John Denchfield made the following will on 4 December 1766 and, 11 years later on 4 January 1777, he added a clause regarding his wife Mary. The evidence from this document provides an important clue to solving the John Denchfield/Mary Gurney mystery I wrote about previously here. The will was proved on 6 December 1788.
In The name of God Amen I John Denchfield Elder
of Northmarston in the County of Bucks being in perfect
Mind and Memory do make and Ordain this my Last Will
and Testament. First of all I Give and reccomend my Soul
into the hands of Almighty God hopeing to be Saved by
his Mercy and the Merits of our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ
And my Body to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian like and
Decent manner at the discretion of my Executor hereinafter
named: And as Touching that Little worldly Estate wherewith
it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life I give devise and
Dispose of the Same in manner and Form Following.
I give and bequeath to my Son Richard Denchfield that House
Which was my Father Brewers and a Hundred pounds in money
to be paid him a Twelvemonth after my Decease and to enjoy
the Said House to him and his Heirs for Ever I Also give and
bequeath [to Mary Denchfild is crossed out] Elizabeth Denchfield and
Sarah Denchfield the Sum of Twenty pounds Apiece to be
paid them when they come to Age or A Twelvemonth after my
my Decease by my Executor if they be at Age before I die
I Also give to my Daughter Ann Stevens the wife of Thomas
Stevens the Sum of Twenty pounds and to my Grandson Thomas
Stevens the Sum of Five pounds when he comes to Age
to be paid by my Executor. Lastly all the the rest and residue
of my personall Estate of what nature and kind so ever and
wheresoever I give and bequeath to my Son John Denchfield
the Half Yard Land and the House of my Fathers Denchfields
to him and his Heirs for Ever I also make him my only and
Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament. In Wittness
whereof I have hereunto Sett my Hand and Seal this 4.th Day
of December In the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven
Hundred and Sixty Six:
My Will and desire is that Mary my Wife if in Case
She is in wants of a House that she shall have the Parlor
and the Chamber over the Parlor and the Bay of Barn to the
Parlor Chimbney so long as she Remains a Widdow and all her
Houshold goods [& boath?] Woolen and Linnen that she brought
Witness my hand
This 4 day of January 1777
John Denchfield
Signed Sealed published and Declared by the
said John Denchfield the Testator as and for his
Last Will and Testament in the presence of us
Who have hereunto Subscribed our Names as wittnessed
at the Request and in the presence of the Said
Testator and of each other
John Denchfield
William Buckingham
John Bignell
ester coker
6th, Dec, 1788 Sworn the Executor within –
named and that the effects do not amount to 300S
No Invy before me
W. Stockins Snr
Proved the 6th, day of December 1788 before the Reverend
William Stockins Clerk Surrogate by the oath of John Denchfield the—
natural and lawful son and sole Executor to whom Adcon was committed
He being first sworn duly to administer
(Amanuensis Monday is a daily blogging prompt hosted by Geneabloggers)
[...] his will made in 1766, amended in 1777, and proved after his death in 1788, yeoman John Denchfield left his Father [...]