Gresham, Robert, of Metheringham, will 1795

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

This is the last Will and Testament of me Robert Gressham of Metheringham Fen in the County of Lincoln Farmer made this Second day of October in the Thirty fifth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King George the third and in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety five

First I give and bequeath unto my five daughters Elizabeth Gressham, Alice Gressham, Ann Gressham, Dorothy Gressham and Rebecca Gressham the sum of One Guinea each to be paid to each of them respectively at the expiration of five years next after my decease by my Executors hereinafter named, On condition nevertheless that if my said Executors shall be turned out of possession of the farm I now hold under Robert Vyner Esquire before the expiration of the said five years that then and in such case my Will is and it is my intention and desire that my said Executors shall not be liable to the payment of the legacies herein bequeathed

Also I give and bequeath unto my Wife Mary Gressham and my son Robert Gressham all my Cattle, Household Goods and Furniture, and all and singular my Goods and Property whatsoever and wheresoever to me belonging Upon Condition nevertheless that they my said Wife Mary Gressham and my said son Robert Gressham shall bring up, maintain, educate and support all the rest of my children not herein before provided for

But in case my said Wife Mary Gressham should happen to die during the nonage of my said son Robert Gressham then and in such case I desire and request my good friends John Ellis and Thomas Gressham and I hereby impower and direct them from and immediately after such death as aforesaid until my said son Robert Gressham shall attain his full age of twenty (one) years to manage and improve the farm for the benefit (of my) last mentioned children according to their discretion (And) my will is that my said Trustees the said John Ellis (and) Thomas Gressham they and each of them be reimbursed (and) allowed all such charges and expenses as they shall (incur) in the execution of the said trust, and that they shall (not) be answerable for any losses in the management of the (?) of the said Executors nor shall they be accountable for (?) Receipts or Disbursements of each other but each for (himself) alone

And lastly I constitute and appoint (my said) Wife Mary Gressham and my said son Robert Gressham (joint) Executors of this my last Will and Testament (In Witness) whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal (the) day and year above written

Robert (his X mark) Gressham

Signed, Sealed, Published and Delivered by the above named Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in the presence of the said Testator and of each other have subscribed our names at Witnesses hereto

Wm Tuxford, William (his X mark) Ellis, Rob Wilkinson

On the 6th day of Novr 1795

Mary Gresham the Executrix in this Will named was duly sworn and that the Personal Estate of the deceased did not amount to the sum of six hundred pounds at the time of his death, power being reserved to make the like Grant to the Executor Robt Gresham when lawfully required

Before me, Geo: Jepson, Surr: