The Will of Mary Markham

 

Summary:
 

Testatrix:	Mary Markham (1) of Somerby, Lincolnshire, widow
Sister and executrix:	Winifred Watkins
Legatees:	Charles Bedingfield, Arthur Baker and John Hornyold (2)
Godson:	Charles Simson
Servants:	Elizabeth Denson, Thomas Craggs, Teresia Pattinson
Niece:	Lady Arundell (3)
Signed:	30 April 1764
Witnesses:	Thomas Sharpe,  Robt. Dale, Catherine Sharp
Codicil:	Dated 1 November 1764
Affidavit:	Dated 29 March 1768
Witnesses:	Arthur Baker, Thomas Allam
Probate:	Granted at London 2 April 1768 to the executrix

Notes:
 

1.	Testatrix, born Mary Watkins, married a Markham of Somerby, Lincs, but apparently had no children; her husband was one of the eleven childless sons of Thomas Markham of Ollerton by Catherine Constable, but I’ve been unable to discover which one
2.	John Joseph Hornyold (1706-1778), a Catholic priest and author, titular Bishop of Philomelia in 1752, Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District 1756, lived at Longbirch near Wolverhampton, Staffordshire
3.	Mary Conquest (1735-1818), the daughter of testatrix’s sister-in-law Mary Ursula Markham by Benedict Conquest, married Henry Arundell, Lord Arundell of Wardour

 

Source:

UK National Archives, Prob 11/938, Image 200

 

Text:

 

In the Name of God, Amen.  I, Mary Markham, at present of the parish of Somerby in the County of Lincoln, widow, do make this my last Will and Testament as follows:

First, I recommend my soul to God and desire that my body may be buried in a very private manner and, in case I die in the country, that six poor women of the parish wherein I shall happen to die may be my bearers to each of whom I desire may be given ten shillings

Item, I order my just debts, funeral expenses and pecuniary legacies to be paid out of my personal estate if the same shall be sufficient for that purpose but in case the same shall prove deficient I do hereby order such deficiency to be made good out of my real estate which I do hereby charge therewith accordingly

Item, I do give and bequeath to my sister Winifred Watkins all my jewels, plate and personal estate whatsoever, she paying all my debts, funeral expenses and pecuniary legacies, to be disposed of as she shall please

And I do give and bequeath to my said sister Winifred Watkins all my landed estate in Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire and elsewhere for and during the term of her natural life and the farm as money of twenty four pounds a year at her own disposal to do what she will with

Item, I give to Mr. Charles Bedingfield the sum of thirty pounds to be paid immediately after my decease

I also leave to Mr. Arthur Baker of Little Wild Street, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, gentleman, thirty four pounds

To John Hornyold Esquire of Long Birch in the county of Stafford five pounds

I leave to my godson Charles Simson, now abroad, fifteen pounds to be paid to him when he shall come to England

Item, I give and bequeath to Elizabeth Denson, my maid, if she is in my service at the time of my decease, five pounds.  I also leave to her all my clothes and linen except my best point suit.  I do further leave to her, after the death of my sister, twenty pounds a year during her natural life to be paid to her yearly at four quarterly payments.  I do also give to her the table with the bed and bedding in her room

Item, I give and bequeath to my servant Thomas Craggs if in my service at the time of my decease five pounds and my coach and harnesses with the drawers, bed and bedding that are in his room.  I do further leave to him after the death of my sister twenty five pounds a year during his natural life to be paid to him at four quarterly payments

Item, I give and bequeath to Mrs. Teresia Pattinson, milliner, the sum of five pounds five shillings

Item, I give and bequeath to the aforenamed Mr. Charles Bedingfield, his heirs and assigns for such time as my sister Winifred Watkins or any lawful issue of her body shall be living an annuity or yearly rent charge of twenty pounds to be charged and chargeable upon and payable out of all and every my manors, messuages, tythes, hereditaments, and other my real estates whatever and wheresoever and my will and intention is that the said annuity or yearly rent charge during the continuance thereof shall be paid by two equal half-yearly payments in every year free from all deductions for parliamentary taxes or any other cause, matter, or thing whatsoever, the first payment thereof to be made at the end of six calendar months next after my decease

I do further give and bequeath to the said Mr. Charles Bedingfield, his heirs and assigns for ever, one annuity or yearly rent charge of sixty pounds, tax free as aforesaid, to be paid by two equal half yearly payments in every year and to be charged and chargeable upon and payable out of my said real estates and to stand secured thereupon in such and the like manner as aforementioned with respect to the aforesaid annuity or yearly rent of twenty pounds, which said annuity or yearly rent charge of twenty pounds is to cease on the death of my said sister and on failure of any lawful issue of her body and in lieu thereof the said annuity or yearly rent charge of sixty pounds is by me and hereby given and bequeathed to the aforenamed Mr. Charles Bedingfield, his heirs and assigns for ever provided that he, the said Charles Bedingfield, shall be in my family at the time of my death and my will and intent is that the first payment of this annuity or rent charge of sixty pounds shall become due and be made at the end of six months after the death of my said sister Winifred Watkins and failure of lawful issue of her body

