I Stephen Maberly of the Parish of Mangotsfield, Cordwainer being in good health and of sound and perfect memory and understanding am disposed to make my last Will and Testament in the manner following (that is to say) I give and settle upon my wife the sum of Twenty Pounds a year to be paid her by my Trustees half yearly from the day of my decease during her life and also the House and Garden I bought of Charles Rich situate lying and being near Mangotsfield Church in the said Parish of Mangotsfield. And After my wife’s decease, I give the aforesaid Twenty Pounds per Annum towards paying the Legacies I give to My Grandchildren hereafter mentioned as my Trustees judge as proper.
And the house and garden aforesaid I give my Grand Daughter Ann Smith at my wife’s decease.
I give unto my son William the Lower Close Called Powells and the House and Garden now in the occupation of William Hopkins both joining Mangotsfield Common in the said Parish of Mangotsfield with his bond and all my wearing apparel both Linen and Woollen of every kind.
I give unto my Son-in-law Curtis the Bond and Note I have against him and the Upper close called Powells and House that Abram Amesbury occupieth with the Garden thereto belonging, All situate lying and being in or near Mangotsfield Common in the said Parish of Mangotsfield.
I give unto my Daughter [Ann] Smith wife of the Thomas Smith Cordwainer this my dwelling House which I did occupy with Stable and Shop and every Appurtenance thereto belonging situated lying and being in or near Mangotsfield Common in the said Parish of Mangotsfield, Entirely as her property and at her disposal I give unto my Son-in-law Smith the Value of One Hundred Pounds in flock and goods belonging to trade upon Appraisement or if not valued at so much the full value to be made good in money.
Respecting my Grand Children my will is that they shall be given Twenty Pounds each of them when twenty-one years of age, and those that are willing to go out Apprentices shall have Ten Pounds more towards placing them out to be paid by my Trustees here under mentioned.
My Will is that there shall regular Accounts be Kept in the Book where there is mention made of my Effects, both Lands, Livings and Bonds and Notes and Kept at my son William’s house of the Receivings and Disbursements where you are Desired to meet twice a year to settle the same. I leave my son William and son-in-law Curtis and son-in-law Smith in trust to manage this affair and to Execute the same Accordingly this to Revoke all former wills and to make this my last Will and Testament. In Witness thereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this Twenty-sixth of May in the year of our Lord One thousand, seven hundred and eighty-four.
(Next page there are two addendums the first being dated 1789 and the second 1822)
26th Day of March 1789 ?Admcon the Goods of the within named Stephen Maberly deceased with his last Will & Testament annexed was granted to William Maberly, James Curtis and Thomas Smith Trustees named in the said Will at Bristol by the Rev.d Thos. Backhouse B.D. Vicar Genl being first sworn before the Rev.d John Camplin D.D. (No Executors being named in the said Will.)
16th day of March 1822 Admcon of the Goods within named Stephen Maberly decd left unadministered by William Maberly, James Curtis & John Smith Trustees named in said Will deceased with his last Will & Testament annexed was granted to Elizabeth Parker, Wife of Thomas Parker, natural Grand Daughter of said Stephen Maberly decd at Bristol by the Revd. Job Walker Vicar Genrl. Being first sworn before the Revd. John Joseph Goodnight D.D. & Ann Smith the natural Grand Daughter being next of kin of the said Deceased having first renounced--------
Effects under £20
~~~~~~~
Whereas Stephen Maberly late of the Parish of Mangotsfield in the County of Gloucester and Diocese of Bristol Cordwainer sometime since departed this life having first made and executed his last Will and Testament in Writing bearing date the Twenty sixth day of May One thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-four but thereof appointed no Executor but in his said Will named his Son William Maberly, his Son-in-law James Curtis and his Son-in-law Thomas Smith Trustees and to whom on or about the Twenty-sixth day of March One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty-nine letters of Administration with the last Will & Testament annexed was granted and committed And whereas the said William Maberly, James Curtis and Thomas Smith after they had administered to the said Will for some time intermoddled(?) with the Goods and Chattels and Credits of the said Stephen Maberly deceased departed this Life leaving divers Goods and Chattels and Credits unadministered and also leaving Ann Smith of Melksham in the County of Wiltshire, Widow the natural and lawful Daughter and one of the next of Kin of the said Stephen Maberly then surviving.
