(Trancribed 2010 by, and published by permission of, Jodie Williams).
In the Name of God Amen I George Swindell Citizen and Soapmaker of London being weake in body but of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding do make this my Last Will and Testament in manner and forme following (that is to say):
Imprimis – I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping for salvation through the meritts of the death and Sufferings of Jesus Christ my redeemer my Body I committ to the Earth from whence it came to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executrix hereinafter named and as for such Worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with I give and dispose thereof after payment of my Debts and Funeral charges as followeth (that is to say) I divide my personall Estate into Moieties or half parts and one full and equall moiety or half part thereof I give, devise, and bequeath unto my dear and loving Wife Elizabeth Swindell, her Executors and Administrators, and out of the other moiety or other half part of my personall Estate which by the Custom of the City of London is in my own disposal. I give to my honoured Mother Mrs Dorothy Swindall the sume of Three hundred pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain and to my loving Brother Henry Swindall I give and bequeath the like sume of Three hundred pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain. And to my loving Brother Nicholas Swindell, I give and bequeath the like sume of Three hundred pounds of like lawfull money and thereout I also give and bequeath the further sum of Three hundred pounds of like lawfull money of Great Britain to my Brother in Law William Buckley of Thornton in the County of Leicester and my Sister Dorothy his wife and I also give and bequeath the like sume of Three hundred pounds to my Sister Elizabeth Swindell.
Item – I give and bequeath unto my loving friend Nicholas Harding Esq. the sume of Fifty pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain to buy him mourning and to my old friend William Townsend Twenty pounds and to John Swindell of Weston in the County of Derby I give the sume of Ten pounds and to the Charity School of East Smithfield the lower I give the sume of Ten pounds. And to my Maid Servant Mary Jyer (?) I give the like sume of Ten pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain. And my mind and will is and I do hereby order request and desire my Executrix hereafter named to pay the severall Legacies above mentioned within Eighteen Months next after my decease. All the rest, residue and remainder of my Moiety of my personall estate and all other my real and personall estate of what nature or kind soever or wheresoever I give, devise, and bequeath the same and every part thereof to my dear and loving Wife Elizabeth Swindell, her heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns and I do hereby nominate and appoint my said dear and loving Wife Elizabeth Swindell Sole Executrix of this me Last Will and Testament and hereby revoking all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made I do declare this to be my Last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I the said George Swindell have to this my Last Will and Testament set my hand and seale this Fifth day of June One thousand seven hundred and Eighteen.
[Signed]
George Swindell
Signed sealed published and declared and delivered by the
said Testator
George Swindell as and for his Last Will and Testament in the
presence of us who
have hereunto subscribed our Names as Witnesses to the Execution
thereof in his
presence and at his request.
Robert Dennett
Elizabeth Browhead
Samuel Crougthon
This will was proved at London before the venerable master Thomas Paske, doctor of laws, surrogate of the venerable and excellent master lord John Bettesworth, also doctor of laws, master, guardian or commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, lawfully appointed, on the tenth day of the month of July in the year of the lord 1718 by the oath of Elizabeth Swindell, relict of the said deceased and the executrix, named in the said will. To whom was committed the administration of all and singular the goods, rights and credits of the said deceased, sworn on the holy gospels to administer the same well and faithfully. Examined.
1 Relationships to George Swindell mentioned in the will
|
Wife and executrix |
Elizabeth Swindell |
| Mother | Mrs Dorothy Swindall |
| Brother | Henry Swindall |
| Nicholas Swindell | |
| Sister | Elizabeth |
| Sister | Dorothy, wife of |
| Brother-in-Law | William Buckley |
2 Other names mentioned
| Nicholas Hardinge | First cousin once remove |
| John Townsend | |
| John Swindell of Weston | Possibly John Swindell but he would have been of Breedon, not Weston |
| Robert Dennett | Witness |
| Elizabeth Browhead | Witness |
| Samuel Crougthon | Witness |
3 Notice that George spells his own name, his wife's name and his brother Nicholas 'Swindell', but his mother and his brother Henry 'Swindall'.