MFH Home
  Family Trees
  Records
  Wills
  MIs
  Studies
  Memories
  People
  Places
  Related Families
  Odds & Ends
  Mail David

This is the Last Will and Testament of Mr. John MAY of Huish in the Parish of Nately Skewers in the County of Southampton, Yeoman, made this ninth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and one as follows (that is to say).  First I order and direct all the singular my just and lawful debts, funeral and testamentary charges and expenses to be fully paid and satisfied by my Executor and Executrix there in after named.  Item I give, devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife Ann (subject as here in after mentioned and freed and discharged of the lands tax from which I have redeemed the same) all that my freehold messuage, farm lands and premises called Huish with the appurtenances now in my own occupation and also that my leasehold estate situate in Basing in the said County of Southampton called Sheetlands and all that my other estate called Water End with the alehouse and premises there to belonging also all that my freehold estate situate at Mapledurwell in the same County and all that my other estate (being copyhold) situate at Mapledurwell aforesaid called Broomes with their and every of their appurtenances and all other the lands and tenements where in I may have any   -   of such last mentioned annuity to commence at the end of three months (after the decease of my said wife and sister) of the following legacies to her children and grandchildren (that is to say) to and amongst the children alive of only one of her son John (in equal shares at the respective ages of twenty one years and whichever respective personal representatives) the sum of fifty pounds, to her son William and his representatives the like legacy of fifty pounds, to her daughter Jane and her representatives the legacy or sum of one hundred pounds, to her daughter Ann and her representatives the like legacy of one hundred pounds and to her son George and his representatives the like sum of one hundred pounds.  And I do hereby also subject my said personal estate with the payment of the sum of two hundred pounds (within the space of six months after the death of my son’s wife) unto my brother Charles MAY (if he be then living but not otherwise).  And also with the payment (within the like period of six months after my said wife’s decease) of the several legacies of one hundred pounds to each of the sons of my brother in law John MATTHEWS by my late sister or to the lawful children or child of any of them that may be dead but in case of the death of any or either of the sons of my said brother in law before the said time of payment without having left any lawful issue of his or their body or bodies then the legacy or legacies of him or them so dying shall be distributed and paid amongst the survivors and survivor in equal shares and proportions provided always that in case my personal estate should not be adequate to then discharge of all and singular the paid last mentioned legacies.  Then I do hereby subject my said real estate with the payment of all defining thereof.  And lastly I do hereby make, constitute and appoint my said wife and brother William joint Executrix and Executor of this my Will hereby revoking and making void all former and other will and wills by me at any time here before made and declaring this to be my Last Will and Testament.  In testimony whereof I the said John MAY the Testator have to this my Last Will an Testament contained in six hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to each and every of my nephews and nieces (except the eldest) sons and daughters of my said brother William MAY payable at their respective ages of twenty one years and to their respective legal representatives in case of death with   -   in the said William MAY and his heirs to raise such legacies as they become due on mortgage of the said estate or otherwise. Item I give and bequeath unto my said wife and her assigns to and for her own proper use and benefit the legacy or sum of twelve hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be raised out of my personal estate and payable as soon as convenient (but not exceeding six months next after my decease) and also all and singular my household and indoor goods and furniture, plate, linen, liquors, glass and china. Item I give and bequeath unto my said wife and her assigns during the life time of her natural life (subject to the annuities and legacies here in after mentioned) the interest, use and produce of all other my personal estate whatsoever and from and after her decease I give and bequeath the same subject as after mentioned unto my said brother William MAY his executors, administrators and assigns and I do hereby in the first place subject and make liable the residuum of my said personal estate with the payment of the legacy or sum of one hundred pounds of like lawful money unto my said brother William MAY as soon as the same can be conveniently got in after my decease.  And I do hereby further subject and make liable all such my residuum and the interest and produce thereof with the payment of one annuity or clear yearly sum of ten pounds payable to my sister Jane ELLIS and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life by four equal quarterly payments, the first payment to be made at the end of three months next after my decease and also with the payment of the additional annuity or sum of ten pounds to my said sister and her assigns for her life (from and after the decease of my said sister and her assigns for her life from and after the decease of my said wife) by the like quarterly payments, the first payment or interest at the time of my decease to hold all and singular the said messuages, lands and tenements with their and every appurtenances unto my said wife Ann for and during the term of her natural life but subject never the less and upon this express condition only that she my said wife do either personally hold use and occupy all and singular the said farms, land and premises (except the said alehouse and premises at Water End which she may demise and let for any term or number of years not exceeding seven years at the present or best improved yearly rent and with usual and customary covenants and except also the cottages and other premises at Mapledurwell which are now let and the lands I may occupy at my decease at rack rent during the said term of her natural life or (in case she be minded to quit and leave the same or any part thereof, do let, set and assign the same or such part or parts thereof which she shall be so minded to quit unto my brother William MAY incase he should be willing to accept the same upon one or more lease or leases during the life of my said wife at or not exceeding the several reserved yearly rents in respect of the same here in after mentioned (that is to say) for the said messuage and farm called Huish a rent not exceeding forty five pounds, for Sheetlands not exceeding thirty five pounds, for Water End (accept the alehouse) not exceeding twenty pounds and for the several estates in Mapledurwell not exceeding fourteen pounds, such rents to be reserved and made payable quarterly but subject to quit rents and any further impost in the nature of land tax payable for the same respectively and from and immediately after the decease of my said wife, then I give, devise and bequeath all and singular my said freehold, copyleased and leasehold messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments unto my said brother William MAY to hold to him, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns according to the respective nature, terms and qualities thereof but I do hereby subject all and singular my said freehold estate called Huish after the decease of my said wife with the payment of the sum of one sheet of paper set my hand and seal (to wit) my hand only to the first five sheets and my hand and seal to this last sheet this day and year first within written.

John May

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said John MAY the testator as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have here unto at the request and in his presence and in the presence of each other inscribed our names as witnesses here to :

William Bishop
William H.J. Thomas
Thomas Hutton

This will was proved at London the twenty eighth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and two before the Right Honourable Sir William Wynne, Knight, Doctor of Law, Master Keeper, a Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oaths of Ann MAY, Widow, the Relict and William MAY the brother and Executors named in the said will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased, having been first sworn by commission only to administer.