Will of Thomas Devis 1799

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Devis Will

This is a transcription of Thomas Devis's Will.^[1]

Every effort has been made to transcribe the document with the original spelling and grammar.

• Line breaks indicate page breaks
• "fs" has been transcribed as "ss"
• "ff" has been transcribed as "F"

The beneficiaries of the will include

• Catherine (Devis) Aldridge (1737-1808) (executrix)
• John Devis Aldridge (1777-1835) (son of Catherine)
• Robert Aldridge (son of Catherine)
• Thomas Devis (son of James)
• James Devis (1768-1832) (son of James)
• John Devis (son of James)
• Sarah the Wife of Bellamy (Daughter of James)
• Jonathan Devis (son of James)
• Joseph Devis (son of James)
• George Devis (son of James)

In the name of God Hmen I Thomas Devis of Thickthorn in the Parish
of Kenilworth in the County of Warwick Gentleman being weak in Body but of sound mind
memory and understanding praised be God for the same, considering the uncertainty of this
Mortal life and the various disputes that frequently happen respecting the Distribution
of Persons Estates who happen to die Intestate. to avoid the same Do make and ordain this my
last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) First I will and direct
that all my. Just Debts. funeral Expences and the Expences of proving this my Will be fully
paid and satisfied out of my personal Estate by my Executrix and Executor hereinafter
named within Twelve Calendar Months next after my decease, And Subject thereto, I Give
and Devise All those my several closes Pieces or Parcels of Arable Land, Meadow, or Pasture
Ground, commonly called or known by the several Names of the Marl Pit Close, Shoulder of
Mutton Close, the Ladys Close, the Song Meadow. or Lower Close against the Wood. Bonds
Close. Martins piece, and Powers's Piece, otherwise the kick Gard Close or by whatsoever
other Name or Names the same are called, known or distinguished by, situate lying and
being in the Parish of Kenilworth aforesaid with their and every of their Appurtenances unto
my trusty and well beloved friend George Dalton of Barkeswell in the said county of Warwick
and his Heirs To the Uses and upon the Trusts, ends, intents and purposes, hereinafter mentioned
limitted and declared of and Concerning the same (that is to say) To the Use of my Sister Catherine
Aldridge Widow, for and during the Term of her Natural Life, not committing any waste Spoil
or damage thereto And from and after the determination of that Estate To the Use of the said
George Dalton and his Heirs for and during the life of my said Sister In trust to preserve the
Contingent Uses and Estates hereinafter limitted from being defeated or destroyed. And for that
Purpose to make entries and bring Actions as occasion may require, but nevertheless to Permit
and suffer my said Sister and her Assigns to have received and take the Rents Issues and Profits
thereof to and for her own Use and benefit for and during the Term of her Natural Life
And from and immediately after her decease To the Use and Behoof of my Nephew Thomas
Devis Aldridge (Son of my said Sister) his Heirs and Assigns for ever - Subject nevertheless to
the Proviso hereinafter contained for the Payment of Two ^Twelve Hundred Pounds thereout as ~~
hereinafter is mentioned) - I also Give and Bequeath unto my said Nephew Thomas Devis
Aldridge All and singular my stock Cattle, Crops of Corn, or Grain, Growing, threshed and
Unthreshed Implements of Husbandry and all other my personal Estate and effects / except
my Household Goods furniture Bedding and linen hereinafter mentioned| To hold to

