Summary:

Testator:                       John Nunes (1), merchant, of James’s Street, Liverpool

Wife and executrix:        Ann (2)

Children:                       Ann, Elizabeth, Alice (3), John, Thomas, Mary, Rachael

Executor and brother-in-law: John Fazakerley (5)

Executor:                      William Crosbie the younger

Signed:                          18 March 1771

Witnesses:                     Wm. Rowe,  Joseph Fletcher, Richard Rowlinson

Codicil:                         changes the executors to wife Ann, daughters Ann and Elizabeth, and son John

Signed:                          21 November 1778

Witnesses:                     Robt. Lewin (4), Nicholas Clayson, Elizabeth Fazakerley (5)

Probate:                        granted 2 October 1783

Notes:

1.   John Nunes was a member of Benn’s Garden Unitarian Chapel, Liverpool, where seven of his children were baptized

2.   Ann, whose maiden name was Fox, married testator in 1742

3.   Alice (1757-1834) married Samuel Lewin (d 1823), a flour factor in the City of London, in 1779

4.   Robert Lewin, VDM (1740-1825) was the dissenting minister of Benn’s Garden Chapel, Liverpool, and half-brother of testator’s son-in-law Samuel Lewin

5.   John Fazakerley (d < 1778) was the husband of testator’s sister-in-law Elizabeth Fox

Source:

Wills preserved in the Consistory Court of Chester, Archdeaconry of Richmond, microfilmed  by the Church of Latter Day Saints, Film number 88854.

Text:

I, John Nunes of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, merchant, being weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory, do make this my last will and testament in manner following, that is to say

I do hereby direct that all my just debts, funeral expenses, and all the charges of the probate of this my will shall in the first place be paid off and  discharged, and I do hereby subject and charge all my real and personal estates with the payment thereof

And subject thereto, I do hereby give, devise and bequeath all my real and personal estates whatsoever and wheresoever unto my executors hereinafter named and the survivor of them, his, her and their heirs, executors and administrators, upon trust in the first place to pay unto my dear wife Ann Nunes the sum of forty pounds a year by four equal quarterly payments for and during the term of her natural life, the first of the said payments to be made to her at the end of three months next after my decease

And subject to the payment of my said debts and the annuity of forty pounds a year to my wife for her life as aforesaid, I do hereby give, devise and bequeath all my said real and personal estates whatsoever and wheresoever unto my said executors hereafter named, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns in trust to and for my seven children Ann, Elizabeth, Alice, John, Thomas, Mary and Rachael Nunes in manner following, that is to say

I do hereby direct my said executors to fix a price and value upon my freehold messuage, lands, hereditaments and premises in James’s Street and Moor Street in Liverpool aforesaid and to bring the same according to such valuation together with my personal estate into one account and after the value is so fixt my will and mind is that they divide the whole subject to the payment of my debts and my wife’s annuity of forty pounds a year as aforesaid into eight equal parts, two of which said eight parts I give, devise and bequeath to my said son John to be paid to him on his attainment to twenty one years of age or at the time of his marriage which shall first happen

And the remaining six eighth parts of all my said estates real and personal subject as aforesaid, I give, devise and bequeath unto my said six other children Ann, Elizabeth, Alice, Thomas, Mary and Rachael Nunes as tenants in common and not as ??? to be paid to them respectively on their respective attainments of twenty one years or at their respective marriages which shall first happen

And if any of my said children shall happen to die before their respective attainments to the age of twenty one years as aforesaid or unmarried, then I do hereby order and direct that such dying child or children’s share shall go and be equally divided amongst the survivor and survivors of them equally share and share alike

And it is my will and mind that if my eldest son has a mind to purchase my freehold messuage and premises in James’s Street and Moor Street in Liverpool aforesaid at the price fixt my said executors, he shall have the first preference and election, and if he does not think proper to accept the same at such valuation then each of my other children according to their seniority of age shall have the preference and election, and if none of them will accept the same at the price fixt by my said executors, I do hereby direct the same to be sold for the best price that cane be had or got for the same and after payment of all charges attending such sale and other incident expenses the ?net proceeds to be divided amongst my children in the proportions aforesaid, subject to the payment of my debts and my wife’s annuity aforesaid

And as to the education and bringing up of my said children, my will and mind is that they be under the sole direction and care of my said dear wife Ann Nunes

And lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my said dear wife Ann Nunes and my brother-in-law John Fazakerley and William Crosbie the younger both of Liverpool aforesaid, hereby revoking all former wills by me at any time heretofore made

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the eighteenth day of March one thousand seven hundred and seventy one  John Nunes

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said testator John Nunes as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us and ??? and subscribed in his presence  Wm. Rowe,  Joseph Fletcher, Richard Rowlinson

Be it remembered this day the 21^st of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight, I John Nunes being of sound memory and mind, do appoint this as a codicil to the above will subscribed by me in the presence of the subscribing witnesses to the above will in place of John Fazakerley some time since deceased and William Crosbie the younger now living, I do nominate and appoint my dear wife Ann Nunes with my daughter Ann Nunes, my daughter Elizabeth Nunes and my son John Nunes to be my sole executors, administrators and assigns in hopes they will fulfil to the best of their powers and endeavours this my last will, my son John Nunes being very capable of transacting and business that may be necessary, my two younger daughters I think had best be put out to some business in order to support themselves as my affairs in trade since making the above will by losses and bankruptcy hath and will greatly lessen what I thought I had a great right to expect it might be worth, I hope and beg you will all endeavour to live in family peace and endeavour to be a comfort to each other through life and grant us all an eternal meeting in the kingdom of heaven is the earnest prayer of a loving husband and tender father  // John Nunes //

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said testator John Nunes as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us  // Robt. Lewin, Nicholas Clayson, Elizabeth Fazakerley //

Probate issued 2 October 1783

The twenty second day of September 1783. 

John Nunes the executor, Ann Nunes the elder, Ann Nunes the younger, the executrixes named in the codicil of this will (power reserved for Elizabeth Nunes, the other executrix to take the execution thereof upon her when she shall lawfully request it) were sworn in common form before me George Hobson, surrogate

The effects £300.