Yeovil's Virtual Museum

The Will of John Holloway

The 1740 Will of John Holloway, Tobacconist

 

In the Name of God Amen I John Holloway of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Tobacconist being weak of Body but od Sound mind and disposing memory thanks be given to Almighty God for the same do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following First I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved Wife all my Messuages or Dwelling Houses Lands and Tenements scituate lying and being in Yeovil aforesaid or elsewhere for and during the term of her natural Life and after her decease I give devise and bequeath part of the aforesaid Lands called Hanger Lands unto my Nephew John Holloway his Heirs and Assigns for ever Also I give and bequeath (after my said Wifes decease) All those my Lands called Matcliffs Lake unto my Nephew Robert Holloway his Heirs and Assigns for ever Also I give devise and bequeath unto my said Nephew John Holloway his Heirs and Assigns for ever (after my said Wifes decease) All my Dwelling House with the app[ur]ten[anc]es and also Gawlers Higher House with the Appurtenances To have and to hold unto my said Nephew his Heirs and Assigns for ever Also I give devise and bequeath unto my said Nephew Robert Holloway his Heirs and Assigns for ever (after my said Wifes decease) All those Houses with their Appurtenances Scituate in Yeovil aforesaid called Days House and Court Ash [See note below] with their appurtenances To have and to hold unto my said Nephew Robert Holloway his Heirs and Assigns for ever Also I give and bequeath unto my said Nephew Robert Holloway one Mortgage of Seventy pounds with Interest [one ?] from Giles Gillard of Yeovil aforesaid Also I give and bequeath unto my Brother Robert Holloway during his natural Life the sum of Four Shillings Weekly and every Week And I do hereby Charge my Lands with the payment thereof Also I give and bequeath unto my said Brother All my Wearing Apparell both Linnen and Woollen Also I give and bequeath unto my Kinswoman Joane Coombe the sum of Fiftie Pounds to be paid her out of my Estate at her age of twenty one years or day of Marriage which shall first happen Also I give and bequeath unto my Niece Mary Holloway the sum of One Hundred Pounds to be paid her at her age of Twenty one Years or day of Marriage which first happens And as for all the Rest and Residue of my Goods Chattels and Personall Estate I give and bequeath unto my beloved Wife whom I make Sole Executrix and Residuary Legatee of this my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seale this fourteenth day of February 1740

Jno Holloway

Signed Sealed published and declared in the presence of us

John Milner Will[ia]m Wallis J Wood


This Will was proved at London the Twenty seventh day of April in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty one before the Right Worshipful John Bettesworth Doctor of Laws master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of mary Holloway Widow the Relict of the deceased and Sole Executrix named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted for all and singular the Goods Chattells and Credits of the said deceased being first Sworn by Commission duly to Administer

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn

 

Note: This was, presumably, not the house known as Court Ash House which, from 1725 to around 1800 was the property of the Boucher family.