Scope and Content
As to one messuage or tenement formerly in occupation of Ebenezer Smith, reciting
Lease and release of 18 and 19 October 1763
a) John Field, Bedford, cordwainer, and wife Mary; Thos Smith, Bedford, woolcomber, and wife,Sarah; John Stewardson, Bedford, whitesmith, and wife Mary (said Jas Field, Sarah Smith and Mary Stewardson are children of Thomas Field, late of Bedford, yeoman, deceased, and devisees named in will of Sarah Simpson late of Bedford, deceased); Jno Clay, Wellingborough, Northants, watchmaker, and wife Mary; Ebenezer Clay, Wellingborough, weaver; Samuel Smith, Wellingborough, tailor, and wife Mary; Thos Smith, Wellingborough, labourer, and wife Hannah; Elizabeth Clay, Wellingborough, spinster (said Jno Clay, Ebenezer Clay, Mary Smith, Hannah Smith and Elizabeth Clay were all the children of Nathaniel Clay, weaver, and also devisees named in will of Sarah Simpson)
b) Thos Woodward, Bedford, gentleman
consideration - £60 paid to a) by b)
a) released to b)
- cottage etc where Thos Simson, deceased, formerly dwelt, in Well Street, Bedford, in occupation of John Crawley
covenant by a) to levy fine of premises to b)
Fine of Michaelmas Term, 4 George III
Will of Thomas Woodward of 28 September 1764
... to daughter Frances Saunderson
- property in Well Street daughters, Frances Saunderson and Ann Belsham, appointed executrixes
will proved (Bedford) on 5 May 1765
lease and release of 19 and 20 December 1766
1) Frances Saunderson, Bedford. widow
2) Ebenezer Smith, otherwise Lyon, butcher, and wife Margaret
consideration - £90 paid to 1) by 2)
1) released to 2)
- above property
Mortgage of 25 October 1781
A) Ebenezer Smith otherwise Lyon
B) Jno Coombs, Bedford, limeburner
consideration - £80 paid to A) by B)
A) demised to B)
- above property
term - 1000 years
to secure repayment of said £80
Assignment of mortgage (now £60) of 9 November 1781 to Benjamin Allen, secured on above property and also on 2 tenements standing in yard of said messuage, for remainder of term of 1000 years
Will of Benjamin Allen, senior, fellmonger and parchment maker, dated 15 August 1785, by which he appointed Edward Wells, John Smith and William Smith, joint execlutors.
Will proved (Bedford) 31 March 1788
Feoffment (with livery of seisin endorsed) of 10 October 1801
I) Ebenezer Smith alias Lyon
II) Edward Wells, Bedford, baker; John Smith, Bedford, butcher; William Smith, grazier (executors of Benjamin Allen)
III) John Smith, late of Medbury, Elstow, now of Bedford, yeoman
IV) William Stallwood
term of 1000 years is now vested in II) but sum of £80 had been paid off and discharged by I)
Now in consideration of £134 paid to I) by III), I) enfeoffed to III)
- messuage in Well Street, Bedford, in occupation of I)
also II), at request of I) transferred to III)
- said premises for remainder of term of 1000 years
As to another messuage formerly in occupation of Thomas Hart
Feoffment of 7 May 1763 [X 803/1]
Will of 15 March 1773 [ X 803/3]
Lease and release of 20 and 21 March 1773 [ X 803/4 & 5]
As to entirety of property
Will of 21 February 1821 of John Smith [X 803/6]
death of Frances Smith in May 1829
Lease and Release of 29 and 30 October 1829 [X 803/7 & 8]
Appointment of 29 September 1849
i) Charles Small, Bedford, farmer
ii)Jno Freeman, Northampton, printer
i) is indebted to ii) in £346 and for security the title deeds of property had been deposited with ii), but i) had agreed to grant a mortgage
now in consideration of £346 owing to ii) by i)
i) appoints that
- previously mentioned premises should go to use of ii) with proviso for reconveyance on payment of £346 and interest at 5%p.a.
Will of John Freeman, Northampton, printer
... to wife Sarah Freeman for life
- cottages, lands etc after her death
... to son Nathaniel Wells Freeman
- dwelling house, etc., printing office in Market Square, Northampton, in his own possession with all shop and other fixtures
- buildings adjoining in occupatiom of Edward Lewis Mayor
... to son, Nathaniel Wells Freeman, to son in law John Durham, Stony Stratford, Bucks, land agent, and friend, Bartlett Miller, Moulton, Northants, gentleman
- residue of messuages, real estate etc after decease of wife
on trust for sale
- all debts, money, Government funds and residue of personal estate to turn into money to pay expenses of funeral etc and then for his children and their issue
N W Freeman, J Burham and B Miller appointed joint executors of the will
Testator died on 9 April 1851
Will proved (PCC) on 9 April 1851
Bartlett Miller died on 18 December 1851 and was buried at Moulton, Northants
Sarah Freeman, widow, died in 8 October 1855 and was buried at St Giles Church, Northampton.