Alice BOSWORTH of Oxford

Will of Alice BOSWORTH of Oxford

Will 18 Jan 1653/54 Admon 17 Jan 1654/55 Probate 8 Mar 1658/59

Source:	OHC no. 89/3/9
Contributed by:	Margaret Williamson	Go to Translation	Go to Transcript

Summary.

... I Alice Bosworth of the City of Oxford ... widow ... in perfect health ...
Name	Relationship	[Comments] or Major Bequests
Alice BOSWORTH		Oxford
Henry BOSWORTH	Husband	Deceased
Elizabeth SMITH	Daughter
John SMITH	Son-in-law Overseer
John SMITH	Grandson	[s Elizabeth -- under 21]
Alice SMITH	Granddaughter	[d Elizabeth -- under 21]
Mary SMITH	Granddaughter	[d Elizabeth -- under 21]
Henry SMITH	Grandson (Exec)	[s Elizabeth -- under 21]
William WRIGHT	Grandson Trustee (Exec)	[see Note]
Christian WRIGHT	Granddaughter	[w William -- see Note]
Thomas HORE	Cousin	[bro Margaret Warland]
Margaret WARLAND	Cousin	[nee HORE; sis Thomas]
William ANDREWS	Kinsman	[bro Mary Prideaux]
Mary PRIDEAUX	Kinswoman	[nee ANDREWS; sis William]
Thomas ANDREWS	Cousin
Charles ANDREWS	Cousin	[s Thomas]
Mathew ANDREWS	Cousin	[s Thomas]
Katherine ANDREWS	Cousin	[d Thomas]
Anne YATES	Kinswoman
John STAPLE	Legatee Servant
Edward ASTIN	Legatee Trustee (Exec)	Oxford
Alderman WRIGHT	Brother Overseer	Oxford
Thomas WICKES	Overseer	[Alderman]
Richard GOOD	Seller of property	Oxford
Dorothy GOOD	Seller of property	[w Richard]
Martyn LIPYEATT	Witness
Thomas BOWELL	Witness

Admon 17 Jan 1654/55 ... William Wright one of the Executors In Trust until Henry Smith reaches age 21 ...
Probate 8 Mar 1658/59 London ... Henry Smith grandson & sole Executor [being now 21] ...

Transcriber's and Editor's Notes

William WRIGHT marr Christian SMITH 1646 Oxford St Aldate. A Christian Smith was baptised 1621 in Oxford, but no parents are given so it is not clear whether she was a much older daughter of John & Elizabeth, and with the surname Smith ...
The following details are believed to be true but should not be totally relied upon:
Testatrix: Wife of Henry (1633/34 qv).

Translated and paragraphed.
with some of the standard preamble and "legalese" removed.
Go to Glossary

... I Alice Bosworth of the City of Oxford ... widow ... in perfect health ...

My body is to be buried in St Giles church as near as possible to that of my dear husband Mr Henry Bosworth.
I give all my household goods, linen, woollen, brass and pewter, to my son-in-law Mr John Smith, and release him from all debts that he owes me in money or otherwise.
I give Ł100 to his wife, my daughter Elizabeth.
I give the following to my grandson John Smith, son of my daughter Elizabeth Smith:
- The remainder of my lease (from University College) of meadow ground in Osney Mead.
  My Executors in Trust [below] William Wright and Edward Astyn are to receive the benefit of the lease until John has served his apprenticeship, then to pay what they have received to him if he is living, but if he dies before the end of his apprenticeship his legacy goes to my grandson Henry Smith.
- My freehold house and inn etc at Wheatley, to him and his heirs.
- Ł400 in money, to be paid within 30 days after he has been made a Freeman of the City of London where he is now an apprentice.
I give Ł1000 to my granddaughter Alice Smith.
The money is to be invested for her benefit by my Executors, and accounted-for and paid to her at age 21 or earlier marriage.
I give Ł600 to my granddaughter Mary Smith.
The money is to be invested for her benefit by my grandson William Wright, and accounted-for and paid to her with all the profits at age 21 or earlier marriage.
I give the following to my grandson Henry Smith, son of my daughter Elizabeth, and his heirs forever:
- My freehold land etc in Osney Mead and Oat Lands or elsewhere near Oxford, and its reversion, recently bought from Richard Good of Oxford, his wife Dorothy and others.
- My lease (from the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church) of the tithes of West Osney Mead and another mead, with the Commons and feedings for 20 kine and a bull and other profits, also recently bought from Richard Good.
- Whatever remains at the time of my death of a Ł50 pa Annuity issuing from certain lands and meadow grounds in Rycote, and all money due to me for the remainder of the term.
  The Annuity and its profits are to be received by my Executors for Henry's benefit until he reaches age 21.
I give the following sums:
- Ł50 to my granddaughter Christian Wright, wife of the above William Wright.
- Ł5 to my cousin Thomas Hore and Ł10 to his sister Margaret Warland.
- Ł10 each to my kinsman William Andrews and his sister Mary Prideaux.
- Ł3 each to Charles, Mathew and Katherine, the three children of my cousin Thomas Andrews.
- Ł5 to my kinswoman Anne Yates, also a dozen silver spoons which she pawned to me.
- Ł8 to my servant John Staple.
- Ł20 to the poorest old men and women in Oxford and its suburbs, chosen by my Executor.
I appoint my grandson Henry Smith as sole Executor as soon as he reaches age 21, if he is then living.
In the meantime I make my grandson William Wright and Edward Astin of Oxford, gentleman, my Executors In Trust for Henry's benefit, and for the payment of the above legacies.
If Henry dies before 21, William Wright and Edward Astyn are to be my Executors In Trust for the rest of my grandchildren John, Alice and Mary, children of John and Elizabeth Smith, who are then living, In Trust to divide my whole estate equally between them or the survivors of them.
If any of my grandchildren John, Alice and Mary Smith die before inheriting, their legacies are to be divided between the survivors by William Wright and Edward Astyn.
I give Ł50 to William Wright and Ł6 13s 4d to Edward Astyn for their care and pains.
I appoint my Son-in-law Mr John Smith, my brother Alderman Wright of Oxford and my cousin Thomas Wickes, Alderman, as overseers, and for their pains I give them 40s each to make rings in remembrance of me.
Witnesses Martyn Lipyeatt; Thomas Bowell

