The will of John Howcott of Bitteswell, buried 1769
In
the Name of God Amen I John Howcott of Bitteswell in the County of Leicester
Yeoman do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner following
(that is to say) I Give and devise unto my Dear and Loving Wife Hannah Howcott
One Annuity or Yearly Rent Charge of Eight Pounds to be paid her by four equal
quarterly payments in each Year during the Term of her Natural Life Clear of all
deductions
whatsoever by my Sons John and Robert Howcott by and out of the Lands Tenements
and Hereditaments herein after Devised to them respectively The first payment
thereof to begin and be made at the end of Three Kalendar Months next after my
decease And I will and direct that the same be paid by my said Sons in the
proportions following to Wit, my said Son John Howcott the sum of Six pounds per
Annum and my said Son Robert Howcott the Sum of Two pounds per Annum And I
hereby Charge the Lands Tenements and Hereditaments herein after respectively
devised to them with the payment of the same accordingly And Charged and
Chargeable as aforesaid with the said Annuity of Six pounds.
I
Give and Devise All those Several pieces and parcels of Land Arable Ley Meadow
Pasture Grass Ground and Commons reputed to be Three quarterns of One yardland
or thereabouts to be the same more or less lying and being in the Fields and
Liberties of Bitteswell aforesaid And also One Land of Arable Land in each and
every of the fields of Bitteswell aforesaid (which said Lands Hereditaments and
premises were the Inheritance of my late Father John Howcott deceased) And also
all those Seven Leys of Greensword ground in Bitteswell aforesaid which I
purchased to me and my Heirs of and from Mr Pares of Leicester unto my Son John
Howcott his Heirs and Assigns for ever Subject also and Charged and Chargeable
as herein after mentioned And Charged and Chargeable as aforesaid with the said
the said Annuity of Two Pounds.
I
Give and devise All that Messuage or Tenement and Homestead or backside with the
appurtenances Situate Standing and being in Bitteswell aforesaid (and which was
the Inheritance of my said late Father) And Also All those Several pieces and
parcels of Land Arable Ley Meadow Pasture Grass ground and Commons with heir
appurtenances lying and being Dispersed in the Open and Common Fields and
Liberties of Bitteswell aforesaid which I purchased to me and my Heirs of William
Howkins unto my said Son Robert Howcott his Heirs and Assigns for ever Subject
also and Charged and Chargeable as herein after mentioned.
Also
I Give and Devise unto John Lord of Bitteswell aforesaid Yeoman his Executors
and Administrators one Annuity or Clear yearly rent Charge of Four pounds to be
paid by four equal quarterly payments in each year during the Natural Life of my
Daughter Mary the Wife of Simon Burdett Clear of all deductions whatsoever by my
said Sons John and Robert Howcott out of the Lands Tenements and Hereditaments
devised to them respectively as aforesaid and by my son Joseph Howcott by and
out of the Half yardland herein after Devised to him And I will and direct that
the same be paid by my said Sons John Robert and Joseph Howcott in the
proportion following, to Wit, My said Son John Howcott Twenty Shillings per
Annum my said Son Robert Howcott Forty Shillings per Annum and my said Son
Joseph Howcott Twenty Shillings per Annum And I hereby Charge the Lands
Tenements and Hereditaments herein before respectively Devised to my said Sons
John and Robert Howcott and tha Half yardland herein after Devised to my said
Son Joseph Howcott with the due payment of the same accordingly And I hereby
declare that the said Annuity of Four pounds Devised to the said John Lord his
Executors and Administrators as aforesaid is so devised to him and them In Trust
for the sole use and benefit of my said Daughter Mary Burdett And I Will and
direct that the said John Lord his Executors and Administrators do and shall pay
the same from Time to Time as it shall be by him and them received unto my said
Daughter Mary Burdett for her sole and Seperate use and Benefit and wherewith
her said Husband Shall not Intermeddle And the receipt of my said Daughter Mary
Burdett shall notwithstanding her Coverture be sufficient discharge to the said
John Lord his Executors and Administrators from Time to Time for the same And
Charged and Chargeable with the said Annuity of Twenty Shillings.
