The Document Chest
1747 Will of James Hooper the Elder
Gentleman
In the Name of God Amen
I James Hooper
the Elder of
Yeovil in the
County of
Somerset
Gentleman do
make this my
last Will and
Testament in
manner and Form
following
Whereas I have
Surrendered my
Customary or
Copyhold Estate
at Rympton in
the said County
of Somerset to
the Uses of my
Will now I do
give devise and
bequeath my said
Customary or
Copyhold Estate
together with
all other my
Lands of
Inheritance
Situate lying
and being in the
Several Parishes
of Mudford Humer
Trent Adber
Queen Camel
Preston and
Yeovil in the
County of
Somerset and
Sherborne in
County of Dorset
and Elsewhere in
the said Countys
of Somerset and
Dorset unto my
Son James Hooper
his Heires and
Assigns forever
I give unto my
Daughter Rebekah
Hooper two
thousand five
hundred pounds
[around £400,000
at today's
value] with
Interest for the
same at four per
Cent from my
death and
Liberty for my
said Daughter to
live in my now
dwelling House
so long as she
shall remain
unmarried also I
give to Jonathan
Hooper Grandson
of my Brother
William Hooper
Twenty Pounds to
be paid him when
he shall attain
his age of one
and Twenty years
also I give to
my Brother
Jonathan Hooper
one Hundred
Pounds and many
of my late Aunt
Coopers Children
as shall be
living at the
time of my death
Ten pounds a
peice also I
give unto the
Poor of the
Parish of
Preston
aforesaid the
Sum of Fifty
Shillings yearly
forever to be
distributed by
two equal
Payments Viz on
the fifth of
November and the
Second of
February
following by and
with the Consent
and Approbation
of my Heirs at
Law and in
default or
Refusal of such
Approbation and
Consent by the
Minister and
Churchwardens
for the time
being amongst
such of the Poor
People there as
have no relief
from the said
parish and I do
hereby Charge
the Payment
thereof on my
Close of Ground
in Yeovil called
Cooksham also
all the rest and
residue of my
Personal Estate
Goods and
Chattels of what
nature or kind
soever not
hereinbefore by
me given I give
devise and
bequeath unto my
said Son James
Hooper whom I do
hereby make full
whole and Sole
Executor of this
my Will revoking
all former Wills
by me at any
time heretofore
made and
declaring this
only to be my
last Will and
Testament In
Witness whereof
I the said James
Hooper have
hereunto set my
hand and seal
this Seventh day
of December one
thousand Seven
Hundred and
forty seven
Jam
Hooper
Signed Sealed
Published and
declared by the
said Testator
James Hooper as
and for his last
Will and
Testament in the
presence of us
who at his
Request and in
his Presence
have subscribed
our Names as
Witnesses hereto
Sarah Aglen
Thos
Edwards
Benj
Daymond
This Will was Proved at London the
eighteenth day
of August in the
year of our Lord
one thousand
seven hundred
and Fifty two
before the Right
Honourable Sir
George Lee
Knight Doctor of
Laws Master
Keeper or
Commissary of
the Prerogative
Court of
Canterbury
lawfully
constituted by
the Oath of
James Hooper the
Son of the
deceased and
Sole Executor
named in the
said Will to
whom
Administration
was granted of
all and singular
the Goods
Chattels and
Credits of the
deceased being
first sworn by
Commission duly
to administer
Transcribed by Bob Osborn