Admon 17 Jan 1654/55 ... William Wright one of the Executors In Trust until Henry Smith reaches age 21 ...
Probate 8 Mar 1658/59 London ... Henry Smith grandson & sole Executor [being now 21] ...

As transcribed from a copy of the original document.
Original line- and page-breaks are preserved as far as possible.

In the name of God Amen. I Alice Bosworth of the Cittie of Oxford in the County
of Oxon Widow being in perfect health and memory (Thankes be to God) considering with
my selfe the certaintie of death and the uncertaintie thereof And being desirous to
dispose of that Estate wherewithall God in his great mercie and goodnesse hath blessed me
Doe therefore hereby make my last Will and Testam't as followeth (That is to say)
ffirst I com'end my soule into the hands of God my Creator hopeing and asssuredly
beleeveing through the merits and passion of my deare Saviour Christ Jesus to be
saved at the last day And my body I com'end to the earth to be in decent manner
buried as neere the body of my deare husband Mr Henry Bosworth as may be in St
Giles Church in the Suberbs of the Citty of Oxon; And as touching my said worldly
Estate in Lands and Goods I dispose as followeth ffirst I give and bequeath unto my
Sonne in Law Mr John Smith All my howsehold and Goods of household whatsoever
both in Linnen Wollen Brasse and Pewter And I doe hereby release unto him all &
every debt and debts whatsoever he owes me in money or other wise Item I give unto
his Wife my daughter One hund'd pounds Item I give unto my Grandchilde John Smith
Sonne of my daughter Elizabeth Smith my Lease of Meadow ground lying in Oseney
Meade which I hold by Indenture of Lease of University Colledge To hold to him and
his Assignes dureing all the residue and remainder of the Terme of yeares thereof
yet to come and unexpired And I likewise give unto my said Grandchilde John Smith
and his Heires my howse and Inne at Whately in the County of Oxon w'th th'appurtenances
being free hold Land And alsoe ffower hund'd pounds in money To be paid unto him
within Thirty dayes after the time that he is made a ffreeman of the Citty of
London where now he is an Apprentice Item I give unto my Grandchilde Alice
Smith The Sum'e of One Thowsand pounds To be paid unto her at her full age
of One and Twenty yeares or day of marriage which shall first happen the same
same [sic] in the meane time to be imployed for her good and benefit by my Executors
hereafter named And to be to her Accompted for and paid withall the benefit
thereof made by my said Executors at her full age or day of marriage first
happening as aforesaid Item I give unto my grandchilde Mary Smith Six Hund'd
pounds To be paid unto her at her full age of One and Twenty yeares or day
of Marriage first happening And my Will is the said Portion and all the profitts
thereof arriseing shall remaine with and be from time to time put forth by
my Grandchilde William Wright for a Stocke for her the said Mary and the
Principall and all the profitts thereof ~~arriseing~~ to be by him Accompted for and
paid unto the said Mary at her full age or day of marriage first happening as
aforesaid Item I give unto my Grandchilde Henry Smith Sonne of my daughter
Elizabeth and his Heires for ever All my ffreehold lande and Inheritance what
soever with th'appurten'ces lying and being in Osney Meade and Oate Lands or
elswhere thereabouts nere Oxford And the Revertion thereof which I lately
purchased to me and my heirs of Richard Good of Oxford and Dorothy his Wife
and others in the Deeds thereof named And I likewise give unto the said Henry
Smith All that my lease of yeares of the Tythes of West Oseney meade And
of another Meade therein menc'oned Togeather with the Com'ons and feedings of &
for Twenty Kine and a Bull and other profitts therein menc'oned and thereby
demised which I hold of the Deane and Chapter of Christ Church in Oxford and which
I lately purchased of the said Richard Good And I alsoe give unto the said Henry
Smith whatsoever shall remaine or be to come at the time of my death of One
Annuity of 50'li a yeare Issueing forth of certain Lands and meadow grounds in Rycott
in the County of Oxon and all Sum'es of money that shall be due unto me and the
remainder of the said Terme And I doe hereby will and appoint the said An'uity
and profitts thereof to be had and received by my Executors for the onely good
and benefit of the said Henry Smith untill such time as he shall attaine his
full age of Twenty and One yeares Item I give unto my Grandchilde Christian

