THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
of Edward Risdon of Escott Farm within the Parish of
Carhampton and County of Somerset Gentleman made and
published the eighth day of February in the thirteenth year
of the Reign of King George the third and in the Year of
our Loard one thousand seven hundred and seventy three. In
the first place I recommend my Soul into the Hands of
Almighty God hoping and firmly trusting in and through the
[Merits] and Intercession of my Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ to receive full pardon and Remission of all my
Sins and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently
interred according to the discretion of my Executrix herein
after named Also I give and devise All that my Leasehold
Messuage and Tenement called or commonly known by the
Name of Lodge situate lying and being in the Parish of
Old Cleve in the said County of Somerset And also all that
my Leasehold Overland part of Bindons Tenement also
situate lying and being in Old Cleeve aforesaid and adjoining to
Lodge aforesaid unto my dear Wife Betty Risdon Upon the
Trusts and for the purposes herein after mentioned until my son
John Risdon shall attain his Age of Twenty one years and
from and immediately after my said Son John Risdon shall have
attained his said Age of twenty one years then I give and devise
the said Messuage and Tenement called Lodge and also the said
Overland part of Bindons Tenement and all the then residue and
remainder of my estate Terms and Interest therein respectively
unto my said Son John Risdon his Executors Administrators
and Assigns Also I give and devise all that my Leasehold
Messuage and Tenement called or commonly known by the
Name of the Higher House Tenement situate lying and being
at Golsoncott in the said Parish of Old Cleeve And also all
that my Leasehold Messuage or Tenement commonly called or
known by the Name of Stones also situate lying and being at
Golsoncott aforesaid unto my said Wife Betty Risdon -----
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------upon the Trusts and for the purposes herein after
mentioned until my Son George Risdon shall attain his age
of twenty one years and from and immediately after my said
son George Risdon shall have attained his said age of
twenty one years then I give and devise the said Messuage
and Tenement called the Higher House Tenement and also the
said Messuage and Tenement call Stones and all the then
Residue and Remainder of my Estate Terms and interest therein
respectively unto my said Son George Risdon his Executors
Administrators and Assigns. Also I give and devise all that my
Leasehold Messuage and Tenement called or commonly known
by the Name of late Church’s situate lying and being in the
Parish of Saint Decumans and said County of Somerset. And
Also all those my four several Leasehold Overlands called or
commonly know by the several Names of Young [Aldred] [Daws]
[ Holdombs’ ] Walmore and Edgeworthys [names repeated below] all situate lying and being within
the said parish of Saint Decumans unto my said Wife Betty
Risdon. Upon the Trusts and for the purposes herein after
mentioned until my Son Edward Risdon shall attain his
Age of twenty one years and from and immediately after my
said Son Edward Risdon shall have attained his said age of
twenty one years, then I give and devise the said Messuage
and Tenement called Church’s and also the said four several
Overlands called Young Aldred Daws Holcombes Walmore and
Edgeworthys and all the then residue and remainder of my
Estate Terms and Interest therein respectively unto my said
Son Edward Risdon, his Executors Administrators and Assigns
and my true interest and meaning is. And I do hereby declare
my will to be that my said Wife shall apply And I do so
hereby direct her to apply the clear [Neat] Rents [phrase repeated below] Issues and
Profits of my said several Leasehold Messuages Tenements
and Overlands during the respective times for which the same
are given and devised to her as aforesaid as well towards
the Maintenance and Education of all my Children that
have not attained the age of twenty one years until they shall
respectively attain their respective Ages of twenty one Years
as also towards the payment and discharge of my Debts and
Legacys. Also I give and devise all that my Leasehold Messuage
and Tenement called Aldred Daws Tenement situate lying and
being at or near Washford within the said Parish of Saint
Decumans from and immediately after the death of my said
wife unto my said Son Edward Risdon his Executors Admsrs
and Assigns for and during all the then Residue and Remainder
of my Estate Term and Interest therein. Also it’s my Will that
in case all any or either of my said three Sons shall happen
to dye unattaining the Age of twenty one years and unmarried
that the Estates so herein before devised to him or them so
dying shall go to and amongst all and every my Children and
the Survivors of them equally to be divided between them,
share and share alike without any preference or distinction of
Age or Sex to whom in such case I give the same accordingly.
Also I give and devise all that my Fee Simple Overland called
or commonly known by the name of Moor House Tenement
situate lying and being in the Parish of Stogursey in the said
County of Somerset unto my said Wife Betty Risdon her Executors
Administrators and Assigns for and during and unto the full
[end] and Term of thirty years to commence from the date of
my death and to be fully compleat and ended if Mary Risdon
widow of John Risdon my late deceased Brother shall so long
happen to live upon the Trusts and for the purposes herein
after mentioned and Declaired concerning the same, that is to
say, Upon Trust that she and they do and shall apply the
clear [Neat] Rents Issues and Profits thereof as well towards
the Maintenance and Education of all my Children that have
not attained the Age of twenty one years until they shall
respectively attain their respective Ages of twenty one
years, as also towards the payment and discharge of my
Debts and Legacies and from and immediately after the End or
other sooner Determination of the said Term of thirty years
I give and devise my said Fee Simple Overland unto my said
son John Risdon, his Heirs and Assigns for ever. Also I give
and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Risdon three hundred
pounds to be paid her at the day of her Marriage with
interest in the mean time for the same after the Rate of
four Pounds for each hundred Pounds by the year. Also I give
and bequeath unto my three Daughters Rebecca Risdon, Joan
Risdon, and Jane Risdon, and to each and every of them
two hundred and fifty pounds a priori when and as they
shall respectively attain their respective ages of twenty one
years and in case all any or either of my said three Daughters
Rebecca Risdon, Joan Risdon, and Jane Risdon shall happen
to die unattaining the age of twenty one years and unmarried
then it’s my will that the Legacy or Legacies or her or them so
dying shall sink into the Residuum of my Effects. All the
Rest Residue and Remainder of my Goods and Chattels
Rights and Credits Personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and
wheresoever my just Debts Legacys and Funeral Expences
being first paid and discharged and wherewith I charge and
oblige the same accordingly I give [and] devise and bequeath unto
my said Wife Betty Risdon her Executors Administrators and
Assigns and I do hereby make, constitute, and appoint my said Wife
Betty Risdon whole and sole Executrix of this my last Will
and Testament. Lastly I revoke all former Wills by me made,
and appoint this only to be my last Will and Testament. In
Witness whereof I, the said Edward Risdon, the testator have
to this my last Will and Testament contained in two sheets
of Paper, to each Sheet set my Hand and Seal the day and
year first above written – Edward Risdon – Signed Sealed Published
and Declared by the said Edward Risdon the Testator as and to
us subscribed as witnesses thereto in his Presence and at his
request and in the Presence of each other – John Anthony –
Robert Corrick – Willm Trout 1773.
THIS WILL was Proved at London the seventeenth
day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and seventy three Before the right Worshipful
Sir George Hay Knight, also Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper
or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully
constituted by the Oath of Betty Risdon Widow, the [Relict]
of the deceased and sole Executrix named in the said
Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular
the Goods, Chattels, and Credits of the said deceased having been
first sown by commission duly to Administer.
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