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Will of Simon COOPER of Chalford Will 1 Apr 1751   Probate 14 Oct 1751
Source: OHC no. W. 211.367; 123/1/58 Contributed by: Anon Go to Translation Go to Transcript
Summary.
... I Simon Cooper of Chalford ... Aston Rowant ... yeoman ... weak in body ... Name Relationship [Comments] or Major Bequests Simon COOPER   Chalford Mary COOPER Wife (Exec) John STEVENS Grandson [under 21] Jane STEVENS Granddaughter [under 21] Mary STEVENS Granddaughter [under 21] Fennell HARRIS Trustee Michael HOUSE Trustee Francis RICHARDSON Tenant Watlington Thomas KING Tenant Watlington Thomas HEALY Witness Richard HEALY Witness Joshua TYLER Witness Probate 14 Oct 1751 Ewelme (visitation) ... Mary Cooper widow and sole Executrix ...
Transcriber's and Editor's Notes
The lines as written are very long. The following details are believed to be true but should not be totally relied upon: Testator's wife Mary nee BROOKS. The grandchildren are the children of his daughter Jane and John STEVENS.
Translated and paragraphed. with some of the standard preamble and "legalese" removed. Go to Glossary
... I Simon Cooper of Chalford ... Aston Rowant ... yeoman ... weak in body ... I give the following to my dear and loving wife Mary Cooper for life: My messuage in Watlington, with all its houses, outhouses, edifices, buildings, barns, stables, yards, orchards, gardens, backsides etc (now in the occupation of Francis Richardson). Its five lands of arable land in the common fields of Watlington called East Field and How Field, (now in the possession of Thomas King). All my household goods and furniture, stock, cattle, chattels and personal estate. After my wife's decease: I give the furniture of the best room to my granddaughter Jane Stevens. I give all my above [property] in Watlington to my grandson John Stevens and his heirs forever at age 21, he paying £20 to his sister Mary Stevens at age 21. If she dies before 21 I give the £20 to my granddaughter Jane Stevens. If my grandson John Stevens dies before 21 I give [my above property] equally between my two granddaughters Jane and Mary Stevens. I appoint my loving friends Fennell Harris and Michael House to be Trustees for my wife during her life, and afterwards for my grandchildren until my grandson John Stevens reaches age 21. They are to sell off my stock, investing the proceeds for my wife's benefit, and see that my house etc in Watlington is kept in good repair. Any money left over at my wife's death I give to my granddaughter Jane Stevens, to be paid (plus interest) by my trustees at age 21. I appoint my wife Mary as sole Executrix, my debts and funeral expenses being paid first. Witnesses Thomas X Healy; Richard Healy; Joshua Tyler Probate 14 Oct 1751 Ewelme (visitation) ... Mary Cooper widow and sole Executrix ...
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 Simon Cooper of Chalford in the Parish of Aston Rowant in the County of Oxford Yeoman being weak in Body but of Sound and Disposing Mind Memory and understanding praised be God for the same Doe make and ordaine this my Last Will and Testament in Manner ffollowing that is to say ffirst and principally I committ my soule to God and my Body to the Earth to be Decently Buried at the Discretion of my Executrix hereof Named and my worldly Estate wherewith it hath Pleased God to Bless me I Dispose thereof as followeth First I give and Devise all All [sic] that my Messuage or Tenement together with all houses Outhouses Edifices Buildings Barns Stables Yards Orchards gardens Backsides and Appurtenances whatsoever thereto belonging scituate and being in Watlington in the Country of Oxford and now in the Possession or Occupation of Francis Richardson and Also all those my ffive Lands of Arrable Land thereunto belonging Lying and being in the Common ffields of Watlington aforesaid called East ffield and How field and now in the Possession of Thomas King unto my Dear and Loving Wife for and Dureing her Naturall Life And Also I Give and Bequeath unto my loving wife Mary Cooper all my Houshold Goods and ffurniture of houshold Stock Cattle and Chattles and Personall Estate whatsoever and wheresoever Dureing her Naturall Life Except and after her Decease I Give the ffurniture of the Best Room I Give unto my Grand Daughter Jane Stevens and from and after the Decease of my said wife Mary I Give and Devise all my before Mentioned Estate and Premisses in Watlington unto my Grandson John Stevens and to his Heirs for Ever As soon as he Arrives to the Age of Twentyone years he Paying out of the same unto his Sister Mary Stevens the sum of Twenty Pounds of Good and lawfull Money of Great Brittaine at the Age of twentyone Years if she should not live to the Age of twentyone years then I Give her Part unto my Grandaughter Jane Stevens if it should happen that my Grandson John Stevens should Die before he Arrives to the Age of twentyone years I give all my before mentioned Premisses unto my two Grandaughters Jane Stevens and Mary Stevens to be Equaly Divided share and share alike And ffurther I Doe Appoint my two Loving ffriends ffennell Harris and Michael House to be my Trustees for my Loving wife Dureing her Naturall Life and afterwards for my Grand Children before mentioned untill my Grandson John Stevens Arives to the Age of twenty one years they After my Decease to sell off my Stock and the Money to be Put to Interest for my wife and my will is that they my trustees or one of them to see that my House and Premisses in Watlington shall be kept in good Repaire And ffurther All the Overplus Money that shall be left at the Time of my wifes Decease I Give to my Grand Daughter Jane Stevens to be Paid by my trustees with all Interest that shall become Due at the Age of Twenty one years and I Doe hereby Appoint my said wife Mary to be my full and sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament my Debts and ffunerall Expences being first satisfied In Witness whereof I have to this my last will and Testament put my Hand and Seal this ffirst day of Aprill in the Twenty ffifth Year of the Reigne of our sovereign Lord George the Second by the grace of God of Great Brittaine ffrance and Ireland King Defender of the ffaith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and ffifty and one Signed sealed Published and Declared by the Above                                   the Mark of Named Simon Cooper the Testator as and for his Last Will                      Thomas X Healy and Testament in the presence of us who have hereto subscribed                Richard Healy Our Names as witnesses in his sight and presence                                     Joshua Tyler This Will was proved at Ewelme the 14 day of Oct'br 1751 before the Reverend John John Potter Dr in Divinity Archdeacon of the Archdeaconry of Oxon in his Archidiaconal Visitation By the Oath of Mary Cooper W'o and sole Executrix She being duly sworn &c Saving &c