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The will of John
Howcutt of Bitteswell, died 1850
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Background John Howcutt, a farmer of
Bitteswell, died there of general decay on 8 October 1850, aged 79. He was
buried at Bitteswell on 14 October 1850 (information from death certificate
and parish register). Text I John Howcutt of Bitteswell in
the County of Leicester Gentleman do declare this to be my last Will and
Testament. I appoint my nephew John Howcutt
of Leicester Dealer in Hops and Seeds sole Executor of this my Will. I give and bequeath unto Mary
Howcutt of Bitteswell aforesaid the Widow of my late uncle Joseph Howcutt and
her assigns for the term of her natural life an annuity or annual sum of ten
pounds. Also I give and bequeath to my
Cousin Martha Howcutt who now resides at Burton Latimer in the County of
Northampton and her assigns for the term of her natural life an annuity or
annual sum of twenty pounds. Also I give and bequeath to my
housekeeper Mary Reynols [sic] and her assigns for
the term of her natural life an annuity or annual sum of ten pounds. Also I do hereby subject and
charge All my messuages lands and tenements
hereinafter devised to my said nephew John Howcutt in fee simple with payment
of the said three annuities of ten pounds twenty pounds and ten pounds And
subject to and charged with the said payment of the said three annuities I do
give and devise unto my said nephew John Howcutt his heirs and assigns for
ever All that message or farmhouse with barn stables yard garden orchard and
appurtenances thereto belonging and also all those closes or pieces of land
situate in the parish of Bitteswell aforesaid and occupied therewith
containing about sixteen acres be the same more or less now in the occupation
of William Crisp and William Betts and which land is known by the name of the
Ashby Way Land And also all that piece of land in Bitteswell aforesaid called
the Croft containing three acres or thereabouts be the same more or less now
or late in the occupation of William Read And also all those several closes
or pieces of land situate in the parish of Bitteswell aforesaid called the Woodway Land containing twenty six acres or thereabouts
be the same more or less now in my own occupation with the rights members and
appurtenances to the same lands and hereditaments respectively belonging or appurtaining To hold the same messuage
or farmhouse lands hereditaments and premises hereinbefore described unto and
to the use of my said nephew John Howcutt his heirs and assigns absolutely
for ever. I give and bequeath to my servant
William Betts and his assigns for the term of his natural life an annuity of
annual sum of ten pounds And I do hereby subject and charge the messuages lands and tenements hereinafter devised to my
niece Elizabeth Berridge with the payment thereof
accordingly And subject and charged with the said annuity of ten pounds. I do give and devise unto the said
Elizabeth Berridge, the wife of Robert Berridge of Melton Mowbray in the said County of
Leicester Surgeon and daughter of my brother Thomas Howcutt her heirs and
assigns for ever All that newly erected messuage or
farmhouse with the barn yard garden orchard outbuildings and appurtenances
situate in Bitteswell aforesaid and also all those several closes or pieces
of land situate in the parish of Bitteswell aforesaid which I purchased of
Thomas Simons Miss Coltman and John Day and
containing altogether upwards of fifty acres be the same more or less and now
in the occupation of the said William Crisp with the rights members and
appurtenances to the said hereditaments and premises belonging To hold the
same unto the said Elizabeth Berridge her heirs and
assigns absolutely for ever. And I do hereby direct that all
the four several annuities given by this my will shall commence from the day
of my death and be paid by two even portions half yearly free from legacy
duty and all other deductions whatsoever. And I do hereby give to each of them the said Mary Howcutt, Martha
Howcutt, Mary Reynolds and William Betts the same powers of distress for
recovering payment of their said annuities or any of them as landlords now
have by Law for the recovery of rent. I give and bequeath the legacy or
sum of five hundred pounds unto my Niece Elizabeth Perkins daughter of my
brother William Howcutt to and for her own absolute use and benefit to be
paid out of my personal estate at the expiration of twelve calendar months
after my decease but without any interest in the meantime. Whereas the said Robert Berridge is indebted to me in the sum of one thousand two
hundred pounds or thereabouts Now I do hereby give and bequeath unto my said
niece Elizabeth Berridge the wife of the said
Robert Berridge the said debt or sum of one
thousand two hundred pounds or such other sum or sums of money as may be due
to me from her husband at the time of my decease to and for her own absolute
use and benefit. And as to all the rest residue and
remainder of my personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever I give and bequeath the same and every part
thereof unto my said nephew John Howcutt to and for his own absolute use and
benefit subject nevertheless to the payment of my debts funeral and
testamentary expenses and the aforesaid legacy of five hundred pounds to the
said Elizabeth Perkins. I give and devise all real estates
vested in me upon any trust or my way of mortgage unto the said John Howcutt
his heirs and assigns for ever subject to such trusts and such equity of
redemption as shall be subsisting in the same estates respectively at the
time of my decease. In witness whereof I the said John
Howcutt the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament in three sheets
of paper set my hand and seal that is to say to the two preceding sheets my
hand and to this third and last sheet my hand and seal the twenty sixth day
of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight John Howcutt Signed sealed published and
declared by the said John Howcutt the Testator as and for his last Will and
Testament in the presence of us present at the same time who in his presence
at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our
names as witnesses Tho. Watson, solicitor, Lutterworth - J M London, his clerk Codicil This is a Codicil to the will of
me John Howcutt of Bitteswell in the County of Leicester Gentleman and which
will bears even date herewith and was executed immediately before the
execution hereof. I give and devise unto my nephew
John Howcutt of Leicester his heirs and assigns for ever in addition to what
I have given him by my said Will All those my messuages
shops yards gardens outbuildings and premises situate in Bitteswell aforesaid
now in the occupation of Martha Howcutt and William Read And also all other
my real estate whatsoever and wheresoever not
specifically disposed of by my said will To hold the same unto my said nephew
John Howcutt his heirs and assigns for ever. I confirm my said will. In witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal this twenty sixth day of May one thousand eight hundred
and forty eight John Howcutt Signed sealed published and
declared by the said John Howcutt the Testator and for a Codicil to his last
Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time who in his
presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto
subscribed our names as witnesses Tho. Watson, solicitor, Lutterworth - J M London, his clerk Further details Proved at London with a Codicil 14
February 1851 before the Judge by the Oath of John Howcutt the Nephew the
sole executor. Transcribed by
Francis Howcutt from a photocopy of the office copy. |
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