John Townsend (1781-1832) Will and Probate
Transcribed from
the Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858
This is the last Will and Testament of me, John Townsend, shipwright of the parish of Saint Nicholas, Deptford, in the county of Kent. That is to say, first I order and direct that all such debts as I shall really owe at the time of my decease, my funeral expenses and the charge of proving this my will, shall as soon as conveniently may be after my decease fully paid and satisfied. All the rest, residue and remainder of my goods, chattels, rights, credits, ready moneys, securities for money in the public funds, and all other my real and personal estate and effects of what nature and quality or kind soever, and wheresoever, which I shall be possessed of, interested in, or entitled unto at the time of my decease, I give and bequeath the same unto my wife Clare Townsend, her heirs, executors, administrators and assigns absolutely. And I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my said wife, Clare Townsend, my sole executrix of this my Will. And lastly I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other Will and Wills by me at any time heretofore made, and declare these presents only to be and contain my last Will and Testament. In witrness whereof I, the said John Townsend, the Testator, have to this my last Will and Testament set my hand and seal, the _____ day ______ in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and ten.
John Townsend (signature)
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said John Townsend the Testator, as and for his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us, who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witness thereto: Ths Hughesdon, Saml Smith.
Appeared personally Clara Townsend of 2?? 37 Butcher Row, Deptford, in the county of Kent widow, and made oath that she is the lawful relict and sole executrix named in the last Will and Testament of John Townsend, late of the parish of St Nicholas, Deptford, in the county of Kent shipwright deceased, which said Will is now hereto annexed and begins thus “This is the last Will and Testament of me, John Townsend, shipwright” ends thus “In witness whereof I, the said John Townsend, the Testator, have to this my last Will and Testament set my hand seal, the _____ day ______ in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten” and is thus subscribed “John Townsend” and the deponent having now noticed and observed the blanks for the day and month in the said year one thousand eight hundred and ten in the said written date of the said Will. She further made oath that the said Will was, at the time of the death of the said deceased, in a pocket book belonging to the said deceased, in which the said deceased, a few days before his death, told her, the deponent, she would find the same, and where she then found the same accordingly. And she also further made oath that she hath made search since the death of the said deceased amongst all his papers of moment and concern, and in all places in which it was likely that any other Will of the deceased, if he had made any, would have been deposited, but that no other Will or testamentary paper whatever of the said deceased hath been found, and that she verily and in her conscience believes that the said deceased had not at any time made any other Will save the said Will now hereto annexed and beginning, ending and subscribed as before written, and that the said deceased meant and intended the same to stand and be as and for his last Will and Testament. And she lastly made oath that she is unable to state in what month in the said year one thousand eight hundred and ten the said Will was executed, except that she believes the same was executed some time in or about the Spring of the said year.
Clara Townsend (signature)
On the 15th day of August 1832 the said Clara Townsend was fully sworn to the truth of the aforegoing affidavit before me, W C Curteis, Surrogate: present S B Engleheart, Notarary Public.
Proved at London, 18th August 1832, before the worshipful William Calverley Curteis, Doctor of Laws and Surrogate, by the oath of Clara (in the Will written Clare) Townsend, widow, the relict the sole executrix, to whom admon was granted, having been first sworn duly to administer.