Will of Ralph Allen of Prior Park Somerset 1764

Date: 29 Jun 1764 [unknown]
Location: Prior Park, Lyncombe, Bath, Somerset, England
Surname/tag: Allen

Transcribed from digital images on the ancestry website May 2023. Paragraphs and bold text have been introduced for ease of reading and were not present in the original.

Ralph Allen died in about 1764 in Lyncombe, Somerset, England. His will passed probate on 11 July 1764.^[1]

His Will includes mention of the following people:

his niece Gertrude (Tucker) Smith aka Warburton (bef.1727-bef.1796)

his nephew Captain William Tucker RN (bef.1730-)

his brother Philip Allen (abt.1700-bef.1765)

his niece Mary Allen [the daughter of his brother Philip, mentioned by name in Philip’s will]

his nephew Philip Allen [son of his brother Philip, mentioned by name in Philip’s will]

his nephew Ralph Allen [son of his brother Philip, mentioned by name in Philip’s will]

his great nephew Ralph Warburton (1756-1775) [son of his niece Gertrude]

Will of Ralph Allen (bef.1693-1764)

I Ralph, Allen of Prior Park in the parish of Lyncomb and Widcomb in the County of Somerset Esquire, being of a sound disposing Mind Memory and understanding praised be God do make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner, following that is to say principally, I commend my soul to Almighty God, in full hopes of Everlasting life through the Merits, and inter[??]ssion of our only Redeemer and Saviour Jesus Christ and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried in the Church of Claverton in the said County, and as to the disposition of my Worldly Estates, wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I give and dispose of the same as follows (that is to say) I give my wife an annuity on the yearly rent of thirteen hundred pounds for and during the term of her natural life and chargeable on and made payable as hereinafter mentioned.

Item, I give and devise to my said wife all that my Capital Messuage called Prior Park wherein I now live together with all my dovehouses coachhouses stables outhouses buildings gardens courts barns yards and offices thereto belonging, and all the messuages lands and tenemants, which I purchased from [space]pool since deceased and all and every the messuages lands and tenements I lately bought and purchased of, and from Simon Collett and the trustees of John Marchant Clothier Deceased and all that my estate called Comb Down with all houses and buildings to hold the said Capital Messuage with the appurtenances and the said estates before mentioned to her my said wife and her assigns for one hundred years - commencing from the day of my death if she my said wife shall so long live she repairing and keeping the same premises in Good and Sufficient repair and I also give my said wife and her assigns from time to time full and free Liberty of Ingess Egress and Progress at all times either in foot or with Coaches Chariots and other Carriages of Passing and repassing in by and through and over any of my Lands Tenements or hereditaments in the parishes of Lyncomb and Widcomb Monkton Comb Bathampton and Clarton or either of them in the said County of Somerset and also all that my Messuage or tenement with the appurtenances at Weymouth in the County of Dorset I give and devise to my said wife and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life

Item I give and devise to my said wife and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life the free use of my plate China and household goods of my said house at Weymouth aforesaid.

Item, I give and bequeath to my said wife, all her Jewells Rings Watches Seals Trinkets and all other the ornaments of her person absolutely as her own and I also give her my said wife the use of all my household Goods Pictures Plate China Linnen Implements and Utensils of Household which shall be in or belonging to the house. wherein I now live at the time of my decease But in case my said, wife shall happen to die without making

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any Compleat or full diss position of her Jewells Rings Watches Seals Trinkets and other Ornaments of her person in her lifetime or in writing by Will or otherwise Then I do hereby give the said Jewels Rings Watches Seals Trinkets or such other part or parts thereof as shall not be by my said Wife given away or disposed of as aforesaid unto my nieces Gertrude Warburton Wife of the Right Reverend Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Mary Allen spinster equally between the. Share and share alike and all my household Goods Pictures Plate China Linnen Implements and Utensils of Household I will and direct shall be and remain in my dwelling house at Prior Park and be held and enjoyed by such person and persons to whom I have hereinafter given and devised the said house in the nature of and as Heirs Loom Except such parts thereof as my Wife shall in her lifetime or by her Will in Writing or otherwise give away and dispose and which Gift and disposition I do hereby empower her to make and I hereby direct that the said Jewell’s Household Goids China Plate and other things both in my house at Prior Park and my house at Weymouth shall not be liable or subject to pay any of my debts

