Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    WY815-816
  • Title
    Will, and probate copy, of John Penn of Hitcham, Buckinghamshire, esquire.
  • Date free text
    24 Oct 1746. Proved in England, 12 Nov 1746. Proved in America, 20 July 1747
  • Production date
    From: 1746 To: 1747
  • Scope and Content
    Executors for personal estates in England: good friends William Vigor of London, merchant, Joseph Freame citizen and banker of London, and Lascelles Metcalfe of Westminster esquire. To them money, stocks, debts etc., plate, household goods etc., in Great Britain; also money, goods and effects in America “which before such time as my death shall be heard of in America shall have been sent or meant to be sent to England”; also real estate in Bristol and Gloucestershire, to be sold for the best price; money arising, to be taken as part of personal estate; then English personal estate to be disposed of thus:- (1) for payment of debts, funeral expenses etc; (2) for payment of an annuity of £120 to sister Margaret Freame; if she pre-deceases him, annuity to be sold. (3) to pay to servant John Travers £100. (4) to pay English executors 100 guineas each. (5) to purchase and make up £10,000 stock, to produce a yearly income of £300, and to pay thereout:- half-yearly £7.10s. to “my old and worthy servant Thomas Penn”, £7.10s. to old servant Hannah Roberts, and £5 to Jane now wife of Henry Aldridge of White Waltham, Berkshire. The residue to be paid for “the liberal education, maintenance and better support” of nephew John Penn, unless by virtue of this will he becomes entitled to testator’s moiety of Pennsylvania, and money then is to be paid for education etc. of the person next in expectation of the moiety. (Instructions as to manner of payment and re-investment of surplus, if any, given.) Also out of English personal estate, to invest £6,000; 1/3 of annual income to maintenance etc. of nephew and nieces, Hannah, Richard Penn and Philadelphia Hannah Freame; upon attainment of 21 by Richard or marriage of nieces ? part of the principal to be conveyed to each. Any remainder of English personal estate to brother Thomas Penn. To nephew John Penn, share in manor of Perkassie, tract of liberty land, High Street lot (which is claimed under Wills of father and grandfather Thomas Callowhill). To brother Richard Penn, moiety of properties, lands, rents etc. in New Jersey. Richard appointed executor for estate in New Jersey. Moiety of province of Pennsylvania, the Three Lower Counties, Newcastle, Kent and Sussex upon Delaware, and of the royal franchise of the of the government of the province and counties, to brother Thomas for life; and to Thomas Hyam and David Barclay of London merchants, as trustees; after death of Thomas Penn to his first sons and his heirs; if default of issue to brother Richard for life; then to nephew John Penn son of Richard and his heirs male; if default of issue to nephew Richard son of Richard and his heirs male; or to other sons of Richard, or sons of Thomas, or Hannah daughter of Richard, and her heirs male, or sister Margaret and heirs, or Philadelphia Hannah Freame and her heirs; then to nephew of the half blood William Penn of Cork, Ireland, esquire, to Springett his son, to Christiana Gulielma Penn his daughter; then to grandnephew of half blood Robert Edward son of Gulielma Maria Fell deceased, to great niece Mary Margaretta Fell, eldest daughter of Gulielma Maria Fell, then to Gulielma Maria Frances Fell. Whoever become entitled to the moiety, male or female, is to take the surname Penn and use testator’s arms. Pennsylvania and the Lower Counties to be subject to payment of £6,000 to English exececutors if they have need of it for the purposes before mentioned, if not to brother Thomas Penn. Empowers future possessor of moiety “to do, execute and perform all lawful acts, deeds, matters and things” concerning conveyance of estate, appointments of governors, for making treaties, etc. Moiety is to be released as soon as possible from payments of the £6,000. To brother Thomas Penn share of fines and purchase money from Pennsylvania and the Three Lower Counties, also of rents, and all personal estate in Pennsylvania at time of decease. Appoints Thomas executor of Pennsylvania estate. “Lastly, as this my will was hastily and suddenly drawn” requests brothers to remedy any defects. Witnesses: John Cormell, Ferdinand John Paris, Robert Gwynn. (Probate has fragment of Pennsylvania seal).
  • Level of description
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