Transcript of will of Robert Bransby of Shottesham 1724

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Will of Robert Bransby of Shottesham 1724

In the name of God Amen
I Robert Bransby of Shottesham All Saints ^[1] in the County of Norff
Gentleman being (by the blessing of God) of sound mind and
memory do make and appoint this for and as my last will and
Testament and hereby revoke and make void all former and
other Wills principally I commend my Soul into the mercifull hands
of Allmighty God my heavenly Father and my body to the Earth
as Earth to Earth ashes to ashes dust to dust in humble hope of a
blessed Resurrection at the last day thro' my dear Saviour Jesus
Christ his Incarnation Birth and bitter Death and passion and
his continuall intercession for me and the rest of mankind and
through the means of Grace and hopes of Glory by my mercifull
Father provided for lost mans Redemption. my body I will and
desire may be conveyed in the morning early without Funerall
pomp or Vanity to the private Chambers of my grave and I will
that twenty pounds should be bestowed on a Tomb as to my worldly
Estate I give and devise thereof as Followeth

First I doe hereby Nominate
appoint and make my Son in Law Thomas Bransby Esq. my
brother Francis Bransby, my 'nephew Robert Bransby executors
and my sister in law Mrs Mary Rede and my granddaughter
Elizabeth Bransby Executrices of this my will and I do also
nominate appoint and make the said Thomas Bransby Francis
Bransby and Robert Bransby and their Heirs trustees of and
for my reall estate to and for the intents and purposes hereinafter
mentioned

Item I give and devise to the said Elizabeth Bransby and
her heirs all my Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments
impropriate and other tythes and Glebe lands in Ruishall alias
Rushall, ^[2] Pulham ^[3] Langmer, ^[4] and Dickleburgh ^[5] in the said County of
Norff or in any other town parish or place unto them next and adjoyning
with their and every of their Rights members and Appurtenances

Item I
give and bequeath unto the said Elizabeth Bransby the sume of three
thousand pounds of good British money to be raised and paid out of
my personall Estate If the same will thereunto amount be put out
and managed at Interest for her by my said Trustees from the time
of my death untill she shall ([in margin is an insertion] accomplish the age of one and twenty years or day of marriage which shall first happen in case she shall) Marry with the consent of my said
Trustees or the Major part of them under their hand in Writing to
testify the same with the Interest at the rate of four pounds per cent
per annum to be paid her clear by half yearly payments from the
time of my Death but if my personall Estate shall fall short to raise
and pay the same and the said Interest thereof then I will and
hereby give power and authority within one year next after my decease
or as soon after as conveniently may to and for my said Trustees
and their heirs or the major part of them to raise money by way of
Mortgage of all or any of my mannor Freehold and Charterhold
Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments in the Countys of
Norff and Suff or either of them as Councell learned in the Law shall
advise to make up raise and pay the Same but yet nevertheless not
to have power to commit any manner of wast ^[6] or to alter destroy or
take down any houses or Buildings or to cut down fell or take any
Wood underwood Timber trees or other wood or Trees whatsoever
unless for necessary repairs and usual fixing to be allowed to and
for Tenants burning on their Farms and after payment and

executing such a Security to discharge of the said three thousand pounds
and Interest thereof and also Securing and paying the other Legacies
and Sumes of money in this my Will given in such manner as I have
herein appointed and the Annuity of thirty pounds per annum devised
to my said Sister in Law Mary Rede which said Legacies and Annuity
I will shall be Secured to be paid According to this my Will and I doe
hereby give to my said Trustees and their Heirs and the Major part
of them power as aforesaid to raise money for doing thereof and when
the said Trust shall be Executed then and from thence forth the said Trust
shall cease and the said Trustees from thence shall hold the same and
stand and be thereof seized in Trust to and for the use and benefit of my
Grandson Thomas Bransby his Heirs and Assignes for ever untill
the said Trustees and their Heirs shall release and convey to him
and his Heirs all their right and Title of in or to the said Trust

Item I
give and bequeath to my severall grandchildren hereinafter [margin insertion: after] named the
Severall Legacys and sumes of money hereinafter mentioned to be paid
them respectively with Interest at their severall ages of one and twenty
years that is to say to William Bransby one thousand pounds, to
Margaretta Maria Bransby five hundred pounds, to Bransby
Bransby one hundred pounds, to Phillipa Bransby one hundred
pounds to James Bransby one hundred pounds, to George Bransby one
hundred pounds with Interest for those six last Legacies to be paid at
the Rate of three pounds per cent per Annum from the time of my death
and in case any of my Six Grandchildren shall happen to dye
before time of payment without Issue lawfully begotten his her or
their part or parts so dying I will shall be equally paid to the [margin insertion: Survivor or] Survivors
of them

