Extracted from the Registry of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
THIS IS THE LAST WILL and TESTAMENT of me Elizabeth Bradley of Long Acre in the County of Middlesex Widow. I give and devise unto my son James Bradley and his assigns for the term of his natural life only all my freehold and copyhold estates whatsoever situate at Watford in the County of Hertford and elsewhere and after the decease of my said son I give and devise my said real Estate to my grandson Edmund Bradley and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life and after the decease of my said grandson I give and devise my said estate to the first son of the body of my said grandson lawfully to be begotten and the heirs male of the body of such first son lawfully to be begotten and for want of heirs male of the body of such first son I give and devise my said real estate to the second third fourth and all and every other son and sons of the body of my said grandson lawfully to be begotten and to the heirs male of the body and bodies of such son and sons respectively lawfully to be begotten the elder of such son and sons and the heirs male of his and their bodies respectively to be preferred and to take before the younger of such son and sons and the heirs male of his and their bodies lawfully issuing and in case my said grandson shall depart this life without heirs male of his body lawfully issuing then I give and devise my said real estate to all and every daughter and daughters of my said grandson lawfully to be begotten and the heirs of their bodies lawfully to be begotten and in default of lawful issue of the body of my said grandson I give and devise my said real estate unto my three grandaughters Jenny Elizabeth and Mary and the heirs of their bodies lawfully to be begotten as joint tenants and not as tenants in common and in default of such issue I give and devise my said real estate to the right heirs of my said nephew for ever
And whereas I am possessed of two hundred and fifty pounds capital three per cent consolidated Bank annuities now standing in my name in the Bank books and I am either in my own right or as administratrix to my late son John Bradley deceased also possessed of and entitled unto a certain leasehold piece of ground in Long acre aforesaid adjoining to certain premises now in my own occupation and which piece of ground is held for a considerable unexpired term of years by my neighbour Mr Galley at and under a rent of twelve pounds a year by a lease to him thereof granted or agreed to be granted
Now I hereby give and bequeath the said capital of two hundred and fifty pounds capital three per cent Bank annuities with such dividends as shall happen to be due and unreceived by me at the time of death and also the said piece of ground leased to the said Mr Galley with the said reserved rent of twelve pounds a year free and clear from every part of the ground rent payable for the same piece of ground together with the premises in my own occupation to Mr Adamson unto Meredith Price of Lincoln’s Inn fields Gentleman his executors administrators and assigns Upon trust nevertheless and to the intent and purpose that he and they do and shall receive apply and pay the dividends of the said sum of two hundred and fifty pounds capital three per cent Bank annuities and the aid rent of twelve pounds for the whole residue of the said term therein which shall be unexpired at my death from time to time as the same shall become due and payable and be received after deducting thereout such costs charges and expenses as shall attend the receipt recovery and payment thereof in the education maintenance and support of my said grandson until he shall attain the age of twenty five years And on further trust on my said grandsons attaining that age to transfer the said Bank annuities and assign and transfer the said rent unto my said grandson for his won use and in case my said grandsons death before he shall attain the said age of twenty five years Upon trust to pay and apply the said rent and dividends from time to time deducting the charges as aforesaid in the maintenance of my three said grandaughtersor such of them as shall be living until their ages of twenty one years or days of marriage respectively and on their attaining that age or marrying respectively to transfer and make over the said Bank annuities and rent unto my said grandaughters or such of them as shall live to those periods equally share and share alike and in case of my said grandchildren shall die without issue and before the respective ages aforesaid the upon trust to transfer and make over the said Bank annuities and rent unto my said son James Bradley his executors or administrators And I give and bequeath unto my said Grandson Edmund Bradley my silver watch silver chain and silver seal and a pair of silver buckells now in my custody and also a pair of Mocoa sleeve buttons set in gold now also in my possession And I give and bequeath to my friend Mrs Mary Mills five guineas for a ring And as to all the residue of my personal estate whatsoever I give and bequeath the same to my said son James Bradley for his own use And I hereby constitute him my said son James Bradley sole executor of this my Will and Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine * Elizabeth Bradley * signed sealed and published and declared by the said Testatrix Elizabeth Bradley as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at her request in her presence and in that of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto * J. Bond * Sam: Kinsey * James Baskerville, Clerkes to Mr Price of Lincoln’s Inn Fields.
Proved at London the 1st June 1779 before the worshipful Andrew Collee Ducarel Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oath of James Bradley the son and sole Executor to whom Administration was granted having been first sworn duly to administer.