I Edward Wollstonecraft of the Parish of Saint Botolph

without Bishopgate London Weaver and Citizen of London do

make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner

following that is to say first and principally I commend my

soul to the hands of Almighty God hoping thro’ the Merits Death

and passion of my Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ to

obtain Eternal life My Body I commit to the Earth to be

interred according to the Discretion of my Executors hereinafter

named subject to the Directions by this my will or otherwise

to be given by me in respect thereof and as for and concerning

my Temporal Estate as it hath pleased God to bestow on me

I give and dispose thereof as follows first I Will that all

such Debts that I shall owe at my Death together with my

funeral charges be fully paid and satisfied and subject

thereto I Give Devise and Bequeath unto my son Edward

John Wollstonecraft and his Executors Administrators and assigns

all my several Leasehold Pieces or Parcels of Ground situate

lying or being on the South Side of Primrose Street in the

Parish of Saint Botolph without Bishopgate London which

I hold by virtue of several Indentures of Lease made to me

thereof by or from the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths or

the City of London and all those my eleven several Brick

Messuages or Tenements Erected and built on the same

several leasehold pieces or parcels of Ground or on some

part thereof and all other Erections Edifices and Buildings

whatsoever on the same Ground with their and every of their

appurtenances and all my Estate Right Tithe Interest

Terms of Years Right Benefit and Power of Renewal

Property Profit Possession Claim and Demand whatsoever

both in law and Equity of in and to the same Leasehold

Messuages Tenements Ground and Premises and every part

and parcel thereof together with their several Indentures of

Lease and all Assurances granted or made to me thereof

to have hold and enjoy the said several Leasehold

Messuages Tenements Ground and Premises unto and for the

Page 2

use and benefit of my son Edward John Wollstonecraft his

Executors Administrators and Assigns for and during all my

Termed Estate and Interest therein subject only to the rents and

covenants on the Lessees part reserved and contained in the

Indentures of Lease by or under which I hold the said premises

and I Give my own picture to my Grandson Edward Bland

Wollstonecraft and I Give and bequeath unto my said son Edward

John Wollstonecraft all my Plate whatsoever and my Watch

and one clock to and for his own proper and absolute use and

benefit and I Give Devise and bequeath all the rest of my

household Goods and furniture and household linen unto and to

each of my said son Edward John Wollstonecraft and my

Daughter Elizabeth Ann Rutson equally to be divided between

them part and share alike and I Give and bequeath unto my

said son Edward John Wollstonecraft the sum of Three Thousand

pounds to and for his own proper and absolute use and benefit

and for securing the payment of the said last mentioned Legacy

of three thousand pounds unto my said son I Will and Devise

that my said son shall have the benefit of and take the Moneys

arising and to arise of and from the Mortgage Debt of Three

Thousand Pounds owing unto me from Thomas Garrard Esquire

and the Interest thereof until my said son shall have fully

…….. and received the said Three Thousand pounds and the

Interest of the same and which Mortgage Debt and the fund

of Security thereof I Will Devise and appropriate as a

collateral security for the same And I Give Devise and bequeath

unto my said Grandson Edward Bland Wollstonecraft his Executors

Administrators and Assigns all my Leasehold Piece or Parcel

of Ground situate lying or being on the North Side of Browns

Lane in Spitalfields in the County of Middlesex and all my

Brick Messuage or Tenement Erected and Built on the same

piece or parcel of Ground or some part thereof and the

Throwsters Shop Warehouses Stables and all other Edifices

erections and Buildings whatsoever on the same Ground with

appurtenances which said last mentioned Messuages Tenements

ground and premises now or late were in the Tenure or

Occupation of Messrs George and Thomas Fothergill as my

……..tenants of the same and all my Estate Right Tithe

Interest Term of Years Right Benefit and Power of Renewal

Property Profit Possession Claim and Demand whatsoever both

in law and Equity of in and to the same last mentioned Messuage

Tenement Ground and Premises and every part and parcel thereof

together with the Indenture of Lease and all policies of Assurance

Granted or made to me thereof To have hold and enjoy the

same Leasehold Messuage Tenement Ground and Premises unto

and to the use of my Grandson Edward Bland Wollstonecraft his

Executors Administrators and assigns for and during all my

Termed Estate and Interest therein and I Give and bequeath all