Item, I give and bequeath after the death of my said sister to my niece, the Right Honourable Lady Arundell, my two work’d pictures of Saint George and Sir Francis Crane.  I do further give and bequeath after the death of my said sister and on failure of lawful Issue of her body all my real estates aforesaid to my abovenamed niece, the Right Honourable Lady Arundell, and after her decease to her heirs and assigns for ever, but so as to be charged and chargeable with the payment of sixty pounds a year aforenamed by me given and bequeathed to Mr. Charles Bedingfield aforesaid, his heirs and assigns for ever as also to be charged and chargeable with a yearly payment of twenty pounds to be made to Mrs. Elizabeth Denton aforenamed and during her natural life as also to be charged and chargeable with the yearly payment of twenty five pounds to be made to Thomas Craggs aforenamed and during his natural life.  And my will and intention is concerning these two annuities, that if Mrs. Elizabeth Denson should happen to die before Thomas Craggs, that then and in this case her annuity or yearly rent charge of twenty pounds shall go and be paid to the said Thomas Craggs during his natural life over and above the annuity of twenty five pounds I have left to him.  In like manner if Thomas Craggs shall happen to die before Mrs. Elizabeth Denton, that then and in such case his annuity or yearly rent charge of twenty five pounds shall go and be paid to the said Mrs. Elizabeth Denton during her natural life over and above the annuity of twenty pounds I have left to her

Item, I give and bequeath to all and every one of my servants living with me at the time of my death one quarter’s wages over and above what shall be due to them at the time of my decease

And I do hereby constitute and appoint my foresaid sister Winifred Watkins to be whole and sole executrix of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and annulling all other wills and testaments by me at any time heretofore made

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 30 day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty four  Mary Markham

Signed, sealed and declared by the above named Mary Markham the testatrix as and for her last will and testament in the presence of us, who at her request and in her presence have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto  Thomas Sharpe,  Robt. Dale, Catherine Sharp

 

Be it known to all men that whereas I Mary Markham of Somerby in the county of Lincoln did duly make and publish my last will and testament in writing bearing date the 30^th April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty four, now I the said Mary Markham by this present codicil do ratify and confirm my said last will and testament and do hereby give and bequeath to my servant Denson ten pounds a year during my sister Watkins’s life time.  Also I give to Thos. Craggs during my said sister’s life time the sum of eleven pounds a year my will and meaning is that this present codicil shall be adjoined to and be part of my last will and testament and be complied with as a mark of my friendship with these two:  Denton and Thos. Craggs and reward for their faithfullness and care to me, my meaning is at my sister’s decease this annuity to cease as at that time they will come in for the legacy I have left them in my will, this is my will and intention this first day of November one thousand seven hundred and sixty four do set my hand and seal, witness my hand Mary Markham

 

29 March 1768

Appeared personally Arthur Baker of the parish of St Giles in the Fields in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, and Thomas Allam of the parish of St George, Hanover Square in the County of Middlesex, Upholsterer, and being severally sworn on the Holy Evangelists made oath each for himself as follows: that they very well knew Mary Markham late of Somerby Hall in the county of Lincoln, widow, deceased, and are well acquainted with her manner and character of handwriting having frequently seen her write and received divers letters from her and having now carefully viewed and perused the paper writing hereto annext purporting a codicil to the last will and testament of the said deceased and beginning thus - Be it known to all men that whereas I Mary Markham - and ending thus – this first day of November one thousand seven hundred and sixty four do set my hand and seal, witness my hand – and thus subscribed – Mary Markham.  They say that they do verily believe the whole body and contents of the said paper writing and the said name Mary Markham thereto subscribed to be all of the proper handwriting of the said Mary Markham, widow, deceased.  Arthur Baker,  Thos. Allam

 

Same day the said Arthur Baker and Thomas Allam were duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit before me  And. Coltee Ducarel, Surrogate,  Present – Hen. Stevens N.P.

 

This Will was proved at London with a codicil the second day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty eight before the Right Worshipful George Hay, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Winifred Watkins, spinster, the sister of the deceased and sole executrix named in the said will to whom admon was granted of all and singular the goods, chattels, and credits of the said deceased, having been first sworn by commission duly to administer.