1 Thos Devis

my said Nephew Thomas Devis Aldridge his Executors Administrators and Assigns for ever ---
And I do hereby charge and make chargeable My said Real and Personal Estate above
Devised and Bequeathed with the Payment of Eight several Legacies or Sums of Money
following (that is to say) To Thomas Devis. James Devis. John Devis, Sarah the Wife of
- Bellamy, Jonathan Devis. Joseph Devis. and George Devis (sons and Daughter
of my Brother James Devis of Barston in the said County of Warwick Farmer) the sum
of One Hundred Pounds apiece. And to my Nephew Robert Aldridge (another of the Sons
of my said sister) the sum of Five Hundred Pounds. All which said several and Respective
Legacy's or Sums of One Hundred Pounds so Given and Bequeathed to the children of my
said Brother above named, I do hereby Will and Direct shall be paid and become due and
Payable to such of them as shall happen to be living and have attained Twenty one
years of Age at the end of Twelve Calendar Months next after my said sisters decease, and
not before, on any Account whatsoever, --- And in case any or either of my said Bothers
Children above named shall not have attained Twenty one Years of Age when my said
Sister shall happen to depart this life or within twelve Calender Months next after her decease.
Then and in such case I desire that his, her or their, said Legacy or Legacys, shall not
become due or Payable nor be paid until when, and as such said child or children shall
so attain his, her, or their, Age, or respective Ages, of Twenty one years as aforesaid,----
Provided always and it is my Will desire true intent and meaning That if one
or more of my Brothers Children above Particularly named, shall happen to depart this
life before he She or they shall have received his her or their said Legacy (without leaving
lawful issue of his her or their Body or Bodys) then I Give and Bequeath the Share or
Shares of he she or they so dying unto and amongst the Survivor or Survivors of them
to be equally divided between them share and share alike --- As to the said sum of
Five Hundred Pounds so by me above given and Bequeathed to my said Nephew Robert
Aldridge aforesaid. I do Will and direct that the same be paid to him out of my said real
and Personal Estates as aforesaid when and as he the said Robert Aldridge shall attain his
Age of twenty one Years. And in case my said Sister shall depart this Life before the said
Robert Aldridge attains Twenty one Years of Age. then I desire that my said Nephew Thomas
Devis Aldridge do pay or cause to be paid Yearly and every Year from the time of my said Sisters
decease till the said Robert Aldridge shall attain Twenty one Years of Age Interest on the said
Legacy or sum of Five Hundred Pounds At and after the Rate of Four Pounds for each and

2Thos Devis

every One Hundred Pounds by the year. And in case the said Robert Aldridge shall depart
this life before he attains Twenty one Years of Age without leaving Lawful Issue of his Body
Then I will and direct that his said Legacy do lapse and sink for the benefit and advantage
of my said Nephew Thomas Devis Aldridge. Provided always nevertheless And it is
my Will desire true and meaning That if my said Nephew Thomas Devis Aldridge shall
happen to depart this life before he attains Twenty one Years of Age without leaving Lawfull
Issues of his Body the I give and Devise All and singular my above mentioned real
and Personal Estates with their and every of their Appurtenances unto and to the Use of
the said George Dalton and his heirs. In Trust nevertheless for the Use of my Nephew
John Devis Aldridge his Heirs and Assigns for ever, Subject never the less and charge and
chargeable with the Payment thereout by my said Nephew John Devis Aldridge of the
several Legacies by me above Particularly mentioned and Bequeathed at the times above
mentioned. I Give and Devise all those my Seven Closes Pieces or Parcels of Arable
Land Meadow or Pasture Ground commonly called or known by the name of the Hales
Farm with their and every of their Appurtenances situated lying and being within
the Parish of Kenilworth aforesaid unto the said George Dalton and his Heirs In
Trust to receive the Rents Issues and Profits thereof or otherwise Occupy the same
himself as he shall think most proper. And the Rents Issues Profits and Produce
arising thereofrom to Pay apply and expend the same in equally maintaining Cloathing
and Educating, my Nephews the said John Devis Aldridge and William Aldridge during
the Minority of my said Nephew Hohn Devis Aldridge, And from and after the determination
of that Estate To the Use of the said George Dalton and his Heirs for and during the Minority
of my said Nephew John Devis Aldridge In Trust to preserve the Contingent Use and Estate
hereinafter limitted from being defeated or destroyed, and for that purpose to make entries
and bring Actions as occasion may require, And from immediately after the expiration
of the Minority of my Nephew John Devis Aldridge To the only Proper Use and behoof
of my said Nephew John Devis Aldridge his Heirs and Assigns for ever And to and for no
other Use intent or Purpose whatsoever And I do hereby expressly charge and make

