The Will of Richard Pedder
 

Summary:   Testator:  Richard Pedder (2), of Preston, Lancashire, merchant Wife: Jennett (3) Sons and executors: Edward Pedder (4), Thomas Pedder (5), James Pedder (6) Daughter: Grace Derbyshire (7) Son-in-law and tenant: John Derbyshire (7), of Preston, grocer Grandchildren: Children of Edward Pedder:  Edward Pedder, Charles Pedder, James Pedder, Jennett Pedder and Ann Pedder Grandchildren: Children of Grace Derbyshire: James Derbyshire, Richard Derbyshire and Jennett Derbyshire Sellers of property to testator: John Aspinall, esquire, Mr. Mauleverer, Mr. William Lagham, Mr. Lawrence Wall, Edward Blackburne, Robert Brookes Tenants: John Arkwright, William Moscow, Richard Wakefield, Ann Gibson, Peter Hodgkinson (8), James Hodgkinson, Agnes Pedder, James Taylor, Humphrey Morris, Robert Gath, Edward White, John Kay, John Hilton, George Hilton, James Greaves, Mr. John Walker, Mr. William Hall, Edward Whitehouse, Isaac Cross, Mrs. Farington, Mrs.Townley Lessors of property to testator: Mr. Jeoffrey Rishton, Sir Henry Hoghton, baronet Properties named: Nearer Mawdlands, Causey Meadow, Abbots, Holy Lamb, Bellfounders Field, The Conduit, Brown Channel, The Crown, Pinfold House, Furthermost Oxhey, Nearer Oxhey Brow, The Roughfield, Nearer Oxhey, Woodburn Meadow, Woodburn Brow, Woodburn Bottom, Gornall Meadow, Gornall Brow, Nearer Bottom, Round Meadow, Avenham Signed: 2 March 1759 Witnesses:  Three, all illegible Probate: Granted to the executors 17 Feb 1763 by  Ran: Andrews, Surrogate   Notes: 1.    This very long will is written on a wide scroll of paper, rolled up from left to right.   The will has been damaged and parts of it are illegible, also, being so wide, it was filmed separately in three vertical strips which, with difficulty, have been recombined; each paragraph in the text below represents one line of the will 2.    Richard Pedder (1693-1762) was a son of Richard Pedder, linen weaver, by his wife Ellen 3.    Jennett (d 1777), the daughter of John Reed of Preston; had six sons and four daughters, of whom apparently only three sons and a daughter survived their father 4.    Edward Pedder  (1717-1789) was testator’s second but eldest surviving son; he married Katherine Clayton (d 1760) who gave him eleven children 5.    Thomas Pedder (1729-1781), testator’s third son, was unmarried 6.    James Pedder (1731-1772), testator’s ninth child, was Vicar of Garstang, married and had children 7.    Grace Pedder (b 1726) married John Derbyshire (b 1721) in 1746 and had five children, of whom two died before testator 8.    Testator’s sisters Ellen and Jennett married Peter and John Hodgkinson respectively   Source: Wills preserved in the Archdeaconry of Richmond, microfilmed by the Church of Latter Day Saints, Film number 99249   Text: In the name of God, Amen.  I, Richard Pedder, of Preston in the county of Lancaster, merchant, being of sound [rest of line illegible] First I do hereby will and direct my executors hereinafter named to pay and discharge forth and out of my personal estate [rest of line illegible] and during the term of her natural life in case she survives me, all and every the household goods, plate, linen, china, furniture [rest of line illegible] children equally to be divided amongst them, share and share alike;  and whereas I am seized in fee simple or other good estate of  ?Ink? [rest of line illegible] and desirous to make a provision for my dear wife Jennett thereout during her life and then to dispose of the same to and amongst my children for their several  [rest of line illegible] survives me, all those my several closes, closures and parcels of ground which I lately purchased from John Aspinall, esquire, and are commonly called [rest of line illegible] the tenure or occupation of John Arkwright as tenant or farmer thereof or his undertenants;  and I do hereby direct that she shall have and receive the first rent that shall become due after my death for the same;  and also all that my messuage or dwelling house in which my son [illegible] situate, standing and being on the South side of the Fryargate in Preston aforesaid,  and I do hereby will and declare the devise hereinbefore made to my said wife Jennett for her life as aforesaid to be in lieu, bar and full satisfaction of all dower and thirds which she can or may or at [illegible] have claim, challenge or demand forth or out of all or any of my estates whatsoever; and I do direct that she shall on request execute a release of such dower or thirds to such person and persons as shall by virtue of this my will severally become entitled to the same or any part thereof and from and after the decease of my said dear wife Jennett;  I do hereby give and devise unto my said son Edward Pedder the said several closes, closures and parcels of ground called the Nearer Mawdlands and Causey Meadow as also the house wherein my said son Edward now dwells hereinbefore devised to my said wife Jennett for her life as aforesaid, and also all that messuage and tenement with the appurtenances situate, lying and being in  Ribbleton in the said county called Abbots and now