P1

In the Name of God Amen I William Methold of London Merchant being of sound mind memory and understanding do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say first I commend my soul into the hands of God who gave it hoping that through the merits of my Redeemer I shall inherit eternal life my Body I commit to the earth

P2

to be decently interred at the discretion of my executors hereinafter named and as touching and concerning the disposition of such estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I give and dispose thereof as follows that is to say I give and bequeath unto John Thead of Phillpot Lane London haberdasher and to my daughter Mary his wife the sum of two thousand pounds four percent bank annuities and I desire that one moiety of the said annuities may be transferred to them at the end of one year next after my decease and the other moiety thereof at the end of two years next after my decease I give to Mr John Monkton of Southampton surgeon and to my daughter Elizabeth his wife of the said John Monkton twenty pounds a piece for mourning I also give and bequeath to my said daughter Elizabeth the wife of the said John Monkton the interest or dividends of one thousand pounds three percent consolidated bank annuities now standing in my name in the books of the Governor and company of the Bank of England to be received by her or her assigns for and during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after the decease of my said daughter then my will and mind is and I do hereby give and bequeath the said principal sum of one thousand pounds bank annuities to and amongst such of the children of Mr Colson and Mary Colson hereinafter named as shall be living at the time of the death of my said daughter to be equally paid to and divided between them share and share alike I give and bequeath unto my son-in-law Mr Neal and Ann his wife one thousand pounds four percent bank annuities and I desire that one moiety of the said annuities may be transferred to them at the end of one year next after my decease and the other moiety thereof at the end of two years next after my decease I give and bequeath unto my sons Francis Methold and Thomas Methold the sum of five hundred pounds upon trust that they or the survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor shall invest the same in Government securities and from time to time pay the interest dividends and proceeds thereof unto my said daughter Elizabeth Monkton for and during the term of her natural life Also I give unto my loving son Thomas Methold the sum of one thousand five hundred pounds (I also give and bequeath unto my grand-daughter Mary Colson late Mary Coxon and to her husband Mr Colson the sum of ten pounds a piece for mourning I give and bequeath unto my said sons the sum of five hundred pounds upon trust that they or the survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor shall invest the same in government securities and from time to time pay the interest dividends and proceeds thereof unto the said Mary Colson for and during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after her decease then I give and bequeath the said sum of five hundred pounds to and amongst such of her children as shall be living at the time of her death to be equally divided between them share and share alike in equal proportions)  I

p3

also give devise and bequeath unto my said sons and to the survivor of them his executors and administrators all that my Copyhold Estate situate lying and being at Northaw in the county of Hertford now in my possession and which I have surrendered to the use of my will in trust to sell and dispose of the said Copyhold Estate as soon as conveniently may be after my decease for the best price that can be gotten for the same and the monies arising from the sale thereof to be paid to and equally divided between them my said two sons their executors and admons share and share alike I also give and bequeath for the benefit of Mary the wife of Hirons?? late of Dedington in the county of Oxford shoemaker one annuity or yearly sum of ten pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid into her own proper hands and to and for her own sole and separate use and benefit by my executors hereinafter named by four equal quarterly payments (that is to say at Lady Day Midsummer Day Michaelmas Day and Christmas Day in every year during the term of her natural life and free and clear of all charges and deductions whatsoever the first payment to begin and be made on such of the said feast days as shall happen next after my decease and my will and mind is that the said annuity shall be from time to time paid into the proper hands of the said Mary Hirons only and to and for her own sole and separate use and benefit notwithstanding her present or any future coverture and that the same shall not be subject or in any manner liable to the debts power alienation or control of her present or any future husband ber her receipts only notwithstanding coverture shall be sufficient discharges for the same I give and bequeath unto John Edwards late of Crown Court in King Street Westminster and Elizabeth his wife the sum of two hundred pounds All the rest residue and remainder of my estate whatsoever and wheresoever as well real as personal and not herein before given devised or bequeathed I give devise and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said two sons Francis and Thomas Methold equally to be divided between them share and share alike and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said sons Francis and Thomas Methold Executors of this my last will and testament and I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other wills and codicils by me at any time heretofore made  (In witness whereof I have to the two parts of this my last will and testament each part containing three sheets of paper subscribed my name to the bottom of the two first sheets of each part and subscribed my name and affixed my seal to the last sheet of each part this twenty sixth day of September in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy William Methold Signed sealed published and declared by the said testator William Methold as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses at the request of and in the presence of the said testator and in the presence of each other John Elderton John Vernon senr Thos Robinson)

A Codicil to be annexed unto the Last Will

P4

of me William Methold of London Merchant

Whereas in and by my past will and testament bearing date on or about the twenty sixth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy I did give and bequeath unto John Edwards late of Crown Court in Kings Street Westminster and Elizabeth his wife the sum of two hundred pounds Now I the said William Methold so by this my codicil which I direct to be annexed to and be taken as part of my last will and testament absolutely annul revoke and make void the said gift and bequest unto the said John Edwards and Elizabeth his wife and every part thereof and I do hereby give and bequeath unto the said Elizabeth Edwards one annuity or xxx yearly sum of fifteen pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid into her own proper hands and to and for her own sole and separate use and benefit by my executors named in my said will by four equal quarterly payments that is to say at Lady Day Midsummer Day Michaelmas Day and Christmas Day in every year during the term of her natural life free and clear of and from all charges and deductions whatsoever The first payment thereof to begin and be made on such of the said feast days as shall next happen after my decease and my will and mind is that the said annuity shall from time to time be paid into the proper hands of the said Elizabeth Edwards only and to and for her sole separate and peculiar use and benefit notwithstanding her present or any future coverture and that the same or any part thereof shall not be subject or in any manner liable to the debts power control or engagements of her present or any future husband but that her receipt and receipts alone notwithstanding her coverture shall from time to time be a good and sufficient discharge or discharges for the same annuity and every part and parcel thereof In witness whereof I the said William Methold have to this codicil set my hand and seal this twenty third day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy two Wm Methold signed sealed made published and declared by the said testator William Methold as and for a codicil to be annexed to his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses at the request of and in the presence of the said testator and in the presence of  each other John Vernon John Vernon jun Wm Gregeson xxx

This Will was proved at London with a codicil the twenty fourth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy three before the worshipful William Marham Doctor of Laws Surrogate (in the margin – of the right worshipful George Day Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or commissary of the prerogative court of Canterbury lawfully constituted)  by the oaths of Francis Methold and Thomas Methold the sons of the deceased and executors named in the said will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the

P5

said deceased having been first sworn duly to administer