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Will of James FLETCHER of Oxford Will 16 Nov 1796   Codicil 23 Jan 1798   Probate 18 Jun 1798
Source: TNA no. PROB 11/1308/133 Contributed by: Stephanie Jenkins Go to Translation Go to Transcript
Summary.
... me James Fletcher of the University of Oxford, bookseller ... Name Relationship [Comments] or Major Bequests James FLETCHER   Oxford Elizabeth FLETCHER Wife (Exec) William FLETCHER Brother (Exec) Oxford Rebecca ROBINSON Sister Thomas ROBINSON Brother-in-law Oxford University Deceased Thomas ROBINSON Nephew [s Thomas - under 21] Catherine ROBINSON Niece [d Thomas - under 21] Rebecca ROBINSON Niece [d Thomas - under 21] William HANWELL Legatee (Exec) Oxford University Joseph MUNDAY Legatee Servant Sarah FRY Legatee Thomas FRY Mention [hus Sarah] WIL Salisbury Deceased Ann DYER Witness Loder PRICKETT Witness William GEORGE Witness Probate 18 Jun 1798 London (PCC) (with a codicil) ... Elizabeth Fletcher, relict, and William Hanwell, the Executors ...
Transcriber's and Editor's Notes
Son of James Fletcher Sr, who had died 1795 ... no will yet found. Transcribed by Christine Ferdinand, who is writing an article about booksellers. The following details are believed to be true but should not be totally relied upon: Testator: Brother of William (1827 qv)
Translated and paragraphed. with some of the standard preamble and "legalese" removed. Go to Glossary
... me James Fletcher of the University of Oxford, bookseller ... I wish to be buried in the same vault with my late dear relations in the church of St Michael in Oxford. I give the following sums: £200 to my dear brother William Fletcher of Oxford, mercer. £200 to my sister Rebecca Robinson, widow of Thomas Robinson late of the University of Oxford, clerk. £100 each to my nephew Thomas Robinson and my two nieces Catherine and Rebecca Robinson, children of the late Thomas, to be paid at age 21 or earlier marriage. £200 to my good friend William Hanwell of the University of Oxford, bookseller. I also give him my share in the copyright of any books or newspaper to which I may be entitled at my decease. £100 to my servant Joseph Munday if he is living with me at my death, but not otherwise. I give the messuage where I now dwell, and all my other messuages etc in the parish of St Michael held by lease under the City of Oxford, to my dear wife Elizabeth Fletcher and her Executors etc for the residue of the leases. After payment of my debts, legacies and funeral and testamentary expenses I also give her all my stock in trade, stock, share in the Booksellers' Company [ie Stationers’ Company], money, securities for money, book and other debts, household goods, implements of household, towels, linen, plate and china and all the rest of my estate and effects real and personal. I appoint my dear wife Elizabeth Fletcher, my brother William Fletcher and William Hanwell as Executrix and Executors ... revoking all former wills. Witnesses Ann Dyer; Loder Prickett. ================================= Codicil 23 Jan 1798 Wishing to make some provision for Sarah Fry, widow of Thomas Fry of WIL Salisbury, I give her £100, to be paid at the end of six months after my decease if she is then living, but not otherwise. I confirm the rest of my will. Witnesses Loder Prickett, William George Probate 18 Jun 1798 London (PCC) (with a codicil) ... Elizabeth Fletcher, relict, and William Hanwell, the Executors ...
As transcribed from a copy of the original document. Original line- and page-breaks are preserved as far as possible.
James Fletcher In the Name of God Amen This is the last Will and Testament of me James Fletcher of the University of Oxford Bookseller made published and declared this sixteenth day of November in the Year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety six And First and Principally I commend my Soul unto the Hands of Almighty God who gave it and my Body I commit to the Earth to be interred as herein after mentioned (that is to say) I desire and my Will is that I may be buried in the same Vault with my late dear Relations in the Parish Church of Saint Michael in Oxford And as for my Worldly Estate with which it has pleased God to bless me I dispose thereof as follows First I give and bequeath unto my dear Brother William Fletcher of the City of Oxford Mercer the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds to be paid out of my Estate and Effects I Also give and bequeath unto my Sister Rebecca Robinson Widow of Thomas Robinson late of the University of Oxford Clerk the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds to be paid as above mentioned I give and bequeath unto my Nephew Thomas Robinson and to my two Nieces Catherine and Rebecca Robinson Son and Daughters of the said Thomas Robinson the Sum of One Hundred Pounds each to be paid them on their respectively attaining the Age of Twenty One Years or day of Marriage I give and bequeath unto my good Friend William Hanwell of the University of Oxford Bookseller the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds And also all such share Interest and Proportion in the Copywright of any Books [sic] or Books or in any Newspaper which I may have or be entitled to at the time of my decease to be held and enjoyed by him the said William Hanwell his Executors Administrators and Assigns I give and bequeath unto my Servant Joseph Munday the Sum of One Hundred Pounds if he shall be living with me at the time of my decease but not otherwise Lastly I give devise and bequeath All that Messuage or Tenement wherein I now Dwell and all other my Messuages or Tenements with their Appurtenances in the Parish of Saint Michael in the City of Oxford held by Lease under the said City for all the residue of the several Terms therein to come and unexpired And all my Stock in Trade Stock Share in the Booksellers Company Money Securities for Money Book Debts and other Debts Household Goods and Implements of Household Towels Linen Plate and China And all the rest and Residue of my Estate and Effects Real and Personal whatsoever and wheresoever after Payment of my Just Debts Funeral and Testamentary Expences and the Legacies before given unto my dear Wife Elizabeth Fletcher her Executors Administrators and Assigns And I do hereby constitute and appoint my said dear Wife Elizabeth Fletcher my said Brother William Fletcher and the said William Hanwell Executrix and Executors of this my Will hereby revoking all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof I have to this my Will contained in two Sheets of Paper to the first Sheet thereof set my Hand and to the last Sheet thereof set my Hand and Seal the day and Year first above written James Fletcher (O) Signed sealed published and declared by the above named James Fletcher the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of Us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed Our Names as Witnesses thereto Ann Dyer /-/ Loder Prickett. A Codicil to be taken as part of the last Will and Testament of me James Fletcher of the University of Oxford Bookseller Whereas I the said James Fletcher being minded and desirous to make some Provision for Sarah Fry Widow of Thomas Fry late of Salisbury in the County of Wilts do by this my Codicil give and bequeath unto the said Sarah Fry the Sum of One hundred Pounds if she shall be living to receive the same at the Expiration of six Months after my decease but not otherwise And I do hereby order and direct that the same shall be then paid to her by my Executors and Executrix accordingly and All other matters and things contained in my said Will I do hereby ratify and confirm in every particular that is not hereby altered or revoked In Witness whereof I have to this Codicil which I direct to be taken as part of my Will set my Hand and Seal the twenty third day of January in the Year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety eight James Fletcher (O) Signed sealed published and declared by the said James Fletcher as and for a Codicil to be annexed to his last Will and Testament and to be taken as part thereof in the presence of Us Loder Trickett [Prickett] /-/ William George. This Will was proved at London with a Codicil the Eighteenth day of June in the Year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety Eight Before the Right Honourable Sir William Wynne Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oaths of Elizabeth Fletcher Widow the Relict of the deceased William Fletcher and William Hanwell the 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 duly to administer.