In the Name of God Amen I William Parker of Knowhead in the Parish of Knarsdale and in the County of Northumberland Yeoman, being _ _ Sick in Body but of sound Mind Memory and Understanding Do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and Form following _ _ that is to say First I order and direct my Executors hereinafter named and appointed to Inter my Body decently in the Earth according to the Custom of the Country and to pay all my Just Debts and Funeral Expenses _ I Give devise and bequeath unto my Son John Parker of Castle Carrick in the County of Cumberland Innkeeper his Executors Administrators and Assigns One Moiety half part or Share of All my Freehold Tenement known by the Name of Knowhead aforesaid, with the like Moiety half part or Share of all the Houses and Buildings Privileges and Appurtenances thereunto belonging to enter into possession of the said Moiety Part or Share thereof Twelve Calander Months next after my Decease _ I also Give devise and bequeath unto my Dear Wife Elizabeth the other Moiety half part or Share of my said Freehold Tenement with the like Part or Share of all the Houses and buildings Privileges and Appurtenances thereunto belonging in common with my said Son John Parker during the Term of her Natural Life and from and immediately after her Decease Then my will is and I bequeath her said Moiety Part or Share unto my Son William Parker now living with me his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns. I Also order and direct that during the Natural Life of my said Wife my said Tenement or Farm shall be carried on as in my Lifetime so that no Division may take place but on Account of my said Wife and Son John Parker during such said Term the Premisses shall be set at a fair Valuation, as to Rent; by indifferent Persons if it cannot be agreed otherwise so that they may each know their due Receipts of Rent. But in the mean time if my said Wife shall think proper to dwell in any other place my Executors hereinafter named and appointed shall give her, her own Bed and pay her the due Moiety of Rent. Or if She should happen to Marry Then my will is that her Moiety or Share shall then immediately go to my Son William Parker _ _ and She be only entitled to her Right by Law, anything hereinbefore contained to the contrary thereof in anywise Notwithstanding _ I Also Give devise and bequeath unto my other Son Joseph living with me all my Monies and Securities for Money whatsoever and wheresoever after payment of all my just Debts and Funeral Expenses as aforesaid _ I Also Give devise and bequeath unto my said two Sons William Parker and Joseph Parker All my Stock of Cows Horses and Sheep all the Produce and Profits that may arise from the said Farm during their Mother's Natural Life or Widowhood (after the payment of Rent to her and my said Son John Parker as aforesaid) And also my Farming Utensils and Household Furniture in equal Parts Shares and Proportions Share and Share alike _ I Also Order and direct my said Son John Parker to pay unto my Son Thomas Parker of Castle Carrick aforesaid the Annuity or _ _ Yearly Sum of One Pound during the Term of his Natural Life the first payment not to commence until Twenty four Calander Months next after my Decease, as my said Son John Parker will not receive his first payment of a Moiety of the said Rent until that time. I Give devise and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Wife of William Robson of Hayning Head Husbandman the Sum of Ten Pounds _ Also to my Daughter Hannah Wife of John Newton of Chair Heads in the Parish of Allendale in the said County of Northumberland Lead-Ore Miner the Sum of Ten Pounds _ And also to my _ _ Daughter Isabel Wife of Matthew Pearson of Burnt Walls in the Parish of Haltwhistle and said County of Northumberland Husbandman the Sum _ of Twenty Pounds which said three several Legacies I Order my said Son William Parker to pay respectively to them or their Heirs at the Expiration of Twelve Calander Months next after the Death of my said Wife Elizabeth being as soon as my said Son William will receive the Profits issuing out of and from such said Moiety half part or Share of my said Tenement at Knowhead aforesaid And Lastly I Do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said two Sons William Parker and Joseph Parker Joint Executors of this my Will hereby revoking and making Null and Void all former wills by me at any time heretofore made and satisfying and confirming this to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament contained on one Sheet of Paper set and Subscribed my Hand and Seal in the Presence of Three Witnesses who in my Presence at my Request and in the Presence of each other have set and subscribed their Names as Witnesses this Twenty Eighth day of March in the Year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and three

Will of William Parker, 28th March 1803/6

(Durham Probate Records - William Parker 1806 / P3 / 1)

This Will was kindly transcribed and sent in by Anita.

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