Wright Wife of the said William Wright ffifty pounds Item I give unto my Cozin Thomas
Hore ffive pounds and to his Sister Margaret Warland Tenne pounds To my Kinseman
William Andrews Tenne pounds And to his Sister Mary Prideaux Tenne pounds and
to the Three Children of my Cozen Thomas Andrews (That is to say) Charles Mathew
and Katherine Three pounds apeece. To my Kinswoman Anne Yates ffive pounds
and a Dozen of Silver Spoones which she pawned to me To my Servant John Staple
Eight pounds Item I bequeath to the poorest old men and women in Oxford and
the Suburbs thereof at the choise of my Executor Twenty pounds in money And
of this my last Will and Testam't I doe hereby constitute and appoint my said Grand=
=childe Henry Smith Sonne of my daughter Elizabeth soe soone as he shall attaine unto
his full age of 21 yeares to be my sole and onely Executor if he be then liveing and
in the meane time and untill his full age of 21 yeares I do ordaine and make
my said Grandchilde William Wright and Edward Astin of Oxford Gent to be my
Executors in Trust for the use of my said Grandsonne Henry Smith And for the paym't
of the said Legacies in manner as aforesaid And in case the said Henry Smith shall
dye before his said full age of 21 yeares Then my Will is That the said William
Wright and Edward Astyn shall stand and be my Executors of this my last Will and
Testam't in Trust for the rest of my Three Grandchildren John Alice and Mary
being the Children of the said John and Elizabeth Smith then liveing and in Trust
to devide my whole estate to them belonging as my Executors betweene my said
Three Grandchildren John Alice and Mary or the Survivors of them equally And for
their care and paines therein I bequeath to the said William Wright ffifty pounds
and to the said Edward Astyn Six pounds Thirteene Shillings and ffower pence It is
my Will and I doe appoint my Executors in Trust William Wright and Edward Astyn
to receave the benefit of my Lease of University Colledge untill my Grandsonne John
Smith hath served his Apprentishippe and then to pay it to him what they have
received if he be then liveing, but if he doth depart this life before the expirac'on
of his said Apprentishippe My Will is that his Legacie shall come to my Grandsonne
Henry Smith the Executor Item ^it is my Will and I doe appoint if any of my Grand-
Children John Smith Alice Smith and Mary Smith should depart this life before the
time they should receave the moneys appointed them by me My minde and Will
is That it be divided betweene soe many of them that are liveing by the said
William Wright and Edward Astyn And Lastly I doe hereby appoint my said Sonne
in Law Mr John Smith my good Brother Alderman Wright of Oxon and my Cozen
Thomas Wickes Alderman Overseers of this my last Will and for their paines
I give them fforty Shillings apeice to make them Rings in remembrance of me
Even soe come Lord Jesus In Witnesse whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and Seale the Eighteenth day of January in the yeare of o'r Lord God 1653 Alice
Bosworth signed sealed and published by the said Alice Bosworth to be her
Last Will and Testam't in the p'sence of Martyn Lipyeatt Thomas Bowell

Richard Lord Protector of the Com'onwealth of England Scotland Ireland & ye Dominions &
Territories thereto belonging To all to whom these p'nts shall come greeting Know yee That
upon ye Eight day of March English Stile 1658 before ye Judge for Probate of wills &
granting of Ad'c'ons lawfullie authorized the last Will & Testam't of Alice Bosworth late of
the Citie of Oxford in the Countie of Oxon widow decea'd was at London in com'on forme pro-
ved w'ch will is to this p'nts annexed & Ad'c'on of all & singuler ye goods ch'ells & debts of ye said
deceased w'ch may anie way concerne her or her said will granted & com'itted to Henry Smith her
Grandchild & sole Ex'or named in the said will he having first taken his oath trulie to admi-
nister ye s'd goods ch'ells & debts according to ye tenor of the s'd will And to make a true & p'fect
Inv'rie of all & singuler the goods ch'ells & debts of ye said decea'd w'ch have may or shall any way come
to his hands possession or knowledge And also a iust Accompt in & concerning his said Ad'c'on when
he shalbe assigned or lawfullie called so to doe w'ch concerning an Inv'ry was p'ntlie assigned
to p'forme at or before the last day of May next ensewing The probate granted the seaventeenth
day of January 1654'o to Wm Wright one of the Ex'ors in trust untill the said Henry Smith should
attaine his full age of 21'tie years being become void by his ye s'd Henry Smiths full attainem't
of ye said age as by certificate appeared Given at London under the Seale of the Court for
[written sideways in LH margin]
probate of wills and graunting Ad'c'ons the daye &
yeare above written.
R Carr R Sankey Mark Cottle Reg'r

Oxfordshire Family History Society

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