Millennium Project
Will of Nathaniel Stilgoe 1808
Image of Title : Image of Will : Image of Will proving :
National Archive Copy of Original Text
In the name of God, Amen. I Nathaniel Stilgoe of Deddington [‘Dadington’] in the county of Oxford gentleman do this nineteenth day of March in the year of our Lord God one thousand eight hundred and eight make publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner following, (that is to say) first I give and devise all that my one yard land of arable, meadow and pasture ground with the commons and appurtenances thereunto belonging formerly called Finmores yardland, since then called Nutts yardland, lying and being in the fields of Deddington aforesaid, and also all my cottage cows commons which my father and mother formerly enjoyed lying and being in the fields of Deddington aforesaid, unto and to the use of my son Henry Stilgoe and his heirs forever, subject and chargeable nevertheless with the payment of the several legacies hereinafter by me bequeathed, (that is to say) I give and bequeath unto all and every of my grandchildren (the children of my son Zachariah Stilgoe) as shall be living at the time of my decease the legacy or sum of ten pounds a piece to be paid to them within twelve months next after my decease, and in case any or either of my said grandchildren shall not have attained his, her or their respective ages of twenty one years when his, her or their legacy or legacies shall become due and payable then I desire and direct the same shall be paid into the hands of my said son Zachariah Stilgoe for the benefit of his children my grandchildren who is to pay the same with the produce thereof unto my said grandchildren when and as he, she or they shall attain his, her or their respective ages of twenty one years, and my desire is and I do hereby direct that the receipt of my said son Zachariah Stilgoe shall be a sufficient discharge to my said son Henry Stilgoe for the same, and I give and bequeath unto my son Nathaniel Stilgoe the legacy or sum of one hundred pounds to be paid to him by my said son Henry Stilgoe within twelve months next after my decease. Next I give and devise all those several pieces and parcels of arable land , ley, meadow and pasture ground with the commons, hereditaments and appurtenances to the same belonging lying and being in the fields of Deddington aforesaid (which I purchased of and from John Iorns), and all that my cottage cow common (which I purchased of and from William Robinson), and all those seven cow commons which I purchased of and from Robert Matthews lying and being in the fields of Deddington aforesaid unto and to the use of my son Zachariah Stilgoe and his heirs for ever, subject and chargeable nevertheless with the payment of the several legacies hereinafter by me bequeathed, that is to say I give and bequeath unto my grandchildren John Harris, Martha Cockerill, Catherine Harris, Giles Ibell, William Ibell, Mary Ibell and Riah Ibell the sum of one hundred pounds to be equally divided between them share and share alike to be paid to them within twelve months next after my decease. Next I give and devise all that messuage or tenement, orchard, garden, out buildings and other the appurtenances thereunto belonging situate and being in Deddington aforesaid now in my own possession, and also that piece of ground lying near to the said messuage or tenement and premises and late in the occupation of John Whetton, and also all that site or plot of ground with the appurtenances thereunto belonging lying and being in Deddington aforesaid near to the said messuage or tenement and which I purchased of Mr Samuel Churchill, and also all those pieces or parcels of garden ground with their appurtenances thereunto belonging, lying and being in Deddington aforesaid which I lately purchased of Mr Cartwright unto my said son Zachariah Stilgoe and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life, he and they keeping the same premises in good tenantable repair and from and after the decease of my said son Zachariah Stilgoe I give and devise the said last mentioned premises unto and to the use of my grandson Zachariah Walding Stilgoe (son of my said son Zachariah Stilgoe) and his assigns for ever. Next I give and bequeath unto my son Henry Stilgoe all my corn staddles with the stones and the wood thereunto belonging which at the time of my decease shall be in or about the farm or farms he now occupies and I give my troughs, hovels and other erections and fixtures standing and being in, upon or about the farmhouse, yard, backside and premises which my said son Henry Stilgoe now lives in unto my son Nathaniel Stilgoe to and for his own use and benefit and I give unto my said son Nathaniel Stilgoe all my estate and interest in the copyhold farmhouse, land and premises held by me of the manor of Deddington aforesaid and also the executor’s year therein to and for his own use and benefit. Next I give and bequeath unto my said son Henry Stilgoe the legacy or sum of twenty five pounds to be paid to him out of my personal estate within six months next after my decease, which legacy I give him in lieu of the cottage or tenement I lately sold to Martin Harris. Next I give and bequeath to my said son Zachariah Stilgoe the legacy or sum of four hundred pounds to be paid him out of the money he owes me on his notes of hand, which legacy and the provision hereinbefore made for my said son Zachariah Stilgoe I give him in lieu of the messuage or tenement and one yardland I sold to William Bennett which I intended for my said son Zachariah Stilgoe and in full discharge and satisfaction of all claims and demands which my said son Zachariah can or may have or claim or pretend to have or claim on me for or on account of the rent which I have with his consent received for half a yardland lying and being in Deddington aforesaid which my said son Zachariah holds for his life of the lord of the manor of Deddington aforesaid and I desire and direct my said son to effectually release unto my executors such claims and demands when required. Next I give unto my said son Henry Stilgoe the sum of ten pounds to be distributed by him in twopenny loaves amongst the most indigent inhabitants of Deddington in such manner as he shall think fit within one month after my decease which last mentioned legacy I desire may be paid unto my said son Henry Stilgoe for the uses aforesaid in ten days next after my decease by my executors. Next I give and bequeath unto my son-in-law Joseph Ibell the sum of one hundred pounds he now owes me on his bond and all interest that shall be owing for the same at the time of my decease and I do desire that the bond for the same may be given up to him. Next I give and bequeath all my goods, household furniture, plate, linen, ready money, debts and securities for money and all money to be due and owing (not otherwise by this my will disposed of) and all other my personal estate whatsoever (subject to the payment of my debts, legacies, funeral expenses and the charge of proving this my will) unto my said sons Henry Stilgoe, Nathaniel Stilgoe and Zachariah Stilgoe and my said daughter Riah Fairbrother to be equally parted and divided between them share and share alike and I do hereby constitute, ordain and appoint the said Henry Stilgoe, Nathaniel Stilgoe and Zachariah Stilgoe and Riah Fairbrother joint executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time heretofore made, declaring, ratifying and confirming this only as and for my last will and testament. In witness whereof I the said Nathaniel Stilgoe have to this my last will and testament contained in three sheets of paper (and which hath been read over to me) set my hand and seal (that is to say) my hand to the bottom of the first two sheets thereof and my hand and seal to this third and last sheet thereof the day and year first within written [‘Nath. Stilgoe’ added in a different hand. Presumably this is where he signed the original of which this is a copy]. Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Nathaniel Stilgoe as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request, in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto William Appletree, Edward Appletree, William Skillman.
Attached: probate, dated 7 April 1810, granted to Henry Stilgoe, Nathaniel Stilgoe, Zachariah Stilgoe and Riah Fairbrother, wife of Thomas Fairbrother.
The will is endorsed ‘Probate of the will of Nathaniel Stilgoe deceased, proved 7 April 1810. Extracted by S. Allen, Proctor, Doctors Commons’. [Doctors Commons was a self-regulating body of lawyers who practised, inter alia, ecclesiastical law]