Will of George Bacon of Harpford

Date: 23 Jun 1685 to 13 Jun 1691
Location: Harpford, Langford Budville, Somerset, England
Surname/tag: Bacon

Will of George Bacon of Harpford, Somerset.

Written 23rd June 1685 Proved 13th June 1691 Transcribed by Joe Farler from a copy held by the UK National Archives at Kew.(Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 405: 71 Discovery catalogue entry:Will of George Bacon Gentleman of Harpford )

In the Name of God Amen I George Bacon of Harpford in the County of Somerset Gent. being in good health of body and perfect soundness of mind but seriously considering the frailty and instability of all mankind, the certainty of Death and uncertainty of its coming do make and ordain this my last Will and testament in manner following hereby revoking and annulling all former Wills whatsoever.

First I give and bequeath my Soul unto Almighty God that gave it and my body to the Earth whence it was taken in most assured hope of its resurrection and reunion of both unto everlasting life through the only merits and satisfaction of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer.

Item I give unto the poor five pounds to be distributed at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named at the time of my funeral.

Item I give unto every covenant Servant and Apprentice that shall live with me at the time of my death Ten shillings apiece.

Item I give grant and devise unto my dear wife Mary Bacon my beloved Brother William Bacon of Maunsell in the said County of Somerset Gent my good friends Nicholas Comer of Langford Budville in the same County Clerk and Robin Southele of Cleranyer in the County of Devon Gent all that my farm of Harpford commonly called Harpford Farm Horshead ??????? tenement and Gummons ground lying and being in the several parishes of Langford Budville Thame St Margaret and Wellington in the said county of Somerset now in the possession of me the Testator and all those two houses lying on the south side of High Street in Wellington called or known by the name of the Castle and White Horse with all the lands tenements houses buildings gardens orchards and all other its appurtenances whatsoever to have and to hold to them the said Mary Bacon, William Bacon, Nicholas Comer and John Southele the survivors and survivors of them and the Executor and Executors of them for and during the full space and term of one thousand years fully to be complete and ended commencing in and upon these several grounds past and present of my said Farm of Harpford viz! five closes called Harpford Lawns Barns Househead Harpford wood Bransbry wood and the Orchard under it and the two houses in Wellington immediately after my decease and in and upon all the rest and remainder of my Farm in which I have heretofore made a jointure unto my said wife Mary Bacon from and immediately after her decease if she survive me the Testator.

Item I give and bequeath all my plate jewels household stuff goods and chattels real and personal whatsoever unto my said wife Mary Bacon, William Bacon, Nicholas Comer and John Southele the survivors and survivor of them and to the Executor or Executors of the survivor of them on this Special trust and confidence and to these uses intents and purposes following and to no other use intent or purpose whatsoever.

That is to say / First to permit and suffer my said wife to make use of all my household stuff during her widowhood and no longer and out of the rents effects and profits of my said Lands houses and personal estate to maintain and educate all my children and to pay unto my son George Bacon and unto my five daughters Ann, Jane, Elizabeth, Sarah, and Hannah. to every and each of them Five hundred pounds apiece as they shall respectively attain unto the age of One & Twenty years, or be married, which shall first happen,

And my will and meaning is that if any of my said children shall happen to die before they attain the age of One and Twenty years and not married that in such case, such child or children’s portion shall be equally divided amongst the survivors of them share and share alike provided always that if either of my said children shall happen to marry without and against the consent of my said Trustees, the Survivors or Survivor of them that such child or children’s portion shall be set to interest for the use and benefit of such child or children of mine so marrying may happen to have and in case such child or children of mine so marrying happen to die without issue then my will and meaning is that such child or children’s portion shall be equally divided amongst my surviving children and the children if any be of those that are dead each family of my Grandchildren having equal proportion to be equally divided between them with one of my surviving children and no more.

Item I do hereby give grant and devise all my lands tenements and Hereditaments whatsoever unto my son John Bacon his heirs and assigns forever Provided nevertheless that if my said son John shall prove inconformable unto the advice and counsel of my said Trustees and shall take evil and extravagant courses of life or shall refuse or neglect after he shall acquire the age of One and Twenty years to pay or sufficiently secure to be paid unto my said Trustees such sums of money as upon a just amount to be made and given unto him by my said Trustees shall appear to be wanting fully to complete and make up all the Legacies before by me given, then my will and meaning is and I do hereby give grant and devise all my said Lands Tenements and Hereditaments unto my said son George Bacon his heirs and assigns forever after the expiration of the one thousand years aforesaid.

Item my will and meaning is that if either of my sons John or George Bacon shall pay or sufficiently secure to be paid unto my said Trustees the survivors or survivor of them, the Executor or Executors of the survivors of them such sum of money as shall be wanting to make good the Legacies herein by me given , at such time as they shall respectively attain to the age of one and twenty years, that then my said Trustees and the survivors or survivor of them, the Executor or Executors of the survivors of them shall forthwith thereupon make, convey, assign and set over all their right title claim term of years and demands whatsoever in or unto any of my Lands, houses, gardens, orchards, with their appurtenances and also such chattels goods and household stuff as shall be left and unsold for the uses above mentioned unto such of my said sons as shall discharge the said incumbrance, preference to be given unto my son John as Elder until his neglect or refusal as aforesaid.

Lastly I make constitute and ordain my said wife Mary Bacon, William Bacon my said brother and my said good friends Mr Nicholas Comer and Mr John Southele to be my Executors of this my last Will and Testament intreating them to take upon them the burden and execution thereof and of the trust I have reposed in them which I doubt not but they will faithfully discharge and I do hereby give unto each of them a ring of Twenty shillings apiece.

And I charge and demand my said children to follow the direction of my said Executors and to be no ways troublesome unto them in disputing these amounts or other management of the affairs committed to their care.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty third day of June in the first year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James the second over England. Anno Dmi 1685 , Geo:Bacon this writing contained in these two sheets of paper was signed sealed and declared by George Bacon herein named to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us William Bacon junior, William Gatcombe, Thomas Tucker, William Mouse

Proved in London 13th June 1691.