Scope and Content
Abstract of title of John Green
(I) lease and release of 26-27 June 1690 [R6/5/14/1-2]
Parties:
(i) John Hancock of Bedford, brasier, (son and heir of John Hancock, late of Bedford, brasier, deceased) and Mary, his wife;
(ii) Thomas Pancost of Bedford, ironmonger;
(iii) Henry Lowen of Bedford, vintner and Margaret, his wife
Operative Part:
- (iii) paid £190 to (i);
- (i) released (a) to (iii)
Property:
(a) messuage with appurtenances in Bedford, Saint Paul in the occupation of John Hancock abutting on: Castle Ground E; High Street W; messuage in the occupation of Thomas Pancost N; messuage in the occupation of William Bayley S
Habendum:
- to the use of Henry Lowen for his life, remainder to Margaret Lowen for her life, remainder to the heirs of Henry Lowen
Covenant:
- by (i) to levy a fine sur conizance de droit come ceo etc. to (ii) and (iii)
(II) Will of Henry Lowen the elder of Bedford, vintner of 26 April 1708 [R6/5/12/18]:
- devising all real estate to his wife Margaret for her life, remainder to his son Henry and daughter Elizabeth Horton as tenants in common in shares directed by Margaret; if she made no such division then the whole estate was to devise to Henry who would pay an annuity of £30 per annum to his sister for her life;
- bequeathing £1,000 to his son Henry;
- bequeathing £100 to his servant Mary Amner;
- bequeathing £10 to his cousin William James;
- bequeathing £5 each to William and Henry, sons of his brother [-in-law] William Staines;
- bequeathing £5 each to his nieces Ann, Mary and Elizabeth, daughters of his brother William Lowen;
- bequeathing £5 each to his brother John and John’s daughter Elizabeth;
- bequeathing £500 to Henry, son of his daughter Elizabeth when he became 21, his grandson receiving 5% interest per annum on the sum before he became 21 to be used in maintenance, education or putting him out as an apprentice as the testator’s wife thought fit; any interest unused was to be added to the principal and given when Henry became 21; if Henry the grandson died before becoming 21 the money was to be bequeathed to the testator’s son Henry with unused interest going to the testator’s wife Margaret;
- bequeathing the residue of his personal estate to his wife Margaret;
- appointing Margaret his sole executrix;
- proved in Archdeaconry Court of Bedford 10 August 1708
(III) will of Henry Lowen of Bedford, gentleman of 3 August 1717 [R6/5/12/21]:
- confirming the jointure to his wife Elizabeth;
- devising the Rose Inn, Bedford in the occupation of Richard Boston to his wife to increase her jointure;
- bequeathing £10 to his wife for mourning;
- devising and bequeathing the residue of his real and personal estate to his father-in-law Robert Bell and his friend William Staines, innkeeper in trust for the child with which his wife might be pregnant at his death, if she was not pregnant then in trust for his sister Elizabeth Horton, widow;
- appointing Elizabeth Horton sole executrix and appointing that she should pay Elizabeth Lowen an annuity of £25 during the joint lives of Elizabeth Lowen and Margaret Lowen (as provided for in the marriage settlement) giving security as approved by William Staines and Robert Bell when they conveyed the real estate to her;
- proved in Archdeaconry Court of Bedford 4 February 1717 [1718]
(IV) will of Margaret Lowen, late of Bedford, widow of 3 April 1719:
- devising and bequeathing to her daughter Elizabeth Horton all her real and personal estate in trust to pay £500 to the testatrix’s grandson Henry Horton;
- proved in Archdeaconry Court of Bedford 16 October 1719
(V) will and codicil of William Staines of Biddenham, gentleman of 22 February 1772 and 1 November 1772 [R6/5/12/23]:
- devising an annuity of £15 to his daughter Mary, wife of Robert Savill issuing out of his real estate in Wootton;
- devising an annuity of £10 per annum to John Freeman of Woburn, Thomas Gurney of Kempston and Richard Lovesey of Bedford during the life of his sister Margaret Whitworth for her sole use arising from his real estate in Wootton;
- devising his real estate in Bromham and Kempston to his son Henry apart from those parts settled with the jointure for Henry’s wife, for his life remainder to the testator’s grandson William;
- remitting all rent money owed to him by his son Henry on the real estate in Kempston and Bromham;
