Richard Denchfield, labourer of Whitchurch, wrote a will in 1749, probably from his death bed a day or two before he died in early October. His estate, probated on the 28th of that same month, consisted of no inventory (Note 1). He was survived by his widow, Mary Cheshire, and their only son, 11 year old Thomas. It’s not clear what happened to the widow Mary, although there is a record of a Mary Denchfield marrying Thomas Rickart in Whitchurch in 1752 (Note 2). Richard’s son Thomas grew up to marry Mary Henley on 15 July 1762 and fathered 10 children. Who was this Richard, labourer of Whitchurch? I suspect he was the son of Richard Denchfield and his first wife Elizabeth, baptized in North Marston on 12 June 1709. That Richard was a farmer in North Marston, likely the son of ironmonger John and Parnell Denchfield. The elder Richard had inherited his father John’s house and property in Quainton (see John’s transcribed will here). Did the older Richard squander the property, leaving nothing to pass on to his son? He doesn’t appear to have left a will, so maybe.
Richard’s will:
In the Name of God Amen, I Richard Denchfield of Whitchurch in the
County of Buckingham Labourer being weak in Body but of Sound and disposing Mind
and Memory thanks begiven to Almighty God for the Same do make and ordain——
this my 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 hopeing through
the Merits Death and passion of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to obtain Pardon of
all my Sins and after this Life is ended to enjoy everlasting Happyness in his Heavenly
Kingdom and as for such Worldly Estate and effects wherewith it hath Pleased God to
bless me with I give and dispose thereof as followeth, first I give devise and bequeath
unto My Son Thomas Denchfield the Sum of Fourty Pounds ten shillings of Lawful Brittish——
Money being non Out at Intrest And in the hands of Ralph Stevens the Elder——
And his Son Ralph Stevens both in North Marson [sic] in the County of Buckingham aforesaid
of which sum of Fourty Pounds ten shillings I give Unto my Son Thomas Denchfield When he shall
Arive to the Age of Twenty One Years: by which Sum Shall be Paid Unto my Son by
my Executrix hereafter Mentioned: But in Case my Son Thomas Denchfield shall Die
before he comes to the Age of Twenty One Years: Then I give devise and bequeath
the same Fourty Pounds ten shillings[x'd out word] of Lawful Brittish Money Which is Now at Intrest and
In the hands of Ralph Stevens the elder and Ralph Stevens the Younger Of North Marson
aforesaid Unto my Dear and Loving Wife Mary Denchfield her Heirs and And [sic] Assigns
for ever ALSO all my Houshold Goods Implements of Houshold and Personal Estate
Whatsoever I give and bequeath Unto the Said Mary my Wife Whom I do hereby Constitute
And Appoint my Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament And revoking all
former and other Wills by me heretofore made I do Declare this to be my last Will and
Testament In Wittness whereof I the Said Richard Denchfield to this my Last Will and
Testament Contained in one Sheet of paper have Set my hand and Seal the Ninth
Day of October in the Twenty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George
the Second by the Grace of God King of Great Brittain And so fourth And in the
Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and forty Nine
the Mark of
Richard X Denchfield
Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the Above named
Richard Denchfield the Testator And for his last Will and
Testament in the Presence of us who have hereunto
Subscribed our names as Wittnesses in his presence and
at his request and in the presence of such Other the
Words (each and every of them) being first Interlined
Joseph Symonds
George Cheshire
28th October 1749
Sworn the Executrix within named
No Invy Before one John Stephens Snr
Proved the 28th day of October 1749 before John Stephens Clerk Surrogate by the Oath
of Mary Denchfield Widow relict & sole Execx to whome Adcon was Committed she being first
Sworn Duely to Administer.
_________________________________
Note 1: Richard Denchfield, will, Whitchurch, 1749; Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, catalog reference DAWf/87/192; original will photocopied by the Buckinghamshire Family History Society, 2010, copy held by author.
Note 2: Buckinghamshire Family History Society, Private Research, Bucks Parish Registers; records searched for Denchfields baptized, married, and buried in Buckinghamshire, England, 1550 to 1837; results emailed to author in 2010.
(Amanuensis Monday is a daily blogging prompt hosted by Geneabloggers)
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