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The will of John
Howcott of Bitteswell, buried 1769
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Background John Howcott died on 10 May 1769,
aged 60 (tombstone in Bitteswell churchyard, however his burial is not
recorded in the parish register). Text 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 the 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 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 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 Transcribed by
Francis Howcutt from a photocopy of the original. |
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