Transcription of the Will of Henry Balchen, 1777.
In the name of God Amen –
I Henry Balchen of Goodmans ffields in
the Parish of St Mary Whitechapel in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, being
of sound and disposing Mind, Memory and Understanding, praised be Almighty God,
do for avoiding controversies after my
decease make public and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and
form following, that is to say, ffirst and principally my Soul I recommend into
the Hands of Almighty God, my Creator listing for pardon and remission of all my
Sins by and through Him alone merits and mediation of my Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. My Body I commit to the Earth to be devoutly interred in the middle
Isle of the Parish Church of St Mary White Chapel aforesaid as near my Relations
as conveniently may be and I desire and direct that my Burial and ffuneral
Expenses shall not exceed thirty pounds. I will and appoint that all my just
Debts and ffuneral Charges shall be fully paid and satisfied. I give and
bequeath unto my dear and loving Wife Mary Balchen and her Assignes my Leasehold
Messuages or Tenements wherein I now dwell situate in Mansel Street in Goodmans
ffields aforesaid for so many years of the ……….. in the Lease thereof under
which I hold the same as she shall happen to live subject nevertheless to the
payment of the Rent and performance of the ………. in the said Lease and from and
after her decease I give and bequeath the said Leasehold Messuages and Tenament
unto my Son John Balchen, his Executors, Administrators and Assignes for the
remainder of the term of Years which shall be then to ……. therein. I give to my
said Wife all my Household ffurniture, plate --------------
Towels, , Rings, China, Linen, Pictures, Liquors and all other
household Stores. I give and bequeath unto the Trustees in the Settlement made
previous to my Marriage all that my Leasehold ffarm with the Lands and
Appurtances thereto belonging situate at Grays Hill in the Parish of
Roresterleigh in the County of Gloucester now in the tenure or occupation of
Daniel Luton or his undertenants to, for and upon such of the Trusts expressed
in my said Settlement concerning the said Estate as at the time of my decease
shall be existing and capable of taking effect. I give and bequeath unto John
Scott of Cranbrook in the County of Kent, Esquire, and to my Son John Balchen
twenty Guineas each for their trouble in executing the trusts of this my Will
and to each Ùof
them aRing of one Guinea
value. I give unto Richard Cross of Richmond in the County of Surrey, Esquire,
a Ring of two Guineas value. I give and bequeath to my Niece MaryMann and to
her four children Ann, ffrances, Anna Maria and James ten pounds each to be paid
to them within one Month after my decease. I give and bequeath all the rest,
residue and remainder of my Estate unto the said John Scott and my said Son and
to the Survivor of them and to the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor
upon Trust that they do will all convenient speed lay out and invest the same in
some of the public ffunds or other Government Securities and that out of the
Dividends and produce thereof they do pay unto my said Niece Mary Mann and her
Assignes for her natural life one Annuity or …… Yearly Sum of twenty pounds of
lawful Money of Great Britain by four equal quarterly payments on the four usual
Days of Payment in the Year (that is to say) the twenty fifth day of March, the
twenty fourth day of June, the twenty ninth day of September and the twenty
fifth day of December, the first payment thereof to be made on such of the said
Days as shall first and next happen after my decease to and for her own sole use
and benefit and I direct that the said Annuity shall not in any wise be subject
to the Debts, ……. or engagements of her present or any future Husband. But that
the Receipts of my said Niece Mary Mann notwithstanding her coverture shall be
good and sufficient discharges for all such Sum or Sums of Money as shall be
paid to her on account thereof and that they do pay the residue of such
Dividends and Produce unto my said Wife and her Assigns during her natural life
and from and after the decease of my said Wife and subject to the said Annuity
to my said Niece I give and bequeath the residue of my said Estate and the
ffunds and Securities …….. the same shall be invested unto my said Son John
Balchen, his Executors and Administrators and I constitute and appoint the said
John Scott and my said Son John Balchen Executors of this my last Will and
Testament and lastly I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other Wills
by me heretofore made and do publish and declare this only to be my last Will
and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this
eighteenth day of ffebruary in the year of our Lord one thousand and seven
hundred and seventy seven. Hen Balchen @ Signed, Sealed, Published and
Declared by the said Henry Balchen as and for his last Will and Testament in the
presence of us who at his request and in his presence have hereunto subscribed
our names.
Joseph Baldwin --- Owsley Rowley his Clk.
And it
is my further request that my Executors named in my above Will pay to ffrances
Mann forty pounds over and above the ten pounds left her in my Will and Also to
Ann ?arrot eigth Guineas if she shall live with me at the time of my death.
Nov’r 30 1778. H. Balchen./.
This Will was proved at London with a Codicil the twelfth day of April in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty before the Worshipful Andrew Coltee Duraarel, Surrogate of the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert, also Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Perogative Court of Canterbury, lawfully constituted by the Oath of John Balchen the Son of the Deceased and one of the Executors 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 only to Administer. Power reserved of making the like.