real estate whatsoever and wheresoever not herein before disposed of I give and devise the same and every part thereof with all and singular the rights members hereditaments and apportenances whatsoever belonging thereunto unto my said nephew the said Adam Woolley his heirs and assigns for ever subject nevertheless to and charged and chargeable with the payment of the clear sum of three shillings sterling a week weekly and at the end of every week from and immediately after my decease unto my old friend William Woolley for and during the tern of his natural life upon the last day of every week during the term aforesaid and my mind and will is that if the said weekly sum of three shillings or any part thereof shall be behind and unpaid by the space of two days next after the same ought to be paid as aforesaid having been lawfully demanded that then and so often as it shall so happen it shall and may be lawful for the said Willion Woolley into and upon my said real estate said aforesaid devised to my said nephew Adam Woolley and chargeable therewith money part thereof to enter and distain for the same and the dispose and disposes then and there found to detain and keep until the said William Woolley shall be fully paid and satisfied all such arrears with costs and charged in and about the making and keeping thereof and in case the said weekly sum of three shillings or any part thereof shall be behind and unpaid by the space of four days next after the same ought to be paid as aforesaid that then and so often as it shall so happen it shall and may be lawful to and for the said William Woolley into all and singular my said real estate so as aforesaid devised to my said nephew Adam Woolley chargable therewith as aforesaid or any part thereof to outer and the rents houses and profits thereafter ??? and take until he therewith and thereby or by the person or persons who shall be them instilled to the immediate possession of the said real estate be paid and satisfied the same and every part thereof and all the arrears thereof incurred before and that shall incur during such time as he shall receive the rents issues and profits thereof or be intstilled to receive the same by virtue of such entry to be made as aforesaid together with all his reasonable costs damages and expenses by him laid out sustained by reason of the nonpayment thereof and part there of.

Item I give and bequeath unto my neice Grace Woolley spinster one hundred pounds sterling.

Item I give and bequeath unto my said cousin Joseph Sowter twenty pounds sterling.

Item I give and bequeath unto my cousins William Sowter and Anthony Sowter (son of the said Joseph Sowter) to each of them ten pounds a piece sterling

Item I give and bequeath unto my cousin Robert Wood of Swanwick in the said county Gentleman ten guineas sterling.

Item I give and bequeath unto Mordica Bradsley five Guineas sterling.

Item I give and bequeath unto my cousin John Sowter (son of George Sowter) five pounds sterling.

Item I give and bequeath unto Ann the daughter of Richard Cole of Butterley in the said county five pounds sterling.

Item I give and bequeath unto the said Hannah Fax fifteen pound sterling and it is my mind and will and I do hereby order and direct that all and every the several and respective legacies herein before by me given and bequeathed shall be paid to the said several and respective legacies herein before by me given and bequeathed shall be paid to the said legutees and every of them respectively within twelve months next after my decease by my executors herein after names.

Item I give and bequeath unto my brother in law John Woolley and Ann his wife six quineas a peice sterling to be paid to each of them immmediately after my decease to buy them mourning.

Item I give and bequeath unto the said William Woolley all my clothes and wearing apparell whatsoever which I shall happen to have at the time of my decease.

Item as to all the rest residue and remainder of my estate both real and personal whatsoever and wheresoever not herein before otherwise disposed of I give devise and bequeath the same and ever part thereof with the apportances unto my said nephew Adam Wooolley his heirs executors administrators and assigns for ever

And lastly I do hereby nominate ordain constitue and appoint the said Robert Wood and Adam Woolley joint executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all and every former and other will and wills by me at any time or.....

1749

Signed Grace Dowham, James Woodward, James Davis

Sources

• Will: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbprs%2fstaff%2fwills%2f421121