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In the name of God Amen, I Jonathan Collett of Bradford Leigh in the Parish of Bradford in the County of Wilts, a carpenter, make this my last Will and Testament touching the disposition of my worldly estate as follows
First I direct my just debts funeral expenses and the expense of proving my Will be paid and discharged by my executors hereinafter named
Also I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Collett all that my Search Old Close of Land containing by estimation two acres and a half be the same more or less lying and being at South Wraxall in the Parish of Bradford aforesaid and now in my occupation to hold the said Close of Land with the appurtenances unto my said wife Elizabeth Collett and her assigns for and during so many years of the term to come therein as she shall happen to live and from and after her decease I give and bequeath the said Close of Land with the appurtenances unto my son John Collett to hold the same with the appurtenances unto my said son John Collett his executors administrators and assigns for and during all the residue and remainder of the term estate and interest then to come therein
Also I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth the wife of Thomas Wiltshire the sum of Twenty Pounds
To my daughter Jane Collett the like sum of Twenty Pounds
and to my daughter Ann Collett the like sum of Twenty Pounds to be paid to them
respectively within six months next after the decease of my said wife Elizabeth
Collett
And as to all my goods chattels and implements of
housekeeping plate linen and china stock and utensils in trade money and
securities for money and all other my estate and effects whatsoever and
wheresoever and of what nature or kind so ever the same may be which I shall be
possessed or entitled unto at the time of my decease
I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my
said wife Elizabeth Collett and my said son John Collett in trust for the same
to be used and employed by them in carrying on and managing the business I am
now engaged in for their better support and maintenance during their joint
lives and from and after the decease of my said wife
I give all my residuary estate and effects unto my said son
John Collett his executors administrators and assigns subject to the payment of
the aforesaid legacies to my said three daughters but if my said son shall
think it most to his advantage to follow any other effects herein given them in
equal shares and proportions and in that case direct my said son shall have one
equal part thereof for his own use and that my said wife shall have the use of
the other moiety thereof for her life and from and after her decease
I give and bequeath the other moiety thereof unto my said son John Collett his executors
administrators and assigns subject as aforesaid
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Also I constitute and appoint my said wife Elizabeth Collett
and my said son John Collett joint executors of this my Will
Lastly I revoke all former Will by me at any time heretofore
made and declare this only to be and contain my last Will and Testament in
witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty Fourth Day of
March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eight
Signed sealed published and declared by the Testator Jonathan
Collett as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his
presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto
subscribed our hands and witnesses
Signed by John Batten and Edward Luxford
John Collett (Ref. 31L8), Elizabeth Thomas nee Collett (Ref. 31L2),
Jane Collett (Ref. 31L6) and Ann Collett (Ref. 31L9)
Of his other his children, four had already pre-deceased their father, while it is curious
why the other five surviving child were not named as beneficiaries in the Will