- devising an annuity of £60 per annum to his wife Mary arising from his real estate in Kempston and Bedford;
- bequeathing all household goods and farm stock to his wife Mary;
- bequeathing £50 to his wife Mary;
- bequeathing £200 to his daughter Mary Savill;
- bequeathing £1,000 to his daughter Elizabeth Staines;
- bequeathing £500 to his daughter Edith, wife of James Hallowell;
- bequeathing £500 to his daughter Dinah, wife of William Whitworth;
- bequeathing £1,000 to his daughter Sophie Staines to be paid when she became 21 or when she married, whichever came first, meanwhile paying interest to her at the rate of 4% per annum;
- bequeathing £100 to his grandson William Staines when he became 21;
- bequeathing £500 to his grandson Henry Staines when he became 21;
- bequeathing £300 each to his granddaughters Elizabeth and Mary Staines when they became 21;
- bequeathing £50 to Sarah, daughter of Thomas Partridge when she became 21;
- devising all his real estate in Bedford, Kempston (not devised above) and Wootton to his son John;
- devising the residue of his real estate in Bromham, Biddenham and Bletsoe ho his son John;
- if John Staines died before he became 21 and without issue the real estate was to devise to the testator’s grandsons William and Henry equally as tenants in common;
- bequeathing the residue of his personal estate to his son John; if he died before the age of 21 without issue the personal estate was to be bequeathed equally between the testator’s children and grandchildren;
- appointing his son John and John Freeman, Thomas Gurney and Richard Lovesey as executors;
- bequeathing 10 guineas each to John Freeman, Thomas Gurney and Richard Lovesey and charging them with management of the estate devised to John Staines until he became 21;
- witnesses: Benjamin King; William Thomas; James Clarke;
- codicil of 1 November 1772 bequeathing to his five daughters Mary Savill, Elizabeth Staines, Edith Hallowell, Dinah Whitworth and Sophia Staines £200 each over and above the bequests in his will;
- bequeathing £500 to his grandson Henry Staines over and above the bequest in his will;
- bequeathing to his two granddaughters Elizabeth and Mary Staines £200 each over and above the bequests in his will;
- bequeathing £200 each to his grandsons William Hallowell and William Whitworth;
- remitting all arrears of rent owed to him by his daughter-in-law Elizabeth Staines if she paid the arrears among her four children;
- if two disinterested reputable farmers valued the farming stock at Biddenham at less than £1,000 then he bequeathed the difference between the shortfall and £1,000 to his wife;
- revoking the appointment of John Staines as an executor;
- proved in Doctors Commons 27 February 1773
(VI) lease and release of 25 and 26 March 1796
Parties:
(i) John Staines of Biddenham, gentleman, son of and devisee in the will of William Staines of Biddenham, gentleman, deceased) and Sarah, his wife;
(ii) John Emery of Bedford, grocer and tallow chandler
Operative Part:
- (i) released (a)-(f) to (ii) for £500
Property:
(a) messuage in the occupation of John Emery in High Street, Bedford, Saint Paul abutting: W on High Street; house in the occupation of Joseph Okely S; house of John Emery in the occupation of Thomas Bass N;
(b) two tenements in the occupation of Stephen Pryor and John Cowper standing behind (a);
(c) building used for many years past as the Register’s Office for the Archdeaconry of Bedford on the S side of the back yard of (a) with several chambers and ware rooms in the occupation of John Mingay and John Emery;
(d) barn, warehouse etc. in the occupation of John Kilpin on the n side of the back yard of (a);
(e) slip of ground being a private back way from the backyard of (a) into Castle Lane;
(f) garden in the occupation of John Emery behind the back yard of (a) and abutting E on Castle Close in the occupation of Duke of Bedford
Covenant:
- for peaceful occupation free of incumbrance except for a quitrent of 6/8 payable to the Lord of the Manor of Elstow
(VII) fine sur conizance de droit come ceo etc. of Easter 1796 in which John Staines was deforciant and John Emery querant of one messuage, three cottages, one barn, one stable, two curtilages and two gardens with appurtenances in Bedford, Saint Paul
(VIII) Mortgage by demise for 1,000 years of 26 January 1809
Parties:
(i) John Emery the younger of Bedford, grocer;
(ii) William Freeman of Bedford, upholder [upholsterer].
