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This is the Last Will and Testament of Richard HOW of Dorchester in the County of Dorset Clockmaker made published and declared this twenty ninth day of the third month called May One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirteen in the Manner and form following I give unto my dear wife Anna HOW one hundred and fifty pounds I give to my daughter Anna HOW sixty pounds to be paid when she is married, or shall attain the age of one and twenty years in the meantime the said money to be put out at interest with the consent and approbation of her mother and the trustees hereafter nominated towards her maintenance and subsistence. I also give her a little silver dish I give unto my son Richard HOW sixty pounds to be paid when he shall attain the age of one and twenty years in the meantime to be put out at interest as my wife and the trustees shall think fit towards his maintenance and subsistence and I also give him a silver cup marked R.H. I give unto my son Thomas HOW sixty pounds to be paid when he shall attain the age of one and twenty years in the intime [meantime] to be put out at interest towards his maintenance and subsistence as my wife and the trustees shall think fit, I also give him a little silver dish and two silver spoons And my Will is that if my daughter Anna HOW shall die before she is married or arrives at the age of one and twenty years that then her portion shall be equally divided betwixt my sons Richard & Thomas HOW, and if either of my sons should die before he attains the age of one and twenty years that then his portion shall be equally divided betwixt my daughter and the survivor of my sons, or if my sons should both die before they arrive at the age of one and twenty years that then their portions shall be paid unto my daughter Anna HOW and they and none of them to have their portions unless they marry with the consent and approbation of their mother and the trustees. All the residue and remainder of my money plate wares goods & household stuff with all things which belong and appertain unto me I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Anna HOW and do make and appoint her my said wife Anna HOW my whole & sole executrix of this my last Will and Testament and I do appoint and desire my dear friend and brother John SEAMER and Thomas BAGG my trustees for the due performance of this my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written Signed Richard HOW Sealed and published and declared to James WOODSFORD Proved:- July 21 1715 - Administration granted to Executrix a Quaker - J JACOB Surrogate Genealogical Notes:- (1). Richard HOW (1667-1715) was born at Dorchester on 20th March 1667 the son of Richard and Cassandra HOW both Quakers. His father was buried at St Georges Church in Fordington on 8th November 1667 so he was born posthusously. His mother may have re-married to a John STYLES at Owermoigne on 10th Oct 1682. Their marriage although brief describes her as Mrs Cassandra HOW so she was already a woman of recognized status in her own right at marriage. (2). Richard HOW married Anna SEYMOUR [SEMER] (1680-1741/2) the daughter of Richard and Ann SEYMOUR of Marnhull (deceased) on 10th January 1700. Link to marriage. Ann was baptised at St Gregory's Church in Marnhull on 31st Dec 1680. Her parents both died prior to her marriage, her mother Ann on 7th Dec 1691 followed by her father Richard on 19th Feb 1691/2. (3). Richard and Anna only had 3 children but they all survived and are beneficiaries under the above will Anna being age 13, Richard aged 12 and Thomas aged 8 - see above marriage link for actual details. (4). Richard HOW became a Clockmaker by trade and the Municipal Records of Dorchester show him employing an apprentice (James NORMAN) on 25th Sep 1707. Richard died on 28th March 1715 and was the first Quaker to be buried in the Quaker burial ground in Dorchester which was in Holy Trinity Parish. (5) His widow Anna HOW died on 30th January 1741/2 and would have been buried with her husband in the quakers burial ground in Dorchester hence no entry in the parish registers. She also left a Will copy held at the Wiltshire archives Ref SPC 1742 5 4 : P15/130 |