3Thos Devis

chargeable my said Farm called Hales Farm with the Payment of the sum of Five Hundred
Pounds to my said Nephew William Aldridge to be Paid to him when and as he attains his age
of Twenty one years by my said Nephew John Devis Aldridge Provided always and it is
my will desire true intent and meaning that when and as soon as my said Nephew John Devis
Aldridge shall attain his Age of Twenty one years, Then the Division of the Yearly Rent or
Produce of my said Hales Farm above mentioned to be made equally between him and
his brother William shall cease and in lieu thereof, I desire that my said Nephew John
Devis Aldridge so pay out of the Rents Issues and Profits thereof to his Brother William
Interest on the said Sum of Five Hundred Pounds after the rate of four Pounds for every
One Hundred Pounds by the Year, the first Payment thereof to begin and be made
immediately when the said John Devis Aldridge shall attain his said Age of Twenty one
Years, and continue Payable until the said William Aldridge shall attain his said Age
of twenty one years, And in case the said William Aldridge shall depart this Life before
he attains Twenty one years of age without leaving Lawfull issue of his Body Then I
will and direct that his said legacy of Five Hundred Pounds do lapse and sink for
the benefit and advantage of the said John Devis Aldridge Provided always
nevertheless and it is my Will desire true intent and meaning That if my said Nephew
Thomas Devis Aldridge shall happen to depart this life before he attains Twenty one
Years of age without leaving lawfull Issue of his Body as aforesaid Then I Give and
devise All and singular my said Real Estate called Hales Farm with the Appurtenances
thereunto belonging unto and to the Use of my Nephew the said William Aldridge his
Heirs and Assigns for ever, Subject nevertheless and charged and chargeable with
the Payment of the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds thereout unto my said Nephew
Robert Aldridge at the end of one Year next after the decease of the survivor of them
the said Catherine Aldridge and John Thomas Devis Aldridge, As to my Household Goods
Furniture Bedding Linen Chattels and all other my Personal Estate and effects not
herein before disposed of, I do Give and Bequeath the same unto my said sister and
Nephew Thomas Devis Aldridge to be equally divided between them share and share
alike to take as Tenants in Common, and not as Joint Tenants. And Lastly I do hereby

4 Thos Devis

Nominate Constitute and appoint my said Sister Catherine Aldridge and Nephew Thomas
Deis Aldridge joint Executrix and Executor of this my said Last Will and Testament and
do hereby Revoke and make void all former Wills by me heretofore made. In testimony
whereof I the said Thomas Devis (the Testator) have to this my said Last Will and Testament
written contained on five sheets of Paper to the four first set my Hand. and to this the Fifth
and last sheet thereof my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of August in the Thirty fifth
Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third by the Grace of God of Great
Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith and so forth And in the Year of
our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety five ++++++++- Thos Devis
Signed Sealed Published deliver'd and declared by
the said Thomas Devis (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 of us have Subscribed our Names
as Witnesses hereto - the erazure and Interlineation
of the word "Twelve" on the first sheet hereof -
The Interlineation of the words "for the" and the
erazure on the third sheet hereof, And the -
Interlineation of the words, "after Thomas" on
the Fourth Sheet hereof - being first made
in the presence of us Edw Watts
Thomas Maron
Rich Delves

5

Whereas I the within named Thomas Devis (the testator) have since the date and
execution of this my within written Will purchased of and from my Brother James Devis
his reversionary right title and Interest Of and in four several Closes pieces or parcels
of Arable Meadow or pasture ground commonly called or known by the several
names of upper Barron Field, Middle Barron Field, Lower Barron Field, and the
Bear Close situate lying and being in the Parish of Kenilworth in the County of Warwick
and now in my own occupation Now I Do hereby Give and Devise the said four
several closes pieces or parcels of Arable Land Meadow or pasture Ground unto
my Nephew Thomas Devis Aldridge within named his Heirs and Assigns for
ever Subject nevertheless and charged with the payment of a Mortgage thereon and
of my first debts Funeral expenses and legacies by me in this my Will Directed to be
paid by my said Nephew Thomas Devis Aldridge, at the times and in manner within
mentioned And I do desire this to be taken and construed as aCodicie to my said within
written Will and to have the same force and effect, as if the above Gift and Devise had been
made and contained within the Body of this my within written Will In Testimony
whereof I the said Thomas Devis (the Testator within named) have to this Codicil to
my said Will Set my Hand and Seal this twenty eight day of July one
thousand seven Hundred and Ninety eight - Thos Devis signed sealed publish'd deliver'd and declar'd
by the said Thomas Devis (the within named
testator) as and for aCodicie unto and to be taken
construed and have the same force operation
and effect as his within written Will in the
presence of us who at his Request in his
presence, and in the presence of each of
us who have subscribed our names as
Witnesses hereto - Edw Watts
Mary Watts
John Glover

Research Notes

Was the main beneficiary named Thomas Devis Aldridge or John Devis Aldridge? Alternatively, were these two different people?

Sources

1. ↑ Probate: "Staffordshire, Dioceses Of Lichfield And Coventry Wills And Probate 1521-1860"
   FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 27 December 2022)
   Thomas Devis probate in 1799. Residence Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England.