Will of John Benfield of Corfe Castle 1757

Date: 10 Jun 1757 to 3 Oct 1757
Location: Corfe Castle, Dorset, England
Surname/tag: Benfield

John Benfield died in about 1757 in Corfe Castle in The Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, England. His will passed probate on 3 October 1757.^[1] There follows a transcription of the Will from the digital image obtained from ancestry on 23 May 2023. Paragraphs and bold text have been introduced for ease of reading. Spellings and punctuation have been maintained as far as possible.

The Will of John Benfield (abt.1680-1757)

I John Benfield the Elder of the Borough of Corfe Castle in the Isle of Purbeck and County of Dorset Gentleman do make and ordain this my last Will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say)

First I give and devise unto my son William Benfield ten Goads of my Plot of Meadow Ground in the Middle Haves at the Westermost End and the Land of the same To hold him the said William Benfield and his heirs for ever situate lying and being within the said Borough of Corfe Castle Bounded with the Glebe Land of the Parsonage of Corfe Castle aforesaid on the South, the Land late of William Okeden Esquire on the North and the Land of Mr. John Ffurzeman on the West to be Bounded and laid out by my Executor in one Month next after my decease.

Item I give and devise all the rest of my Lands within the Borough of Corfe Castle aforesaid unto my son Matthew Benfield and unto his heirs for ever upon this Trust and Confidence hereinafter mentioned declared and expressed (that is to say) That out of the Lands and the Rents and Profits of the said Lands and Premises Yearly and every year that my said son Matthew Benfield and his heirs do and shall pay unto my living wife Rebecca Benfield the annual sum Sum of eight Pounds of lawful money of Great Britain for and during the Term of her natural Life upon the four most usual ffeasts or Quarterly days of Payment in the year, that is to say, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, Saint Michael the Archangel and the Birth of our Lord Christ by even and equal portions without any deduction or Batement thereof for or in respect of any Taxes Assessed charged or Imposed upon the said Lands and Premises or any part thereof by Authority of Parliament or otherwise howseoever, the first payment thereof to begin and be made unto my said wife Rebecca Benfield by my said son Matthew Benfield or his heirs on such of the said ffeasts or days which shall first happen next after my decease And if it shall happen that the said Annual Sum of Eight Pounds or any part thereof to be behind and unpaid by the space of twenty days next after either of the said ffeasts whereon the same is hereby made payable that then and so often it shall and may be lawful for and I hereby give power to my said wife or her Assigns to enter on the said Lands and Premises and take possession of the same and the Rents Ffines and Orofits thereof to take have and receive to her own use until the said Annual Sum of eight Pounds and all Arrears thereof then due or which shall grow due during such possession together with her Costs Charges Damages and Expenses to be fully paid and satisfied.

Item I give unto my said wife the Bed Bedstead and Ffurniture belonging to the same being in the South Chamber of the House wherein I now live in, together with the two pair of

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Sheets, two pewter dishes six pewter plates of my middle sort my best kettle, six of my best Chairs, one Table Board, one pot and one ffire pan and Tongs to be at her own Disposal Item I also give unto my said wife the South Chamber of the said House wherein I now live during her natural life

Item I give and bequeath unto my said son Matthew Benfield my house and Ground thereto belonging being part of the Waste of the said Borough of Corfe Castle lying on the East Side of the East Street opposite the House I now live in for the remainder of the Term of Years I have therein to come and unexpired use permitting and suffering my said wife to have and enjoy the North End of the said House for a ffewel House and the use of the Pump also during her natural life.

Item I give and bequeath unto my said Son William Benfield his Executors Administrators and Assigns the Sum of forty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor hereinafter named within six months next after my decease, and also all my wearing apparel of all sorts both of Linnen and Woollen to be delivered him by my Executor within one month next after my decease.

Item I give and devise unto my Daughter Elizabeth now wife of David Hibbs and to her children all my lands within the Parish of Church Knowle in the said Isle and County aforesaid On this Condition that she or they pay unto my said Daughter Mary now wife of George Osmond or to her children the sum of forty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain at two yearly payments (that is to say) the sum of twenty pounds of lawful money within twelve months next after my decease, and also the further sum of twenty pounds of lawful money within two years next after my decease And I do hereby charge my said Lands in the parish of Church Knowle with the payment of the said forty pounds as aforesaid Item I give and bequeath unto my five Grand-Children Mary now wife of Edward Cutler, John Kent, William Kent, Hannah Kent and Elizabeth Kent the sum of forty pounds lawful money of Great Britain equally to be divided between them within six months next after my decease by my Executor herein after named But in case any or either of my said Grand children should happen to die before the same shall become due, then my Will is, such his her or their share or shares shall be paid equally to the survivors by my executors.

Item I give unto my sons in law John Kent and David Hibbs and George Osmond all such money as they or either of them doth now owe me or which they or either of them may owe unto me at the time of my decease. Item I give unto my said son William Benfield all such money as he now owe me or that he may any ways owe unto me at my decease. And Lastly as to all the rest residue and remainder of my

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Lands, personal Estate Goods and Chattels Moneys and Securities for money of what kind and nature soever that I shall die possessed of and not herein before disposed of I give devise and bequeath unto my said son Matthew Benfield whom I do hereby make nominate constitute and appoint sole executor of this my last Will and testament (hereby revoking all former and other wills by me at any time heretofore made) to see all my just debts legacies and funeral expenses paid and discharged.

In Witness whereof I the said John Benfield the testator have to this my last Will and testament contained in two sheets of paper set my hand and seal the tenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven. John Benfield.

Signed sealed published and declared by the said John Benfield the testator as and for his last Will and testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto in the presence of the said testator. Robert Dowdall Junr. - Ann Hedover - Robert Hann.

This Will was proved at London the third day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven before the Right Honourable Sir George Lee Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Matthew Benfield the son of the deceased and sole executor named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first sworn by Commission 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: 833
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 5111 #578688 (accessed 23 May 2023)
   Will of John Benfield, granted probate on 3 Oct 1757. Died about 1757 in Corfe Castle in The Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, England.