Will of Barbara Palmer (nee Villiers) Duchess of Cleveland 1709

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Villiers Palmer

This is a transcription of the register copy of the will of Barbara Palmer, Duchess of Cleveland, proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
She wrote her last will on 11 August 1709 and it was proved at London on 10 October 1709. ^[1]

Spelling, punctuation and line breaks as per the original.
Paragraph breaks (at start of new of bequest) and bold text are my own for ease of reading.
ff has been rendered as F, and ligatures and abbreviations have been expanded in [square brackets].
____

I Barbara Dutchess of
Cleaveland Do make and declare my last Will and Testament
in manner and form following First I will that all such Debts as
I shall justly owe at my decease be paid and satisfyed

Item I give
to my Daughter Anne Countess of Sussex my Striking Watch with
the Gold Chain seal and other things belonging thereunto
Belonging

Item
I give to my Daughter Charlotte Countess of Litchfield the Picture
of herself and the Earl of Litchfield her husband drawn together
when they were first Married the Picture of my Grandson the Lord
Quarendon and my great Bloodstone

Item I give to my Grandchild
the Lady Barbara Leonard my gold Snuff Box and my little
pair of Diamond Ear Rings

Item I give to my Grandchilde
the Lady Anne Leonard my gold Etiole & the Chain thereunto
belonging

Item I give to my Son Charles Duke of Southampton
One hundred pounds for Mourning for himself and his Children

Item I give to my son George Duke of Northumberland my Ring
with the Yellow Diamond

Item I give to each one of my servants
who shall be living with me at the time of my decease a Years wages

Item I give to the poor of the Parish in which I shall happen
to dye the summe of Ten pounds And it is my desire that my
Body be privately interred without being opened or embalmed in
the Church of such Parish

Item all the Rest Residue and
Remainder of my Estate as well reall as personall Pentions
Annuities and all Arrears of the same Plate Jewells Goods

[page 2]
Chattles Rights and Creditts of what nature kind or sort soever
and wheresoever I give devise and bequeath unto my Grandson
Charles Duke of Grafton his heirs Executors and Administrators

And I do hereby constitute and appoint the said Charles Duke
of Grafton full and sole Executor of this my last Will hereby
revoking and making void all former Wills Legacies and Bequests
by me at any time heretofore made given or bequeathed

In Witness whereof I the said Barbara Dutchess of Cleaveland
have to this my last Will and Testament sett my hand and seal
the Eleventh day of August in the Eighth year of the Reign of
our Soveraign Lady Anne by the grace of God of Great Britain
France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith &c Annoq: D[omi]ni
One thousand seven hundred and Nine./. Cleaveland ./. Signed
sealed published and declared by her Grace the said Barbara
Dutchess of Cleaveland for and as her last Will and Testament
in the presence of us who at her Graces request have subscribed
our Names as Wittnesses thereunto in her presence Jo: Laijng
Robt. Weston Edmund Crowther ./.

Probatum [in Latin] at London 10 October 1709 granted to the Nobleman Charles Duke of Grafton executor named in the said Testament

Sources

1. ↑ Will: "England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858"
   The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 510
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 5111 #787257 (accessed 26 December 2021)