Edward Barnard's will 1808 in the England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858^[1]

Edward Barnard's will describes his intention to give his possessions to his children, although Nathaniel gets very little, with some of his share going to his wife, on the condition he does not have access to it. John is asked to take on the family business.

The children are Edward Barnard John Barnard George Barnard Mary (Debble) Barnard Nathaniel Barnard married to Elizabeth

The transcript of the will is below

In the name of God Amen I Edward Barnard the elder of Nicolls Square In the parish of Saint Giles Cripplegate in the city Of London silver flatter being in health of body And of sound and disposing mind memory and Understanding praised be God for the same do make declare and publish my last will and Testament in manner following that is to say First i will and direct that all the just debts which I shall owe at the time of my decease together with my funeral charges and the charges of proving this my will shall be fully paid and satisfied by my executors hereinafter appointed with all convenient speed next after my decease also I give and bequeath unto my four children Edward Barnard, John Barnard, George Barnard and my daughter Mary (Debble) Barnard widow all the ready money that may happen to be in my house in Nicolls Square aforesaid at the time of my decease and also my household furniture plate linen and China and likewise all my watches Rings and wearing apparel of every kind and sort and all my printed books to and for their own respective proper uses and benefit absolutely and to be equally divided between and amongst them share and share alike also I give and bequeath unto my Son John Barnard the lease of the house I now reside in and also the flatting mills and premises with the appurts thereunto respectively belonging in Nicolls Square aforesaid for the remainder of the time? of years under which the same are now held by me together with my right and interest in the said business of a silver flatter and also all my implements working tools and utensils made use of by me in the said business with the horses harnesses and all other things whatsoever necessary and appertaining to the carrying out the said business of a silver flatter to and for his own proper use and benefit but this bequest to him is upon this express condition nonetheless that he my said son John Barnard within three calendar months next after my decease enters Into and executes an assignment by way of mortgage to my executors hereinafter appointed of the premises aforesaid for assuring the payment of the sum of four thousand pounds within six years from the day of my decease with interest in the meantime at the rate of five pounds per cent?? payable yearly to wit to my son Edward Barnard the sum of one thousand pounds with such interest as aforesaid in the meantime to and for his own proper use and benefit absolutely to my son George Barnard the like sum of one thousand pounds with such interest as aforesaid in the meantime to and for his own proper use and benefit absolutely to my daughter Mary Deeble widow the life sum of one thousand pounds with such interest as aforesaid in the meantime to and for her own proper use and benefit and as to the sum of eight hundred pounds further past of the said sum of four thousand pounds I will and direct that the interest there of be paid by my executors half yearly to my daughter in law Elizabeth Barnard the wife of my My son Nathaniel Barnard until the expiration of the said time of six years when the same sum of eight hundred pounds is to be paid by my said son John Barnard as aforesaid and invested by my executors for the purposes after mentioned I give and bequeath to my executors hereinafter appointed the same sum of eight hundred pounds that they my said executors or the survivor of them his executors or admins? do and shall invest the same in some of the public funds or government securities at interest and shall and do pay the interest and dividends of such stocks or funds in or upon which the same shall be so invested unto my said daughter in law Elizabeth Barnard the wife of my said son Nathaniel Barnard for and during the term of her natural life for her own sole and separate use independent of her husband and over which he shall have no power or control whatsoever and from and immediately after her decease upon further trust to pay the said interest and dividends of the said stocks or funds in or upon which the said sum of eight hundred pounds shall be so paid out and invested as aforesaid unto and amongst the children of the said Elizabeth Barnard now begotten or hereafter to be begotten by my said son Nathaniel Barnard on the body of the said Elizabeth Barnard for and during the time of their respective natural lives and from and after the decease of the survivor of such children upon trust to pay transfer and assign the stocks funds or securities in or upon which the same shall be so invested as aforesaid unto and amongst my three sons Edward Barnard John Barnard and George Barnard and daughter Mary Deeble widow equally to be divided between them share and share alike or their legal personal representatives if any of them should happen to be then dead and my will and meaning? is and I do hereby direct and declare that the sum of two hundred pounds being the residue and remainder of the said sum of four thousand pounds shall fall into and become part of the residue of my personal estate and go to and amongst such persons as the overall and then residue of my personal estate and go to and amongst such persons as the overall and is in and by my said will hereinafter directed to be paid and applied provided always that if my said son John Barnard should accept of the before mentioned requests or the conditions aforesaid prescribed by me and should agree to carry   on the business of a silver flatter as aforesaid on the said promises then my will and desire is that my executors shall at all times have free access to his books of account to see that all business is properly conducted and managed provided further and my will and mind is that case my said son John Barnard should refuse or decline to accept of the before mentioned bequest on the conns? before prescribed by me he shall be at liberty so to do in giving notice in writing to my executors within one month next after my decease of such his mind and intention then and in such case I give and bequeath the lease of my house in Nicolls Square aforesaid the flatting mills and all my implements working tools and utensils in the said business with the horses harnesses and all other the premises before given him unto my executors hereinafter appointed upon trust that they my said executors or the survivor of them his executors and admins to sell and dispose of the same either by public auction or private contract as they shall think best and after Of deduction of all just and necessary charges and expenses attending such sale and disposition to invest the sum of eight hundred pounds past of the clear produce thereof in the stocks funds or government security in their ???? at interest and pay and apply the interest dividends and produce thereof from time to time as the same shall grow due and be received by them unto the said Elizabeth Barnard and her children for and during the time of their respective natural lives and upon their deaths the principal of such stocks or funds to be paid transferred delivered and divided amongst my three sons Edward Barnard John Barnard George Barnard and my daughter Mary Deeble widow equally between or amongst them share and share alike or the representative of such of them as shall happen to be then dead and the remaining residue and produce of such sale I will and direct shall immediately after such sale and disposition be equally divided between and amongst my said sons Edward Barnard John Barnard George Barnard and daughter Mary Deeble share and share alike to and for their own respective proper uses and benefit also I give and bequeath unto my son Nathaniel Barnard the sum of thirty pounds for mourning and to my female servant Susanna Py??? if she shall be living with me at the time of my decease the sum of six pounds and six shillings and all the rest residue and remainder of my estate and effects leasehold messuage or tenements and premises with the Appurts . situate in White Lyons Street and Chapel Street Pentonville in the parish of Saint