I give my said wife six of my Coach Horses or Geldings and such harness for such six horses and also such two of my saddlehorses or Geldings with two such saddles and Bridles as my said Wife shall choose

Item I give my said Wife my Coach and Post Chaise with all Appurts belonging

Item I do hereby charge and make liable all and every my Manors Messuages Lands and Tenements and Real Estate whatsoever (Except what I have before given ny said wife for her life) with the payment of my Wife’s Annuity hereinbefore given to her and direct the same to be paid at four Quarterly Payments Christmas Lady Day Midsummers Day and Saint Michael the Archangel by equal portions the first payment to be made on such of the said feasts as shall next happen after my death and to be free of all Taxes and Deductions whatsoever and I do hereby invest my said Wife with all Powers and Remedies for recovering said annuity by Entry and distress or by receiving the Eents and Profits of my said Estates as fully as if the same was repeated here at Large and I do hereby declare said Annuity to be in Lieu and discharge of any Power or Thirds which she my said Wife can or may Claim out of any Estates and Whereas by the Articles made on my Brother Philip Allens Marriage with his present Wife I am obliged to pay him two annuities of one hundred pounds per annum each at such times as therein mentioned and the same is chargeable on all or some parts of my Estates in the parish of Lyncomb and WIdcomb Now I do hereby Exonerate such Estates from the payment of the said annuities and so will and direct t,he same to be charged and chargeable on my Estate and Lands in the Parish of Bathampton during so long as my said Wife shall happen to live

Item all and every my Manors Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments whatsoever which are of freehold tenure s(subject to my Wife’s Estate for life in those particular Estates I have before given to her)

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I give devise and bequeath unto John Chapman one of the Aldermen of the City of Bath and James Sparrow of the same City clerk To hold to them and their heirs and assigns by Trust that they my said Trustess and the Survivor of them and the heirs and assigns of such survivor so and shall from time to time and at all times hereinafter during my wife’s life receive the Rents Fines and Profits thereof and (after paying Taxes Repairs and all other outgoings) In the next place pay and discharge my said Wifes Annuity and do out of the Rents and Peofits of my Bathampton Estate pay my Brother Philip Allens annuity or annuities and so pay and apply the overplus of the neat profits of all the said Estates (which are not given my said wife for her life) if any be after such deductions as aforesaid to my niece Gertrude Warburton Wife of the Right Reverend WWilliam Lord Bishop of Gloucester - for her own sole and separate use separate and apart from her present or any after taken husband and her [?] alone to be a Sufficient discharge for the same and from and after my wifes decease I will my said Trustees and the Survivors of them and the heirs and assigns of such Survivors shall Stand Seized of all and every my Manors Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments or Freehold Tenure To for and upon the following uses (that is to say) as to for and concerning all that my Manor with all Lands and Hereditaments thereto belonging situate and being in the parish of Bathampton aforesaid with all Courts Royalties Jurisdications and Rights whatsoever thereto appertaining (excepting the Warren) and also that my Estate and Interest of and in the Lands and Estate I purchased of his Grace the Duke of Kingston and now out upon the lives of William Skrine Esquire and his sister To the use of my Brother Philip and his heirs forever maken of the two hundred pounds per annum I am obliged to pay him by his said marriage articles and I will and direct that my said Brother and his heirs do within six months after he or they do become Entitled to the said Estate hereby bequeathed him release acquit and discharge all other my Estate and Lands of and from the payment of the said Annuities for ever after but in case my said Brother shall refuse to accept of such devise and bequest in lieu and satisfaction of such annuity (the same being of much greater value) I then direct the said devise and bequest shall become void and that they my said Trustees do pay him my said Brother the sum of five thousand pounds as a purchase for said annuities which purchase I am empowered to make by the said marriage articles and as to all other my Manors Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments of freehold tenure including the Warren I have before exempted and also including all my Estate and Lands before given to my Brother Philip and his heirs in case my said Brother refuses to accept those of upon the Terms aforesaid to the use of and In Trust that they my said trustees and the survivors of them and the heirs and assigns of such survivor do and shall with all consistent speed after my wife’s decease by Sale or mortgage of all or any part thereof raise and levy the sum and such