I
Give and Devise All those Several pieces and parcels of Land Arable Ley Meadow
Pasture Grass ground and Commons lying and being dispersed in the Open and
Common Fields and liberties of Bitteswell aforesaid and there reputed to be and
Contain Half one yardland or thereabouts be the same more or less which I
purchased to me and my Heirs of and from one Robert Charter And Also all that
half quartern of Land there which I purchased of [space] Veasey unto my said Son
Joseph Howcott his Heirs and Assigns forever.
Also
All that Messuage or Tenement with the Appurtenances Situate Standing and being
in Lutterworth in the said County of Leicester which I purchased of Mr
Saddington now used as two Tenements or Dwelling Houses and in the Several
Tenures or Occupations of the said Simon Burdett and one William Waring I Give
and Devise the said Tenement or Dwelling House with the Appurtenances in the
possession of the said Simon Burdett unto my said Son Joseph Howcott his Heirs
and Assigns for ever And as to for and Concerning the said Tenement or Dwelling
House with the appurtenances in the possession of the said William Waring I Give
and devise the same unto my said Wife Hannah Howcott and her Assigns for and
during the Term of her Natural Life and after her decease I Give and Devise the same
with the appurtenances unto my said Son Joseph Howcott his Heirs and Assigns
forever.
And
if it shall happen that the said Annuity or Yearly Sums of Eight pounds and Four
pounds or any part of them or either of them shall be behind and unpaid by the
space of Thirty days next after either or any of the said days of payment
whereon the same shall become due as aforesaid It shall and may be Lawful unto
and for the said Hannah Howcott my Wife and John Lord his Executors and
Administrators or Such of them whose Annuity or yearly Rent Charge shall be
behind and unpaid as aforesaid to enter into and upon all and every or any of
the said premises respectively Charged with the said Annuities as aforesaid and
distreyn for the same or for so much of them or either of them as shall be
behind and unpaid to the said Annuitants respectively And the distress and
distresses there found to sell and dispose of for payment of the same together
with all Costs and Charges Occasioned thereby or incident thereto.
Also
all my Household goods and furniture Stock of Cattle Crops of Corn Grain and Hay
and Impliments of Husbandry in and about my Farm and Lands at Coates in the said
County of Leicester The Mare Called by the Name of Star and Wagon at Bitteswell
aforesaid which I bought of William Knight I Give and bequeath unto my said son
John Howcott He paying to my Daughter Hannah Howcott the sum of One Hundred
pounds of lawful money of Great Britain within Twelve Kalendar Months next after
my Decease and the further sum of Twenty punds within Three Kalendar Months next
after the decease of my said Wife which said Sums of One Hundred pounds and
Twenty Pounds I Give and bequeath to her as Legacies to be paid her by my said
Son John out of my Personal Estate bequeathed to him as aforesaid.
Also
all my Household goods and furniture at Bitteswell aforesaid I Give and bequeath
unto my said Wife Hannah Howcott for her own use and benefit.
Also
all my Stock of Cattle Crops of Corn Grain and Hay and Impliments of Husbandry
in and about my Farm and Lands at Bitteswell aforesaid I Give and bequeath unto
my said Son Robert Howcott He paying to my Daughter Martha Howcott the sum of
One Hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain within twelve Kalendar
Months next after my Decease And the further sum of Twenty Pounds within Three
Kalendar Months next after the decease of my said Wife which said Sums of One
Hundred Pounds and Twenty Pounds I Give and bequeath to her as Legacies to be
paid her by my said Son Robert Howcott out of my Personal Estate Bequeathed to
him as aforesaid.
Also
All the rest and residue of my Personal Estate whatsoever not herein before disposed
of I Give and bequeath unto my said Son John Howcott for his own use and benefit
(He paying all my Just debts and Funeral expences) whom I nominate and appoint
Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former
Wills by me made.
In
Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament Contained as this and
one preceding sheet of paper to the preseding sheet set my Hand and to this last
sheet set my Hand and seal this Twenty fifth day of March in the year of Our
Lord 1769
[....]
led Published and Declared by the said Testator John Howcott as and for [....]
ll and Testament
(signed)
John Howcott
in
the Presence of Us who in his presence and in the [....] each other have
Subscribed Our names as Witnesses to the same
(signed)
[....] Wakeling, Thos. Gamble, Jno. Gamble
Francis Howcutt from a photocopy of the original.