IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I William Strudwicke in the Parish of St Pauls, Covent garden in the County of Middlesex Orange merchant being of sound mind and understanding do make and declare this my last will and testament as follows on this 16th day of May in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine.
I renounce my Soul to God through divine grace trusting only to the precious merits of the Lord Jesus Christ whos name has been and now is my only hope and salvation
I commit my body to his keeping
I desire a devout funeral and all my just debts be paid
I give unto my Daughter Elizabeth Bunce the wife of the Revd John Bunce of Cooks Ground kings road Chelsea but now of no9 Amelia place the interest of one thousand pounds Stirl for her own sole use and benefit distinct from her husband and everyone else during her life and the principal at her death to her children share and share equal
I give unto my daughter Mary Strudwicke the interest of two thousand and five hundred pounds stirl during her life for her own sole use and benefit distinct from any husband and every one else and at her death the principal to her own children if she has any share and share equal, if no children, then to Elizabeth Bunce, her children, and the three boys of my own son William H Strudwicke share equal .
I give unto my Grandson William Henry Legg Strudwicke first son of my own deceased son the sum of one thousand pounds stirl
I give unto his brother John Strudwicke and his brother Josias Strudwicke two hundred and fifty pounds each stirl with the benefit of survivorship of the three
I will that my executors use the interest as they may judge best for them until the youngest becomes twenty one years old and then the principal to be paid unto their hands
I give unto my wife Susannah Strudwicke the interest of four thousand pounds stir during her life for her own sole use and benefit distinct from all husbands and everyone else
I give unto my wife (also) Susannah Strudwicke all my estate at Worplesdon called Perry Hill Cottage near Guildford in the County of Surrey the house and land and all appurtenances with liberty to sell if she please or let
And I hereby appoint her residue legatee soley and only the whole to be funded if she pleas and the whole for her use during her natural life and at her death the total shall be divided equally among my own children and the three grandchildren of my own son William Henry Strudwicke observing this distinction that those three are only to have what their father, had he lived, would have had one share (three shares are to paid though but my daughters are to hold theirs for their lives Elizabeth Bunce and Mary Strudwicke and at their decease the principal to their children share and share equal
I give unto Henry Parker my shopman who I highly esteem all my interest whatsoever that may be subject notwithstanding to any agreement I may enter into with him otherwise all my interest in the shop in Covent Garden Market and I hereby give the value of Stirl or Goods or Money one hundred pounds to help forward in the world
I hereby disown in the most absolute manner all other will or wills I hereby appoint my wife Susannah Strudwicke my Daughter Elizabeth Bunce wife of revd John Bunce and my Daughter Mary Strudwicke joint Executors and Administrators of this only will and testament I hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written WILLIAM STRUDWICKE WS at words on first sheet third line from the bottom and in second sheet third line from the top being first underlined
Signed sealed and declared to be my last will and testament on three sheets of paper marked first second and third sheets who in the presence of each other and at my house have witnessed the same JOHN KNIGHT 332 STRAND HENRY PARKER 11 VAUXHALL WALK
.£7000– in 5 per cent Money now reduced fours £1800– in the four per Cent now reduced 3 1/2 £250 in 3 per cent console all should be consolidated into one stirl and if any deficiency all must bear their part.
APPEARED Personally Susannah Strudwicke of worplesdon near Guildford in the County of Surrey widow The Reverend John Bunce of No9 Amelia Place Fulham Road in the County of Middlesex Elizabeth Bunce (wife of the said reverendJ ohn Bunce of No9 Amelia Place aforesaid John Johnson of Pubbing Lane London Orange Merchant and Benjamin Hanson of Short Place in the County of Middlesex Esquire and made Oath
And first the said Susannah Strudwicke for herself made Oath that she is the relict and one of the Executrists named in the last will and testament with a Codicil thereto of William strudwicke late of worplesdon aforesaid deceased that about two months before the death of the said deceased which happened on the twenty third day of September last the testator delivered to her for said custody the paper writing hereunto annexed purporting to be the last will and Testament with a codicil thereto of the said deceased (which was then enclosed in an envelope and sealed up) the said will beginning thus “The first sheet In the name of God Amen” and tending thus” I hereunto set my hand ans seal the day and year above written” hus subscribed “William Strudwicke” and the said Codicil being in the following words “£7000– in 5 per cent Money now reduced fours £1800– in the four per Cent now reduced 3 1/2 £250 in 3 per cent console all should be consolidated into one stirl and if any deficiency all must bear their part” and the said paper writings remained (so Sealed up) in the posession of the appearer until after the death of the said testator
And the said Susannah Strudwicke the reverend John Bunce and Elizabeth Bunce for themselves jointly made oath that they were present on the twenty ninth day of septemebr last when the said sealed Envelope which contained the said will and codicil was broken open that on such occasion they observed that within such envelope was contained the above in part recired will and the above recited codicil that having now particularly viewed and inspected the said codicil they say that the same is now in every respect in the same plight and condition as when the said envelope was so as aforesaid broken open and the said codicil found therein
And the said John Johnson and Benjamin Hanson for themselves made oath that they know and were well aquainted with the said deceased and also with his manner and character of handwriting and subscription having frequently seen him write and subscribe his name That having now carefully viewed and inspected the said will and codicil they say thatthey verify and in their conscience believe the afforesaid Subscription of the name of “William Strudwicke” to the said will and the whole body said and contents of the said codicil to be all of the proper handwriting and subscription of the said testator William Strudwicke deceased S Strudwicke ,John Bunce, Elizabeth Bunce, John Johnson, B Hanson
on the 21st day of October 1829 the aforesaid Susannah Strudwicke Reverend John Bunce Elizabeth Bunce, John Johnson and Benjamin Hanson were duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit C.Cook Surrogate N Rothery Not Pub
Proved at London with a codicil 22nd october 1829 before the worshipful Charles Cook Dr of Laws and Surrogate by the oath of Susannah Strudwicke widow the relict Elizabeth Bunce (wife of the Reverend John Bunce ) and Mary Strudwicke Spinster the daughter the Executors to whom Admon was granted being first sworn duly to administer.