This is the last will and testament of me Francis Johnson of Woodhorn in the County of Northumberland Esquire. I give and bequeath unto Ralph Fenwick of Ulgham Grange in the said County Equire one of my Executors hereinafter appointed five guineas for a mourning ring and as a small token of my Friendship. Also to William French of Newbiggin by the sea in the said County of Northumberland Brewer another of my Executors One hundred pounds in consideration of the trouble which will devolve upon him in and about the executorship of this my will. I give and bequeath unto my five Nephews and Nieces, Edward, John, Catharine, Ann, and Julia sons and Daughters of my late brother John, the legacy or sum of two hundred pounds a piece. And to my nephew Hanry (another son of my said late brother John) All my part share and interest of and in the ship or vessel called the Minerva of Seaton Sluice port of Newcastle with all the profits gains incidents and appurtenances there to belonging. I give and bequeath unto my three nieces, Charity, Jane and Julia, daughters of my brother Robert the sum of two hundred pounds a piece and to the eldest daughter of my niece Catharine the wife of John Maynard Esquire who shall attain the age of twenty one years the legacy of sum of two hundred pounds. All the above legacies to be paid to such of the legatees as shall have attained the age of twenty one years at the end of six months after my decease, and to such of them as shall be under twenty one immediately on attaining that age. I give and bequeath unto my nephew William another son of my said brother Robert, one annuity or yearly sum of twenty pounds to be paid to him quarterly during his natural life. And I give and bequeath unto my said brother Robert one annuity or yearly sum of fifty two pounds to be paid to him weekly during his ^natural^ life. And I charge and make chargeable with the payment of the said two annuities, All the brewery houses lands tenements and other my estate and effects at Newbiggin aforesaid hereinafter given and bequeathed unto my Nephew John another son of my said Brother Robert. And I give and bequeath unto unto my said brother Robert for his life the use and enjoyment of the household furniture in the house at Newbiggin where he now lives; and it is my will and desire either that he shall live therein rent free during his life; or that my executors ^shall^ at their option find and provide for him rent free for his life a dwelling house not exceeding eight pounds per annum rental. I give devise and bequeath unto my said nephew John, son of my said Brother Robert. All my messuages lands tenements hereditaments stints freelages common right Brewery, stock in trade, debts profits and incidents. And all other my Estate and effects real and personal or of what nature or kind soever situated or[?] being at Newbiggin aforesaid, or within the town township precincts or territories thereof. And all other my property share interest estate and effects whatsoever belonging to the said brewery concern and trading carried on at Newbiggin aforesaid To hold the same unto the said John (son of my said brother Robert) Johnson his heirs executors administrators and assigns for ever. Subject and chargeable to and with the payment of of the said two annuities of twenty pounds and fifty two pounds, and to the use and enjoyment by my said brother Robert for his life of the furniture in the house at Newbiggin wherein he now lives. I give and bequeath unto my Nephew Robert another son of my said brother Robert, one riding horse to be selected by my Executors. Also all and every my term and interest and all the stocks crops utensils materials incidents and appurtenances and all other the property and effects whatsoever in upon or belonging to my two farms called Lynefield House, and the North Hurst otherwise the third house, and the two grazing pastures called the Church field and the North field all in the parish of Woodhorn aforesaid. To hold the same unto my said Nephew Robert Johnson his Executors Administrators and assigns as his and their proper goods chattels and effects for ever, free and clear from the payment of the first half year’s rent which shall become payable next after my decease for or in respect of the said farms and pastures respectively: and which half year’s rent respectively I order and direct shall be paid by my executors out of the residue of my estate and effects hereinafter given and bequeathed to my Nephew William Jackson it being my will and intention that my said Nephew Robert Johnson shall take the said farms and pastures free from arrears of rent except only the running half year which is usually allowed in this neighbourhood. I also give and bequeath unto my said Nephew Robert one full moiety or half part of All and every my property Estate effects and concerns at Hartley and Seaton Sluice in the said County of Northumberland now consisting of all my share and interest of and in the Colliery and Glass-houses there Also the ^like^ moiety or half part of all my ships and parts or shares of ships (except only the fourth share of the Minerva) with the profits increase incidents and appurtenances to the same respectively belonging To hold the same moiety unto my said Nephew Robert Johnson his Executors Administrators and assigns as his and their proper goods chattels and effects for ever. And as to all the rest residue and remainder of my messuages lands tenements hereditaments estate and effects real and personal and of what nature kind or tenure whatsoever the same may be not hereinafter disposed of I give devise and bequeath the same unto my Nephew William Jackson. To Hold the same unto the said William Jackson his heirs Executors administrators and assigns absolutely for ever Subject as aforesaid and also subject to the payment of the legacies hereinbefore bequeathed and of all my just debts funeral and testamentary expences and the expences of proving this my will and of the trusts thereof. And also subject and chargeable to and with the payment of one Annuity or yearly sum of thirty pounds which I hereby give and bequeath unto my dear Sister Catharine to be paid quarterly to her during the term of her natural life. And I give devise and bequeath all the Estates vested in me on any Trusts or by way of Mortgage and which I have power to dispose of by this my will with their appurtenances unto the said Ralph Fenwick William French and William Jackson their heirs Executors administrators and assigns according to the nature and Quality thereof respectively upon trust to hold or dispose of the said Trust Estates in the manner in which they ought to be held or disposed of pursuant to the said Trusts and upon payment of the money secured on Mortgage to convey or assign the Estates in Mortgage to the person or persons entitled thereto for the time being and I declare that the money secured upon such mortgages shall be considered and taken as part of my personal Estate Provided always and I further declare that the said several Trustees and Executors hereby appointed and each and every of them and the heirs Executors Administrators and assigns of them and each and every of them and shall be charged and chargeable respectively for such monies only as they respectively shall actually receive by virtue of the Trusts hereby in them reposed, notwithstanding their or any of their giving or signing or joining in giving or signing any receipt or receipts for the sake of conformity, and any one or more of them shall not be answerable or accountable for the others or other of them or for involuntary Losses And also that it shall and may be lawful for them with and out of the monies which shall come to their respective hands by virtue of the trusts aforesaid to retain to and reimburse themselves respectively; And also to allow their respective Co. Trustees or Co. Trustee all costs charges damages abd expenses which they or any of them shall or may suffer sustain Expend disburse be at or be put unto in or about the execution of the aforesaid Trusts in relation thereto And I hereby revoke and make void all former and other wills by me at any time heretofore made, and declare this to be and contain my last will and Testament whereof I appoint the said Ralph Fenwick, William French, and William Jackson, Executors. In witness whereof I the said Francis Johnson has hereunto set my hand and seal that is to say my hand to the first three sheets of this my will contained in this and the three preceding sheets of paper and my hand and seal to this fourth and last sheet thereof this Twenty-eighth day of May in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty two.