my share in the Cruttenden East Indiaman John Bowland now

or late Commander unto my said Grandson Edward Bland

Wollstonecraft his Executors Administrators and Assigns to and for

his and their own and proper and absolute use and benefit and

Whereas I am possessed of the capital sum of seventeen hundred pounds

Bank Stock standing in my Name in the Books of the Bank of

England. Now I do hereby Give Devise and Bequeath the same

unto my Executors hereinafter named upon the Trusts herein

after particularly mentioned that is to say Upon Trust that

they shall as soon after my Death as consequently may be

procure the said Capital Stock to be Transferred into their

names and that they and the survivor of them and the

Executors or Administrators of such survivor shall stand possessed

of the same upon Trust and to the Intent and purpose that they

shall yearly and every year during the joint lives of my

Daughter Elizabeth Ann Rutson and Isaac Rutson her present

husband receive the Income or Dividends of the said Bank

Stock as the same shall become due and payable and thereupon

pay apply and dispose of the Moneys arising by such Dividends

unto the proper hands of my said Daughter Elizabeth Ann Rutson

to and for her sole Distinct Peculiar and Separate Use and

benefit exclusive of her said husband and so as that the

same shall not be subject to the Intermeddling Control Disposal

Power Debts or Engagements and I do hereby Declare that the

Receipt or Receipts of my said Daughter alone and or

notwithstanding her aforesaid coverture shall be a good and

sufficient Discharge to my said Executors and the Survivor of

them and the Executors and Administrators of such survivor

for such sum and sums of money as she shall from time to time

be entitled to receive and shall actually receive of them

for or in respect of the yearly Income or Dividends of the

said Bank Stock bequeathed in Trust for her benefit as

aforesaid and from and after the decease of the said

Isaac Rutson in case he shall die in the life time of my

said Daughter Then upon Trust and to the intent and purpose

that they my said Executors or the Survivor of them or their

Executors or Administrators of such Survivor To and shall

pay the Dividends that shall be then remaining due and

unreceived by her on the said Capital Stock unto my said

Daughter and shall and do assign and Transfer or cause to

be assigned and transferred the said seventeen hundred

pounds capital Bank Stock unto my said Daughter Elizabeth

Ann Rutson to and for her sole and absolute use Benefit

and Disposal But in case my said Daughter shall depart this

life in the life time of the said Isaac Rutson her husband

Then upon Trust that they my said Executors and the

survivor of them or the Executors or Administrators of such

survivor do and shall immediately thereupon or as soon after

as conveniently may be sell and Dispose of the said seventeen

hundred pounds Capital Bank Stock for the best price that

can be got for the same (and after deducting thereout their

costs charges and Expenses relating to this part of the Trust

hereby in them reposed) that they do and shall pay apply and

Dispose of the Money arising by such sale into and amongst

my Grand Children Edward Woodstock Rutson, Sarah the

wife of Workman and Mary Rutson children

of my said Daughter Elizabeth Ann Rutson in equal shares

and Proportions And I forgive and Release my said son

Edward John Wollstonecraft and my said Grandson Edward

Bland Wollstonecraft and each of them respectively all and

every Debt and Debts and all Sum and Sums of Money which

they and each of them shall or may respectively owe or be

accountable to me for at the time of my Death in all

respects and upon all accounts whatsoever and however

and I Give to the said Isaac Rutson and his said three

children Edward Woodstock Rutson, Sarah the wife of

………Workman and Mary Rutson respectively the

sum of Ten Pounds apiece for Mourning and to his Daughter

Elizabeth the wife of Joseph Newsham the sum of one

shilling only she having already shared sufficiently of my

bounty and I Give to Mary Wollstonecraft the Widow of my late

son Charles Wollstonecraft the sum of twenty pounds and I

give to my servant Christiana Sandison the sum of ten pounds

in case she shall be living with me at the time of my

decease and I Give to Joseph Skinner the sum of five pounds

and I Give to Mr Thomas Skinner one of the Lecturers of the

said Parish of Saint Botolph without Bishopgate one

Guinea and a Silk Scarf Hatband and Gloves he preaching

my funeral sermon and which particular favour I request

of him and I Will and Direct that Mr Francis Hopkins our

Parish Clerk may be employed as and for the undertaker of

my funeral and I Will and Direct my Executors to pay the

sum of five pounds to such of the confined Debtors in White

Chapel Prison or Goal as my said Executors shall Deem

proper objects thereof and in such shares and proportions

