In the name of God amen

I William Brunt of Colshaw in the parish of Alstonfield and County of Stafford yeoman being now grown very Old but of a Sound and Disposing mind and memory and being Desirous (in Such Condition) to Settle my Wordly affairs, Do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following, that is to Say,

First I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Heavenly Father Assuredly hopeing that, through the Merits, Sufferings, and Passion of Jesus Christ my Redeemer, my Sins will be Pardoned, and that I Shall have Everlasting Life in the World to come, And my Body I commit to the Earth to be Decently buried att the Discretion of my Executors hereafter named, And as to Such Worldly Estate it hath pleased God to bless me with I Do hereby Dispose thereof as followeth

And First I give, Devise, and bequeath All my Messuage, Farme or Tenement called the Bank Top Situate, Standing lying and being in Leek Frith in the Said County of Stafford with the lands to the Same belonging, and all buildings, Tythes, and appurtenances Enjoyed therewith, or to which the Same belongs (all which Said premises is now in the Possession of my Eldest Son Joseph Brunt or his under Tenants, and were heretofore purchased by me from one Thomas Braddock) unto my Said Eldest Son Joseph Brunt and his Assignes for and during the term of his naturall life (Yet So nevertheless that he the Said Joseph Brunt my Son Shall and may be impowered att any time, during his naturall life as aforesaid, to raise the Sum of two hundred Pounds out of the Said Estate by way of Mortgage or otherwise howsoever and to Dispose thereof and apploy it to such use or uses as he Shall think fit, or otherwise to Charge the Said Estate with the Payment of two hundred pounds, either by his last Will and Testament or other writing by him duly Executed in the Presence of two or more Credible Witnesses. And Subject also nevertheless to the payment of Such Legacies as are hereafter given and bequeathed by this my Will out of the Said Estate) and after his Decease I give, Devise and bequeath the Said Estate unto the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten or to be begotten, and in Default of Such Issue, I give, Devise and bequeath the Said Estate unto my Son George Brunt and his Assignes for and during the term of his naturall life, and after his decease I give, Devise and bequeath the Said Estate unto the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten or to be begotten, and for Default of Such Issue, I give, Devise and bequeath the Said Estate unto the right Heirs of my Said Son Joseph Brunt for ever. Always having regard nevertheless to the two hundred pounds which my Said Son Joseph Brunt is impowered by this my Will to raise out the Said Estate as aforesaid, As also the Legacies, with which I shall Charge the Said Estate as hereafter is Sett forth.

Also I do hereby Charge the Said Estate with the Payment of the Yearly Sum of three pounds to my loving Wife Mary Brunt during her naturall life which is to be in full Satisfaction of her Dower or title of Dower the She may have or Claim to allor any Part of the foresaid Estate, to be paid to her or her Assignes by two Equall half Yearly Payments in the Year (free from all Deductions) to wit, att Michaelmas and Lady day. The first payment to be made on Such of the foresaid days which Shall first happen after my Decease. And for want of Payment thereof (according to the Direction of this my Will) it Shall and may be lawful for her or her Assignes to make Distresses thereon, and the Same to Sell (by due Course of Law) in Order to pay herself and all the Charges that attend Such Proceedings.

I now come also to Charge the Said Estate with the Payment of the following Legacies, viz

I give and bequeath to my Son in Law Thomas Hulme the Sum of ten pounds.

Also to Solomon Billinge my Son in Law the like Sum of ten pounds.

Also to John Smith my Son in Law the like Sum of ten pounds.

Also to my Daughter Catherine Lomas the like Sum of ten Pounds

And to my Daughter Martha Salt the like Sum of ten pounds

and also to George Brunt to my Son the like Sum of ten pounds.

I also hereby give and bequeath unto the five Children which John Chapell my late Son in Law had by my Said Daughter now Martha Salt ten pounds to be Equally Divided amongst them Share and Share alike

All which Said last mentioned Legacies I do hereby Order to be paid (as Soon as two Years are Expired from my Decease) by Such Person or persons as Shall or may be intitled to the Said Estate by the Direction of this my last Will. But if Default be Come in the payment of all or any of the last mentioned Legacies (att the time appointed for the payment thereof as aforesaid) that then and in Such Case it Shall and may be lawfull to and for Such Legatee or Legatees or any of them unto and upon the Said Messuage and Premises or any Part thereof, in the name of the whole, to enter and the Same to have, hold and enjoy untill they and every of them are wholly, clearly and absolutely Satisfyed and paid their Severall Legacies, together with the Charges and Expences that may anyways attend the recovery thereof. But it is here to be Observed that in Case any of the last mentioned Legatees Should happen to Dye before their respective Legacies become due Such Legacy or Legacies Shall then become void to all intents and purposes as if this my Will had never been made. Anything herein Conteyned to the Contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding.

The Legacies hereafter gave in and by this my Will I Do hereby Order to be paid out of my Personal Estate by my Executors within one Year after my Decease, and are as followeth.

To the Said Thomas Hulme, my Son in Law, I give ten Pounds.

To the Said Solomon Billinge my Son in Law the like Sum of ten pounds.

To Richard Brocclehurst my Son in Law I give one Shilling.

And to Samuell Salt my Son in Law also one Shilling.

And to my Son in Law William Lomas one Shilling only.

I have Some Particular reasons why I have not gave the Said Richard Brocclehurst, Samuell Salt, and the Said William Lomas anything more, by this my Will, insomuch, that it is my Desire and intention that none of them Should, hereafter, ever lay any Claym or Title to any thing I Shall dye possessed off Save only the twelve Pence a Piece I have gave as aforesaid.

As to all the rest residue and remainder of my Personal Estate of what nature or kind Soever or wheresoever the Same can or may be found within the Kingdom of Great Brittain (after my Debts Legacies, Funeral Expences, and the Charges that will attend the proving of this my last Will are fully Satisfyed and Paid according to the true intent and meaning hereof) I give and bequeath to my Said loving Wife Mary Brunt and my Said Son Joseph Brunt to the Equally Divided betwixt them Share and Share alike, and to be by them Severally Disposed of as they Shall think fit.

and Lastly I do hereby nominate, Constitute, and appoint my Said Wife Mary Brunt and my Said Son Joseph Brunt to be Executors of this my last Will and Testament. And Do also hereby revoke Disanull and make void all former and Other Will or Wills by me at any time heretofore made and Do Declare this to be my last

In Witness whereof I the Said William Brunt the Testator have hereunto Sett my hand and Seal the twenty ninth day of July in the Second Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, of Great Brittain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and So forth and in the Year of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred and sixty two 1762

William Brunt his mark

Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by William Brunt the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament In the Presence of us who (in his presence and att his request) have subscribed our names as Witnesses hereunto

Martha Wilson, Micah Lomas, W Broles

At Colshaw the 28th of October 1765

Let a Probat of this Will be Granted to Mary Brunt Widow & Joseph Brunt the Executors named therein, They being Sworn before me

Thos White Sur.

Transcribed by Stephen Heathcote from probate records of the Dioceses of Lichfield and Coventry viewed on Find My Past: "Staffordshire, Dioceses Of Lichfield And Coventry Wills And Probate 1521-1860"
FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 10 December 2023)
William Brunt probate in 1765. Residence Alstonfield, Staffordshire, England, Alstonfield, Staffordshire, England.