or late in tenure or occupation of William Moscow, his assigns or undertenants, together with a pew or seat on the South side of South aisle in Preston Church to the same belonging, and also all that my messuage, burgage or dwelling house situate, standing and being on the North side of a certain street in Preston aforesaid called Fryargate called or known by the name of the Holy Lamb in the possession of Ann Gibson, widow, and also a house [illegible] the Backside thereof in the possession of Richard Wakefield, currier, with their and every of their appurtenances;  and all that close, piece or parcel of land called Bellfounders Field with the appurtenances situate, lying and being in Preston aforesaid now or late in the holding or possession of Peter Hodgkinson, butcher, or his undertenants, and also all that my close, closure or parcel of ground called The Conduit situate, lying and being on the South side of Mawdlands Lane in Preston aforesaid which I purchased from Mr. Mauleverer and now in the holding or possession of Mr. John Derbyshire;  and also all that my seat or pew on the North side of the North aisle in Preston church aforesaid with their and every of their appurtenances, to have and to hold the said messuages, tenements, hereditaments and premises subject as aforesaid with the appurtenances unto my said son Edward Pedder, his heirs and assigns for ever; and I do hereby give and devise unto my son Thomas Pedder all those my five several messuages, burgages or dwelling houses situate, lying and being on the North side of the Fryargate aforesaid near a place called the Brown Channel three whereof are to the front of the said street and two backwards and are in the several possessions of James Hodgkinson, Agnes Pedder, James Taylor, Humphrey Morris, and Robert Gath, together with the stables, gardens and other appurtenances thereunto belonging and also all those buildings consisting of one warehouse in my own possession and of several houses and stables situate, standing and being in Preston aforesaid in or near a certain place called Saint John’s Ward and in the several possessions of Edward Whitehouse, Ann Gibson, Nathan Myers and Christopher Barton, being erections made by me on land that I purchased from the representatives of Mr. William Lagham, deceased, together with a garden and other appurtenances thereunto belonging, and also all that my close, closure and parcel of land with the appurtenances situate, lying and being in Preston aforesaid near a place called the Sandy Lane and commonly called or known by the name of The Crown which I purchased from Mr. Lawrence Wall, deceased, and now in the possession of John Kay,  and also all that my messuage, burgage or dwelling house [much illegible in this line] and being at the bottom of the Fryargate in Preston aforesaid near unto the Pinfold and commonly called and known by [illegible] of the Pinfold House together [much illegible] adjoining to the highway leading from Preston to Spittle’s Moss formerly purchased by me from Mr. Edward Blackburne and Robert Brookes and now in the possession of John Hilton;  and also all those my messuages, cottages or dwelling houses with the garden and appurtenances thereto belonging situate standing and being on the South side of Spittle’s Moss aforesaid and now in the holding or possession of George Hilton;  and also all that my part or share of a close or parcel of land purchased by me from Mr. Thornton and Robert Brookes situate, lying and being [illegible] side of Mawdlands Lane (the other part belonging to Mr. Mauleverer)  and which I myself now occupy;  and all that my [illegible] seat or pew on the North side of the middle aisle of the chapel in Preston aforesaid;  as also all that my seat or pew in the South gallery [illegible] and to hold the said last mentioned messuages, tenements, hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances unto my said son Thomas Pedder, his heirs and assigns forever;  and I do hereby give, devise and bequeath unto my said son Thomas Pedder the burgage or dwelling house wherein I now live held by lease to me from Mr. Jeoffrey Rishton, deceased, together with the warehouse, garden and appurtenances thereto belonging, and all my estate term and interest therein, to have and to hold the same and every part thereof with their appurtenances unto my said son Thomas Pedder, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns to and for his and their own use and benefit;  and I do hereby give and devise unto my son James Pedder all those several closes, closures and parcels of land with the appurtenances situate, lying and being in Preston aforesaid formerly called or known by the name of the Oxheys but now by the several name or names of the Furthermost Oxhey, the Nearer Oxhey Brow, the Roughfield above the Nearer Oxhey, the Woodburn Meadow, the Woodburn Brow, the Woodburn Bottom, the Gornall Meadow, the Gornall Brow and the Nearer Bottom and all that close, closure or parcel of land with the appurtenances called the Round Meadow lying and being on the South or Southeast side of a place called Broadgate Lane in