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In the name of God Amen I Anthony Collett of
Bourton-on-the-Water in the County of Gloucester gent being sick and weak in
body but of sound and disposing mind and memory thanks be to God do make and
ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner following
First I bequeath my soul to God in hope to receive mercy pardon and forgiveness for all my sins through the merits of Jesus Christ my only Redeemer and my body to be buried according to the discretion of my executrix hereinafter named
Item I give and devise and my will and meaning is that my dear and loving wife Anne shall hold and enjoy all and every my messuages, lands tenements and hereditaments in Bourton-on-the-Water aforesaid for so long time after my decease as she shall live a widow soul and unmarried
Item my will is that my said wife shall hold and enjoy
all my messuages, mills, lands, tenements and hereditaments lying in the several parishes and fields of Rawford in the Parish of Chalgrove
and in Great Haseley and Watlington
in the said County of Oxford or in either or any of them until my eldest son
Anthony Collett shall attain his age of one and twenty years or die which shall
first happen
And if he shall die before that age then until my
second son Henry Collett shall attain his age of one and twenty years or die
which shall first happen
And if both of them die before that age then until
my daughter Anne Collett shall attain her age of one and twenty years or die
which shall first happen provided nevertheless that if my said wife shall after
my decease marry or be married unto any person or shall die before either of my
said children shall attain his or her said age of one and twenty years that
then the estate before limited unto my said wife of and in the premises in Rawford, Chalgrove, Great Haseley and Watlington aforesaid
shall be void
And that then and from thence forth she or any
other under her shall no longer hold the same by virtue of the devise thereof
hereinbefore mentioned
Item I give and devise unto my said son Henry
Collett and his heirs forever all my messuages, lands,
tenements and hereditaments whatsoever in Naunton in the said County of Gloucester and in Hartford in
the Parish of Naunton aforesaid with their
appurtenances paying unto my said daughter Anne the sum of two hundred pounds
at the age of one and twenty years if she shall live to that age
But my will and meaning nevertheless is that my
said wife if she shall after my death live soul and unmarried shall hold and enjoy
the said premises in Naunton and Hartford until my
said son Henry shall attain his age of one and twenty years
And if he shall die before that age then until my
said son Anthony shall attain his said age of one and twenty years
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And if he shall also die before that age then until
my said daughter Anne shall attain her said age of one and twenty years or die
which shall first happen
And my will and meaning further also is that if my
son Henry or his heirs shall make default in payment of the said two hundred
pounds unto my said daughter Anne at her said age of one and twenty years in
case she live to that age that then it shall be lawful for my said daughter
Anne and her assigns into the said premises in Naunton
and Hartford aforesaid with the appurtenances to enter and the same to have
hold and enjoy until by with and out of the rents and profits thereof or some
other ways she and they shall be lawfully paid and satisfied as well the said
two hundred pounds as all the lawful interest thereof which shall grow due from
such her said age of one and twenty years until the said two hundred pounds
principal shall be paid as aforesaid and also all the costs and charges which
she or they shall be put unto for recovery of the said monies and lands
Item I give unto my said daughter Anne the sum of
two hundred pounds more to be paid unto her at her said age of one and twenty
years if she shall live to that age and not otherwise to bee paid unto her by
my said son Anthony or his heirs out of all such lands tenements and hereditaments as upon or after my decease shall descend or
come unto my said son Anthony or his heirs as heir or heirs at law of or unto
me the said Anthony Collett
And my will and meaning also is that if any default
shall bee made by my said son Anthony or his heirs of or in the payment of the
said last mentioned sum of two hundred pounds that then my said daughter and
her Assigns shall enter into and upon all every my said Lands tenements and hereditaments which upon or after my decease shall descend
or come unto my said son Anthony or his heirs as heir or heirs of or unto me
the said Anthony Collett and the same shall have hold and enjoy until by with
and out of the rents and profits thereof or some other ways she and they shall
be fully paid and satisfied the said last mentioned sum of two hundred pounds
and all the lawful interest thereof which shall grow due from such her said age
of one and twenty years until the said last mentioned two hundred pounds
principal shall be paid as aforesaid together with all the costs and charges
which she or they shall bee put unto for the recovery of the said last
mentioned monies or lands but my will nevertheless is that my said daughter
Anne or her assigns shall not meddle with or enter upon any of the premises in
Bourton-on-the-Water aforesaid until after the decease or marriage of my said
wife with any person after my decease
Item I do hereby nominate and appoint my said wife
the soul executrix of this my said will and do commit unto her the tuition and
guardianship of all my said children till their respective ages of one and
twenty years if she shall so long live and continue a widow
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And I give unto her all my goods and chattels not
by this my will otherwise disposed of but my will and meaning nevertheless is
that as well by with and out of the same goods and chattels as the rents, issues
and profits of the premises which upon or after my decease shall or will descend
or come unto my said son Anthony or his heirs as aforesaid or which I have
hereby devised unto my said son Henry as aforesaid she my said wife shall
educate and breed up my said sons and daughter in a decent manner suitable to
their condition until their said respective ages of one and twenty years if my
