1755 Will of Martha Bowlby

This is the Last will and testament of me Martha Bowlby of Mansfield Woodhouse in the County of Nottingham widow made this 31st day of July in the year of our Lord 1755 as follows first I will that my just debts funerals and Legacies be paid and discharged Item I give devise and bequeath unto my good and worthy friend Christopher Cotton of Mansfield in the county of Nottingham grocer and tallow chandler and John Norborn of Barlborough of the County of Nottingham gentleman all my bonds bills mortgages securitys for money or money owing to me without security or my personal estate means and effects of every kind to hold to them the said
Christopher Cotton and John Norborn their executors administrators and
assigns in trust that they or the survivor of them or the executors or
administrators of such survivor do thereout in the first place pay and
discharge all my debts and funeral expenses and afterwards thereout pay or
cause to be paid unto my Son John Bowlby the Sum of Thirty Pounds unto my Son Thomas Bowlby unto my Son George Bowlby the Sum of Thirty Pounds unto my Son Richard Bowlby the Sum of Ninety Pounds unto my Daughter Elizabeth the now wife of James Baird the Interest and produce of the Sum of Forty Pounds for her life distinct and separate from her said Husband and wherewith he shall have nothing to do whose seperate receipt from time to time for the same to my executors or the survivor of them shall be a good discharge therefrom notwithstanding her condition and after the death of my said Daughter Baird my said Trustees or the survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor shall pay the said sum of Forty Pounds unto and amongst all my said Daughter Bairds Children in equal shares,and if but one child such child to take the whole but in case of my Daughter Baird's Death,Leaving no child or children the said sum of forty pounds to go and be paid unto my Daughter Jane Dalton.And her children share and share alike.Unto my Daughter Martha the wife of Samuel Ordidge the sum of forty pounds to the intent that she my said Daughter Ordidge may have the life interst and produce of the said sum of forty pounds for her life distinct and seperate from her Husband and whose receipt for the same from time to time shall be a good discharge for the same to my said Trustees notwithstanding her condition and wherewith her present Husband shall have nothing to do and after the death of my said daughter Martha Ordidge my said Trustees or the survivor of them or the Executors or Administrators of such survivor shall pay the said sum of forty pounds unto and amongst all my said Daughter Ordidge's children in equal shares and if but one such child to take the whole but in case of my Daughter Ordidge's death leaving no child or children the said sum of forty pounds to go to and be paid unto and amongst my four sons John,Thomas, George and Richard Bowlby and their respective Representatives.  Unto my said Daughter Jane the wife of William Dalton the sum of forty pounds so that she may have the interest thereof during her life for her seperate benefit and whose Receipt shall be a sufficient discharge for the same notwithstanding her condition and wherewith her present Husband or any future husband shall have nothing to do and after the death of my said Daughter Jane the wife of the said William Dalton my Executors and Trustees or the survivor of them or the Executors or Administrators of such survivor shall pay the said forty pounds to all my said Daughter Dalton's children in equal shares and if but one child such child to take the whole.  Unto my Grandson Thomas Bowlby of London,a currier, ten pounds.Unto my Grandson Edward Bowlby son of my son Jordan Bowlby one Guinea both which legacy to be paid within six months next after my death.Item, I give to my Daughter the said Jane Dalton all my wearing apparel both Linen and woollen and one Guinea to buy her daughter each a purple and white frock and her son Thomas a Black waistcoat. Also all my Bed and goods or furniture in the chamber I lye in I give to my said Daughter Dalton.I give to my said Daughter Baird six chairs that formerly stood in the left chamber,five little pictures and my own picture but if she dies or leaves England the said picture to be the property of my Daughter Dalton. Item,I give to my said Daughter Ordidge one box directed for her with all that I shall put into it for her seperate use.Item,I desire my said Trustees or Executors will accept of one guinea a piece which I give them for their respective time and order them to retain and keep the same out of my estate and all costs and charges touching their Executorship or the trust in them by me reposed and I further will that if there happen any loss by the failing of any security or securitys which shall be taken for the benefit of my three Daughters Baird,Ordidge and Dalton by placing the said three forty pounds legacies at interest that the same or any part thereof shall not be the loss of my said Trustees and Executors or the survivor of them unless the same shall happen through their wilful neglect or omission But that such Shall be born and be the loss of the said Elizabeth Baird,Martha Ordidge and Jane Dalton in equality. Lastly all the residue of my personal Estate (not before disposed of ) after payment of Debts, Legacies and Trustees expenses I give and bequeath the same unto my said Daughters Elizabeth Baird, Martha Ordidge and Jane Dalton and Grandson Thomas Bowlby in equal shares whom I make Residuary Legatees of this my Will,so revoking all other Wills. I make and appoint the said Christopher Cotton and John Norborn Executors of this my Last Will and Testament earnestly desiring them to see the same fully performed. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Thirty First day of July in the said year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty five aforementioned.
Martha Bowlby

Signed,Sealed,published and declared by the said Martha Bowlby as and for her Last Will and Testament in the presences of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses to the same in the presence of the said Testator and in the presence of eachother.
Zachariah Barratt and Will Cock