In the name of God, amen. I, John Blackwell, of Watledge1 in the parish of Minchinhampton, Gloucester, gentleman, being in a weak state of health, but of sound disposing mind, memory and understanding, and duly considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time whereof, do make, publish and declare my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say).2
First I will order and direct that my debts funeral and testamentary be fully paid and discharged by my executors herein after named out of the residue of my personal estate as soon as the same can conveniently by done by after my decease. And I hereby notify and confirm the settlement made by me in favor of my wife, Mary Blackwell, upon my intermarriage with her to all intents and purposes whatsoever.
I give and devise unto my son Cornelius Blackwell all that my messauge tenement or dwelling house, garden and premises situated, standing and being at Watledge aforesaid and now in my possession to hold to my son, Cornelius Blackwell, his heirs and assigns forever. But subject nevertheless to the life estate of my said
I give and devise unto my daughter-in-law, Maria Matilda Blackwell, wife of my son Stephen, all those my cottages, tenements or dwelling houses, gardens and premises situated, standing and being at Windsoredge3 in the parish of Avening in the county of Gloucester and now in the occupation of Sarah Samsum and Jane Barnfield, also all that cottage, tenement or dwelling, house, gardens or premises situate, standing and adjoining Watledge Common in the parish of Minchinhampton in the said county of Gloucester.
The cottage and put of the gardens in the occupation of John Jinson, the remainder now in my possession to hold, to my said daughter-in-law, Maria Marilda Blackwell, wife of my son Stephen Blackwell, her heirs and assigns forever.
I give and bequeath to my late son Enoch Blackwell's children the sum of seventy pounds of lawful English money amongst them to be divided equally, share and share alike as they come of the age of twenty one years.4 I give and bequeath unto Richard Willes of Bristol, brandy merchant (if living at the time of my decease), the sum of thirty pounds of like money in lieu and full discharge of all claims and demands he may have on or against my late son Enoch Blackwell. If the said Richard Willes should not be living at the time of my decease, I give and bequeath the said thirty pounds to my said late son Enoch Blackwell's children, share and share alike as they come of the age of twenty one years.
With lawful interest I give and bequeath to my son Peter Blackwell the sum of one hundred pounds of like money, which said legacy I hereby will and direct shall be paid him within twelve calendar months after my decease.
I give and bequeath unto my late son John Blackwell's children the sum of one hundred and thirty pounds of lawful money aforesaid to be equally divided amongst them share and share alike as they come of the age of one and twenty years.
With lawful interest I give and bequeath unto my son Stephen Blackwell the sum of fifty pounds of like money.5
I give and bequeath unto my grandson Edward B. Barnfield, at the decease of my wife Mary Blackwell, the interest of two hundred pounds children for his life, and at his decease, I give the said two hundred pounds to the said Edward Barnfield's children share and share alike as and when they shall attain the age of twenty one years.6
And my will is and I hereby order and I direct that the said sum of two hundred pounds shall be placed and remain in the hands of my said son Cornelius Blackwell, at interest until the demise of my said wife, he paying the interest whereof together with the further sum of five pounds and ten shillings per annum (making together the sum of twelve pounds and ten shillings) unto my said wife in line of the like sum of twelve pounds and ten shillings secured to her in and by my said settlement and according to the true interest and meaning whereof and I will and direct that the said two hundred pounds remain in the hand of my son Cornelius Blackwell until the said legacies become due.
I give and bequeath unto my sons Stephen Blackwell and Cornelius Blackwell (after the decease of my wife) all and singular, my household goods and utensils of household, chattels and things whatsoever which were secured to my said wife in, and by, my said settlement to be equally divided between them, share and share alike, and I give, devise and bequeath all the rest, residue and remainder of my real and personal estate and effects of what nature or kind soever which I shall be possessed of, or entitled unto, at the time of my decease.
Unto my said sons Stephen Blackwell and Cornelius Blackwell, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, as tenants in common and not as joint tenants7 and in equal shares and proportions.
And lastly I do hereby make, nominate, constitute and appoint my said sons Stephen and Cornelius Blackwell joint executors of this my last will and testament. And I do hereby direct that my trustees, or survivors of them, shall not be accountable one to the other or for ______ [illegible]. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed and set my hand and seal this twenty fourth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and twenty.
John Blackwell
(Seal)
[Transcribed by Wm. Thompson, Nov. 16, 2014, And updated Aug. 12, 2019 & Aug. 21, 2021 -- hopefully improving the readability of the transcription published on www.ancestry.com; and incorporating numerous corrections to its presumed transcription errors. Reading handwriting from 200 years ago is challenging. And when you add to that a vocabulary of archaic legal terms and the names of obscure hamlets the task is very challenging. Fortunaely we now have additional info accessible.]
1. A neighborhood of Nailsworth.
2. There are a number of interesting things about this will. John Blackwell had 11 children by his first wife Sarah Cole: 7 sons and 3 daughters. And none by 2nd wife, Frances Barrett, or 3rd wife, Mary Saunders. He was predeceased by two of his daughters, Sarah (Blackwell) Barnfield and Phebe Blackwell; and by sons John and Enoch. His will does not mention his daughters, but does mention one of Sarah's sons, Edward Barnfield. Why none of his other grandchildren are mentioned is a mystery. As is why daughter Lucretia (Blackwell) Perrin is not mentioned, nor sons Thomas and Joshua. Perhaps it's because Lucretia, Thomas and Joshua "left him" and went to America. But so did Enoch and Peter who are mentioned. We don't know for sure why he singled out one daughter-in-law to mention. But he was 86 at the time of making this will and "in weak state of health," so it may that she was his primary caregiver, but his wife Mary was only 30 ---- younger than any of John's children.
3. Windsoredge is just north-west of Nailsworth.
4. Estimates vary. But each 1820 pound sterling would be at the very least $109.18 US 2014. Some estimates place it 100 times higher, depending on the assumptions made. Enoch had 9 children, but one died young. So a bequest of £70 would come to the equivalent of at least $955 2014 each -- possibly several hundred times more. And £30 worth of brandy would have been a heck of a lot of gallons.
5. I wonder what went into the decision of how much to give to each: need, merit or what.
6. Edward had three sisters and a brother, but he was the eldest son. That might explain why his siblings were not included in the will, but not why none of the other grandchildren were singled out.
7. "For convenience, trustees always hold as joint tenants. A grant to A and B and their heirs made a joint tenancy. Tenants in common hold undivided portions as separate beings, and their respective shares pass to their heirs, etc."