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IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN

I, Lois KINGDON, of Chudleigh in the County of Devon, widow, being weak in body but of a sound, perfect and disposing mind, memory and understanding do make, publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say):

First, I will and desire that when I die I may be put in my Coffin in the same clothes that I shall have on and if in bed that I may be wrapped in a sheet and blanket and have only my face and hands washed.

I also will and desire that my Coffin may not be secured down until eight days after my decease and that two persons sit by me in the room the whole of that time.

I also will and direct that my Grave may be made in that of my Son's in the churchyard of Christow in the said County and that I may be carried to my Grave by twenty four poor men of the Parish of Chudleigh aforesaid and by twenty four poor men of the Parish of Christow aforesaid who have families and that each man be paid at my Grave one Guinea by my Executor.

I also will and desire that my Executor have a Tomb erected within twelve months after my decease over the Graves of myself and family and that the following inscription be engraved on a Marble Stone to be placed over the Tomb, viz:

      Eneas HORE, died 6 March 1765, aged 23 years;

      Joseph HORE, died 28 January 1775, aged 77 years;

      William KINGDON, died 6 August 1778, aged 2 years and 3 months;

      Ann HORE, died 23 January 1793, aged 80 years;

      Archipuss HORE, died 17 October 1795, aged 60 years; and

      Lois KINGDON, born 17 March 1749, died

and I also desire that the Tomb may have Iron Railing placed round it similar to Mrs HALES in the Churchyard of Chudleigh.

Also, I give and devise unto Mary ADAMS (daughter of Nicholas ADAMS, late of Coombe in the Parish of Christow aforesaid, yeoman, deceased), her heirs and assigns, all that messuage or dwelling house, garden, outhouses and appurtenances now in my own possession; also all that other messuage or dwelling house, garden, outhouses and appurtenances now in possession of Mrs EDWARDS and all other my messuages, dwelling houses, lands, tenements and hereditaments either in possession, remainder or expectancy situated in Chudleigh aforesaid to hold the same with the appurtenances (subject and charged as hereinafter mentioned) unto and to the use of the said Mary ADAMS her heirs and assigns for ever, but my will is that, in case the said Mary ADAMS shall happen to die without leaving issue before she shall attain the age of twenty one years, then I give and devise all and singular the messuages, dwelling houses, lands, tenements and hereditaments with their respective appurtenances so devised to her as aforesaid unto and to the use of her three younger brothers, John ADAMS, William ADAMS and Nathaniel ADAMS, their heirs and assigns for ever, share and share alike, to take and inherit as tenants in common and not as joint tenants and I do hereby charge, subject and make liable all and singular the aforesaid messuages, dwelling houses, lands and hereditaments to and with the payment of the sum of fifty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to each of them, the said John ADAMS, William ADAMS and Nathaniel ADAMS and to be paid to each of them when and as they shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years by the said Mary ADAMS. Provided always and I hereby will and declare that if either of them, the said John ADAMS, William ADAMS and Nathaniel ADAMS, shall happen to die before they attain the age of twenty one years then the legacy of fifty pounds of the person so dying shall be paid to the survivors or survivor of the said brothers and I hereby appoint the Reverend James DAVISON of Chudleigh aforesaid, Dissenting Minister, and George DOLLING of the same place, Solicitor, Trustees and Guardians of the said Mary ADAMS during her minority and hereby empower them or the survivor of them, his heirs and assigns, by any lease or leases to demise or lease the said premises or any part thereof, subject to be determined on the said Mary ADAMS attaining the age of twenty one years, and otherwise to manage and improve the said trust Premises for the use and benefit of the said Mary ADAMS during her minority. Also, I give and bequeath unto the said James DAVISON the sum of fifty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be by him paid out in such manner as he shall think proper for the use and improvement of the Dissenting Meeting in Chudleigh aforesaid.

Also, I give and bequeath to the said James DAVISON the like sum of fifty pounds for the Devon and Exeter Hospital.

Also, I give and bequeath to the said James DAVISON the like sum of fifty pounds for the Eye Infirmary, to be paid as he shall think proper at the end of one year after my decease.

Also, I give and bequeath to the said James DAVISON the seven volumes of Books or more (if any added) of the historic Gallery.

Also, I give and bequeath unto the said James DAVISON the sum of ten pounds of like money, and to Mrs DAVISON (wife of the said James DAVISON) the sum of twenty five pounds of like money, to buy something in remembrance of me.

Also, I give and bequeath unto the said George DOLLING the sum of ten pounds of like currency, requesting that he will assist my Executor in the performance of this my Will.

Also, I give and bequeath unto Mrs DOLLING (wife of the said George DOLLING), the sum of twenty pounds of like money to buy a Ring.

