Richard Gwinnett of Great Shurdington, 1717

I, Richard Gwinnett, of Great Shurdington in the parish of Badgeworth and in the Diocese and County of Gloucester, gent, being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory, thanks be to God for the same, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following:

Imprimis: I bequeath my soul to God in hopes of salvation through the merits of my Saviour, Jesus Christ our merciful Redeemer and my body to be buried in Badgeworth Churchyard under the tomb of my ancestors there at the discretion of my executor hereafter named.  And as for my worldly estate, I dispose thereof as followeth:

I give and bequeath unto Mrs Elizabeth Thomas jnr in Lyon’s(?)  Court in Great Russell Street in the Liberties of Westminster the sum of six hundred pounds to be paid her in manner following: (that is to say) one hundred pounds one year of my decease and the residue thereof within three years after my decease. This kindness she hath deserved of me in what she hath formerly written in her own will.

Item:  I give and bequeath unto my sister Catch-maid’s childrens the sum of one hundred pounds apiece to be paid them at the day of marriage or the age of one and twenty years respectively.

Item:  I give and bequeath unto my sister’s Haynes’s children the sum of two hundred pounds apiece to be paid them likewise at their days of marriage or age of one and twenty years.

Item:  I give unto Mrs Mary Collier 20 shillings to buy her a ring in testimony of my respect for her.

Item:  All and singular my Mannors, (sin..ories?), messuages, lands, tenements and heraditaments whatsoever and wheresoever lying and being in the parishes of Badgeworth and Down Hatherley or elsewhere, I give and devise the same to my loving father George Gwinnett his heirs and assigns for ever chargeable nevertheless with the legacies abovesaid.

All other my real and personal estate whatsoever I give and bequeath unto my said loving father whom I do hereby constitute and appoint sole executor of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills at anytime by me heretofore made.  In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this nine and twentieth day of March and in the third year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George by the grace of God of Great Britain, etc., King, Defender of the Faith, etc., Anno Domini 1717.

 Richard Gwinnett

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the testator of his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence subscribed our names as witnesses hereunto.  James Ball, Abraham Ball, Thomas Smith.