as my said Executors shall think fit And I Will and Direct

my Executors to pay the Sum of five pounds to such of the

confined Debtors in the Goal in Tooley Street in the Borough

of Southwark which I take to be called the Borough Compter

Prison as my said Executors shall think proper objects

thereof and in such shares and proportions as they shall

think fit and I Will and Direct my Executors to pay the Sum

of five pounds to and amongst such of the Confined Debtors

on the common side of and in Newgate Goal as my said

executors shall Deem proper objects thereof and in such

shares and proportions as they shall think fit and I Will

and Direct my said Executors to pay the Sum of One

Shilling apiece to each of the Settled Paupers in the Parish

Workhouse of Saint Botolph without Bishopgate London

and I Give and bequeath to my several Executors Administrators

named and appointed the sum of fifteen pounds apiece

for their respective trouble in accepting and executing

the Executorship and other Trusts in and by this my Will

in them reposed And I Give Devise and bequeath All the

Rest Residue and Remainder or Surplus of my Moneys

securities for Moneys and all other my personal Estate

not otherwise by me hereinbefore given Devised and

bequeathed of what Nature Quality or Kind soever unto

my said Son Edward John Wollstonecraft my said Daughter

Elizabeth Ann Rutson separate and exclusive of her husband

and with which he is not to intermeddle and my Grandson

Edward Bland Wollstonecraft equally to be divided between

them my said Son and Daughter and Grandson part and share

alike and to their respective Executors administrators and

assigns to and for their respective proper and absolute use benefit

and Behoof for ever provided always nevertheless and my

Will and meaning is and I do hereby Declare that the advance-

ment and provision heretofore by me made and the Bequests

and Legacys in and by this my Will given and bequeathed or

limitted unto or in Trust for the use and benefit of my said

Daughter shall be and shall be accepted deemed and taken

as and for a satisfaction and in full of all Right Tithe and

Interest Claim and Demand whatsoever which my said Daughter

Elizabeth Ann Rutson and the said Isaac Rutson her husband

or either of them can or may have claim challenge or

Demand of in and to my personal Estate or of in and to any

part thereof by virtue of the Custom of the City of London

or otherwise howsoever other than and by virtue of this my

Will the said several Legacys and Bequests being given and

bequeathed or limitted upon this Express Condition that the said

Isaac Rutson and my said Daughter or the survivor of them

shall and do within Six calendar months next after by Decease

Sign Seal and Execute in Due form of Law unto my Executors

a full honoral Release of all such Right Tithe Interest Claim

and Demand whatsoever which they the said Isaac Rutson

and my said Daughter or either of them shall or may have

Claim Challenge or Demand of in or to my personal Estate

and of in and to every part and parcel thereof by Virtue

of the Custom of the said City of London or otherwise howsofor

other than under and by virtue of this my Will But if the

said Isaac Rutson and my Daughter shall refuse or neglect

to make and execute such Release within the time aforesaid

then and in such case I do hereby revoke and make void all

and every the Bequests Legacys and Trusts in or by this my

Will given and bequeathed as well unto and to and for the

use and benefit of my said Daughter as also unto or as

well unto and to and for the use and benefit of * the children

of them the said Isaac Rutson and my said Daughter and

each and every of them as fully in every respect as if they

and each and every of them were naturally dead in my life

time and then and in such case I Give over Devise and bequeath

the aforesaid seventeen hundred pounds Capital Bank Stock

and the undivided third part or share of the Surplus of my

personal Estate and all other Bequests in and by this my Will

given or intended to or for my said Daughter or her Children

respectively unto and to the use of my said Son Edward John

Wollstonecraft and my Grandson Edward Bland Wollstonecraft

absolutely for ever in equal parts and proportions provided

likewise nevertheless and my Will and meaning also is that I

do hereby Declare that the advancement and provision

* my said Daughter as also unto or for

the use or benefit of

heretofore made by me and the Bequests and Legacys in

and by this my Will and bequeathed unto or for the use

or benefit of my said Son Edward John Wollstonecraft shall

be accepted deemed and taken by him as and for a Satisfaction

for and in full Recompense of all Right Tithe Interest Claim

and Demand whatsoever which my said Son Edward John

Wollstonecraft can or may have claim or Demand of in and

to my personal Estate of in and to every or any part or parcel