Operative Part:
- (i) borrowed £600 at 5% interest from (ii) secured on (a)-(f) in (VI)
(IX) further advance of 8 May 1813
Parties:
(i) John Emery and Elizabeth, his wife;
(ii) William Freeman;
(iii) William Emery of Ravensden, farmer (trustee for (i))
Reciting:
- (VIII);
- (i) had lately borrowed a further £200 from (ii) and now needed a further £600
Operative Part:
- (i) borrowed a further £800 at 5% interest from (ii) secured on (a)-(f) in (VI)
Covenant:
- by (i) to levy a fine sur conizance de droit come ceo etc.
(X) fine sur conizance de droit come ceo etc in which William Freeman was querant and John Emery and Elizabeth, his wife deforciants of one messuage, three cottages, five warehouses, one barn, one stable, two curtilages and one garden with appurtenances in Bedford, Saint Paul
(XI) Bargain and sale of 28 December 1815
Parties:
(i) William Hunt, esquire, Thomas Kidman and Francis John Budd, gentleman;
(ii) Thomas Elger of Bedford, carpenter; Thomas Green of Bedford, grocer
Reciting:
- an commission in bankruptcy had been made to investigate John Emery, late of Bedford, grocer on 16 November 1815, directing that (i) along with Henry Hawkins, esquire and Thomas Times, gentleman execute the investigation;
- (i) discovered that John Emery had carried on the trade of grocer for several years “by buying and selling of tea, sugar, coffee and divers other kinds of goods; in the course of his business he became indebted to Ann Elger of Bedford, widow, executrix and residuary legatee in the will of Thomas Emery, late of Bedford, gentleman for £100 along with 19/5 interest and he was accordingly declared bankrupt;
- (i) published the notice of bankruptcy in the London Gazette for John Emery’s creditors to meet at the Swan Inn on 28 November 1815 to choose assignees of his estate and (ii) were chosen to act in trust for the creditors
Operative Part:
- (ii) paid 5/- each to (i);
- (i) assigned all real estate of John Emery to (ii)
Habendum:
- to (ii) in trust for the creditors of John Emery
Enrolled in Chancery 19 January 1816
(XII) lease and release of 27 and 28 June 1816
Parties:
(i) Thomas Elger and Thomas Green as assignees of the estate of John Emery;
(ii) John Emery;
(iii) John Green of Bedford, Saint Paul, carpenter;
(iv) Robert Palgrave of Bedford, chemist;
(v) Richard Warneford of Bedford, gentleman;
(vi) John Brashier the younger of Bedford, Saint Paul, baker
Reciting:
- commission in bankruptcy awarded against (ii);
- (i) caused real estate to be put up for sale by auction in three lots on 1 May 1816 at which (iv) was highest bidder for Lot 3 at £460;
- (iii) paid £30 to (iv) and contracted with him that (i) would convey (a)-(c) to him
Operative Part:
- (iii) paid £460 to (i) by consent of (ii) and (iv);
- (iii) paid £30 to (iv);
- (v) paid 10/- each to (i);
- (i), by direction of (ii) and (iv) released (a)-(c) to (iii);
- (v) paid 10/- to (ii);
- (ii), at request of (i) and (iv) and by direction of (iv) released (a)-(c) to (iii) and (v)
Property:
(a) barn, warehouse or building lately erected by John Emery on the site of a warehouse or building formerly in the occupation of John Kilpin;
(b) yard and little slip of ground being a private back way out of the yard into Castle Lane, the yard marked out to be separated by (vi) by stumps from the yard sold to him (Lot 1);
(c) garden formerly in the occupation of John Emery E of (a) and abutting E on Castle Close in the occupation of Duke of Bedford
Reserving to (i) and (vi) a right of way of 10 feet 6 inches width across (b)
Habendum:
- to uses (iii) should appoint and in default of such to the use of (iii) for his life without impeachment of waste, remainder to the use of (v) during the life of (iii) in trust for (iii), remainder to the use of (iii) for ever
Covenant:
- by (i) to (iii) to produce all abstracted deeds
(XIII) Mortgage by demise for 1,000 years of 28 June 1816
Parties:
(i) John Green;
(ii) Robert Palgrave
Operative Part:
- (i) borrowed £400 from (ii) at unspecified interest
(XIV) Redemption of mortgage of 25 March 1825 by John Green to Robert Palgrave