Will of James Hamlyn, 1st Baronet, of Clovelly Court, Devon, 1811

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surname/tag: Hamlyn

This is a transcription of the register copy of the will of James (Hammett) Hamlyn 1st Bt (bef.1734-1811) of Clovelly Court, Devon. His will was proved with a codicil at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 07 June 1811.^[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.
Abbreviations and breviographs have been expanded in [square brackets].
Hard to read words have been omitted and replaced by [?].

Persons mentioned:

• my only daughter Arabella Hamlyn (bef.1763-abt.1805), received Six thousand pounds as her marriage portion and Four thousand pounds in this will
• Ambrose St John (1760-1823), received Ten pounds
• my Sisters Thomazine Hammett, Ann Drake and Gertrude Hammett, each received Ten pounds
• James Martin, Esquire of the Middle Temple, received Ten pounds
• Mr. Richard Hart, received Five guineas
• Priscilla (Hendley) Hammett (bef.1740-1819) widow of my late brother Richard, received five guineas
• Mrs. Phillisa Bathurst, received Five guineas
• Diana Anne (Whitaker) Hamlyn Williams (1766-1849), received One hundred pounds, a watch chain, seals, pictures
• my son James (Hamlyn) Hamlyn Williams 2nd Bt (bef.1765-1829), received the remainder
• David Thomas, witness to will
• Daniel Price Talley, witness to will
• Benjamin Foard, witness to will
• Thomas Edwards, Doctor of Law in front of whom the will was proven

Whenever Divine Providence
shall take me to himself to whose [decree?] I most [?cheerfully] submit
firmly persuaded that what he orders is for the best [wh?] I say
that shall be the case It is my will that my Body be devoutly interred
in the family vault which I have built under the North Isle of Clovelly
Church in the County of Devon whereas on the Marriage of my only
daughter Arabella with Ambrose St. John Esqr. I advanced the Sum of Six
thousand pounds as her marriage portion & covenants in the Settlement
that at my death I would further pay the Sum of Four thousand pounds
upon the trusts & conditions expenses in the said Covenant I do therefore
order & direct that my Executor does in the first place pay the said Sum
of Four thousand pounds pursuant to the said Covenant upon the Trusts &
conditions expressed in the said Settlement I give to my Sisters Thomazine
Hammett Ann Drake & Gertrude Hammett each Ten pounds for a Ring also
to my much esteemed friend James Martin of the Middle Temple Esquire
Ten pounds for a Ring also to Mr. Richard Hart Five guineas as a little
memorandum of the Idea I entertain of his great integrity & faithful
[services?] also to Mrs Priscilla Hammett widow of my late Brother Richard
Hammett Five guineas for a Ring also to Mrs Phillisa Bathurst Five
guineas for a Ring also to Ambrose St. John Esqr. Ten pounds & to my
daughter in law Diana Ann Hamlyn Williams one hundred pounds
my watch chain & Seals with the [Enameled?] picture of his late [?]
respected Mother I give to my Son James Hamlyn Williams all the Rest
Residence & remainder of my Real & personal Estate not otherwise herein
disposed of I give devise & bequeath to my Son James Hamlyn Williams
& his Heirs & do nominate & appoint him Executor of this my will hereby
revoking all other & former wills by me at any time before made I do
publish & declare this to be my last will & Testament In witness
whereof I do set my hand & seal this Seventeenth Day of July 1805
Ja[me]s Hamlyn L S Signed Sealed published & declared by Sir James
Hamlyn Baronet the testator as & for his last will & Testament in the
presence of us who at his request & in his presence & in the presence of
each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses David
Thomas - Daniel Price Talley - Benj[ami]n Foard

ATT Son will remember that I have five hundred pounds in
my hands for which I paid Interest to my late dear daughter that
Sum I request him to [invest?] in the names of the Trusters in the
same funds as my said daughters fortune is settled & to the same
purposes on which condition is was left with me Jas. Hamlyn
17 July 1805

Proved at London with a Codicil 7th June 1811 before the
worshipful Thomas Edwards doctor of Laws & Surrogate by the
oaths of Sir James Hamlyn Williams Baronet the Son & sole
Executor to whom adm[inistrati]on was granted he having been first sworn
duly to administer

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: 1523
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 5111 #117860 (accessed 24 January 2023)
   Will of Sir James Hamlyn, granted probate on 7 Jun 1811. Died about 1811.