Will of Francis Shenton, yeoman of Shepshed, Leicestershire 1800

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

The Will of Francis Shenton, yeoman of Shepshed was written on 26 December 1796 and proved on 11 October 1800.^[1]

Transcription conventions used in this text:

• Spelling, punctuation and line breaks are as per the original document.
• Where present, ff has been rendered as F, and the old letter Thorn has been rendered as th.
• Abbreviations and breviographs have been expanded in [square brackets].
• Additions and margin notes, where they occur, have been added where indicated in the text.
• Crossings through, where they occur, have been included Struck out.
• Illegible words or parts of words are marked [...]
• The image quality was good, and the handwriting mostly legible.

Persons mentioned:

• Francis Shenton testator
• Mary Shenton wife
• Elizabeth Barrodale tenant
• Mary Emmerson daughter
  • Thomas Emmerson her husband
• Dorothy Coulson daughter
• Elizabeth Basford seller of property
• Sophia Start tenant
• Henry Wale of Oakley Wood, friend, executor
• Elizabeth Barker daughter
• Mary Shenton Emmerson granddaughter
• Francis Shenton son
• Witnesses: Mary and William Lester, Hen Cropper

---

This is the last Will and Testament of me Francis
Shenton of Sheepshead in the County of Leicester Yeoman made this Twenty Sixth Day of
December in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety six First I give
and Devise unto my loving Wife Mary Shenton All that my Tenement or Dwelling House
with its Appurtenances situate in Sheepshead aforesaid now in the Occupation of Elizabeth
Barrodale To hold to her the said Mary Shenton for the Term of her natural Life Also I
Give and Devise unto my daughter Mary Emmerson All that my Messuage or Tenement
in Sheepshead aforesaid in the Occupation of her Husband Thomas Emmerson and part
of the Garden namely Ten Yards in length and Five yards in breadth and the privilege
to put a Horse to stand in my Stable and also the privilege of the Yard to the said
Messuage or Tenement belonging jointly with the Occupiers of the other Tenements in
the said Yard And also of the pump to fetch and carry Water therefrom at all times
for ever hereafter To hold the said last mentioned premises to her my said daughter
Mary Emmerson her Heirs and Assigns for ever Also I give and Devise unto my Daughter
Dorothy Coulson All that my Messuage or Tenement with the Appurtenances in
Sheepshead aforesaid which I lately purchased of Elizabeth Basford Widow and now in
the Occupation of Sophia Start To hold to her the said Dorothy Coulson her Heirs and
Assigns for ever And as for and Concerning all other my Messuages Cottages
Closes Lands Tenements and Hereditaments not before disposed of situate in Sheepshead
aforesaid and in the Disafforested Forest of Charnwood otherwise Charley Chace or elsewhere
And also All my Goods Cattle Chattels Moneys and Securities for Money personal
Estate and Effect of what nature or kind soever I do hereby give Devise and Bequeath the
same unto my worthy Friend Henry Wale of Oakley Wood in the parish of Sheepshead
aforesaid Farmer To hold to him his Heirs Executors and Administrators Upon Trust
Nevertheless that he the said Henry Wale his Heirs Executors or Administrators Do and
shall In the first place Sell and Dispose of my personal Estate and apply the Money
arising therefrom as far as the same will extend in the payment of my just Debts
Legacys and Funeral Expences but if the same be deficient then I do Authorize and
empower my said Trustee to borrow and take up at Interest Money on Mortgage of my
Real Trust Estate in order to enable him to pay all my just Debts Funeral Expences and
the following Legacys, to wit, the Sum of One hundred Pounds which I do hereby Will
order and direct shall be paid unto my daughter Elizabeth Barker her Executors
Administrators or Assigns within Twelve months next after my Decease Also to pay
the Sum of Fifty Pounds unto my Grand daughter Mary Shenton Emmerson when she
attains the Age of Twenty four years And in case of her Death before that Age then
I do hereby order and direct the said Sum of Fifty Pounds to be paid to and amongst the
other Children of my said daughter Mary Emmerson that shall be then living Share
and Share alike And after the said Trust performed Then upon further Trust that
he the said Henry Wale his Heirs or Assigns do and shall pay and apply the Rents
Issues and profits of the said Trust Estate and premises for the Use and Benefit of my
Francis Shenton

[Page 2]
Son Francis Shenton during the Term of his natural Life in such manner as my said
Trustee shall think meet and proper And in Case he my said Son at his Death shall leave
Issue of his Body lawfully begotten Then it is my Mind and Will that the said Trust Estate
shall devolve and come to such Issue as Tenants in Tail but for want of and in Case there
shall be no such issue Then I do hereby Give and Devise the said Estate and Premises unto
my three Daughters Mary Emmerson Dorothy Coulson and Elizabeth Barker and to their
respective Heirs and Assigns for ever as Tenants in Common And I do hereby Nominate
Constitute and Appoint the said Henry Wale sole Executor of this my last Will and
Testament hereby revoking and making void all former Wills by me made Provided
always and it is my Mind and Will and I do hereby further Order and Direct that
it shall and may be lawful for my said Trustee his Heirs Executors or Administrators
by and out of the said Trust Estate and Premises to him and them Devised and
Bequeathed as aforesaid to deduct and reimburse him and themselves all such Costs charges
Losses Damages and Expences as he they or any of them shall sustain or be put unto
in the Management or Execution of the Trust reposed or vested in him or them by this
my Will And I do hereby further Order and Direct that the Receipt of the said Henry
Wale his Heirs or Assigns to be given to the Mortgagee for the Money by him her or
them to be lent and advanced on Mortgage of the said Trust Estate for the purposes
in this my Will mentioned shall be a good and sufficient Discharge so that such
Mortgagee shall not see to the application of such Mortgage money In Witness
whereof I the said Francis Shenton the Testator have to this my last Will and
Testament contained in two Sheets of paper set my Hand and Seal in manner
following (that is to say) to the first Sheet thereof I have set my Hand and
to this second and last Sheet my Hand and Seal the Day Month and year
first above written.
Francis Shenton

Signed Sealed published and Declared by
the said Francis Shenton the Testator as and for his
last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at
his request and in his presence and in the presence
of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses
Mary Lester
Willm. Lester
Hen Cropper

On the eleventh day of October 1800 Henry Wale
the sole Executor named in the within written will
was sworn to the due execution thereof that at the same
time made oath that all the Testators personal Estate
did not amount in value at the time of his death to the
sum of three Hundred Pounds
Before me T Beer
surrogate
to
Archdeacon

Sources

1. ↑ Probate: "Leicestershire Wills And Probate Records, 1500-1939"
   Archive: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland; Reference: PR/T/1800
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 17 January 2024)
   Francis Shenton probate in 1796 in Leicestershire, England. Residence Shepshed, Leicestershire, England. Occupation: Yeoman.