Saint James Clerkenwell in the county of Middlesex and all my bonds bills notes and securities for money goods chattels and credits and all and singular other the residue of my personal estate and effects whatsoever and whomsoever of what nature found? or quality soever? not before by me disposed of and that I shall die? possessed of interested in or entitled unto I give and bequeath the same and every past and parcel thereof unto my sons Edward Barnard John Barnard George Barnard and daughter Mary Deeble equally to be divided between and amongst them share and share alike and to take the same as tenants in common and not as joint tenants and I do so hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said son Edward Barnard and Ezra Livermore of Islington in the county of Middlesex watch maker joint executors of this my last will and testament and I give unto such of them the sum of twenty pounds apiece for their trouble and I do hereby declare that my said Trustees and Executors shall have full power to act in and about my said residuary estate in such manner as they may see occasion subject to the trusts aforesaid and I do declare that neither of them shall be answerable for the acts of the other nor for any more money or effects than shall come to their hands respectively nor for any involuntary loss happening thereto and that they may at all times deduct and receive their expenses by and out of my residuary estate and about the execution of the trusts hereby in them reposes? and hereby revoking and making void all former and other will and wills by me at any time heretofor made I so declare this only to be my last will and testament on witness whereof I the said testator Edward Barnard the elder have to this my last will and testament on witness whereof I the said testator Edward Barnard the elder have to this my last will and testament contained in four sheets of paper annexed and sealed together at the top set my hand at the bottom of the then preced annexes sheets and my hand and sealto this fourth and last sheet thereof this second day of October in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and two Edwd. Barnard Senr. Esq? signed sealed published and declared by the said testator Edward Barnard the elder as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of such other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses Jno: Hartley No 2 Silver Street, wood street London. Gent H John Morrish?

This Will was proved at London the ninth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight before the worshipful Samuel Pratt Parson doctor of laws and surrogate of the right honourable Sir William William Wynne Knight also Doctor of laws Master Keeper? or Commissary of the prerogative court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oaths of Edward Barnard the son of the said deceased and Ezra by mistake in the will written Israel Livermore the executors named in the said will to whom administration was granted for all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased they Having been first sworn duly to administer.