Whorwelsdown wt 1831 AS 2 From Trowbridge RO Collection, Copied for MPL Wall Transcribed by David Curch page 55 , 15 Nov.18 31 Steeple ashton. the will of Thomas BUTCHER Jr. deceased. This will was proved at Sarum on the 15 day of November 1831 before the Reverend Edmund Benson, Clerk, M A, lawful surrogate of the Reverend and Worshipful Liscombe Clarke, Clerk, Master of Arts, Archdeacon of the Archdeaconry of Sarum, And by him Administration of all and singular the Goods and Chattels of the said Deceased, and any ways concerning his Will was committed unto Moses BUTCHER the sole Executor named therein, (being first duly Sworn of the Truth of the said Will, and faithfully to perform the same, and to pay the Deceased's Debts and Legacies as far forth as his Goods and Chattles will thereto extend and the Law bind him, and to exhibit a true and perfect Inventory of the Goods, Chattels, and Credits of the Deceased, and yield a just and true Accompt when lawfully required) saving the Rights of all Persons. ( with a large capital A in brackets at top of page ) this is the last will and testament of the Thomas BUTCHER the younger of Steeple Ashton in the County of Wilts, Maltster as follows, I give and bequeath unto my brother Moses BUTCHER his Heirs and Assigns the Sum of Five Hundred Pounds subject to the Payment thereout to my sister Priscilla such an Annuity as the Sum of Three Hundred Pounds would purchase for her at the time of my decease, to be calculated from the most approved Annuity Tables. The said Annuity to be paid by him his Heirs or Assigns half Yearly, and her Receipts alone to be sufficient discharges for the payment of the same. And also subject to the Payment therout (namely from the said Sum of Five hundred Pounds) the Sum of One Hundred Pounds to my Brother George Wheeler BUTCHER his Heirs and Assigns within one Year after my decease. I do hereby nominate and appoint my said Brother Moses BUTCHER sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I the said Testator have set my Hand and Seal the Twenty sixth day of December in the Year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and twentyeight. Signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas BUTCHER the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our Names as Witnesses...... (NB BUT there are no signatures at all on this document, only the capital A at the top of the page >>>) Next Page : In the Court of the Archdeacon of Sarum Moses BUTCHER the elder of Steeple Ashton in the County of Wilts yeoman, Alfred HALE of the same place yeoman and William MILES of the same place yeoman make oath and say that they knew and were well acquainted with Thomas BUTCHER the younger late of Steeple Ashton in the County of Wilts and within the Archdeaconry of Sarum Maltster and with his manner and character of handwriting having often seen him write and that having seen and carefully perused the paper Writing hereunto annexed marked (like a capital A) purporting to be the last Will and Testament of the said deceased beginning thus " This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas BUTCHER the younger of Steeple Ashton in the County of Wilts Maltster as follows" and ending thus "In Witness whereof I the said Testator have set my Hand and Seal the twentysixth day of December in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twentyeight" These Deponents severally say that the said paper Writing hereunto annexed (marked (like a capital A)) is wholly of the proper HandWriting of the said Thomas BUTCHER deceased as these Deponents verily believe. Sworn at Steeple Ashton this fourteenth day of November 1831 before me Sig Rich.d Crawley coinconez (meaning commissioner ?) Sigs: Moses Butcher, Alfred Hale, Wm Miles Next Page : Liscombe Clarke, Clerk Master of Arts Archdeacon of the archdeaconry of sarum To our well-beloved the Reverend Richard Crawley and Clerks, Greeting : We do hereby authorise, impower, and give Commission unto you, (in whom we perfectly confide,) jointly and seberally to administer the Oath under written, in manner and form there set forth to Moses BUTCHER the lawful brother of Thomas BUTCHER late of the Parish of Steeple Ashton in the County of Wilts Maltster deceased and also thesole Executor named in the last Will and Testament of the said deceased, Requiring you duly to return these presents to us or our lawful Surrogate, or other competent Judge in this behalf, with the said original Will annexed, and a Certificate, under the Hand of either of you who shall duly execute this our Commission, Testifying what you or either of you shall have done in the Premises, by virtue of these presents, on or before the last day of December next ensuing, otherwise the same to be void and of none effect. Dated at Sarum under the Deal of our Office, the Tenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirtyone. Edw Davies Registrar. The Form of the Oath to be administered to the said Moses BUTCHER laying his Right Hand on the Holy Gospels, is as follows : You Swear that the Contents of the Affidavit hereunto annexed, and to which you have subscribed your Names are true, to the best of your Knowledge and Belief : And that the Paper Writing, also hereunto annexed, doth in it contain the true original last will and Testament of Thomas BUTCHER late of Steeple Ashton in the County of Wilts deceased, as far as you know or believe ; that you are the sole Executor therein named ; that you will duly execute and perform the same, and pay his debts and legacies, as far forth as his Goods, Chattles, and Credits will thereto extend, and the Law bind you ; and that you will make or cause to be made a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the Goods, Chattles, and credits of the said deceased, which have or shall come to your Hands, Possession or Knowledge, and exhibit the same into the Registry of the Archdeacon of Sarum (if required) and pass a just and trus Account of your Executorship thereupon, when thereto lawfully requird. So help you God. [Kiss the Book.] The Commission was duly executed at Steeple Ashton on the fourteenth day of November 1831.And the Oath above written was administered to the said Moses BUTCHER and by him duly taken, before me. Rich.d Crawley (sig) Commissioner. {Brodie and Dowding Printers, Salisbury.} In left margin is a stamped ink-mark for 2 shillings, note to effect : Effects Sworn Sub œ 600 c And : Probate issued by decree of the Rev.d Edm.d BENSON A.M. lawful ///// // Nov 15.1831