said wife shall so long live and continue a widow
And shall also pay unto my said daughter Anne four
hundred pounds more at her said age of one and twenty years if my said daughter
shall live to attain the said age
And if also the goods chattels and credits which I
shall leave at my decease together with the rents, issues and profits of my
said lands, tenements and hereditaments in Rawford, Chalgrove, Great Haseley, Watlington, Naunton and Hartford during the time my said wife shall or
ought to hold the same according to the purport and true meaning of this my
will shall be sufficient to pay the same over and above what shall be disposed
by her in or for the maintenance and education of my said children as aforesaid
Item my Will and meaning is that if my said wife
shall die or after my decease shall marry or be married again to or with any
other person before my said children shall all of them have attained their said
age of one and twenty years then and from thence forth in either of the said
cases I doe hereby constitute my loving brothers Mr Henry Collett and Mr
And thenceforth also I do hereby commit and give
unto them the custody guardianship and tuition of all my said children until
their said respective ages of one and twenty years and in such case also I do
hereby empower and desire my said brothers and their assigns to require and
take and be accompt of and from my said wife her
executors or administrators of what monies or goods shall come to her hands as
executrix of this my said Will or which she shall have received by with or out
of my said lands, tenements and hereditaments in Rawford, Chalgrove, Great Haseley, Watlington, Naunton and Hartford aforesaid or any of them appointed to be
held by her during my children’s minority and her widowhood as aforesaid
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And I do hereby require and appoint my said wife
her executors and administrators in such case as aforesaid to pay unto my said
brothers their executors and administrators in trust as is hereinafter
mentioned all the monies which upon such accompt
shall appear to have come to the hands of my said wife as aforesaid also to
deliver unto them all the goods and chattels which I shall leave at my death and
which shall then remain un-administered by my said wife she and they
nevertheless deducting out of the same all such monies as in pursuance of this
my Will she shall have disbursed in or for such the maintenance and education
of my said children or any of them as aforesaid provided that the money which
shall be due on such accompt as aforesaid together
with the said goods and chattels which shall be so left un-administered as
aforesaid shall not in all exceed the said sum of four hundred pounds for in
such case my will is that the monies and goods so to be paid and delivered by
my said wife her executors or administrators unto my said brothers their
executors or administrators as aforesaid shall not in all exceed the said four
hundred pounds
Item my Will and meaning is that if my said wife
shall die or marry or be married again to or with any other person after my
decease before my said son Anthony shall attain his age of eighteen years or if
he die before that age then if she die or marry before my said son Henry shall
attain his age of eighteen years that in such case my said son Anthony or his heirs
shall pay unto my said daughter at her said age of one and twenty years if she
live to that age and not otherwise the sum of two hundred pounds more over and
above all the several sums hereinbefore mentioned the same to be paid also out
of all my said lands tenements and hereditaments
which upon or after my decease shall descend or come to my said son Anthony or
his heirs as heirs or heirs at law of or unto me the said Anthony Collett
And if any default shall be made by my said son
Anthony or his heirs of or in payment of the said last mentioned sum of two
hundred pounds then my said daughter and her assigns shall enter into and upon
all my said lands, tenements and hereditaments which
upon or after my decease shall descend or come unto my said son Anthony or his heirs
as heir or heirs of or unto me and the same shall have hold and enjoy until by
with and out of the rents and profits thereof or some other ways she and they
shall be fully paid and satisfied the said last mentioned sum of two hundred
pounds and all the lawful interest thereof such shall grow out from such her
said age of one and twenty years until the said last mentioned sum of two hundred
pounds principal shall be paid as aforesaid together with the costs or charges
which she or they shall be put unto for the recovery of the said last mentioned
moneys or lands
And my Will and meaning further is that if my said
daughter shall die before her age of one and twenty years and also before my
said wife shall die or marry or be married to or with any person after my
decease that in such case my said wife shall not be required or obliged to make
any such accompt or to pay or deliver any such monies
or goods unto my said brothers their executors or assigns as aforesaid anything
in this my Will to the contrary not withstanding
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Item my Will and meaning is that if my said wife
shall die or marry again after my decease before my said daughter shall attain
her age of one and twenty years then my said daughter Anne shall have ten pounds
a year towards her maintenance out of the premises which upon or after my
decease will descend or come from me to my heir at law and ten pounds a year
more towards her maintenance also out of the premises hereby devised to my said
son Henry the same to be paid from such the decease or marriage of my said wife
which shall first happen until my said daughter shall attain her age of one and
twenty years or die which shall first happen the same to be paid quarterly at
our Lady Day, Midsummer, Michaelmas and St Thomas Day
by equal portions
And if and as often as the said yearly sums or
either of them shall be behind or unpaid in part or in all by the space of fourteen
days next after the same or either of them in any part or parts thereof ought
to be paid according to the meaning of this my Will that then and so often it
shall be lawful for my said daughter Anne and her assigns into the premises