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Of money as shall be sufficient to pay and satisfy all my just debts and legacies hereinafter given in case my personal estate shall not be sufficient for that purpose and to this further use Intent and purpose that they my said Trustees and the Survivor of them and the heirs and assigns of such survivor shall stand and be seized of all and every the same last mentioned manors messuages lands Tenements and hereditaments or such part thereof as shall remain unsold for the purposes aforesaid To and for the several uses Intents and Purposes hereinafter mentioned (that is to say) In Trust that they and the Survivor of them and the heirs and assigns of such survivor do and shall receive and take the Rents Monies and Profits thereof and every part thereof and after paying Taxes Repairs and other Outhoungs do and shall from time to time pay and apply the neat produce of the said Rents Monies and profits to my said niece Gertrude for so long as she shall happen to live to her own sole and peculiar use separate and distinct from her present or any other husband and her Receipt alone shall be sufficient discharge for the same and I will my said Trustees and the survivor of them and the heirs and assigns of such survivor shall during the life of my said niece be seized of the same Manors Messuages Lands tenements and hereditaments In Trust to support and preserve the Contingent Uses and Estates hereinafter Linutted from being defeated and destroyed but nevertheless to permit and suffer my said niece Gertrude to ho,d and enjoy the Rents Monies and Profits of the same Premises as I have hereinbefore directed and from and after the decease of my said niece Gertrude Warburton In Trust for the first second third and all and every other the son and sons of the body of my said niece lawfully begotten or to be begotten severally surressively and in remainder one after another as they, and every of them shall be insecurity of age, and priority of birth, and the several and respective heirs male of the body and bodies of all, and every such son and sons lawfully joining the elder of such sons, and the heir is male of his body to be always preferred and take before the younger of such son and sons is in the heir is male of his and their body and bodies having in default of such sons in trust for all and every the daughter and daughters of the body of my said niece Gertrude Warburton lawfully begotten, or begotten to be equally divided between them (if more than one) share and share alike to take as tenants in common, and not as joint tenants and the several and respective areas of the bodies of all, and every such daughter and daughters lawfully having and in case one or more daughters shall happen to dye without issue of her or their body or bodies, then as to the shares or shares of her or their, so dying without issue in trust for the survivors or survivor and others, or other of them to be equally divided between among them (if more than one) share and share alike to take as tenants in common, and not as joint tenants and the several and respective areas of the bodies of such survivors or survivors and others or other of them, and if all such

[page 5] Daughters, but one shall happened to dye without issue of their bodies, or if there shall be but one such daughter in Trust for such surviving, or only daughter and the heirs of her body, and in default of such issue, then in Trust for my nephew, Captain William Tucker and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life, without Impearlment of wast except wast in pulling down houses and buildings and from and after the determination of that Estate to the use of the said John Chapman and James Sparrow and their heirs during the life of my said nephew, Captain Tucker, in Trust, to support and preserve the contingent uses and estates hereinafter limited from being defeated or destroyed and for that purpose to make entries and bring actions as the case shall require yet nevertheless to permit and suffer the said William Tucker and his assigns during his life to receive and take the rents and profits thereof, and of every part thereof to and for his and their own uses and benefit and fromand after his decease in Trust for the first second third and all and every other the son and sons of the body of the said William Tucker lawfully to be begotten severally successively and the remainder one after another as they and every of them shall be in seniority of age and priority of birth and the several and respective heirs male of the body and bodies of all and every such son and sons lawfully housing the elder of such sons and the heirs male of his body to be always preferred and take before the younger of such son and sons and the heirs male of his and their body and bodies issuing and in default of such issue in Trust for all and every the daughter and daughters of my said nephew William Tucker lawfully begotten or to be begotten to be equally divided between them (if more than one) share and share alike to take as tenants in common and not as joint tenants and the several and respective heirs of the bodies of all in every such daughter and daughters lawfully issuing and in case one or more of such daughters shall happen to die without issue of her or their body or bodys then as for the share or shares of her or them so dying without issue in trust for the survivors or survivor and others or other of them to be equally divided between or among them (if more than one) share and share alike to take as Tenants in Commin and not as joint tenants and the several and respective heirs of the Bodies of such Survivors and Survivor and others or other of the. And of all such daughters but one shall happen to dye without issue of their bodies or if there shall be but one such daughter in trust for such surviving or only daughter and the heirs of her body lawfully issuing and in default of such issue then in trust for my niece Mary Allen and her assigns for and during the term if her natural life without impearlment of wast except wast in pulling down houses and buildings and from and after the determination of that estate to the use of the said John Chapman James Sparrow and their heirs during