Preston aforesaid together with a parcel of land containing about one rood and thirty four perches of land adjoining westward to the common fields in Preston and eastward to the said Round Meadow and usually occupied and enjoyed therewith, all now in the holding or possession of James Greaves, carrier, his assigns or undertenants; to have and to hold the said last mentioned premises and every part thereof with the appurtenances unto my said son James Pedder, his heirs and assigns forever;  and I do hereby also give, devise and bequeath unto my said son James Pedder all that my leasehold messuage and tenement with its appurtenances in Walton in the said county called [blank space] which I now hold by lease from Sir Henry Hoghton, baronet, and all my estate, term and interest therein to have and to hold the same and every part thereof with its appurtenances unto my said son James Pedder, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, provided always, and I do hereby will and declare that the devises hereinbefore made to my said son James Pedder shall and are hereby intended by me to be in lieu and full satisfaction of a bond given by me to my said son James on his marriage for one thousand pounds and that he shall not take or reap any advantage therefrom but shall deliver up the same to be cancelled otherwise the said devises hereinbefore to him made to cease, determine and be void;  and I do hereby give and bequeath unto my three sons Edward Pedder, Thomas Pedder and James Pedder and to their heirs and assigns for and during the natural life of my daughter Grace Derbyshire, wife of John Derbyshire of Preston aforesaid, grocer, all those my three several closes, closures and parcels of land situate, lying and being at or near a certain place in Preston aforesaid called Avenham severally purchased by me from John Aspinall Esquire, Mr. John Walker and others and Mr. William Hall and others and in the several holdings or possessions of Edward Whitehouse and the Overseer of the Poor of Preston aforesaid;  and all those my two several messuages, burgages or dwelling houses with their and every of their appurtenances situate and standing and being on the East side of [illegible] street in Preston aforesaid called Saint John’s Lane and in the several possessions of Isaac Cross and [blank] Farington, widow, and also that my messuage, burgage or dwelling house with its appurtenances situate, standing and being on the North side of the Churchgate in Preston [illegible] and in the possession of Mrs. [blank] Townley, widow;  and all that my [illegible] seat and pew on the on the North side of the middle aisle in the chapel in Preston aforesaid, and also all that my undivided moiety or half part of a seat or pew situate on the North side of the South aisle in Preston church [illegible] their and every of their appurtenances, in trust to pay, apply and dispose of the yearly and other rents, issues and profits thereof unto the proper hands of my said daughter Grace or her assigns for and during her said natural life for her sole and separate use or otherwise to permit her to have, receive and take the same during her life as aforesaid for her own sole and separate use as aforesaid, to the intent that the same or any part thereof shall not or may not be subject or liable to the debts, disposition, forfeitures, engagements or control of her present or of any future husband but only at her own sole and separate disposal and for her own sole and separate use, and upon further trust that they my said trustees, their heirs or assigns shall and do from and after the decease of my said daughter Grace pay, apply and dispose of the yearly rents, issues and profits of the said premises hereinbefore devised in trust as aforesaid unto and amongst all and every the child or children of my said daughter Grace lawfully to be begotten that shall be living at the time of her death equally amongst them until he, she or they shall severally attain his, her or their age of twenty one years or be married in and towards his, her or their several and respective maintenances and educations, and when so soon as they shall severally and respectively have attained his, her or their said age or ages of twenty one years or be married; I do hereby give, devise and bequeath same and every part thereof unto the said child or children of my said daughter Grace so attained to age or married as aforesaid, their heirs and assigns forever, equally amongst them if more than one share and share alike to take as tenants in common and not as joint tenants and if only one then [illegible] only child his heirs and assigns for ever, provided always, and it is my will and mind, that for and notwithstanding any devises hereinbefore made to the contrary it shall and may be lawful for my said dear wife Jennett during her life to take and use one seat or sitting for herself in all or any [illegible] or pews in the church or chapel in Preston aforesaid as she shall from time to time think proper;  and I do hereby give and bequeath unto my said dear wife Jennett the sum of forty guineas to be paid to her by my