Will of John Grant 6th February 1744
The last Will and Testament of Mr John Grant Archdeacon of Barum and Canon
Residentiary in the Cathedral Church of St. Peter Exon is as follows That is to
say
I give all my estate and estates both Real and personal whatsoever and
wheresoever unto my dear and loving children John and Lucy Grant and to their
several and respective heirs executors administrators and assigns equally to be
divided betwist them share and share alike charged and chargeable nevertheless
with the payment of all my just Debts and the several legacies and Bequests
hereafter mentioned
I give to each of my Curates that shall happen to serve at Ruan and Lezant at
the time of my death ten pounds for mourning and one guinea each for a funeral
sermon the fifth Sunday after my decease.
I also give to each of my servants who shall live with me at the time of my
decease three guineas and two guineas more to such of them as have then lived
with me five years
I give to all my Relations within the Degree of first cousin a pair of gloves
each
I also give to my executors herein after named ten pounds each for mourning and
do direct and desire that they my executors do make sale of my goods as soon as
conveniently may be after my decease and that the money arising therefrom and
otherwise out of the Rents and profits of my estates be by them placed out at
Interest on Government Security in some of the funds after payment of my said
Debts and Legacies and the Maintenance and Education of my said two children
which I submit to the direction of my executors Only I desire that the family
pictures the silver tankard waiting salver whereon is engraved my dear deceased
wife’s and my own Arms the three decanters with the Archdeaconry Arms the silver
cup with a cover my diamond ring and two gold seals may be preserved and saved
for my said son John or in case of his decease in his minority for my said
daughter in case she survives him But in case of the death of my said son and
daughter in their minoritys and without issue of either of their bodys lawfully
begotten Then my Will is that all my Estates Lands and Tenements shall be sold
by my surviving executors herein after named And the produce together with my
other personal estate to be disposed of in manner following viz a thousand
pounds equally among the children of my deceased sister Jane Lane five hundred
pounds equally amongst the children of my brother in law Edward Weston Esq. Five
hundred pounds to my brother in law Lucy Weston one hundred pounds To the
Reverend Mr William Butterfield another hundred pounds to Doctor Benjamin
Bulkeley two hundred pounds To my honoured patron Lord Hobart one hundred pounds
to my Brother in Law William Weston fifty pounds To the Corporation of the Sons
of the Clergy and fifty pounds to the incorporated Society of protestant Charity
Schools in Ireland And all the Remainder I give to my acting executors equally
to be divided amongst them. I appoint the said Edward Weston Esq. the said Doctr
Benjamin Bulkeley The Reverend Mr
Thomas Michell Mr John Peters merchant in Tregony Cornwall and my said daughter
Lucy Grant Executors of this my last Will And I do appoint the said four first
named Executors Guardians of my said son and daughter during their minoritys and
as some satisfaction for their Trouble I give them one years Income or Real
profit of my Estates Tenements and Interest of my cash to be allowed to and
amongst them or such of them as shall act in my affairs by my son or daughter on
their making and setting their accompts but the choice of which year’s profits
so to be allowed to my acting executors by my son or daughter shall be left to
my son or daughter and the survivor of them save that they choose the first year
after my decease in regards the profits will then be the least My Body I desire
may be buried by my dear wife Elizabeth and in the same grave where my dear
father and daughter Jane be and would have it interred in a decent but private
manner at the direction of my executors or any two of them nearest to me at the
time of my decease
I give my said daughter Lucy all her said mothers wearing apparel her mothers
and my picture hanging in the vest chamber my Essenfore in the parlour the large
folio pictured Bible Clark’s Sermons in ten volumes Pope’s Bomer Shakespeare
works and all my French books and the other books that were her mother’s And I
do hereby revoke all former Will and Wills by me heretofore made And in
Testimony of this my last Will I have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth
day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty
four
J Grant
Signed sealed published and declared by the before named John Grant as and for
his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who subscribed our names as
witnesses thereto in his the said Testator’s presence.
Hannah Maria Williams
R. Janeway
W. Lucas
The Codicil to the foregoing Will of me the said John Grant is as follows
Whereas I have by my said Will devised all my estates equally betwist my son and
daughter but I have since considered that as I am seized in fee simple of some
estates in Devonshire which are leased out to Tenants for lives and which will
hereafter fall into my family Therefore those particular estates I would and
hereby do give devise and bequeath to my son John his heirs and assigns for ever
And I do also bequeath to the poor of Exeter especially the Close ten pounds To
the poor Lezant and Ruan five pounds each To be discretionally distributed by my
executors And I desire this may be taken as part of my said Will in all other
respects I do hereby confirm as witness my hand and seal this sixth day of
February 1744
J Grant
Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of
Hannah Maria Williams
R. Janeway
W. Lucas
This Will was proved at London with a Codicil annexed before the Right
Worshipful John Bettesworth Doctor of Laws Master keeper or Commissary of the
prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted the seventeenth day of June
in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty five By the Oaths
of The honourable Edward Weston Esq. the Revd Benjamin Bulkeley Doctor in
Divinity The Reverend Thomas Michell Clerk John Peters and Lucy Grant Spinster
the Executors named in the said will To whom Administration of all and singular
the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased was granted being first
sworn only to administer That is to say The said Edward Weston and Benjamin
Bulkeley Before the worshipful Edward Kinaston Doctor of Laws and Surrogate to
the said Commissary and the said Thomas Michell John Peters and Lucy Grant by
Commission.
Transcribed by Carol Hughes