respectively out of which the same payment which shall be so behind as
aforesaid ought to be made or paid as aforesaid to enter and distrain and the distress and distresses there to be taken
to impound and keep until the said yearly payments respectively so to be behind
as aforesaid and all the arrears thereof shall be fully paid
And my Will and meaning further is that if my said
wife shall die or marry again after my decease before my said two sons shall
attain the several ages of one and twenty years then my said two brothers Henry
and
And if he die before that age then until my said
daughter shall attain her said age of one and twenty years or die which shall
first happen and shall also hold and enjoy the said premises devised unto my
said son Henry as aforesaid until my said son Henry shall attain his age of one
and twenty years or if he die before that age then until my said son Anthony
shall attain his said age of one and twenty years
And if he shall die before he shall attain that age
then until my said daughter Anne shall come to the said age of one and twenty
years or die which shall first happen in trust nevertheless for my said
children in manner following that is to say that out of the rents issues and
profits of the premises which upon or after my decease shall descend or fall
unto my said heir at law as aforesaid they shall maintain and educate my said
son Anthony in a decent manner suitable to his condition and rank until his said
age of one and twenty years and shall pay the said ten pounds a year chargeable
thereon to my said daughter for so long as my said brothers or either of them
shall hold the premises by virtue of this my Will and all the over plus of the
same rents, issues and profits of the premises shall accompt
and pay over unto my said son Anthony his heirs and assigns at the end of the
term estate or interest hereby limited or appointed to be held by my said
brothers as aforesaid
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And out of the rents, issues and profits of the
premises by this my will given over or devised to my said son Henry as
aforesaid my said brothers and the survivor of them and the executors and
administrators of the same survivor shall maintain and educate my said son
Henry in a decent manner suitable to his degree and condition until his said
age of one and twenty years and shall also pay the said other ten pounds a year
chargeable thereon to my said daughter Anne as aforesaid for so long time as my
said brothers or either of them shall hold the premises by virtue of this my
said Will and all the residue and over plus of the same rents issues and profits
of the premises last mentioned shall accompt and pay
over unto my said son Henry his heirs and assigns at the end of the term and
estate of and in the same last mentioned premises hereby limited to or
appointed to be held by my said brothers as aforesaid provided always that if
the monies, goods and chattels hereinbefore appointed to be paid and delivered
over by my said wife her executors or administrators unto my said two brothers
their executors or administrators as aforesaid shall not altogether amount unto
the said full sum and worth of four hundred pounds hereinbefore appointed to be
paid by my said wife unto my said daughter towards her portion as aforesaid that
then my said brothers their executors and administrators shall in the first
place out of the over plus of the rents, issues and profits as well as of the
said premises which shall so descend or come to my heir at law as aforesaid as
of the premises so hereby devised unto my said son Henry as aforesaid over and
besides so much as shall be employed for or towards my said children’s
maintenance as aforesaid raise and provide so much money as together with the
money goods and chattels so to be paid over by my said wife her executors
administrators or assigns unto my said brothers their executors administrators
or assigns shall altogether complete and make up the said sum of four hundred
pounds which shall be fully paid unto her at her said age of one and twenty
years if she live to that age over and above the said several sums hereinbefore
appointed to be paid unto her by my said two sons or out of the premises which
will descend at my death or is or are hereby given to them respectively as
aforesaid and after the said sum of four hundred pounds shall be so provided
and raised as aforesaid the interest or benefit
which shall from time to time be raised or made thereof shall be paid
and disposed also towards the maintenance and education of my said daughter
And if my said daughter shall die after the death
or marriage of my said wife as aforesaid and before she shall attain her said age
of one and twenty years then the said four hundred pounds or so much thereof as
shall be then raised and provided shall go and be paid to my said two sons
equally to be divided betwixt them provided nevertheless and my will and
meaning further is that my said brothers their executors and administrators
shall from time to time reimburse satisfy and pay unto themselves out of any
part or parts of my estate which shall come to their or either of their hands
all the costs and charges which they or either or any of them shall be at in
the management and transaction of the trust or any of the trusts in them by
this my will reposed and also reasonable recompense and satisfaction for all
the troubles, travels, labours and damages which they or either of them
respectively shall be exposed or put unto or shall undergo in about or
concerning the same
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And lastly I do hereby revoke all and every former
Will and Wills by me at any time heretofore made in witness whereof to every sheet
of this my last Will containing seven in number I have set my hand and to the
label wherewith the said sheets are affixed together I have set my seal this
twenty fifth day of July in the two and thirtieth year of the reign of our
Sovereign Lord King Charles the second Annos Domini one thousand six hundred seventy and nine
Anthony Collett sealed and delivered in the
presence of us
The mark of Mary Fox, Elizabeth Markman
and Peter Harber
The Children of Anthony Collett and Anne Greening were:
Anthony Collett (Ref. 14I1), Henry Collett (Ref. 14I2)
and Anne Collett
(Ref. 14I3)
Anthony’s brothers named in the Will as executors were:
Henry
Collett (Ref. 14H4) and