Nat Gould

Will of William Gould 1704-1757

In the Name of God Amen. I William Gould of Lower Brownhill in the parish of Alstonefield and County of Stafford, being of sound and disposing mind and memory (blessed be Almighty God for his mercy) And considering the Uncertainty of this Transitory Life Do make and ordain this my present last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) First and principally I commend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God hoping thro’ the merits death and passion of my ever blessed Saviour to receive full and free pardon and forgiveness of all my Sins and to inherit everlasting Life and my body I committ to the Earth to be decently buried at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter named and as touching the Disposition of such Temporal Estate as it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me I give and dispose thereof as followeth

First I will and bequeath that all my Just Debts and funeral Expences shall be paid and discharged

Also I give and bequeath unto my Son Richard Gould All the lands, buildings and premises lying within the Liberty of Warslow which were sometime since purchased by me from William Gould of Westwood lately deceased To have and to hold the said Buildings Lands and Premises unto my said Son Richard Gould his Heirs and Assigns for Ever, He thereout paying unto my Younger Children the Summ of four hundred Pounds to be paid to them as hereafter directed. Also I give and bequeath unto my said Son Richard Gould all the quick Stock and Husbandry Ware that I die possessed of, to have and dispose of at his own Will and Pleasure. Also my Will and desire is that my said Son Richard Gould by the permission of Sir Henry Harpur Bart. shall enjoy the Tenantright of the Tythes of the parish of Alstonefield (now rented by me) so soon as he shall arrive to the Age of twenty one Years and also to enter upon the Tenantright of the farm at Lower Brownhill so soon as he arrives to the Age of Twenty one Years

Also I give and bequeath unto my Son Thomas Gould the Summ of One hundred and fifty pounds, One hundred pounds of which Summ is to be paid to him when he arrives to the age of Twenty one Years, and the other remaining fifty Pounds to be applied by my Executors to put my said son Thomas Gould to a Trade so soon as my Executors shall think him prepared for the same

Also I give and bequeath unto my Son John Gould the Summ of One hundred and fifty pounds, One hundred pounds of which Summ is to be paid to him when he arrives to the Age of Twenty one Years and the other remaining fifty pounds to be applied by my Executors to put my said Son John Gould to a Trade so soon as my Executors shall think him prepared for the same

Also I give and bequeath unto my Son Joseph Gould the Summ of One hundred and fifty pounds, One hundred pounds of which Summ is to be paid to him when he arrives to the Age of Twenty one Years, and the other remaining fifty pounds to be applied by my Executors to put my said Son Joseph Gould to a Trade so soon as my Executors shall think him prepared for the same

Also I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Gould the Summ of One hundred pounds to be paid to her so soon as she arrives to the Age of Twenty one Years

Also I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Hannah Gould the Summ of One hundred pounds to be paid to her as soon as she arrives to the Age of Twenty one Years

Also I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah Gould the Summ of One hundred Pounds to be paid to her so soon as she Arrives to the Age of Twenty one Years

Also I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Ann Gould the Summ of One hundred Pounds to be paid to her as soon as she arrives to the Age of Twenty one years.

Likewise my Will and desire is that the Interest of the Legacies above mentioned to be paid to my said Sons Thomas John and Joseph Gould and to my said Daughters Elizabeth Hannah Sarah and Ann Gould shall be applied towards the maintenance of them respectively until they arrive to the Age of Twenty one Years And further my Will and pleasure is that the share or shares, Legacy or Legacies of the Child or Children happening to die before they arrive to the age of Twenty one Years shall be equally divided amongst the Survivors.

Also I give and bequeath unto my loving Wife Elizabeth Gould the Clear Yearly Summ of six pounds to be paid to her Yearly and every Year during her natural Life at two equal payments or portions (to wit) Michaelmas and Lady Day Yearly during the Term aforesaid And likewise my Will and desire is that my said loving Wife Elizabeth Gould (by the permission of Sir Henry Harpur Bart.) shall enjoy the Tythes of the Parish aforesaid and also the Tenantright of the farm at Lower Brownhill unntill my said Son Richard Gould arrives to the Age of Twenty one Years and further my desire is that my said Wife Elizabeth Gould shall (by permission as aforesaid) enjoy the Tenantright of the farm called Shawmoor Yate and also the Tenantright of the Tenement where Job Bembrick now dwells during her natural Life and from and after her Decease my desire is that my said Son Thomas Gould shall (by permission as aforesaid) enjoy the farm at Shawmoor Yate and my said Son John Gould the Tenement where Job Bembrick now dwells

Also I give and bequeath unto my eldest Son William Gould Son of my late deceased Wife All my Lands lying within the Kingdom of England except those by me heretofore bequeathed To have and to hold the same to him and his Heirs for Ever he thereout paying to his two Sisters the Summ of four hundred Pounds as hereafter directed.

Also I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Salt wife of Sampson Salt of Greenloehead the Summ of One hundred Pounds.

Also I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Rebecca Gould the Summ of Three hundred Pounds and also one Bed and one Large pewter Dish which two last mentioned Legacies to wit One hundred Pounds to my Daughter Mary Salt and three hundred Pounds to my Daughter Rebecca Gould are to be paid to them in twelve months after my Decease by my Son William Gould out of my Lands lying at Staden in the County of Derby now in the Occupation of Thomas Swan living at Kingsterndale but if Default be made in payment of the Legacies as aforesaid it shall and may be lawfull for the said Mary Salt or Rebecca Gould to enter upon the aforesaid Premises at Staden untill due payment be made thereof.

Also my will and Pleasure is that all the residue and Remainder of my Household Goods shall be equally divided amongst my Younger Children (to wit) Richard Thomas John Joseph Elizabeth Hannah Sarah And Ann Gould Share and share alike.

Also All the Residue and Remainder of my Personal Estate, Money Placed out on Security, Books, Debts, Goods & Chattels whatsoever after my Legacies, Just Debts and funeral Expences are all paid and discharged I give and bequeath unto my said Son Richard Gould in trust to divide the Overplus to himself and his Brothers and Sisters equally share and Share alike, and Lastly do constitute and appoint My brother Richard Gould and my brother Thomas Gould and my Son Richard Gould Executors Jointly of this my last Will and Testament and do hereby revoke disannul and make void all former Wills by me heretofore made In Witness whereof I the said William Gould to this my present last Will and Testament interchangeably sett my hand and Seal the Twentieth Day of August in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred fifty Seven

William Gold [[seal]

Signed, Sealed and delivered by the Testator within named he in the presence of us & we in Sight of each other the Words One Year of Tythes of the ley being first interlin’d


William Grindon
Samuel Slack
Jno: [[John] Green

At Cheadle 27th Octr 1757
Let a probat be made to Richard Gould & Thomas Gould brothers of the deceased two of the executors named in the Deceaseds will a power being reserved for the other executor
The said Richard & Thomas being sworn before me
Thos White Sur[[rogate]
by hand