Will of Edward Dowsett of Sawbridgeworth, Yeoman 1732

Date: 17 Sep 1728 to 25 Aug 1732
Location: Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England

This is a transcription of the original will of Edward Dowsett Senior, yeoman of "Sabridgworth" (Sawbridgeworth) Hertfordshire, England. The original is held at the Essex County Record Office. ^[1]
Edward wrote his will on 17 September 1728, some 4 years before his death. He appointed his wife Mary and son John executors.
Edward died in June 1732, and Mary died in the July. John had the will proved at the Commissary Court of the Bishop of London on 25 August 1732.

Spelling, punctuation and line breaks as per the original
Paragraph breaks 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]

Persons mentioned:

• Mary Dowsett, his wife and executor
• John Dowsett, his son and executor
• Andrew Dowsett, his son
• Edward Dowsett, his son
• Sarah Ward his daughter
• James Ward "of the Parish of Standstead Deal in the County of Hertford, Labourer" Husband of Sarah Ward.

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In the Name of God Amen I Edward Dowsett Sen^r of the
Parish of Sabridgworth in the County of Hertford Yeoman being in
competent health of body and of a sound and disposing Mind
and memory praise be given unto Almighty God for the same
do make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner
and forme following First I recomend my Soul into the hands of
Almighty God my Creator hoping for Eternal Salvation
through the alone Meritts and Mediation of Our Blessed Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ My Body I commit to the Earth to
be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors herein after
named And as touching all such Temporal Estate as it
hath pleased Almighty God to bless me with I give devise
and bequeath the same as followeth Impr[im]is I give devise
and bequeath unto my Loving Wife Mary Dowsett and
my son John Dowsett my Copyhold Messuage with the
Appurtenances wherein I now dwell with all and Singular
my Copyhold Lands in the Parish of Sabridgworth aforesaid
and in the Parish of Much Hollenbury in the County of
Essex upon this special trust and confidence that they my

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said Wife Mary Dowsett and my said Son John Dowsett do with all
convenient speed after my decease sell and dispose to the best
bidder My Said Copyhold Messuage and Lands both in Sabridgworth
and Much Hollenbury aforesaid and all such sume and
Sumes of money as shall arrise by the Sale thereof after my
just debts and funerall Charges by fully paid and discharged
I give devise and bequeath the same as followeth To my
Loving Wife Mary Dowsett I give devise and bequeath the
Sume of Forty Pounds of good and lawfull money of Great Britain
to be paid her within two years next after my decease

Item
I give devise and bequeath unto my Sons Andrew Dowsett
John Dowsett and Edward Dowsett and unto my Daughter
Sarah the Wife of James Ward of the Parish of Standstead
Deal in the County of Hertford Labourer the sume
of Five and Twenty pounds of likewise lawfull money of
Great Brittain each to be paid unto each of them
respectively within two years next after my decease

Item
I give devise and bequeath unto my said son Edward
Dowsett my clock and my great Copper Pott both of which
are now in my dwelling house in Sabridgworth aforesaid

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And all the rest and residue of my Estate both real & personal and
of what nature kind or sort soever I give devise and bequeath
the same unto my Executrix and Executor herein afternamed
And I do hereby nominate and appoint my said Wife Mary
Dowsett and my said Son John Dowsett Executors of this my
last Will and Testament revoking disanuling and making
void all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore
made declaring this to be my last Will and Testament
contained in three sheets of paper to the two first of
whcih I have sett my hand and to the third and last Sheet
my hand and Seal in Witness thereof this Seventeenth
day of September Anno D[om]ini 1728

Ed Douset [seal]

Signed Sealed Published and declared
by the within named Testator Edward Dowsett
Sen'r to be his last Will and Testament in
the pr[e]sence of us who subscribed our names
as Witnesses in the said Testators pr[e]sence

Geo Paine
Phill Buck
P Englespire

25 August 1732 probate granted to John Dowset alias Dowsett

Sources

1. ↑ Will of Edward Dowsett Senior, yeoman of Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire 1732 proved at the Commissary of the Bishop of London
   Essex County Record Office, Chelmsford, Essex, England.
   Reference: D/ABW 89/2/74
   Images viewed at Essex Archives Online requires subscription. Accessed 21 December 2021