Porthleven Museum - Our History

The Will of John Richards, dated 4 January 1780

Sithney 
15th August 1780


The Will of One
John Richards lately
Deced, Proved in Common 
form before the Revd 
Mr John Fisher Clerk 
Bachelor of Arts Surrogate 
Etc
And Admion 
of the Goods etc of the said 
Deced and of all things 
howsoever Concerning 
the said Will was 
Granted to the Executor 
therein named being 
first Sworn etc Saving 
etc 
No Inventory
 
In the Name of God Amen I John Richards of the Parish of Sithney in the County of 
Cornwall Yeoman being weak in Body but of sound and disposing Mind Memory and Understanding Do make 
ordain and publish this to be my last Will and Testament in Manner and form following (that is to say)
First I give devise and bequeath unto William Symons the younger the Son of William Symons of the Parish of Breage in 
the said County Tinner the Sum of forty six Pounds In Trust and to and for the separate Use and behoof of 
my Sister Mary Symons his Mother without the Control of the said William Symons her Husband and that the said 
William Symons the younger shall support and maintain his said Mother with the same which if he refuses to do 
my Will is that the said Mary Symons shall be at Liberty to recover of him the said Sum of forty six Pounds and 
shall dispose of the same as she shall think proper And farther my Will is that after the Death of the said 
Mary Symons I give the said Sum of forty six Pounds to the said William Symons the younger if he shall 
outlive his said Mother Mary Symons and maintain her during her Life the said Sum of forty six Pounds to be 
payd to the said William Symons the younger by my Executor hereafter named in three Months after my death with Interest for the same 
Also I give devise and bequeath unto my sister Elizabeth Ripper of the said Parish of Breage Widow of John Ripper 
deceased the Sum of thirty Pounds to be paid herein three Months after my Death with the Interest by my Executor hereafter named 
Also I give devise and bequeath unto Elizabeth Ripper the Daughter of the said Elizabeth Ripper the Sum of twenty 
Shillings to be paid her immediately after my Death by my Executor hereafter named
Also I give devise and bequeath unto the four daughters of my Sister Mary Symons Margaret, Mary, Joan 
and Elizabeth the Sum of twenty Shillings each to be paid each of them immediately after my Death by my 
Executor hereafter named.
Also I give devise and bequeath unto Thomas Symons and John Symons two of the Sons of my Sister Mary 
Symons the Sum of twenty shillings each to be paid each of them immediately after my Death by my Executor hereafter 
named
Also I give devise and bequeath unto my Son in Law John Rowe of Portlevan in the Parish of Sithney in the said 
County Cooper and John his Son All that Part of Fenton Vedna in the said Parish of Sithney with the Appurtenances 
To hold the same to them jointly immediately after my Decease for the Remainder of the Term then to come 
and expire therein with Liberty to dispose thereof as they shall think proper but under a Proviso that they shall pay 
unto John Webb of the said Parish of Sithney Fisherman the Money due to him from the said John Rowe the Father 
and my Will is that the said John Webb shall receive the Rents and Profits of the said Tenement of Fenton Vedna 
till the said Debt shall be discharged
Also I give devise and bequeath unto Mary Rowe the Daughter of the said John Rowe the Elder the Sum of twenty 
Shillings to be paid her immediately after my Decease by my Executor hereafter named 
Also I give devise and bequeath unto Mary Hammill the Wife of Peter Hammill of the Parish of Sithney in the 
said County Yeoman the sum of fifty Pounds to and for her sole and only Use and Behoof notwithstanding her 
Coverture to be paid to her in three Months after my Death with Interest for the same by my Executor hereafter named 
Also I give devise and bequeath unto Peter Hammill the younger son of the said Peter Hammill the Sum of fifteen 
Pounds to be paid him in three years after my Decease by my Executor hereafter named.
Also I give devise and bequeath unto my Servant Elizabeth Penrose the Sum of two Pounds and two shillings if she shall 
be living with me at the time of my Death to be paid to her by my Executor hereafter named immediately after 
my Decease

John Richards (signed end page 1)

Also I give devise and bequeath unto the three sons of my sister Mary Symons - Thomas, John and William 
All my wearing Apparel that I shall die possessed of except my second best Suit which I give unto the said Elizabeth 
Ripper to be delivered to them by my Executor hereafter named in one Month after my Decease 
Also I give devise and bequeath unto Thomas Symons one of the Sons of my said Sister Mary Symons the feather 
Lye that is now in the Chamber over the Entry to be delivered to him immediately after my Death 
Lastly All the Rest Residue and Remainder of all my Estate Goods Chattles Rights Credits and Effects whatsoever 
and wheresoever lying and being and of what Nature kind and Quality soever the same may be and not 
herein before disposed of (after Payment of my Debts Legacies and funeral Expenses) I do give devise and 
bequeath unto John Hammill Son of the aforesaid Peter Hammill and Mary his Wife his Executors 
Administrators and Assigns to and for his and their own Use and Benefit absolutely And I do hereby 
make ordain nominate constitute and appoint the said John Hammill whole and sole Executor of this 
my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all former and other Wills by me at any 
time heretofore made. In Witness whereof I have to each of those two Sheets of Paper containing 
my last Will and Testament set my Hand and Seal this fourth Day of January One Thousand 
seven Hundred and Eighty

John Richards (signed)

Signed sealed published and declared by the said 
Testator as and for his last Will and Testament written on two
Sheets of Paper and each of them subscribed by the said Testator 
in Presence of us who, at his Request, in his Presence and in 
the Presence of each other have subscribed our Names as 
Witnesses hereto

Jas. Richards Junr. (signed)
William Harris (signed)

 
N.B. Words in both italics and brackets are inserted by the transcriber e.g. (signed)


Source:- CRO AP/RB/1780

Contributed by Sue Boyland