Now know all Men by these persons that I, the said Ann Smith for divers good causes and considerations me hereunto specially moving have renounced and by these present do expressly renounce all my Right and Title to the Administration of the Goods of the said Stephen Maberly deceased left unadministered by the said William Maberly, James Curtis and Thomas Smith deceased as aforesaid with the said last Will and Testament annexed and to the further execution of the said Will and to the end that this my proxy of Renunciation may have all due Effect in Law I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint Richard Baylis of the City of Bristol Gentleman one of the proctors of the Consistory Court of Bristol (or in his absence any other Proctor of the said Court to be my true and lawful Proctor for me and in my Name to appear before the Reverend Job Walker Bough Clerk Vicar General in Spirituals and Principal Official of the Right Reverend Father in God John by Divine permission Lord Bishop of Bristol lawfully constituted his surrogate or some other competent Judge in this Behalf to exhibit this my proxy and pray and procure the same and the Renunciation therein contained to be admitted and enacted. And generally to do and perform all such other acts matters and things needful and necessary to be done on my part and behalf in and about the promises ratifying and confirming all and whatsoever my said proctor or in his absence any other proctor of the said Court shall lawfully do or cause to be done herein by Virtue of those present In Witness thereof I the said Ann Smith have hereunto set my hand and seal this the sixth day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and Twenty-two.
Ann Smith signed the document. At this time of 1822, she was 87 - no wonder she didn’t want to continue to administer her father’s will, leaving goods and chattels to other relatives.
Know all Men by these present That We William Maberly, Butcher, James Curtis, Merchant and Thomas Smith Cordwainer all of the Parish of Mangotsfield in the County of Gloucester, Thomas Nicholls of the Parish of Stoke Gifford in the same County, Yeoman and James Perry of the City of Bristol, Cooper are holden and firmly bound unto the Right Reverend Father in God Christopher by Divine permission Lord Bishop of Bristol lawfully constituted in the Sum of Two Thousand Pounds of Lawful British Money to be paid to the said Revd. Father or his certain Attorney Executors Administrators success or assigns For which payment well and truly to be made We bind ourselves and each of us jointly and severally our and each of our Heirs, Executors and Administrators and every of them for ever by those present sealed with our Seals Dated the Twenty-sixth Day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and eighty-nine.
The Condition of this Obligation is such that if the above bounden William Maberly, James Curtis and Thomas Smith Trustees named and appointed in and by the last Will and Testament of Stephen Maberly late of the Parish of Mangotsfield in the County of Gloucester and Diocese of Bristol Cordwainer deceased (To whom Administration of All and Singular the Good, Chattels and Effects of the said Deceased with his said last Will annexed hath been granted and committed, No Executor being named in the said Will)-----------------------------------------
do make or cause to be made a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the Goods and Chattels and Credits of the said Stephen Maberly deceased And the same so made do and shall exhibit into the Registry of the Episcopal Court of Bristol on or before the last Day of June next ensuing and the same Goods and Chattels shall faithfully administer accordingly to Law And further do make or cause to be made a true and perfect account of the said Administration when ???? lawfully requested. Then this Obligation to be void or else to be and remain in full force and Virtue.
William Maberly
James Curtis
Thomas Smith
The mark of James Perry
Know all Men by these present that We Thomas Parker of the Parish of Stapleton in the County of Gloucester Butcher, George Gunter of the Parish of Mangotsfield in the same County Yeoman and William Hassman of the same Parish Gentleman are held and firmly bound unto the Right Reverend Father in God John the Divine permission Lord Bishop of Bristol lawfully constituted in the sum of Forty Pounds of lawful British money to be paid to the said Reverend Father or his certain Attorney Executors Administrator Successors or Assigns For which payment well and truly to be made We bind ourselves and each and every one of us jointly and severally for the whole and in the whole our and each and every of our Heirs Executors and Administrators and every of them firmly by these present Sealed with our Seals Dated at Bristol aforesaid the Seventeenth Day of March in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty-two.
The Condition of this Obligation is such that
if Elizabeth Parker Wife of the above boundon Thomas Parker,
natural and lawful Grand Daughter of Stephen Maberly late of the
Parish of Mangotsfield in the County of Gloucester and Diocese of
Bristol, Cordwainer deceased to whom Administration of all and
singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said Stephen
Maberly deceased left unadministered by William Maberly, James
Curtis and Thomas Smith the Trustees named in the said Will all
since deceased with his last Will and Testament annexed hath been
granted and committed Ann Smith the natural and lawful Daughter
and only next of kin of the said Stephen Maberly deceased,
and also Widow and Relic of the said Thomas
Smith deceased (who survived the other Trustees
named in the said Will) (all the underlined text
was crossed out in this document) having first renounced to
make or cause to be made a true perfect Inventory of all and
singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said Stephen
Maberly deceased left unadministered as aforesaid and the same so
made, do and shall exhibit into the Registry of the Episcopal
Court of Bristol on or before the last day of June next ensuing
the day of the date hereof and the same Goods, Chattels and
Credits left unadministered as aforesaid so and shall faithfully
administer according to Law and do further make and render a just
and true Account of her said Administration when lawfully
required Then the above written Obligation to be void, or else to
be and remain in full force and Virtue.
Witnessed by
Richard Baylis
Thos Parker
George Gunter
Will Hassman