PCC Will
David Henry of Clayhill, parish of Beckingham, county of Kent
dated 1 March 1762
To dear wife Hephzibah all my Leasehold and freehold Estates at Clayhill with all the furniture and appurts thereunto for her use during her natural life and her issue by me if any such shall be living at the time of her decease but if no such issue shall be living then to her children by her former husband
To the said Hephzibah my Leasehold Estate in St John's Court in the parish of St John Clerkenwell now in the occupation of James Emmerson Edward Coldham and the said Hephzibah subject to the payment of any mortgage at the time of my decease and the payment of a ground rent of 20£ a year during the full term of 99 years
Also to Hephzibah my right title and interest in a certain Estate in Worcester now in the occupation of the proprietor of the Worcester Porcelain Manufactory and others which is to devolve to me upon the demise of the present possessor (one Mrs Evet) the reversion of which I purchased of Richard Holdship this being freehold. Robert Appletree of Chancery Lane vintner in trust for the use of the said Hephzibah during her natural life then to devolve to my son if any such there be or if none than one to the eldest or to my daughter or daughters (if no sons) to be divided equally or if no son by me then to William Keeling Newell son to the said Hephzibah if he shall be living at the time his mother's decease, if not to Bridget Newell daughter of the said Hephzibah but if neither of these shall be living
my natural daughter Caroline if neither of these shall be living then to my heir male as if no such will had been made Mary the daughter of Richard and Sarah Cave of St Johns Gate London.
To Hephzibah my Moiety of the copyright of the Gentlemans Magazine now printed in my name by Richard Cave at St Johns Gate, the profits arising from which I give in the same manner as my freehold estate at Worcester
To Hephzibah my Lease of St John's Gate with all my books, copies of books, copyright of books, and all my prints, Books of prints, Copper plates of which a Schedule is hereunto annexed with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging not actually the property of the said Richard Cave to be disposed of for her use in any manner that she shall think fit
To Hephzibah my Interest in a certain policy of Insurance upon the Life of William Greening
All these bequests shall be chargeable with the payment of the annuities following:
- £25 a year to my sister Mary during her natural life
- £25 a year to my sister Martha during her natural life
- £25 a year to my sister Elenor [Helen scored out] during her natural life provided her share in Lloyds Evening Post assigned to her by me does not produce so much annually
To my kinswoman Susan Cave my freehold house in St Johns Court now in the possession of Mr Capps a coachman with remainder however after her decease to my natural daughter Caroline to the said Susan Cave 350£ in order to be laid in consolidated annuities in the Bank of England or in so much of the said Sum as shall be sufficient to purchase 500£ capital stock in the said fund to be laid out within three months after my decease out of any monies that I may be possessed of either in my own name in any of the public funds or any other money that shall be due to me at the time of my decease which sum of 500£ I give for her own use and dispose of in any manner she shall think fit.
[Signed] David Henry
Codicil:
I David Henry late of Clayhill and now of Lewisham in Kent
To Susan Cave Niece to my first wife Mary all the profits of my Leasehold estate at Clayhill, Kent, now in the occupation of William Smith Esqr of which she is already legally possessed of three fourths to have and enjoy the same during her natural life she paying four shillings a year Land Tax for a small freehold adjoining to the premises
9 October 1788
To H H Sons for Life St Johns Gate to my Son after her decease Estates as follows
Mr Bunyers? House 42.0.0
Taylor 25.0.0
Mr Grave 12.12.0
Brown 12.12.0
Gate 5.5.0
Wise 13.0.0
£110.9.0
with the use of the house and household furniture plate etc she now lives in, she paying the son rent and taxes for the same and keeping the same in repair and I give to my only Daught Hephzibah my printing house and estates consistent as follows
the printing office 50.0.0
----- House 20.00
Mr Colehams Vaults Stables & under let 20.00
Vaults let to Whitebread 14.4.0
£110.14.0
The above premises are all freehold and my will is that each of the above legatees do pay to my kinswoman Margaret Donald annually during her life £5.0.0
meaning in the whole to make her bequest up annually 10.0.0
To my Daught in Law the produce of my Leasehold Estate at Clayhill amounting to 40£ she paying out of the produce the Land Tax of the small freehold adjoining to said premises
30th June 1792
Appeared Personally Hephzibah Henry of Lewisham, Kent, widow, Robert Best of the Bank of England Esquire and John Nichols of Red Lion Passage in parish of Saint Bride London printer. Hephzibah Henry made oath that having viewed the paper writing hereto annexed purporting to be the last will and testament of David Henry alte of Lewisham aforesd, deceased, bearing date March 1st 1762 in which paper writing their now appears to be several obliterations and interlineations to wit …………. she saith that the said paper writing was deposited by the said deceased many years before his death in a cabinet belonging to him in which he usually kept his papers of Moment and Concour and during which time she ----ly saw the same which she went to the said cabinet and she saith that she verily believes the said paper writing to be now in the very same plight and condition as it was when the said deceased so deposited the same and she further saith that at the several times she so saw the said paper writing as aforesaid she observed the several obliterations and interlineations as now thereon appear and she Lastly saith that she hath made the most diligent Search for a certain Schedule mentioned and referred to the aforesaid paper writing in the most likely places which the same was to be found particularly in the aforesaid cabinet but that she hath not been able to find the same and she therefore believes the said deceased did not leave any such schedule behind him at the time of his death then the said Robert Best and John Nichols made oath that they were well acquainted with David Henry and with his manner and character of handwriting ……… say verily and in their consciences believe the whole series and contents of the said papers writing to be of the proper handwriting and subscription of David Henry
On fourth day of July 1792 administration with the will annexed … was granted to Hephzibah Henry widow the relict of the decease .. no executor or residuary legatee being named in the will.