Summary:

Testator:                            John Scales (1) of Roger Ridding in Hawkshead, Lancashire

Daughter and son-in-law:    Agnes and William Taylor (2)

Grandchildren:                    John, Clement, Margaret, Agnes and Ellin Taylor

Brother:                             Rowland Scales (3)

Nephews:                          William, John and Rowland Scales (4)

Brother-in-law:                   John Strickland (5) of Whaithead

Godchild:                           Isaac Wilson

Legatee:                             Edward Scale

Wife and executrix:             Margaret Scales (6)

Supervisors:                       Robert Atkinson of Crosslands and John Strickland of Whaithead

Signed:                               7 May 1702

Witnesses:                          Robert Atkinson and John Townson

Bond:                                 dated 2 October 1702

Bondsmen:                         Margaret Scales, William Taylor and William Taylor

Probate:                             granted 2 October 1702 to Margaret Scales

Notes:

1. Testator’s was a son of Rowland Scales (d 1682) of Roger Ridding; his mother’s name is not known;

2. Testator’s daughter Agnes  married William Taylor at Colton, Lancashire in 1686;  his parents are not known, but there were a great many Taylors in Hawkshead at this time; many leaving wills that have survived;

3. Testator’s brother Rowland Scales married Bridget Greenup at Colton, Lancashire, in 1691 and died in 1717;

4. Testator’s nephews were sons of his brother Rowland;

5. Testator’s brother-in-law John Strickland was presumably his sister’s husband, but no record of the sister or her marriage has been found; his will was proved in 1714;

6. Testator married Margaret Gayteskell at Hawkshead in 1662; they had two daughters, Ellin, who died in childhood, and Agnes, wife of William Taylor.

Source:

LDS Family History Library, British Film 0098583

Text:

In the name of God, Amen.  I, John Scales of Roger Ridding in the parish of Haukshead in the county of Lancaster ??? being infirm and weak of body yet whole and perfect in mind and memory, praise and thanks be given therefore to Almighty God, and considering the uncertainty of this mortal life do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following

First and principally, I commend by soul into the merciful hands of Almighty God surely trusting that through the ?alone merits and death of my saviour Jesus Christ, I shall have free pardon of all my sins and shall inherit eternal salvation, and my body I commit to the earth to be interred at the discretion of my friends and executrix hereafter named

And my worldly substance I give and dispose of as followeth, viz,

Imprimis, it is my mind and will and I do give unto my daughter Agnes, the wife of William Taylor, the sum of three pounds of lawful money

Item, I do give unto her eldest son, my grandchild John Taylor the sum of ten pounds and all my sheep

Item, I do give unto my grandchild Clement Taylor, his brother, the sum of ten pounds of lawful money

Item, I do give unto my grandchild Margaret Taylor the sum of tem pounds of lawful money

Item, I give unto her sister, my grandchild, Agnes Taylor the sum of ten pounds

Item, I give unto her sister, my grandchild Ellin Taylor the sum of ten pounds of lawful money

And I will that these legacies shall be paid them at the year end next after my decease and shall be put to interest upon good security and got forwards with them till they severally attain the age of twenty one years

Item, it is my mind and will and I do give unto my brother Rowland Scales his three sons, viz, to William Scales, my nephew, the sum of fifty shillings

Item, it is my will and mind and I do give unto his brother John Scales the sum of five pounds of money

Item, I give unto my nephew his brother Rowland Scales the sum of fifty shillings

Item, I give unto my brother-in-law John Strickland of Whaithead the sum of five pounds of lawful money of England, forty shillings thereof he owes me

Item, I give unto Isaac Wilson to whom I am godfather the sum of two shillings and six pence

Item, I give to Edward Scale two shillings and six pence

Item, it is my will and mind and I make Margaret Scales, my loving wife, sole executrix of this my last will and testament, to whom I give all the rest and remainder of my goods, chattels and personal estate, my just debts, legacies and funeral charges first fully paid and discharged

Item, I appoint supervisors Robert Atkinson of Crosslands and John Strickland of Whaithead, I give them two shillings for their pains, desiring them to see this my last will truly performed, revoking all former wills by me formerly made or declared, in witness hereof I, the said John Scales, to this my last will and testament I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of May in the year of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred and two, 1702 // John Scales, his mark //

Sealed, signed, published and declared by the said John Scales, the testator, to be his last will and testament in the presence of // Robert Atkinson // John Townson //

Bond:

The first part is in Latin, binding Margaret Scales of Roger Ridding, widow, William Taylor  of the same and William Taylor of Thwaithead in the amount of £???, and is dated 2 October 1702.

The second part is in English as follows:

The condition of this obligation is such that if the above bounder Margaret Scales shall and do well and truly execute and perform the last will and testament of John Scales, late of Roger Ridding in Hawkshead within the ?Archdeaconry aforesaid, deceased, in payment of all his debts and legacies so far as his goods will extend and law shall bind her; if also she do exhibit into the registry of the said Archdeaconry kept at Kendal a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods, rights, credits and chattels of the said deceased and do give a true and just account of the same when she shall be thereunto lawfully called; and moreover (if need require) do enter into better bond, with more sufficient sureties for performance of the premises as the judge of the court for the time being shall think requisite; and lastly do keep indemnified the above names Bishop, his commissary, and all others their officers and ministers against all persons whatsoever by reason of the premises, that then this obligation to be void, else to stand in full force. // Margaret Scales, her mark // Willm. Taylor // William Taylor //

Sealed and delivered in the presence of us // Marma. Lambert, Notary Public //