Item I give unto the said Thomas Bransby my son in law
thirty pounds, to my said Brother Francis Bransby thirty pounds, to my
said Nephew Robert Bransby one hundred pounds, [margin insert: to my niece Elizabeth Marten one hundred pounds, to my niece Mary Adley five and twenty pounds] to my niece
Elizabeth Adley five and twenty pounds, to my Niece Elizabeth Allen five
and twenty pounds to my said' Nephew Robert Bransby' more the
sume of fifty pounds to be applied and paid in and for such Charitys
as I shall appoint him, to my brother in law Nicholas Cordy and
Elizabeth his wife five pounds each, to my cozen William
Mingay of Shottesham All Saints aforesaid and Elizabeth his wife
fifteen pounds a peece, to Mary Sendal widow twenty pounds, to my
said Sister in Law Mary Rede five and thirty pounds and my gold
Watch and Gold chain, to the poor of Shottisham All Saints aforesaid
three pounds, to the poor of Shottisham St Mary and St Martins each
thirty shillings, to the poor of Stoak Holy Cross^[7] twenty shillings, to the
poor of Pulham and Ruishall aforesaid ten pounds, to the poor of
Mendham in Suff forty shillings, to the poor of St James parish
in South Elmham in Suff twenty shillings, to my servants vizt ^[8] the boy
'Robert Bun twenty shillings, John Claxton three pounds, Mary
Wetherby three pounds, Anne Harvey three pounds and Mary
Fuller three pounds all which last mentioned legacies payable
without Interest my will and mind is shall be paid within six months next after my Decease.

Item I give to the said Mary Rede my Sister
in Law an annuity of thirty pounds clear to be paid her from the time
of my death by half yearly equall payments during and untill she
shall Marry

Item I doe hereby Will and declare my mind to be that
my said Mannor and all my said Freehold Estates shall be chargeable

[next page] with lyable and subject to the payment of my said Legacies and
Annuity and held upon Condition for the due payment thereof or
so much as my said personall estate shall fall short to pay and
discharge and in case of any failure or default of payment the Legatees
or Annuitant or any of them that shall be so unpaid shall and
lawfully may enter upon the said Mannor and Freehold Estates
or any part thereof and take and hold the same until he she or they
by the Rents and profitts thereof shall be fully paid and satisfied
what shall be in arrear and for all costs charges troubles expenses
and journeys in about for concerning the same in Witness whereof
I have hereunto set my hand and seal to the bottom of this side and
my hand at the top of the same and at the bottom of the other side and
published and declared this to be my last will and Testament on this
Eighteenth day of January in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ one
thousand and seven hundred twenty and three. Ro. Bransby signed
sealed published and declared by the Testator for and as his last
will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in
his presence have set our names as Witnesses thereto Mary Witherby
Robert Bunn, Sam'l Wright

Probate [extracted from the Latin] at London, twenty seventy day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and twenty four, administration granted to Frances Bransby, Robert Bransby, Maria Rede and Elizabeth Bransby, the Executors named in this Testament

In the right margin is written: On the 1st day of February 1812 administration (with the Will annexed)
of the Goods Chattels and Credits of Robert Bransby late
of Shottesham All Saints in the County of Norfolk deceased
left unadministered ...swell by Thomas Bransby dec'd whilst living one of the executors named in the said Will as by James Bransby dec'd whilst living
the grandson next of kin and a legatee
named in the said Will was granted
to Robert Bransby Cooper Esquire the
Executor according to the Terms of the
will of Maria Susanna Cooper widow
dec'd whilst living the sole executrix of
the Will of the said James Bransby dec'd
having been first sworn by Commission to administer
Robert Bransby,Francis Bransby and
Mary Rede three other of the executors having
formaly renounced the probate and execution
of the said Will and Elizabeth Bransby spinster
the other executor surviving but dying without
having taken upon her the Probate and
Execution of the said Will and the residuary
Legatee being named therein and Thomas
Bransby, William Bransby, George Bransby
Elizabeth Corrance (wife of [blank] Corrance
Esq) Margaretha Maria Inyon (wife of
[blank] Inyon) Philippa Bransby spinster and
Bransby Smyth (wife of Offley Smyth) the
grandchildren also and only other next of kin
dying with out having taken upon them the L.... of
admon (with the said Will annexed) of the
Goods of the said Dec'd

On the twenty fourth day of March in the
year of our lord 1735 power was granted to
James Bransby the Grandson next of kin and
a Legatee named in the last will and Testament
of Robert Bransby late of Shottesham All
Saints in the County of Norfolk dec'd to administer
the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said
dec'd according to the terms of the said will
left unadministered by Thomas Bransby one of
the Executors named in the said will now also
dec'd (for that no Residuary legatee so
named therein) He the said James Bransby
being first sworn by Commission duly to
administer (Robert Bransby Francis Bransby
and Mary Rede three of the s'd executors renouncing
and Elizabeth Bransby the other Executor
dying before she took probate.

Sources

1. ↑ Shottesham at one time was divided into four parishes and had four churches in village. Today only Shottesham All Saints remains
2. ↑ A parish west of Harleston
3. ↑ A parish north west of Harleston
4. ↑ Modern spelling Langmere, to the south west of Harleston
5. ↑ A village to the west of Harleston, next to Langmere
6. ↑ waste
7. ↑ Stoke Holy Cross, a parish south of Norwich, halfway between Norwich and Shottesham
8. ↑ Vizt or vizit, meaning that is to say