I Bernard Foskett of the city of Bristol, Minister being of sound and memory do make this my last Will as followeth, committing my soul to the mercies of God through the merits of a dear redeemer and my body to the earth to be devoutly interned.
I dispose of the worldly goods which God has graciously bestowed upon me thus in primis I give and bequeath to my cousin William Foskett of North Crawley, Bucks and his heirs one hundred pounds sterling to be paid six months after my decease.
Item: I give and bequeath cousin Elizabeth widow of Hugh Smyth late of Woolston, Bucks one hundred pounds sterling or if she be deceased to her children of her body begotten by the said Hugh Smyth to which children I give moreover the sum of sixty pounds or to the survivor or survivors of them at such time and in such proportions as she and her brother William Foskett shall think fit to whom therefore I would have it paid for them within six months after my decease.
Item: I give and bequeath to my cousin Elizabeth wife of Thomas Harris Salesman in Monmouth Street, St. Giles in the Fields, near London one hundred pounds sterling or if she be deceased to the children of her body lawfully begotten to which children I also give the further sum of £60 sterling or to the survivor or survivors of them at such times and proportions as their parents shall think fit and to whom therefore I would have it paid for them.
Item: I give and bequeath to my cousin Joseph Cooke of Oundle in Northamptonshire, Baker and to his heirs £50 sterling and to the said Joseph Cooke and to Ian Goodrich of the same place Gent £200 sterling in trust for the said Joseph Cooke’s children Joseph and Sarah which he had with his late wife Elizabeth daughter of my sister Mary deceased to be paid to each of them when they severally arrive at the age of 21 and to Sarah, sooner if she marry with her parents’ consent and if either die before the said sum has been received then I Will that the whole £200 be paid to the survivor of them and my Will is that any - I may have under the said Joseph Cooke's world be freely given up to him.
Item: I give to my brother in law John Price of London, coal merchant fifty pounds sterling and if he be deceased I give the said sum to the children of my cousin Elizabeth Harris aforesaid share and share alike.
Item: I give to the treasurer of the Bristol Infirmary in Magdeline Lane fifty pounds sterling for the sole use of the said infirmary.
Item: I give to each of my good friends: Edmund of ——– Warwickshire, Philip Jones of Upton upon Severn, James Kettilby (sic) of Bewdley both in Worcestershire, Isaac Hann (sic) of Dorsetshire, William Plummer of Grittleton in Wiltshire £20 sterling and if any of them die before they have received it, to their widows or children or both at the discretion of my executor undernamed.
Item: I give to my good friends John Needham???, John Poynting of Worcester, Thomas Davies of Fairford, Evan Tomkin of Wroxham, William Christian, Isaac Woodman both of Worcestershire, Robert Day of Wellington, Richard Tipping, Miles Harry (sic), Jacob Mower (sic) of Evesham to each £5 sterling and if either of them be dead I Will that his share be given to his widow or his children or some other poor minister of the same denomination and I Will that all above legatees be paid within 6 months after my decease if it may be.
Item: I give to my friend John Beddome of the City of Bristol gentleman Ten pounds sterling and all my books and shelves containing them and my biggest desk to his son Benjamin and I give to his wife Rachel £40 sterling separately for her sole use to be paid to her on her receipt only and to be disposed of by herself to whom and how she pleases and I give to his son Benjamin £10 sterling and ⅓rd of my residuary estate and to his son John £20 to be paid to him when and how he pleases and I give to the said Benjamin £20 in trust for Mary the daughter of his sister Mary Brain to be paid to her where and how he thinks fit, letting her have the use in the meantime to be laid out as he directs.
I also give to Joseph Beddome £10 sterling and to his daughter Rachel £20 to be paid to her when and how he please.
I also give to Sarah & Martha Beddome £30 each to be paid to them when their mother thinks fit, to whom therefore I would have it paid by my executor for their use and I also give to Mary Brain —– £10 sterling and if the said John Beddome or any of his family die before their legacy is received, I Will the same to be distributed among all the children survivors share and share alike.
I also give to the above named Rachel wife of the said John Beddome my silver tankard looking glass and all other household goods I may die possessed of and to every other child besides John, above named, of her son Benjamin which shall be born before my decease £10 sterling.
Item: I give and bequeath to each of my good friends Geo Wilkinson —– (Abraham) Larwill in _____ (John?) Ashe Kirk —- in ______(John?) Reynolds, (Richard?) Strange in (Stretton)_Clarkson ———, Edmund Jones, Crispin Curtis, Phil Gibbs in Plymouth? £5 and if either of them die before he receives it his widow or children or some other Minister of the same denomination and principles whom my executor shall choose.
I also give the same sum to John Ryland of Warwick, Minister and Whitmore Carpenter.
Item: I give to Elizabeth Heritage and the said John Beddome’s maid servant at the time of my death £3 each.
Item: I give and bequeath to my good friend Hugh Evans of the City of Bristol, Minister £30, to each of his 6 children he had by his late wife Sarah £10 to be paid severally attain the age of 21 years or sooner if they marry with their father’s consent and if either of them die before they have received it, to the survivors share and share alike and to the said Hugh Evans whom I make sole executor of this my last Will, I give all the rest of my estate of what kindsoever, real or personal not before or otherwise disposed of in trust ⅓rd to him and his sons, another ⅓rd to Benjamin Beddome as above mentioned and the other ⅓rd to poor Ministers of the same denomination and principles with those above mentioned £5 or £10 apiece more to any of the most good above mentioned and the like or more to others as my executor and Benjamin Beddome shall think most proper by witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this 19th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty one.
Bernard Foskett
Signed, sealed and declared by the Testator to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his desire and in his presence set our own hands as witness
Jos Browne, Saz Browne and Henry Romsey
This Will was proved at London 23rd October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight before the Right Honourable Sir George Loo Knight, Doctor of Laws, Master ——- or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of the Reverend Hugh Evans the sole executor mentioned 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 by commission duly to administer the same.
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