Also, I give and bequeath unto Esux HUNT (daughter of the late Joseph HUNT of Exeter) all my ten shares in the West of England Insurance Office and all my right and interest therein.

Also, I give and bequeath unto Thomas KINGDON of the City of Exeter, Paper Stainer, the sum of one hundred pounds of like money.

Also, I give to Mrs Jane KINGDON (wife of the said Thomas KINGDON) my _________ Curtis's Botanical Magazine.

Also, I give and bequeath the sum of five pounds of like money to each of the daughters that shall be living at my death of my late husband's brothers and sisters.

Also, I give and bequeath unto Mary HORE (sister of my Executor), the sum of twenty pounds of like money.

Also, I give unto Miss Mary SMERDON of Christow the sum of five pounds of like money.

Also, I give to Miss HALLOTT, Miss MUGG and Miss Mary JONES, all of Chudleigh aforesaid, five Guineas each to buy something in remembrance of me.

Also, I give and bequeath unto Thomas YARDE (the younger) of Chudleigh aforesaid, Surgeon, the sum of twenty five pounds of like money to buy a Watch.

Also, I give to the Reverend Mr ALLAN, Dissenting Minister of Chudleigh aforesaid, the sum of ten pounds of like money.

Also, I give and bequeath unto Mary LAKE (my mother's old servant), the sum of twenty pounds of like money.

Also, I give and bequeath unto Mary Ann WILLS and Mary MARCY, my servants, the sum of five pounds each of like money.

All the aforesaid legacies I will and direct to be paid by my Executor hereinafter named at the end of twelve months next after my decease.

Also, I give the weekly sum of two shillings unto Ann ADAMS of Chudleigh aforesaid, widow, (mother of Jonas ADAMS of Chudleigh aforesaid, Sexton) for and during her life, the same to be paid weekly by my Executor hereinafter named to Mrs DOLLING, whom I request to see the same applied for the use and comfort of the said Ann ADAMS during her life,

Also, I hereby ratify and confirm the sale and assignment made by me to James HAMLYN of Christow aforesaid, Yeoman, of all that messuage, tenement, farm lands and hereditaments called Bethud, otherwise Baid, situate in Christow aforesaid and I hereby give and appoint the same with the appurtenances unto the said James HAMLYN, his executors, administrators and assigns for and during all the residue and remainder of the term of one thousand years thereon, subject nevertheless to the payment of the mortgage money and interest now due and charged thereon and I will and declare that if my Executor calls in the mortgage money now charged on the same Estate that he shall pay and discharge the expenses of the transfer of such Mortgage as it is my wish that the said James HAMLYN shall not be put to any inconvenience or expense. Also, I give to the said Thomas YARDE, my Book Case and all my books, but if there should be any part of such Books that the said Thomas YARDE did not value, I wish the same to be given to the said Mary ADAMS.

Also, I give and bequeath unto the said Mary ADAMS all my household furniture, plate, watch, trinkets and wearing apparel but my express will is that no part of it shall be removed from the house until one month after my decease and all the rest, residue and remainder of my goods and chattels, monies due on Mortgage or otherwise, stocks, securities, rights and hereditaments, personal and testamentary estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever (subject to the payment of my just debts, the aforesaid legacies, funeral expenses and the expense of proving my Will), I give and bequeath unto Simon HORE of the Parish of St Thomas the Apostle in the said County, Brewer, and do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint him, the said Simon HORE, whole and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament.

And I will and desire that my said Executor purchase sixty blankets and distribute amongst the poor of Chudleigh and also sixty Bibles amongst the poor children of Chudleigh; and also forty blankets amongst the poor of Christow and forty Bibles amongst the poor children of Christow, within three months after my decease.

And my will is that the said James DAVISON and George DOLLING shall reimburse and pay themselves and himself respectively out of the said trust Premises all such costs, charges and expenses as he or they or either of them shall pay, lay out, expend or be put unto in or about the execution of the trusts aforesaid and that they shall not be answerable or accountable for any loss of the said trust monies or any part thereof that shall count to their hands or as such loss happen without their neglect or default and that they shall not be answerable one for the other or for the acts, deeds or defaults of the other but with for his own only.

And, lastly, I revoke all former Wills by me made, and declare this to be my last Will and Testament.

In witness whereof I, the said Lois KINGDON, the Testatrix, have to this my last Will and Testament set my hand and seal this Seventh day of April one thousand eight hundred and twenty three.

             Lois Kingdon

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Lois KINGDON, the Testatrix, as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who, at her request, in her presence, and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses:

      Jno Pidsley            Jno Drake            Mary Babidge

PROVED at London, 25 August 1823, before the Judge by the oath of Simon HORE, the sole Executor, to whom administration was granted, having been first sworn (by Commissioner) duly to administer.

Last updated - Brian Randell, 3 Nov 2009