Will for John Bowditch d. 1820
I was told of a Will for John Bowditch.
Accordingly, I searched the National Archives and obtained a copy of the probate register.
Title: Will of John Bowditch, Yeoman of Beaminster , Dorset
Item number: 3651997
Catalogue reference: PROB 11/1633/184
At least it was not in Latin. It is English but still a difficult read, so the first task is to transcribe it.
My first pass of the transcription is shown below. It normally takes a few passes to get a reasonable accurate and full account, but in this case this is not necessary as the relevant names are identified in this pass. The beneficiaries are the children and one servant.
I John Bowditch the older of Beaminster in the County of Dorset Yeoman, being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding do this twenty fourth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand xxx hundred and twenty make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say I give and bequeath unto my son Michael Bowditch the xx sum of one hundred fifty pounds and to my servant Mary Bailey the sum of twenty pounds ….
Remainder of my goods chattels household furniture xxx cattle implements of husbandry xxx xxx for money and personal Estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever xxx xxx my be give and bequeath unto my two sons Richard xx Bowditch and John Bowditch xx xx xx upon trust that they and their survivors of them his executors and administrators do and as soon xxxx may be after my death by public sale or private contract sell and dispose of the said goods chattels household furniture xxx cattle implements of husbandry xxx xxx for money and personal Estate and effects for the most money that xxx reasonably gotten for the xxx and do in the first part pay and discharge my just debts xx funeral expenses the expense of proving this my Will and the xx above by me xxx then upon this further trust and xxx that they the said Richard Bowditch and John Bowditch the younger and the Survivors of them his (executors and administrators) do and shall xxx pay distribute and divide that xxx surplus xxx and xxx thereof unto and equally between my Six Children hereinafter mentioned that is to say the said Richard xx Bowditch the said Michael Bowditch the said John Bowditch the younger Robert Bowditch Elizabeth the wife of Thomas Hallett and Ann the wife of Isaac Morey share and share alike and to the xxx of any one or more of them as shall at the time of my death happen to be dead xxx xxx share and share alike ....
A much better job of transcription has been done and Posted on Ancestry, and reproduced below.
TRANSCRIPT by Madame Letty Nardou, provided by Ben Munford 21 March 2018
I John Bowditch the older of Beaminster in the County of Dorset yeoman being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding to this twenty fourth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say I give and bequeath unto my Son Michael Bowditch the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds and to my Servant Mary Bailey the sum of twenty pounds which I direct to be paid to them and each of them at the end of one year next after my decease by my Executors in trust hereinafter named and all the rest residue and remainder of my Goods Chattels Household Furniture Stock Cattle Implements of Husbandry monies Securities for money and Personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever not hereinbefore by me given and bequeathed I give and bequeath unto my two Sons Richard Bowditch and John Bowditch the younger upon trust that they and the Survivor of them his Executors and administrators do and shall as soon as conveniently may be after my decease by Public Sale or Private Contract sell and dispose of the said Goods Chattels Household Furniture Stock Cattle Implements of Husbandry Personal Estate and Effects for the most money that can be reasonably gotten for the same and do in the first place pay and discharge my first debts funeral expenses the expense of proving this my Will and the legacies above by me bequeathed then upon this further trust and confidence that they the said Richard Bowditch and John Bowditch the younger and the Survivor of them his Executors and administrators do and shall retain pay distribute and divide the then surplus residue and remainder thereof unto and equally between my six children hereinafter mentioned that is to say the said Richard Bowditch the said Michael Bowditch the said John Bowditch the younger Robert Bowditch Elizabeth the wife of Thomas Hallett and Ann the wife of Isaac Morey share and share alike and to the issue of any one or more of them as shall at the time of my decease happen to be dead leaving issue share and share alike but the issue of any such deceased child or children shall be entitled to have or receive no larger or greater share or proportion than his her or their Father or Mother Fathers or Mothers would have been entitled to if living but in case any one or more of my said Sons or Daughters shall happen to die in my life time leaving no issue of his her or their body or Bodies lawfully begotten each upon trust to pay distribute and divide the part or share parts or shares of him her or them so dying unto and amongst the Survivors or Survivor of them at the same time and in the same manner in all respects as is hereinbefore directed with respect to their original parts or shares provided always and I do hereby direct and declare that the said Richard Bowditch and John Bowditch the younger and the Survivor of them his Executors and administrators shall and may retain deduct and reimburse themselves and himself out of any monies which shall come to their or either of their hands by virtue of this my Will all such costs charges damages and expenses as they shall or may severally sustain incur or be put unto in or about the execution of the trusts of this my Will and that one of them shall not be accountable for the other of them nor for the Receipts payments acts neglects or defaults of the other of them but each of them for and with his own Receipts payments acts neglects and defaults only and not otherwise nor shall either of them be obliged to make good any loss or losses which shall or may happen with respect to the monies which shall arise from such Sale or Sales unless the same shall happen through their own willful default or act nor shall they be obliged to make good any more monies than shall actually come to their hands respectively by virtue of this my Will and I make constitute and appoint the said Richard Bowditch and John Bowditch the younger joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament In trust for the purposes aforesaid hereby revoking all former Wills and bequests by me heretofore at any time made and declaring this and no other to be my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day and year first above written «John Bowditch» Signed Sealed published and declared by the above named Testator John Bowditch the older as and for this last Will and Testament the same being contained in two sheets of paper to each of which he hath set his hand and to this last affixed his Seal 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 «Samuel Godpin» «Robert Hiron»
Proved London 14 August 1820 before the judge by the oaths of Richard Bowditch and John Bowditch the sons and Executors.
At this point all appears well. There is no provision for his wife in this will, but that is not necessarily unusual at this time. Further, his wife may have predeceased him.
The children match both our trees. My branch proceeds along the Michael Bowditch line. The other line is formed from Elizabeth nee Bowditch, wife of Thomas Hallett.
