This is the last Will and Testament of me Richard Claridge of Hooknorton in the County of Oxford I give and devise unto my Nieces Elizabeth Wickham and Hannah Wickham (two of the Daughters of my late Sister Elizabeth deceased) All that my Messuage or Tenement with the outbuildings yard Garden and Orchard and other the Appurtenances to the same belonging situate and being at Hooknorton aforesaid And all other my real Estate whatsoever To hold the same unto my said two Nieces Elizabeth Wickham and Hannah Wickham their heirs and Assigns for ever as tenants in common and not as joint tenants I give and bequeath unto my said Niece Hannah Wickham All my household goods and furniture bedding linen and other Articles of domestic uses to and for her own use and benefit and as to all and every my ready money mortgages bonds notes and securities for money And all other the rest and residue of my personal Estate and Effects whatsoever not herein before disposed of I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my friends John Barrett of Steeple Aston in the said County of Oxford gardener Joseph Bloxham of Hooknorton aforesaid Baker and Richard Kirtland of Hooknorton aforesaid Cordwainer their Executors and Administrators upon the trusts hereinafter expressed and declared concerning the same (that is to say) Upon trust that they the said John Barrett Joseph Bloxham and Richard Kirtland or the Survivor or Survivors of them or the Executors and Administrators or such Survivor do and shall with all convenient speed after my decease collect and get in and receive all such parts of my said personal Estate and Effects bequeathed to them as aforesaid ?or shall be due and owing when any security or securities whatsoever & wheresoever convert the whole of my said personal Estate and Effects so bequeathed to them into ready money And do and shall thereby and thereout in the first place pay satisfy and discharge all my just debts and funeral and testamentary expences And from and after full payment and satisfaction thereof do and shall stand possessed of and interested in all and every the then rest and residue of the said monies and personal Estate and Effects In trust for the several persons and in the proportions and manner following (that is to say) As to the sum of forty pounds part thereof In trust for my nephew John Wickham of Rousham . As to the sum of forty pounds further part In trust for my Nephew Robert Wickham of Peddington. As to the sum of forty pounds further part thereof In trust for my Niece Ann the Wife of Peter Bartlett of Hooknorton. As to the sum of forty pounds further part thereof In trust for my great Niece Elizabeth Fenemore ( a Daughter of the said John Barrett). As to the sum of forty pounds further part thereof In trust for my great Niece Ann Barrett (another Daughter of the said John Barrett). As to the sum of forty pounds further part thereof In trust for my great Niece Hannah Barrett (the other Daughter of the said John Barrett). And as to all and every the rest and residue of the said monies and personal Estate and Effects so bequeathed to them in trust as aforesaid do and shall stand possessed of and interested in the same and every part thereof In trust for my said two Nieces Elizabeth Wickham and Hannah Wickham to be parted or divided between them equally share and share alike To whom I give and bequeath and direct the same to be paid accordingly And I do hereby nominate and appoint the said John Barrett Joseph Bloxham and Richard Kirtland joint Executors of this my Will And I do declare my Will and mind to be that my said Trustees and Executors or any or either of them or the Executors or Administrators of any or either of them shall not be chargeable with or accountable for any more of the aforesaid Trust monies and premises than they shall respectively shall actually receive or shall come to their respective hands by virtue of this my will nor with or for any loss which shall happen of the same so as such loss happen without their wilful default respectively nor shall any or either of them be answerable or accountable for the others or either of them or for the acts deeds receipts or disbursements of the others or other of them but each of them for his own acts deeds receipts and disbursements And it shall be lawful for them and each of them in the first place to deduct retain and reimburse to themselves respectively and allow to their Co Trustees and Co executors all such loss costs charges and expences as they shall respectively expend or be put unto by reason of the Trusts hereby in them reposed or in any wise relating thereto In witness whereof I the said Richard Claridge have to this my last Will and Testament contained in two sheets of paper set my hand and seal this twenty fifth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty three Richard Claridge

John Jorden
Henry Kirtland
Saml C Field

Proved at Oxford 4 March 1824
Oxford Record Office
BD 222.234

This Will was kindly  transcribed and sent in by Ros.

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