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The life of my said niece Mary Allen in Trust to support and preserve the contingent uses, and Estates hereinafter Limitted from being defeated or destroyed and for that purpose to make entries and bring actions as the case shall require yet nevertheless to permit and suffer the said Mary Allen and her assigns during her life to remove and take the rents and profits thereof and every part thereof to and for her and their own use and benefit and from and after her decease in Trust for the first second third and all and every other the son and sons of the body of the said Mary Allen lawfully begotten severally successively and in remainder one after another as they and every of them shall be in seniority of age and priority of birth and the several and respective heirs male of the body and bodies of all and every such son and sons lawfully issuing the elder of such sons and the heirs male of his body to be always preferred and take before the younger of such son and Sons, and the heirs male of his and their body and bodies issuing, and in default of such sons in trust for all and every the daughter and daughters of the body of my said niece Mary Allen lawfully begotten or to be begotten to be equally divided between them (if more than one) share and share alike to take as tenants in common and not as joint tenants and the several and respective heirs of the bodies of all and every such daughter and daughters lawfully issuing and in case one or more of such daughters shall happen to die without issue of her or their body or body is then as to the share or shares of her or them so dying, without issue in Trust, for the survivors or survivor and others or other of them to be equally divided between or among them (if more than one) share and share alike to take as tenants in common and not as joint tenants and the several and respective heirs of the bodies of such survivors and survivors and others or other of them and if all such daughters but one shall happen to die without issue of their bodies or if there shall be but one such daughter in Trust for such surviving or only daughter and the heirs of her body lawfully issuing, and for want or in default of such as to the use and behalf of my own right shares for every provided nevertheless and it is my express will and desire that it shall and may be lawful to and for them my said trustees and the survivor of them and the heirs and assigns of such survivor in my wifes lifetime to make sale or mortgage of all and every my freehold Manors Messuages, Lands Tenements and hereditaments except my Manor and Estate at Bathampton and my Estate and interest in the same purchased of the Duke of Kingston as aforesaid for the purposes of paying my debts and legacies and to hereby empower them to make such a sale for mortgage as aforesaid, in case the party or parties for the time being who shall become entitled there to buy the limitations and bequests aforesaid shall request the same and in case also

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that the same is not to be in prejudice to my Wifes Estate for her life on the Annuity I have hereby given her

Item all my Leasehold Messuages Lands and Tenemenets whatsoever subject to my Wifes Interest therein for her life I give devise and bequeath to them my said `trustees upon the following `trusts that is to say in Trust that they my said Trustees and the Survivir of them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivirs do and shall pay and apply the neat Rents and Profits thereof to my said niece Gertrude and her assigns for and during her natural life separate and apart from her present or any other husband and her receipt alone to be a sufficient discharge and after her decease I give the same leasehold estates to her son Ralph Warburton and his executors and assigns for all the residue and remainder of the several terms that shall be thereon to come at his mothers death but in case the said Ralph Warburton shall die before he arrives to the age of twenty one years them I give the same Leashold Estates to my nephew Captain William Turner his Executors and Assigns for all the residue of the several terms that shall be thereon to come in case my said nephew be luging at the death of the said Ralph Warburton but if he be then dead I give the same leasehold estates and premises to my niece Mary Allen and her Executors and Assigns for all the Estate and interest that shall be thereon respectively to come

Item I give and bequeath to my living wife the sum of five hundred pounds to be paid her within one week after my death

