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