Will of Sarah Christopher
of Child Ockford Dorset - 1757
Transcribed by Michael Russell April 2005
In the name of God Amen I Sarah CHRISTOPHERS of Child Okeford in the County of Dorset Spinster being sick and weak in the body but of sound and disposing mind and memory thanks be given to Almighty God for the same Do this Thirteenth Day of October in the yeare of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty seven make this my last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say) First and Principally I commend my Soul into the hands of the Father of Mercies and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of the envoy herein after named And as for such Temporal estate which it pleased God to bless me with I Give Devise and Dispose thereof as followth First I Give Devise and Bequeath unto my sister Ann DYKE for and during her natural life All that my Dwelling House Garden and Orchard with the appurtenances lying in Child Ockford aforesaid together with the use of all my Household Goods for her life only and it is my Will and Desire that my said sister Ann DYKE shall not dispose or embezzle the same or any part thereof And from and after the decease of my said sister Ann I Give Devise and Bequeath of said Dwelling House Garden and Orchard with the appurtenances unto Thomas DYKE of Child Okeford aforesaid for and during the term of his natural Life And from and after the decease of the said Thomas DYKE I Give Devise and Bequeath the said Dwelling House Garden and Orchard with the appurtenances unto my God Daughter Rosannah DYKE her Heirs and Assigns for ever Also I Give and Bequeath unto my Cousin William POPE a feather bed and all things thereunto belonging to be delivered unto my said cousin on the day of his marriage by my executor Also I Give unto the said Thomas DYKE after the death of my said sister Ann the use of all my Household Goods for the term of his life and after his decease I Give the same unto his daughter the said Rosannah DYKE And Lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint the said Thomas DYKE sole executor of this my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the Said Sarah CHRISTOPHERS have to this my last Will and Testament set my hand and seal the Day and Year first above written
Signed Sealed and Delivered and Published
and Declared to be as and for the
Last The Mark x of
Will
and Testament of the said Sarah
Christophers in the presence of us Sarah CHRISTOPHERS
Edw [Edward]SHEPARD
May CREW
Jos:[Joseph] ALPORT
Administration
10th June 1815
Know all men by these presents that we William SWAINE of Fifehead Neville in the County of Dorset, Fuller* and John SWAINE of the same place Fuller are held and firmly bound unto the Reverend John TURNER Clerk master of Arts official of the venerable William ENGLAND also Clerk Doctor of Divinity, Archdeacon of the Archdeaconry of Dorset lawfully constituted in the penal sum of Twenty Pounds of good and lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto the said John TURNER or to his certain attorney his executors administrators or assigns to which payment will and truly be made we oblige ourselves and each and every of us by himself for the whole our and each and every of our heirs executors and administrators firmly by these presents Sealed with our seals dated the tenth day of June in the Fifty fifth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King defender of the faith and in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight Hundred and Fifteen.
Whereas Sarah CHRISTOPHERS late of the Parish of Child Okeford in the County of Dorset spinster some time since departed this life having first duly made and published her last Will and Testament in writing of the tenor hereto annexed, and thereof appointed Thomas DYKE of Child Okeford aforesaid sole executor -- And Whereas the said Sarah CHRISTOPHERS departed this life some time in the month of October One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Seven without altering or revoking her said will -- And Whereas some time after the decease of the said Sarah CHRISTOPHERS the said Thomas DYKE also departed this life without having proved the said will or taken upon himself the burden of the execution thereof
Now the condition of this obligation is such that if Rosanna SWAINE wife of the above bounder William SWAYNE the goddaughter and legatee ordained in the said will (late Rosanna DYKE) and administrix of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said Sarah CHRISTOPHERS deceased together with the said Will of the said deceased annexed do make or cause to be made perfect -- Inventory of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased and the same so made do exhibit or cause to be exhibited into the Registry of the Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset aforesaid on or before the last day of December next ensuing and the same Goods Chattels and Credits in manner and form following do well and truly administer (that is to say) do pay the debts which the said Sarah CHRISTOPHERS decease did owe at the time of her death and then the Legacies given in and by the said Will so far as her Goods Chattels and Credits will thereto extend and the Law charge her - And further do make render or cause to be made and rendered a full true and just account of and upon her said Administration in the premises at such time and as soon as she shall be thereunto lawfully required And Lastly do at all times hereafter clearly acquit discharge and save harmless the above named John TURNER and all other officers of the said Court against all persons having or pretending to have any Right Title or Interest in the Goods Chattels or Credits of the said deceased. Then this obligation to be void and of none effect or else to remain in full force and effect.
Signed
William SWAINE
John SWAINE
Sealed and delivered in the presence of
Tho: [Thomas] DASHWOOD Sturminster Newton Dorset
On the 10th day of June 1815 The written will of Sarah CHRISTOPHERS late of Child Okeford in the County and Archdeaconry of Dorset spinster deceased was proved by the oath of Rosanna the wife of William SWAINE of Fifehead Neville Dorset Fuller (late Rosanna DYKE) to whom administration of all singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased was granted she being first duly sworn upon the Holy Evangelists well and faithfully to administer the same to exhibit a true and perfect Inventory thereof into the Registry of the Court of the Archdeacon of Dorset and render a just account thereof when thereto lawfully required and that the whole of the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased did not amount in value at the time of his death to the sum of £20 -- Before me Th: [Thomas] TAPPING
Testate died Oct 1757
*Note: A Fuller is someone that who cleanses and thickens cloth as a part of the finishing process.