Signed sealed published and declared by the )

within named Testator Francis Johnson as and

for his last will and Testament in the presence of us

Franc. Johnson

who in his presence at his request and in the presence)

of each other have hereunto subscribed our names

as witnesses  )

Thos Wright Newcastle

Thomas Swan [?] Morpeth

Benjm. Bullock Spittle Hill

I the within named Francis Johnson do hereby make this codicil to, and declare it to be part of my last will and testament. I revoke the appointment of Ralph Fenwick Esquire as one of my executors, and I nominate and appoint in his stead my Nephew Robert Johnson as executor jointly with William French and William Johnson. I Give unto the said Ralph Fenwick (in lieu of the legacy before mentioned) and to my friends William Watson Esquire, Mr Robert Curry Mr Henry Ansett [?], William French, (my executor) Richard Lambert, John Jobling, and Thomas Carr [?], a mourning ring each, as a token of remembrance. I Give unto Ann the daughter of the late Edward Scaife [?], one hundred Poundspayable out of the residue of my estate, six months after my death And to Ann Curry daughter of the said Robert Curry one hundred of the two hundred Pounds owing to me by her father. I give unto my servants William Potts the younger, and Jean Black Twenty Pounds a piece if in my service respectively at my decease. And to my servant Mary Higg and william Green, on the same condition, Five Pounds a piece. I confirm my will in all other respects. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty eighth day of May 1832

(signed by the testator and the same witnesses as above)

In the Consistory )

Court of Durham)   In the Goods of Francis Johnson Esquire deceased

The Eighth day of June in the year of Our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and thirty Six Appeared personally Thomas Carr of the town and County of Newcastle upon Tyne Gentleman and Robert Shute of Morpeth in the County of Northumberland Surgeon -- and severally made oath that they knew and were well acquainted with the above named Francis Johnson late of Woodhorn in the County of Northumberland and diocese of Durham Esquire deceased and also with his ^manner and^ character of handwriting and subscription by having frequently seen him write and subscribe his name to writings and having now with care and attention viewed and inspected the paper writing hereunto annexed marked “No. 2” beginning thus: “July 7th 1832 An acct of Horses to be devided between Wm. Jackson and Robt. Johnson over and above the Cart Horses left to them in my Will”....

This refers to a holograph codicil dated 9th August 1832 starting with the division of Francis Johnson’s horses between William Jackson and Robert Johnson. Each received nine horses, most animals described by colour and name: Bay Horse Miller, Bay Mare Leda, Brown Mare Spitfire, Bay Horse Carr, Bay Filly 3 yr old, Brown Mares Coult 1 yr, Bay Mare Bonny, Bay Mare Fanny, Bay Horse Boston to quote the most legible ones.

This document continues with three further legacies:

I also give & Bequeath Unto Wm. Watson ^Eqr^ of Northseaton in the Parish of Woodhorn & County of Northumberland, All my Pack of Hounds both Old & young.

I Also give & Bequeath Unto Jean Black my Servant with me at present my two shares of Morpeth New Bridge with the Inst. due thereon at my decease.

I also give & bequeath unto my Herd, William Forster now in my service Ten Pounds to be paid one month after my decease.