Probate Copy of the Will of

Thomas Ashton

Deceased

Will dated 4 April 1748

Probate dated 27 June 1751

In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Ashton of St John's Street in the parish of St Sepulchre in the county of Middlesex haberdasher of smallwares being in health and of sound and disposing mind and memory (blessed be God for the same) but being fully satisfied of the uncertainty of life and of my continuance therein do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) First and principally I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God hoping through the merits and death of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to be saved my body I commit to the earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my executors hereinafter named and as touching the disposition of such temporal estate which it hath or may hereafter please Almighty God to bestow upon me after payment of my debts funeral expenses and legacies hereinafter particularly mentioned I give devise and bequeath the same as follows (to wit) I give devise and bequeath unto my loving brother John Ashton and my affectionate cousin Jane Tuck all my estate whatsoever in West Bromwich in the county of Stafford and also all my estate in Bocton Aluph in the county of Kent at a place called there Kennington Leese or elsewhere and the rents issues and profits of the aforesaid estates to be equally divided between them share and share alike and in case of either of their deaths then the share of him or her so dying I give devise unto the survivor of them his or her heirs for ever and my Will and desire is that the aforesaid Jane Tuck shall receive all the said rents issues and profits and shall give receipts for the same and pay unto my aforesaid brother John Ashton one moiety thereof he giving unto the aforesaid Jane Tuck a receipt for the same and I do hereby acquit exonerate and discharge my said loving brother John Ashton from all debts dues and demands whatsoever which I may have on him at the time of my decease Item I give and bequeath unto my loving cousins Hannah Tuck and Rebeccah Tuck the sum of one hundred pounds each to be paid them twelve months after my decease Item I give devise and bequeath unto my cousin Mary Burgess the sum of fifty pounds to be paid her twelve months after my decease Item I give devise and bequeath unto Mrs Susan Ashton of Stevington in the county of Bedford twenty pounds to be paid twelve months after my decease Item I give devise and bequeath unto Edward Timms of Cow Cross Taylor ten pounds to be paid twelve months after my decease Item I give unto my loving friend Thomas Assheton Coal merchant twenty pounds to be paid twelve months after my decease Item I give unto my loving friends Mr Hugh Southerland Mrs Mary Phillips widow of my late friend Mr Thomas Phillips Mary Phillips her daughter Mr Hugh Rossiter and the aforesaid Mr Thomas Assheton each one gold ring And as to all the rest residue and remainder of my personal estate I give devise and bequeath the same unto my said brother John Ashton and cousin Jane Tuck to be divided between them share and share alike and I do hereby constitute and appoint my said brother John Ashton cousin Jane Tuck and my friend Thomas Assheton coal merchant my executors saving harmless and keeping indemnified the said Thomas Assheton from all damages expenses costs and charges that he may be put to for or on account of his said executorship In witness whereof I the said Thomas Ashton the Testator have hereunto set my hand and seal the fourth day of April in the year of our Lord 1748

Tho^s Ashton

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Ashton the Testator for and as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence have attested and subscribed our names as witnesses hereto

Tho Theed

Rich^d Alexander

George Elkins