Item I give to the said Lord Bishop of Gloucester my whol library of Books and whereas upon the marriage of the said Lord Bishop with my niece Gertrude his wife I did by certain articles of agreement dated on or about the twenty fifth day of March one thousand seven hundred and forty five and made between me the said Ralph Allen of the one part and the said Lord Bishop of the other part Covennant and agree to pay unto one or more trustee or trustees to be named and approved of by the said Lord Bishop and Gertrude his wife or the Survivor of them or the Executors or administrators of such survivor within the space of one year next after the death of my now wife the sum of five thousand pounds in part of a fortune with my said niece now in case I should happen to die in the life time of my said wife I do hereby a order and direct to such Trustee or Trustees to be nominated and approved of as aforesaid the sum of five thousand pounds instead of the sum of five thousand pounds so by me covenanted to be paid after my said wife’s death as aforesaid and to be upon the same trusts as are mentioned and dec,aged in and by the said marriage articles and to be paid in six months after my death

Item I give and bequeath to my wife the sum of one thousand pounds to be by her paid and applyed to and for such charities as she shall see proper

Item I give my Brother Philip Allen the sum of two thousand pounds to be paid him in six months after my death

Item I give and bequeath to my said niece Gertrude the sum of five thousand

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Pounds to be paid her in six months after my decease and to be separate and apart from her present husband and not subject to his debts control or management but to do therewith as she shall think proper

I give my nephew Philip Allen the sum of one thousand pounds

I give my nephew Ralph Allen the sum of five thousand pounds to be paid them respectively within twelve months next after my death

Item I give my niece Mary Allen the sum of ten thousand pounds to be paid her twelve months next after my death

Item i give to my nephew Captain William Turner the sum of ten thousand pounds to be paid him in twelve months next after my death

I give to my sister Gertrude Elliott the sum of three thousand pounds to be paid in six months after my death

Item I give to my nephew Philip Elliott the sum of one thousand pounds to be paid within six months after the death of my wife if he my said nephew be then living

And I give to my grand nephew Ralph Elliott the sum of one thousand pounds to be paid him in six months after my said wife’s decease if he my said grand nephew be then living

Item I give to my nephew Captain William Turner the additional legacy of five thousand pounds to be paid him in six months after my said wife’s decease

and to my niece Mary Allen I give the additional legacy of five thousand pounds to be paid her in six months after my wife’s death

Item I give and bequeath unto the Reverend James Sparrow the sum of five hundred pounds

and to his son James Sparrow I give the sum of one hundred pounds

and to Mrs Ann Bennett the sum of one hundred pounds which said last mentioned legacies I will be paid within twelve months after my decease

Item I give to my Great Nephew Ralph Warburton the annuity of forty pounds a year I purchased for his life in the Government security for his own use and benefit

Item I give to Joe William Oliver Jerry Pierre Mr Jno Knipe clerk the Reverend Mr Purd of Hunhaston said Alldn Chapman Wm Hoare Lewis Clutterburk Gent Jos Lobb and Ralph Mould one hundred pounds each which said last mentioned legacies will be paid in twelve months after my decease

Item I give to my servants William Ward and Isaac [?]addesley the sum of fifty pounds

I give to Rich ? Jones and each of my menial servants except Wm Ward Saml Payne Ic Doddesley and Saml Shillard one years wages over and above what shall be due to them at my death

Item I give to my clerk Saml Purum the sum of four hundred pounds and to his wife one hundred pounds for her extraordinary care of my wife in her great illness to be paid in twelve months after my death and it is my espress Will and meaning that if by any unfortunate accidents and misfortunes my

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Real and personal Estate shall prove insufficient to pay the whole of my wifes annuity debts and many Legacies then and in such case I do hereby direct that all and every the legatee and legatees hearing named, who is respective legacy, and legacies, shall amount to the sum of £1000 and upwards shall abate in proportion to their respective legacies, and such legacy, and legatees, to be entitled to have and receive interest for such abated sums at the rate of £4 per century per annum be computed from the day of my death to the day of my said wife’s deceased, and then such legatee and legatees to be entitled to have and receive their respective abated sums. If my estate will admit there off

