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Will of John GODFREY of Hailey
Will 30 Sep 1782 Probate 18 Oct 1782 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Probate 18 Oct 1782 Oxford ... William Harris sole Executor ... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transcriber's and Editor's Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"In perfect health" 30 Sept, buried 9 Oct 1782. What happened? Thomas and William "Harris" must have been his illegitimate sons with Ann Smith. He doesn't say so, but why else would he leave them almost all his estate? Notice that he never gives them a surname -- they are always X the [premarital] son of Ann Harris nee Smith. There's a 1757 Witney baptism of William Smith, base-born s Ann, of Hailey. The Ed can't find a Thomas, but there's a Mary in 1763. Perhaps she died. The two are here Summarised (and Indexed) as SMITH, but users should be aware that they may appear elsewhere as HARRIS and in later life they called themselves Smith GODFREY. The contributor has seen a later document that links John Harris (husband of Ann), witness Daniel Harris and a Thomas Smith. The following details are believed to be true but should not be totally relied upon: Testator: Father of Thomas Smith GODFREY (1820 qv). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Translated and paragraphed. with some of the standard preamble and "legalese" removed. Go to Glossary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
... I John Godfrey of Hailey ... Witney ... yeoman ... in perfect health ...
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As transcribed from a copy of the original document. Original line- and page-breaks are preserved as far as possible. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In the Name of God Amen I John Godfrey of Hailey in the Parish of Witney in the County of Oxford Yeoman being in perfect health and of a sound memory and understanding praised be Almighty God for the same Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in Writing manner and Form following (that is to say) First I will that all my just Debts and Funeral Expences be paid and discharged Also I Give and Bequeath unto my Niece Elizabeth Pratley the sum of Five Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid her by my Executor hereinafter named within one year next after my Decease Also I Give and Bequeath unto my two Nephews John Godfrey and Thomas Godfrey the Sum of Five Pounds each of lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid them respectively by my Executor hereinafter named within one year next after my Decease Also I Give and Bequeath unto my two Nephews William Godfrey and Daniel Godfrey and unto my Niece Mary Godfrey the Sum of Ten Pounds each of lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid them respectively by my Executor hereinafter named within one year next after my Decease Also I Give and Bequeath unto Thomas the son of Ann Harris (heretofore Ann Smith Spinster) which she had before her Intermarriage with her present Husband John Harris the younger of Hailey aforesaid Yeoman the Sum of Five Hundred Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid him within one year next after my Decease And I do hereby Charge all and Singular my Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments in Hayley aforesaid with the Payment of the same Also I Give and Bequeath unto William the Son of the said Ann Harris which she likewise had before her Intermarriage with her said Husband the said John Harris All and Singular my Messuages or Tenements Buildings Lands Hereditaments and Premises with the Rights Members and Appurtenances to the same respectively belonging Situate and being in Hayley aforesaid and the Fields Libertys and Precincts thereof To Hold the same and every part thereof unto the said William the Son of the said Ann Harris his Heirs and Assigns for ever Subject Nevertheless and Charged and Chargeable with the Payment of the Sum of Five Hundred Pounds by me hereinbefore directed to be paid thereout [John Godfrey (O)] Also I Give and Bequeath unto the said William Son of the said Ann Harris All my Household Goods Household Furniture Implements of Household Stock of Cattle Corn Grain and Hay and all other my Personal Estate whatsoever And I do hereby Nominate Constitute and Appoint the said William the Son of the said Ann Harris full and sole Executor of this my Will hereby revoking and making void all Former Wills by me at any time heretofore made and declaring this alone to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said John Godfrey the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament contained in Two Sheets of Paper set my Hand and Seal this Thirtieth day of September In the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty two Signed sealed Published and Declared by the above named John Godfrey the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and sight have subscribed our Names as Witnesses hereto. The word “or” being first written upon an Erasure in the first Sheet of Paper Also the words “and Premises” being first interlin’d in the said first sheet of Paper John Godfrey Rd:Walford Edw:Witts Clerk to Mr Walford Daniel Harris of Hayley Baker This Will was proved at Oxford on the eighteenth day of October in the year of our Lord 1782 before the Judge by the oath of William Harris the sole Executor therein named to whom Adm'con. was granted being first sworn by Commission duly to administer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||