executors immediately after my death;  and I do hereby give and bequeath [illegible] said three sons Edward Pedder, Thomas Pedder and James Pedder their executors and administrators the sum of six hundred pounds in trust to put or place the same out at interest on good security and to pay, apply and dispose of the issues, interest and produce thereof as the same [illegible] time to time arise or become due unto my said daughter Grace and her assigns during her natural life for her sole and separate use, to the intent the same may not be subject or liable to the debts, disposal or control of her present or any after taken husband and from and after her [illegible] hereby give and bequeath the same unto all and every the child or children of my daughter Grace lawfully begotten share and share alike, the same to be paid to them on their several and respective attainments to the age of twenty one years or marriage which ever shall [illegible] thereof in the meantime to be applied by my said trustees in and towards their several and respective maintenances and education, and if any of them shall happen to die under age or unmarried the share or shares of him, her or them dying to go and be divided equally amongst the survivors if more than one, and if only one then to such only surviving child; and I do hereby give and bequeath  unto my grandchildren Edward Pedder, Charles Pedder, James Pedder, Jennett Pedder and Ann Pedder, sons and daughters of my son Edward Pedder, the sum of five hundred [illegible] divided amongst them share and share alike the same to be put and placed out at interest by my executors hereinafter named on good security till their several attainments to age or marriage and to be paid to them on such their severally attaining the age of twenty one years, which shall first happen;  and if any of them shall happen to die under age and unmarried the share or shares of him, her or them so dying to go and be divided equally amongst the survivors if more than one and if only one then to such only survivor, the interest thereof in the meantime to be applied by my said trustees in and towards their several maintenances and educations;  and I do hereby give and bequeath unto my grandchildren James Derbyshire, Richard Derbyshire and Jennett Derbyshire, sons and daughter of Grace Derbyshire the sum of three hundred pounds equally divided amongst them share and share alike, the same to be put or placed out at interest by my said executors hereinafter named on good security till their several and respective attainment to age or marriage and to be paid to them on such their attainment to age or marriage which shall first happen [illegible] [illegible] to be applied in and towards their maintenances and education and if any of them shall happen to die under age or unmarried the share or shares of him, her or them so dying to go to the survivors if more than one equally amongst them and if only one then to such survivor;  and I do hereby give and bequeath to my son Thomas Pedder the sum of two hundred pounds; and I do hereby also give and bequeath to my son James Pedder the sum of two hundred pounds; and I do hereby also give and bequeath to my son in law John Derbyshire the sum of five hundred pounds;  and I do hereby direct my executors hereinafter named to give and dispose of the sum of twenty pounds to and amongst such poor persons in the town of Preston in such shares and proportions as they think meet;  and as to all the rest, residue and remainder of my goods, chattels, ready money, debts, securities for money, stock in trade, merchandise and personal estate not hereinbefore disposed of, of what nature or quality soever the same may be, and of which I shall be possessed or entitled to at my death, I do hereby give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my two sons Edward Pedder and Thomas Pedder equally between them to and for their own use and benefit absolutely;   and of this my will I do hereby constitute and appoint my said three sons Edward Pedder, Thomas Pedder and James Pedder executors, hoping they will see the same duly observed and performed;  and lastly I do hereby revoke all former and other will or wills or dispositions by me at any time heretofore made and do declare this only to be my last will and testament,  in witness whereof I, the said Richard Pedder, testator have hereunto set my hand and seal this second day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty nine.                                                              Rich:  Pedder   Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named Richard Pedder [illegible] for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names [illegible] to attest the execution thereof in his the said testator’s sight and presence and in the sight and presence of each other, the [illegible] being first interlined [here there are three illegible signatures]   17th Febr. 1763.  Edward Pedder, Thomas Pedder and James Pedder, executors in this will named, were sworn well and faithfully to execute and perform the same and so forth before me ?Ran. Andrews, Surr[ogate]