The Last Will and Testament of James WHITWORTH Clockmaker of Luzley – 12 June 1790

In the name of God Amen I James Whitworth of Luzley in the Parish of Ashton under Line and County of Lancaster Clockmaker being weak in body but of sound perfect and disposing Mind and Memory and Understanding praised be to Almighty God for the same do this twelfth day of June in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred and ninety make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in Manner and Form following that is to say Firstly it is my Will and Mind that all my just debts owing by me at my decease any funeral expenses and the Probate of this my Will and Testament be duly paid out of my Estate and Worldly effects by my Executors hereinafter named I give and devise to my beloved wife Sarah all and singular that Estate with its appurtenances which I received with her at our Intermarriage called Mossley Cross situate in Mossley within the Parish of Ashtonunderline aforesaid to hold the same to her and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life provided she so long remain my Widow and after her decease or her being married again I give and devise my said estate called Mossley Cross to my son Samuel to hold the same to him and his Representatives for and during my Interest therein Also I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah my Clock my best Bed and Bedding and such other of my Household Goods and Chattles for her own Use as she shall think necessary and expedient for HouseKeeping  It is my Will and Mind and I do hereby order and direct that my beloved wife Sarah shall if she so choose carry on my present Business in her own name and have the free Use of my Work Tools and have and receive the Profits of the Business to herself as long as she may think it advantageous to her and when she declines the business I will that my Tools be sold and disposed of amongst my children as is hereafter mentioned I will order and direct that an Encumbrance of thirty Pounds now lying on my Estate called Mossley Cross be paid out of my outstanding Credits by my executors hereafter named Also I give and bequeath to my Wife’s four children namely Judith Lilley Sarah Wood Hannah Wardle and James Wardle or their representatives each six Pounds to be paid to them out of my Estate and effects when her son James attains the age of twenty one years if he so long live and if he die before that time leaving no lawful issue I will the other three shall have their Legacies when he would have been twenty one years and his Legacy to be a lapsed one  I give and devise to my beloved Wife Sarah my five seat Pew in the Chapel of Mosley aforesaid with its appurtenances to hold the same to her and her assigns for and during the terms of her natural life provided she so long remains my widow and after her Decease or being married again I give and devise my said five seat Pew in Mosley Chapel aforesaid to my Son Samuel to hold the same to him his heirs and Assigns forever or during my interest therein if he should attain the age of twenty one years and have lawful issue I give and bequeath to my son Samuel all my Books together with my Corner Cupboard and round Tea Table with my six Silver Tea Spoons and my Sugar Tongs And after the Decease of my beloved Wife Sarah or her being married again and in case of my son Samuel’s death without lawful issue I give devise and bequeath all the Rest Residue and remainder of my Personal Estate to my eight own Children or their Representatives to be divided into eight shares equally share and share alike  namely to my child Mary one share to my son Luke’s children one share equally divided among them to my son Philip’s children one share equally divided among them share and share alike to my son Jesse one share to my son William one share to my son Jonathan one share and to my son James one share to hold the same to them and their representatives for and during my Interest therein and it is my Will and Mind and I do hereby order and direct that if any Legatees herein meant mentioned or named do wrangle or go to Law about any Bequest by me herein made then and in such Case my Executors herein named shall tender to every such wrangling Legatee one Shilling which shall be in Lieu and full Bar of his or her portion or share and such share  or share to go equally among the Peaceable Legatees and Lastly I so hereby nominate constitute and appoint my beloved wife Sarah and John Dunkerly of Ashtonunderline aforesaid Schoolmaster joint Executirx and Executor of this my Last Will and Testament making them answereable for each their own acts and not one for the acts of the other hereby revoking all former wills by me made and confirming this and this only to be my last will and Testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first before written

Signed James Whitworth

Witnessed Jas Garforth Neddy Shelmerdine Robert Shelmerdine