Item all the residue of my goods chattels and personal estate whatsoever and whensoever not hearing before disposed of given to the said John Chapman and James Sparrow, I said trustees in Trust to pay all my Justus funeral expenses, legacies and changes charges of proving this. My will, and in case my residuary estate shall be more than sufficient to pay all my just debts, legacies and charges of proving this my will them. I will Liz and I do hear by give Anne back with Such neat estate as Shelby so remaining after the above ends and purposes are fully satisfied to my said, trustees to place the same out at interest, and to pay such interest to my niece Gertrude Warburton, for and during her natural life separate, and apart from her present, or any after taken husband and her receipt to be a sufficient discharge for the same first, allowing their out to my great nephew, Ralph Warburton, the sum of £200 yearly towards his education until he arrives to the age of 21 years, and after allowing him the said Ralph Warburton £400 per annum, instead of the Z £200 per annum during the joint lives of his mother, and my said wife, and after the death of my wife, his mother surviving allowing £100 per annum for his life. Instead of the said £400 per annum, and I give the said Ralph Warburton, they said annuities accordingly and to be clear of all deductions and over and above the £40 per annum. I have here into four given to him and said annuities to be paid by, 2/2 yearly payments (to), the Nativity of our Lord, Christ and Saint John the Baptist, by over and equal portions, and I will the set allowances or annuities shall be deducted. Find My said trustees out of what real and personal Estates and [? ] I have hereinbefore given to his mother said mother if the yearly produce of the neat produce of my residuary estate shall not be sufficient for that purpose, and from and after the decease of my said, nice Gertrude Warburton, I give the said neat principle of my residuary estate, so as aforesaid directed to be placed out at interest until the said, Ralph Warburton is executors and administrators for his and their own use and benefit. If you show happened to survive he said mother, but if he dies in his mothers lifetime, then I give Anne, the Queen of the same to my nephew, Captain William Tucker, and my will wife, Mary

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Allen and their respective Executors and Administrators not as joint Tenants but as Tenants in Commin but if only one of the, shall be living at the death of my said niece Gertrude Warburton’s said son being then dead I give the same principal Estate to such and so surviving and his or her Executors or Administrators but if it shall so happen that neither of them my said nephew and niece Captain William Turner and Mary Allen shall live to be Entitled to the said principal Estate I then give the same to such person and persons and in such parts and proportions as my niece Gertrude Warburton shall by any deed or deeds writing or writings to be by her executed with the presence if and attested by two or more credible witnesses or by her last Will and testament so executed and attested and aforesaid [?] direct or appoint give or bequeath and in default of such limitation or appointment gift or bequest then in trust to pay the same principal Estate to the executors administrators or assigns of my said niece Gertrude Warburton and I give the same accordingly and I will that my said trustees shall divert and retain out of the trust moneys and estates all costs damages and expenses they shall sustain or by put unto in the execution of the trusts hereby in them imposed and that they shall not be chargeable with or accountable for any more moneys than he or they shall actually receive and shall not be accountable one for the other of them or for the arts receipts or defaults of the other of them but each for his own art receipt and default only and I do hereby make constitute and appoint them my said trustees the said John Chapman and James Sparrow joint executors in trust of this my last Will and testament and do hereby revoke all former wills and testaments by me made in witness whereof I have to this my last Will and testament contained in these skins of parchment set my hand and to this third and last skin at both my hand and seal this twenty eighth day of June one thousand seven hundred and sixty three

Ralph Allen

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Ralph Allen the testator as and for his last Will and testament in the presence of those who have subscribed our names and witness thereto at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other Richard Rogers James Mullins Robt Foreman

I Ralph Allen of Prior Park in the parish of Lyncomb and Widcomb in the County of Somerset Esquire doe declare the following bequests to be a codicil and as part of my last Will and testament of this days date that is to say I give my servant Francis [?]Don for his great care of me in my several houses the sum of three hundred pounds

I give to Mrs Moore late nurse to my great nephew Ralph Warburton for her great care of him in his infancy the sum of two

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hundred pounds

I give to Mary Poijutz the sum of one hundred pounds

I give to Alderman John Chapman the additional sum of one hundred pounds in case he takes upon him the Execution of the Trusts of my Will and I give to the Lord Bishop if Gloucester the sum of five hundred pounds all said legacies to be paid within twelve months after my death witness my hand and seal this twenty eighth day of June one thousand seven hundred and sixty three

Ralph Allen

signed and sealed by the said Ralph Allen as a codicil to his last Will and testament int he presence of us - Richard Rogers - James Mullins - Robt Forman

