Reference
AN28/18
Title
Attested copy will of Humphrey South of Billiter Square, Allhallows Staining, City of London, merchant, freeman in the Company of Fishmongers “for the years I have attained unto now being over sixty eight and three months”:
Date free text
3 May 1737
Production date
From: 1737 To: 1742
Scope and Content
- appointing burial in Saint Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge, in the same grave as his daughter Judith and son Humphrey “and under the same marble stone that I purchased and as near as I can possibly be laid to my said daughter in a decent and plain manner … being continued in my own dwelling house one week after my decease least and then interred by day light in a coffin like unto my son and daughter’s covered with the best plain pall, “no escutcheons or pompons show to draw a crowd together at that time of solemnity”;
- “Mrs Elizabeth Gray, gentlewoman having lived with me in my family many years past and at this time it is my earnest request nd desire to prevent any misunderstanding between her and my executor and upon her giving to him a full discharge and release for all matters and things transacted by me to the time of my decease neither any other person whatsoever that may become any representative at any time hereafter for any boarding, diet, lodging or any expense relating thereunto either for herself or any servants taken into her service from the full time she first came to live in my house unto the time of my decease” - devising £2,000 to Elizabeth Gray as a legacy on this consideration;
Discharging his brothers John and Joseph from any debts to him at the time of his death “except I should take bond or note from them or either of them for any sum since the making this my will which sum I intend to satisfy and pay any part of the legacies here after mentioned”;
- devising his interest to land in Clopton, Mickleton [Gloucestershire] in occupation of Henry Roberts, yeoman and his interest in real estate in Little Barford, Eynesbury [Huntingdonshire] and Waresley [Huntingdonshire] in occupation of Mary, widow of Henry Tingey, yeoman mortgaged to Humphrey South senior on 8 July and 24 August 1697 for £2,500, the rents not sufficient to pay interest on the principal sum to his brothers John and Joseph;
- devising his interest in land in Hornchurch [Essex] held by lease from the warden and scholars of New College, Oxford with his right of renewal of the lease to his brothers John and Joseph;
- bequeathing £1,000 to each of his brothers John and Joseph;
- his brothers to give a full release and discharge to the executor “to save him harmless from all matters and things transacted or done by them or either of them to to time of my decease that may in any wise affect my estate”;
- bequeathing £500 to each of the children of his dead brother Thomas of North Cove [Suffolk] and his wife Judith;
- bequeathing £500 to his nephew Benjamin Grosvenor junior;
- “but if I should have bond, note or receipt from either of the said legatees for any sum lent to either of them or for their use since making this my will my meaning is that such bond, note or receipt shall be deemed such part or full satisfaction of the legacy hereby given unto either of them”;
- bequeathing £100 to his sister Elizabeth, widow of Dr Nathaniel Wickham;
- bequeathing £100 to Dr Benjamin Grosvenor and £30 to the poor of his church “to such proper objects as they in their discretion think fit at or about Christmas next after my decease giving preference to the poor housekeepers therein”;
- bequeathing £100 to his kinswoman Elizabeth Emmerton, widow and £50 equally to his cousin Thomas Sontly and his children;
- bequeathing £20 to [blank] Callamy and £50 to Susanna Bilton if living with him at the time of his death and to any other servants living with him at that time £10;
- bequeathing £16 annuity to Sarah Pearse, servant to his parents;
- bequeathing £10 to churchwardens and overseers of the poor of Saint Magnus the Martyr and to the churchwardens and overseers of the poor of Allhallows, Staining to be distributed at the Christmas after his death to ten poor housekeepers;
- devising and bequeathing the residue of his real and personal estate including “ready money or capital of nominal stock that I may have in the Governor and Company of the Bank of England or capital stock, Old South Sea annuity stock, new joint stock in South Sea annuities that I may have in the governor and company of merchants trading to the South Seas [South Sea Bubble was in 1720] and all my plate, jewels, rings, household goods, ready money and debts” to his son Sontly whom he appointed sole executor;
- devising his interest in a tally and Order Number 399 payable from the Exchequer bearing date of 10 May 1694 for £12 “out of tonnage on the lives of John and Joseph South which my mind and will is that any executor on the other side named transfer to them or the survivor of them for their own use and benefit from the time of my decease if not so done by myself before that shall happen”
Note that on 14 January 1742 Henry Major of Doctors Commons, London, gentleman and Stephen Scott of Saint Andrew Undershaft, London, gentleman’s servant swore that they knew Humphrey South, late of Billiter Square, Allhallows, Staining and recognised his handwriting where he had added to the will;
- proved in PCC 13 January 1742
- examined by Robert Nicholas and William Norton, clerks to Bristow and Winterbottom of Merchant Taylors’ Hall
Level of description
item