In the Name of God Amen
I Thomas Luce of Rookhampton [sic] in the County of Gloucester Yeoman being antient [sic] and infirm and sick of body but blessed be God of Sound mind and memory calling to mind the frailty of this life and the certainty of Death do make publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in manner following Imprimis [in the first place]
I give and bequeath unto my two Granddaughters Sarah Luce and Martha Luce Daughters of my late deceased son John Luce the summe of one hundred and fifty pounds a piece and unto their brother my Grandson John Luce the sum of Two hundred pounds all which Legacies I will and appoint shall be paid by my Executor hereinafter named within six months next after my decease unto my good friend Thomas Alway of Thornbury in the said County Mercer? Thomas Withers of Eastwood in the parish of Thornbury aforesaid yeoman and James Wilkins of Wickwar in the said County Gentleman or unto the Survivors or Survivor of them or to the Executors or Administrators of such Survivor whom I do nominate and appoint Trust of this my will upon Trust that they shall put and continue the said Legacies at Interest from time to time during the minoritys [sic] of my said Grandchildren respectively vizh. until [sic] my said Granddaughters shall attain their ages of Eighteen years respectively and my said Grandson shall attain his age of one and twenty years whom I will that the said Legacies shall be severally paid to them and the Interest to be in the mean time applied [sic] by my said Trustees in the Education maintenance and placeing [sic] forth of my said Grand Children in such proportions and manner as my said Trustees shall in their discretion think fitt [sic] and if either of my said Grandaughters dye [sic] before her age of Eighteen years the Survivor of them to have the benefit thereof and in Case of the death of my said Grandson before his age of one and twenty years I give the Legacie to his said Sisters share and share alike and my further will meaning and desire is that my said Trustee shall Suffer or Sustain no Loss or damage by Insufficiency or Insolvency of Security or otherwise in or by means of the said Trust but that all such Loss and damage and all Costs Charges and Expenses of my said Trustees with reasonable Satisfaction for their pains Labour journeys attendance and trouble in the said Trust shall be wholly born admitted and allowed by and out of the Trust moneys aforesaid and the Interest thereof
and as a further Token of my Love to my said Trustees I give each of them one Guinea
Item I give to my Grandson Thomas Taylor one Guinea
and unto my Daughter Sarah Taylor and all her now Children equally between them one bond debt of fifty pounds and Interest due to and from Andrew Whittfield and his Brother Wl. Samuel Whitfield
and I forgive my said Daughter the sum of Six and Thirty pounds she owed me by Note of hand but I will she shall pay unto her said Children respectively an equall [sic] share with her self thereof
From I give and bequeath unto my said Daughter and unto my Daughter in Law Sarah Luce four of my Wilsh [sic] Cows and unto my said Daughter in Law my Cheese press and newest Cheese Cowle [sic]
and all the rest of my household Goods I give to and amongst my said three Grandchildren Sarah Martha and John Luce Children of my said late son John and unto my three Grand-Children Thomas Sarah and Betty Children of my son Thomas to be divided between them equally by my said Trustees who?? Division shall be Conclusive? From all Interest
and residue of my real and personal Estate my Debts Legacies and funerall [sic] Expenses being first paid and discharged I give and devise unto my said Son Thomas his heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns for ever?
and I do make my said Son Thomas sole Executor of this my Will revoking all former Wills
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Seventeenth day of December anno Dom. 1727 and in the first year of King George the Second ??: Thomas Luce signed sealed published and declared by the Testator himself to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us and also attested by us in the sight and presence and at the request of the said Testor Thomas ??erick the mark of Thomas Wetinord? William Longdunn.
Grant of probate to Thomas Luce Jun in Latin.
Source: National Archives; Kew, England; Prerogative Court of Canterbury and
Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 624
Source: Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills,
1384-1858