of Hamells, Hertford died 8th July 1772

Created 14th Aug 1771

Codicil 17th Feb 1772

This is the last Will and Testament of me the Rev’d Ralph Freman of Hamells in the County of Hertford Doctor in Divinity made this fourteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy one in the time of my Health and Strength of Memory

First I give and bequeath unto Penelope Leonora Cheshyre second Daughter of John Cheshyre of Windsor Esq’r the sum of Two Thousand and three hundred Pounds to be paid to her within one month next after my decease

Also I give to the Warden and Fellows of All Souls College in the University of Oxford the sum of Four Thousand pounds which I direct them to lay out and expend in amending the old or building new the Parsonage or Vicarage Houses belonging to the Churches of Welwyn in the County of Hertford and Barking in the County of Essex, with the approbation of the several Incumbents thereof for the time being imediately after my decease

Also I give to the said Warden and Fellows of the said Colleges all my Books with full power to exchange sell or alter any of them as they the said Warden and Fellows shall think proper

And I do hereby direct and require the Executor of this my will to send & convey them to the said Warden and Fellows at the said College at his own Expence as soon as may be after my decease.

All my Manuscript Sermons I do hereby expressly order and direct to be burnt and destroyed without any copies of them or any of them being taken.

I give and bequeath unto the Rev’d Doctor Pulter Forester the sum of five hundred pounds

And to every Servant living with me at the time of my decease I give the sum of Twenty pounds apiece

And all and every my Manors Messuages Lands Tenements and Real Estates whatsoever and wheresoever I give devise and bequeath unto my nephew and Heir at Law Philip Yorke eldest son of the late Honble Charles Yorke by my neice Catherina his late wife Deceased and his Heirs forever

And all the rest and residue of my moneys Goods Chattles and Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever after payment of all my just Debts, the Legacies above mentioned and my Funeral and other incident Expenses,

I give and bequeath unto my said nephew Philip Yorke for his own proper use But in case my said nephew and Heir at Law Philip Yorke shall happen to die without lawful issue before he shall attain his age of one & twenty years Then I give devise and bequeath all and every my said Real and Personal Estates whatsoever and wheresoever unto his Unkle the Right Honourable the Earl of Hardwicke his Heirs Executors Administrators and assigns And I nominate and appoint the said Pulter Forester the sole Executor of this my Will In witness whereof I the said Ralph Freman the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament and a duplicate thereof set my hand and seal the day and year first above written

Ralph Freman

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the aforesaid Ralph Freman the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us and by us attested in his presence and in the prescence of each other
Elizabeth Chauncy
Tho: Wolfe of Walden
Simeon King his Servant

This is a codicil to the last Will and Testament of me the Reverend Ralph Freman Doctor in
Divinity which my mind is to add thereto & to be taken as part thereof And I do hereby give and bequeath unto Penelope Leonora Cheshire the second Daughter of John Cheshire of Windsor Esq’r the sum of Two Thousand Pounds over and besides and in addition
to what I have given and bequeathed to her in and by my said Will To be paid to her in one year next after my decease

Also I give and bequeath unto my Kinswoman Mary and Elizabeth Caesar of the Town of Hertford Spinsters the sum of one hundred pounds apeice to be paid to them and each of them in three months next after my decease

And in all other matters and things I do hereby confirm my said Will And I do declare this present writing to be part thereof In Witness whereof I have to this codicil set my hand and seal this seventeenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy two

Sealed Published & Declared
Ralph Freman
by the above named Ralph Freman as and for a codicil to his last Will & Testament in the presence of us
Tho: Churchill Butcher Park Street in the Parish of St Georges Hanover Square
Tho: Wolfe Walden Essex

June 4 1772
If my Personal Estate does not pay my Legacys & Debts I desire my Plate & the Furniture of my London House may be sold & not the Furniture of Hamells may be touched

View scanned originals:  From the Hertfordshire archive, one of many wills in D/EB2067B/F22