Will of Ozell Pitts

Poulterer of St Luke’s Middlesex

Created 14th April 1795
Codicil 21st April 1795
Proven 31st May 1796

In the name of God Amen

I Ozell Pitts of the parish of Saint Luke in the County of Middlesex Citizen and Poulter of London being of sound mind memory and understanding do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following
that is to say I desire that my body may be kept until it shall appear to be discoloured or at least for a reasonable time after my decease and that then the same be buried by day light (without pomp or ffeathers?) in the church yard of Saint Luke aforesaid as near as may be to the remains of my late wife and children and I desire that my grave may not be less than nine
ffeet deep and that after my ffuneral a stone be put over the grave with the names of my wife and children inscribed upon it according to the fform hereunder written and my own name added thereto and I direct that not
more than the sum of fforty pounds shall be expended about my ffuneral and the said stone and inscription

I give and bequeath unto William Hasler of Oxford Market in the County of Middlesex Poulter one of my executors herein after named the sum of ten pounds and also my book case with all my printed books and printed papers

I give to William How of Bishopgate Street in the City of London Poulter my other executor the sum of ten pounds and also my Eight Day Clock

I give to John Doo the elder of Chipping near Buntingford in the County of Hertford ffarmer my late wife’s brother the sum of fforty pounds and to his daughter Fanny Doo who is my God Daughter the sum of fforty pounds

I also give to the said Fanny Doo all my plate glass and china ware and

I give to Ann Doo and Sarah Doo two other daughters of the said John Doo the sum of ten pounds each for mourning

I give to Elizabeth Ealing of Buntingford aforesaid widow my late wifes niece the sum of twenty pounds

I give to William Cooper second cousin to my ffather Edward Pitts the sum of ten pounds with all my wearing apparel both Linen and woollen

I give to my executors for the use of my maid servant Sarah Paine the sum of One Hundred Pounds which sum I direct my said executors to layout in their own names in the purchase of an annuity for the life of the said Sarah Paine the same to be secured on stock in the ffunds and to be paid into her hands by my executors from time to time towards her support

I also give to the said Sarah Paine all my chairs except my mahogany elbow chair and Night chair I also give to her the corner cupboard wallnut tree bureau square deal table and dressing glass in my back room and the bedstead which she now sleeps in with the ffurniture ffeather bed bedding and sheets belonging thereto I likewise give to her the largest round mahogany table window curtains and one of the smallest glasses in my ffront room I also give to the said Sarah Paine the sum of five pounds for mourning

I give to William Gilbert my late apprentice five pounds for mourning

I give to Edward Faringdon my last apprentice the sum of five pounds and to Peter Stoakes who formerly lived servant with me the sum of five pounds

I give to the trustees or treasurer for the time being of the Grey Coat Charity School in the parish of Saint Luke aforesaid the sum of twenty pounds to be by them applied out half for the benefit of the Grey Coat Boys and the other for the benefit of the girls belonging to the said
school

I give to the Worshipful Company of Poulters the sum of ffifty pounds of the ffive per cent annuities to be purchased by my executors in the said stock and transferred to the said company to be by them held in
trust to pay the dividends half yearly as they become due to the six lower pensioners of the said company and

after payment of my ffuneral expenses and all my just debts and the legacies herein before given I do give and bequeath all the residue and remainder of my estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever unto the aforesaid Fanny Doo for her own use and

I constitute and appoint the said William Hasler and William How joint executors of this my last will hereby revoking all former wills by me
made In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fourteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Ninety ffive

The inscription above directed is as follows

To the memory of Mr Ozell Pitts of this parish
and his wife and children
Edward Pitts aged 2 years Buried 13 Feb’ry 1759
Edward Ozell Pitts aged 1 year Buried 11 Oct 1762
Thomas Anthony Pitts aged 4 years buried 9 Dec 1762
Elizabeth Crouch Pitts aged 11 years was buried at
Hormead in the County of Hertford
Ann Pitts Mother of the above children was buried 21
March 1764 aged 35 years

(Signed) Ozell Pitts

Signed sealed published and declared by the above named Ozell Pitts the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us
Sam’l Hoole, Pavement Moorfields, London Sam’l Hoole Jnr his clerk

I the above named Ozell Pitts do by this codicil to my above written will give and bequeath to my servant Sarah Paine therein named over and above the legacies thereby given to her the stove grate at my ffore room with brass ffront and iron cheeks and the shovel poker and tongs belonging to the same and also the pair of kitchen bellows in my back room and my smallest brass
hewer In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty first day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and ninety five

Signed Ozell Pitts

Signed sealed Published and declared by the above named Ozell Pitts as and for a codicil to his last will and testament in the presence of us: Sam Hoole ~ Sam’l Hoole Jnr

This will was proved at London with a codicil the thirty first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety six before the
worshipful Samuel Pearce parson Doctor of Laws and surrogate of The Right Honourable Sir William Wynne knight also Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted
by the oaths of William Hasler and William How the Executors named in the said will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the deceased having been first sworn duly to administer.

View scanned originals:  From the National Archives