Mary Gwinnett of St Dunstan in the East, 1775

In the name of God, Amen.  I, Mary Gwinnett, of the parish of St Dunstan in the East in the City of London, widow, being of sound mind, memory and understanding, (praised be Almighty God) do for avoiding controversies after my decease, make, publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following:

First and principally, I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God, my Creator, hoping for a pardon of all my sins by and through the alone merits and mediation of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, my body I commit to the earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my executor and executrix hereinafter named.  And as for and concerning all such worldly estate whereof I shall be possessed at the time of my decease, I will and dispose thereof as follows. And first, I will and appoint all my just debts and funeral expenses to be fully paid and satisfied.

I give and bequeath unto my Kinsman Joseph Strutt of Little Prescott Street, Goodmans Fields in the county of Middlesex, glass seller, and to my daughter-in-law, Mary Gwinnett of the said parish of St Dunstan in the East, spinster, the sum of two hundred pounds in the joint stock commonly called Old South Sea Annuities upon the trusts and to and for the several intents and purposes hereinafter mentioned, that is to say:

Upon trust that they the said Joseph Strutt and Mary Gwinnett and the survivor of them and the executors or administrators of such survivor do and shall as conveniently may be after my decease, sell and dispose of one hundred pounds part of the said sum of two hundred pounds Old South Sea Annuities and out of the money arising by sale thereof  and shall pay and satisfy all my just debts and funeral expenses.

And after payment thereof, do and shall pay to my said daughter-in-law, Mary Gwinnett, the sum of twenty pounds

And to Elizabeth Hodges the daughter of John Hodges the sum of five pounds

And to Mr Thomas Beldon the sum of one pound one shilling to buy a ring

And in trust to pay the residue of the money arising by the sale of the said one hundred pounds South Sea Annuities to the said Joseph Strutt and upon this further trust that they, the said Joseph Strutt and Mary Gwinnett or the survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor do and shall pay to or authorize permit and suffer my sister, Elizabeth Knox, widow, and her assigns from time to time to receive the dividends, interest and profits of the remaining one hundred pounds South Sea Annuities, residue of the said two hundred pounds Old South Sea Annuities

And after the decease of my said sister, Mary Knox, in trust that they the said Joseph Strutt and Mary Gwinnett or the survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor do and shall sell or dispose of  the said remaining one hundred pounds South Sea Annuities

And out of the money arising by the sale thereof do and shall pay to Thomas Bridgen, the son of the said Elizabeth Knox, the sum of ten pounds

And to Susannah Lythall the daughter of the said Anne Lythall the sum of ten pounds

And to Joseph Scott, my nephew, the sum of five pounds,

And to Thomas Scott my grand-nephew the sum of five pounds

And to my niece Elizabeth Strutt, the wife of the said Joseph Strutt, the sum of ten pounds.

All the rest and residue of my estate both real and personal, of what nature or kind soever and wheresoever, I give, devise and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto the said Joseph Strutt

And I do hereby make, ordain, constitute and appoint the said Joseph Strutt and the said Mary Gwinnett executor and executrix of this my last will and testament.

And lastly, I do hereby revoke and make void all former wills by me heretofore made and do publish and declare this to be my last will and testament.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto to this my will contained in two sheets of paper set my hand to each of the sheets and to the last sheet thereof  my hand and seal  this tenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy two.

Mary Gwinnett

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the testatrix as and for her last will and testament in the presence of us who in her presence and at her request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto:  John Armond, Thomas Thompson.

This will was proved at London the seventh day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand, seven hundred and seventy five before the worshipful George Harris, Doctor of Laws, surrogate of the Right Worshipful Sir George Hay, Knight, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, lawfully constituted by the Oaths of Joseph Strutt and Mary Gwinnett, spinster, the executors named in the said will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the goods, chattels, and credits of the deceased, having first been sworn duly to administer.