William Crofts

  General Notes:

From John.Crofts@tesco.net

WILL 0F WILLIAM CROFTS made 1756. Year of Death 1770
In the name of God, Amen, I William Crofts of Townfields (?) otherwise Newnham Regis in the Parish of Church Lawford in the County of Warwick, Husbandman. Do make and Ordain this to be my Last Will And Testament in manner following. (that is to say)
First I Give and Bequeath to my Eldest Son, William Crofts, the sum of five pounds and no more, to be paid by my Executors Twelve months after my decease, and secondly I do give all the rest and Residue of all my personal estate, after the payment of all my Debts and Funeral Expenses, unto my Wife Elizabeth and to my youngest Son John Crofts Equally share and share alike so long as my said Son John shall think well of my said Wife to live with him. And if my said son John shall not think well that my said wife shall live with him then I do give and bequeath to my said Wife Elizabeth the sum of seven pounds to be paid out of my estate the day that she shall depart from him and that my said son John as his Heir, Executor or Assigns shall pay farther out of my said --------- Estate unto my said Wife the sum of Seven pounds a year by two half yearly payments for and during the rest of her Natural Life if she so long continue my Widow. But if my said Wife shall marry again then I do give her only the sum of ten pounds to be paid by my son John on the Day of her Second Marriage and wearing apparel. And to be quit of all other payments or Claims to be made by my Wife whatsoever, but if my said son John shall happen to Dye (sic) not leaving any Wife or Child Lawfully Begotten of his Wife then I do Give all my personal estate so given to him or his Heirs Lawfully Begotten as aforesaid unto my said Eldest Son William Crofts with all Johns Rite (sic) and title whatsover and to his Heirs forever but only with this proviso that if my said son John shall Dye before his Mother. But if my said son John shall live longer than his Mother then my Will and Meaning is that my said son John shall have the free disposing of all ------------ to him as aforesaid as he shall think proper and of this my Last Will and Testament I do make and ordain my said Wife Elizabeth and my Son John Crofts full and Sole Executors in witness hereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this Sixteenth day of April 1756.
Signed Sealed and Delivered by the above named Edward Crofts
Testator William Crofts as and for his Last Will and Hannah Crofts
Testament in the presence of us William Smith
signed by William Crofts
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Notes
Son William appears to have been treated harshly, but as the eldest son he would almost certainly be in control of the farm itself as his reward.
Notice the first claim on the estate is for all expenses to be paid. The lawyers always made sure they got their cut !. Nothing changes does it
A lot of wills like this tend to lose track of the plot and get very confused.
The Wife usually got hammered if she had the effrontary to remarry, note how she is allowed to keep her clothes, even they belonged to the man, (Oh to be around then !!)
Wills are very useful because they are accurate in relationships and can open up new leads as shown by
Edward and Hannah as witnesses. Most of my line were Edwards, so its given me something to think about.
Hope you like this
John

  Noted events in his life were:

• Will, 16 Apr 1756, Townfields, Church Lawford, Warwickshire. WILL 0F WILLIAM CROFTS made 1756. Year of Death 1770
In the name of God, Amen, I William Crofts of Townfields (?) otherwise Newnham Regis in the Parish of Church Lawford in the County of Warwick, Husbandman. Do make and Ordain this to be my Last Will And Testament in manner following. (that is to say)
First I Give and Bequeath to my Eldest Son, William Crofts, the sum of five pounds and no more, to be paid by my Executors Twelve months after my decease, and secondly I do give all the rest and Residue of all my personal estate, after the payment of all my Debts and Funeral Expenses, unto my Wife Elizabeth and to my youngest Son John Crofts Equally share and share alike so long as my said Son John shall think well of my said Wife to live with him. And if my said son John shall not think well that my said wife shall live with him then I do give and bequeath to my said Wife Elizabeth the sum of seven pounds to be paid out of my estate the day that she shall depart from him and that my said son John as his Heir, Executor or Assigns shall pay farther out of my said --------- Estate unto my said Wife the sum of Seven pounds a year by two half yearly payments for and during the rest of her Natural Life if she so long continue my Widow. But if my said Wife shall marry again then I do give her only the sum of ten pounds to be paid by my son John on the Day of her Second Marriage and wearing apparel. And to be quit of all other payments or Claims to be made by my Wife whatsoever, but if my said son John shall happen to Dye (sic) not leaving any Wife or Child Lawfully Begotten of his Wife then I do Give all my personal estate so given to him or his Heirs Lawfully Begotten as aforesaid unto my said Eldest Son William Crofts with all Johns Rite (sic) and title whatsover and to his Heirs forever but only with this proviso that if my said son John shall Dye before his Mother. But if my said son John shall live longer than his Mother then my Will and Meaning is that my said son John shall have the free disposing of all ------------ to him as aforesaid as he shall think proper and of this my Last Will and Testament I do make and ordain my said Wife Elizabeth and my Son John Crofts full and Sole Executors in witness hereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this Sixteenth day of April 1756.
Signed Sealed and Delivered by the above named Edward Crofts
Testator William Crofts as and for his Last Will and Hannah Crofts
Testament in the presence of us William Smith
signed by William Crofts

William married Elizabeth Palmer in 1733 in Monks Kirby, Warwickshire. (Elizabeth Palmer was born about 1707.)