Wills & Bequests Archives

Will of Joseph Smithson, 1679

2nd September 2004 No Comments

WILL OF JOSEPH SMITHSON, 1679. ROLL 10, No. 136 HONOR COURT OF KNARESBOROUGH.

In the Name of God, Amen.

Joseph Smithson, in the psh. of Fewston, co. Yorke, I bequeathe and comend my soule into ye handes of Allmighty God, my maker and Redeemer, hopeing yet by ye merrets of his only Sonne, my onely Saviour Jesus Christ, I shall have free remission and pardon for all my sinnes, and my body to be buried in ye psh. churchyard of Fewston.

Unto Joshua Smithson, my naturall sonne, £60, to be paid by Samuel Smithson, my eldest sonne, when he shall be 22 years of age.

Unto Benjamin Smithson, my youngest son, £60, to be pd by said Samuel when he is 21 years of age – or if his education do require above the value of £6 p Ann. in tableing cloaths and other necessaries, yet then there shall be an abatement of the said overplus of and from ye said £60, with lawful consideracon according to ye time.

Unto Mary Smithson, my only daughter, £50, when she shall attain ye age of 21.

But if default of any of the said filial portions be made, then my estate of ffreehold landes, and also ye Barne upon the Comon thereunto neare adjoyning, shall according to the proportion of their severall porcons be equally divided amongst them, or a proportionable part to any of them to whom default of the said sums or any part thereof shall be made.

But if any of said three children – Joshua, Mary, or Benjamin – shall dy before they shall accomplish the ages aforesaid, their part or porcon shall redound to all the rest of my surviving children.

Unto Anne Smithson, my well-beloved wife, £8 yearely, to be pd out of my Lands, Goods, and Buildings at two halfe yearely payments for her life. She shall have the ordering and disposing of all my goods and buildings and lands towards the education of my children till Samuel, my eldest sonne, shall accomplish the age of 21, if she continue so long unmaryed; and afterwards that Samuel, my said sonne, in consideracon of his owne filial porcon and dischargeing of ye former Sums, as also for the further education of my said younger children, shall have and possess said Lands, Goods, and Buildings to his owne use and behoofe, to him and his heires for ever, excepting one Table and a Feathered bed, both standing in the Low parlour, and all ye bedding thereunto belonging, as also two chaires of the best save one, one safe, two pewter dubleres of ye best save one, which shall be given to Mary, my said daughter.

My beloved wife, Anne Smithson, and my said sonne, Samuel Smithson, to be joynt exors.

Dated 24th August, 1674.
‘ JO’EPH SMITHSON.’
Witnesses: PHILIP CAWDRAY x his marke
THOMAS FURNIS.

Wills & Bequests

The Bequest of George Smithson of Aldborough

30th August 2004 No Comments

The Church of St Andrew, in Aldborough in the Diocese of Ripon has a board on the wall inside the church tower where the full text of George Smithson’s bequest is written.

The Bequest
George Smithson of Boroughbridge gave the Rents of certain Lands to the value of two Pounds per annum for ever to be distributed on Good Friday in ye manner following; Viz, £1 5s 0d to ye poor of Boroughbridge, 5s to the poor of Aldborough, 5s to the poor of Roecliffe and 5s to the poor of Minskip.

People, Wills & Bequests

The Bequest of Mark Smithson of Aldborough

29th August 2004 No Comments

The Church of St Andrew, in Aldborough in the Diocese of Ripon has a huge board on the wall inside the church tower where the full text of Mark Smithson’s bequest is written. The shelf for the bread for the poor is still there just inside the door. I think it’s used for hymn books now! His tomb is outside the church below the tower.

The Bequest
Mark Smithson esq of Aldborough hath by his last will dated the 12 May 1787 bequeathed to the Vicar and the two church-wardens so much money as would purchase Three thousand three hundred and thirty three pounds six shillings and eight pence. Three per cent Bank-Annuities to be vested in them so as to receive the Dividends and Interest being fifty pounds half yearly to be applied by them to the use of the township of Aldborough in the manner following. Viz, Ten Pounds a year for ever to the ringers of the said town, to be paid at Christmas provided they always ring a peel on Thursday evenings and likewise on Sundays before Morning Service: Thirty two-penny-loaves to be distributed by the Churchwardens every Sunday to so many of the most necessitous Poor who shall attend Divine Service, and to no others unless prevented by sickness: Ten Pounds in Money at Christmas to be laid out in the purchase of Butchers Meat to be distributed to the said poor at two different times.

Five shillings a piece to be given to Thirty of the most necessitous poor on St. Thomas’ day. Ten stuff-Gowns, Ten woolly-Petticoats and Ten black-stuff-Bonnets to be given to the Ten most ancient poor Women of the said Town. The remainder of this Bequest for the first year only, to be expended in the purchase of an additional Bell and better paving for the aisles of the church, and other ornamental repairs in the inside thereof; and ever after the first year, to be applied by the Vicar and church-wardens for the Relief of the most deserving poor of Aldborough either daily or weekly, as shall seem to them most necessary, by an Allowance of Coals in Winter at times as usual, and in repairing their Houses when wanted.

And in case of any misapplication of the said dividends the Testator ordered, that the said Bank Annuities should devolve unto his wife Mrs Clare Smithson, and her heirs.

NB. Those Annuities could not be transferred to the Vicar and churchwardens as a body corporate without an Act of Parliament, and therefore were transferred to the Rev. Henry Goodricke, J ? Wilkinson, Clerks Mrs Clare Smithson & Peter Earnshaw in trust for the charity.

In 1783 Mr Smithson gave a handsome new minute clock made by Messrs. Clementshaw for this church.