2

For the last instance of my friendship and gratefull regard for the best of friends as well as the most upright and ablest of ministry’s that has adorned our country I give to the Right Honble. William Pitt the sum of one thousand pounds to be disposed of by him to any of his children that he may be pleased to appoint for it and I hereby declare this to be a codicil; to my last Will and testament dated the first day of last August Prior Park November 16th 1760 R Allen

I do hereby confirm the legacy of one thousand pounds given to Mrs Pitt on the other side of this paper by deeming that gift to be the second codicil to my last Will dated yesterday at Prior Park June 29th 1763 Ralph Allen

Prior Park June 29: 1763

I do hereby declare that is is my Will and testament that if Captain Tucker should upon the death of his sister Warburton and her child Ralph or other children that she may hereafter have come into the possession of my Estates of Inheritance and my niece Mary `Allen should then be living & in such case to give at that time to `Molly the additional fortune of fifteen thousand pounds over and above her other legacies and I do deem this to be a third codicil to my last Will dated yesterday Ralph Allen

I Ralph Allen of Prior Park in the County of Somerset do give to Retkinson Allen of St Columbe in Cornwall the annual annuity of twenty pounds during his natural life to be quarterly paid to him by my executors without any deduction and out of the thousand pounds which in my Will dated the 28th day of the last month I have given to my wife for she to dispose of at her discretion to charitable uses it is my desire that she will give two hundred oiunds of that money to James Jonill who was my servant in the stables and is now blind and that in the disposal of the remainder of the thousand pounds above mentioned it is my desire that Richard Gibbs and the others

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Old labourers now employed by me or old servants passed their labour and not particularly taken notice of by me in my last Will May be considered and taken care of out of that money by my wife and I declare this paper to be a fourth codicil to my Will July 6 1763 Ralph Allen

5

Wednesday June 29th 1764 forty minutes after 7 in ye morn

Mr Allen desires to be buried as privately and decent,t as possible without pomp in the churchyard at Claveryon in a vault made to hold eight the inscription for and fraught of the Tomb which is to be of stone are both made and are in one of the drawers in the Room in which he now lees his Will is in the second drawer of the chest nearest his bed. He dies in perfect good Will towards Mr Pitt concerning whom there is a codicil added to his Will he wishes happyness to all desires that a part of a will not yet signed relative to.his nephew Mr Philip Allen’s marriage May stand good in the manner intended by that writing of which Mr Clutterburk and I think he said Mr Philip Allen Senr were acquainted he also desires that all those who have attended him in this house may be rewarded and that I may be taken care of, is very thankful to God for his present eases and cheerfully submits to his [?] [?] enquired tenderly for Mrs Allen - desires that Mr Mears May be paid a full years allowance as if he has lived without any deduction for what has already been paid of the year Twenty minutes after Eight o’Clock Tho West - Thomas Hyett- Hugh Frazer - Francis Breedon

In the matter or business of proving or admitting the last Will and testament of Ralph Allen late of Prior Park in the parish of Lyncombe and Widcombe in the County of Somerset Esquire deceased

Lewis Clutterbuck of the City of Bath in the County of Somerset Gentleman depose th and saith that he has at this the time of jis Examination lawfully looked over the last Will and testament of the said Ralph Allendeceased hereto annexed and contained in three skins of parchment and saith that the words interlined between the twenty ninth and thirtieth lines from the top of the third and last skin of said Will to wit my clerk Saml Purun the sum of four hundred pounds and to his wife one hundred pounds for her extraordinary care of my wife in her great illness were by him this deponent wrote in the presence and by the order of the testator RalphAllen before he executed the same Will and the same words were wrote between the said lines by reason that the spare

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Or blank left in the ingressment of the said Will was not sufficient to contain the number of servants as legatees and for no other cause or reason whatsoever deponent saith said Ralph Allen read over the said Will after the said interlineatiin made and before he executed the same Lewis Clutterbuck sworn at the City of Bath in the County of Somerset the twenty eighth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty four before Duel Taylor Commissioner

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: 900
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 5111 #324549 (accessed 29 May 2023)
   Will of Ralph Allen, granted probate on 11 Jul 1764. Died about 1764 in Lyncombe, Somerset, England.