thereof by Virtue of the Custom of the said City of London or

otherwise howsoever other than under and by virtue of this

my Will the said several Legacys and Bequests being given

and bequeathed or limitted to him upon this express condition

that the said Edward John Wollstonecraft my son shall and

do within Six calendar months next after by Decease Sign

Seal and Execute in due form of Law unto my Executors a

full and General Release of all such Right Tithe Interest

Claim and Demand whatsoever which he shall or may have

Claim Challenge or Demand of in or to my personal Estate

and of in or to every part and parcel thereof by virtue of

the Custom of the said City of London or otherwise howsoever

other than under and by virtue of this my Will but if my

said Son Edward John Wollstonecraft shall neglect or refuse

to make and execute such Release within the time aforesaid

then and in such case I do hereby revoke and make void

all and every the Bequests and Legacys in or by this my

Will given and Bequeathed unto or for the use or benefit

of my said Son Edward John Wollstonecraft as fully in every

respect as if he was naturally dead in my life time and then

and in such case I Give over Devise and bequeath the aforesaid

Leasehold Messuages Tenements Ground and Premises situate

lying and being in or near Primrose Street aforesaid and the

Divided third part or share of the Surplus of my personal

Estate and all other Bequests otherwise in and by this my

Will given or intended to or for my said son unto or to the

use of my said Grandson Edward Bland Wollstonecraft freed

and Discharged from all Trusts of and concerning the same

provided also and my Will and meaning further is and I

do hereby Declare and Direct that my Trustees and Executors

in and by this Will named and appointed or any or

either of them shall not be charged or chargeable with or

accountable for any more Moneys than they shall in

respectively and actually receive by Virtue of the Trusts

hereby in them reposed nor with or for the loss of such

moneys or any part of the same so as that such loss shall

or may happen without their wilful neglect or default

nor shall they or either of them be chargeable with or

responsible for the Acts Deeds Receipts Neglects or Defaults

made by others or other of them but each of them for his

own Acts Deeds Receipts and Defaults only and that they

each and every of them and the Executors and Administrators

Assigns and each of them shall be always saved harmless

and not indemnified by and out of the said Trust Moneys

and premises whereof I shall die possessed and they are

hereby authorised form time to time to deduct and retain to

themselves out of my aforesaid Estate all such Costs Charges

Damages and Expenses as they shall respectively be put to

pay bear of sustain for or in relation to the management

Execution of Defence or notification of the Trusts hereby

reposed in them or any or either of them respectively And I

do hereby nominate constitute and appoint Ben: Thompson

of Hare Street in the Parish of Saint Matthew Bethnal

Green in the County of Middlesex Brewer William Moseley

of the same place Brewer Thomas Fothergill of Browne

Lane Spittalfields Silk Thrower and James Mitchell of

Devonshire Street Devonshire Square Silk Broker Executors

and Trustees of this my Will and I do hereby revoke all

former Wills and codicils by me at any time heretofore

made and do Declare this to be my last Will and Testament

In Testimony whereof I have to this my said Will

contained in seven sheets of paper to the first six sheets

set my hand and to the seventh or last sheet thereof set my

hand and seal this fourteenth Day of August in the year

of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and sixty four

Edward Wollstonecraft. Signed Sealed Published and declared

by the said Testator Edward Wollstonecraft as and for his

last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his

request and in his presence and in the presence of each other

have subscribed our Names as Witnesses thereto Jno Crocket

David Jones Moorfields Jno Griffiths No 10 New Inn

This Will was proved at London on the twenty fifth

day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven

hundred and sixty five before the right Worshipful George

Hay Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the

Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the

Oaths of Benjamin Thompson William Moseley otherwise

Moseley Thomas Fothergill and James Mitchell the Executors

named in the said Will to whom administration was granted

of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said

Deceased having been first Sworn Duly to administer that is

to say the said Benjamin Thompson William Mosley or otherwise

Moseley and James Mitchell before the worshipful Arthur

Collier and the said Thomas Fothergill before the worshipful

George Harris respectively Doctors of Laws and Surrogates".