Wills

This is the last Will and Testament of me James

Stevens of Colnbrook in the parish of Horton in the County of Bucks Farmer 

First I nominate constitute and appoint my two sons William Stevens and 

Thomas Stevens joint Executors and Trustees to this my will and whereas I am

possessed of a Freehold arable field in the Parish of Langley Marish in the 

County of Bucks aforesaid containing by estimation one acre and eighteen poles

more or less and also a freehold Tenement and Meadows in the parish of Horton

aforesaid now in the occupation of Will Hammond Bailey the Meadows

containing by estimation two acres and a half more or less Now I devise and 

make over the said freehold estates with their appurtenances to my said sons

William Stevens and Thomas Stevens their respective heirs and assigns for ever

on condition that they take to the said estates at a fair valuation and repay 

themselves all monies I may owe them at the time of my decease out of the said 

valuation and also pay the surplus of the valuation above their respective demands?

I give and bequeath the lease I hold under Mrs Harriet Thomas to my daughter

Mary Gilbert wife of John Gilbert of Colnbrook aforesaid to take to the Land at 

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the Michaelmas next after my decease and should any of the land to be dressed 

after the last Crop was taken off such dressing to be values and for by the 

said Mary Gilbert and John Gilbert which with the one hundred pounds which

the said Mary Gilbert and her said husband John Gilbert owes me on a balance

to this day I direct may be paid into the residue of my estate which is hereinafter

bequeathed I direct may be paid into the residue of my estate which is hereinafter

the farm house and premises at Horton Moor and should I die leaving a 

Crop on the Ground I further direct that my Executives and Trustees hereinbefore

named shall make the most they possibly can of the Crop to go to the residue

hereinafter bequeathed and from the Michaelmas next after my decease it is 

my will and desire that my said son Henry Stevens shall have the option of 

taking possession of the whole of the said Land I occupy, except what I hold 

under Lease of Mrs Harriet Thomas as before mentioned and should any of the 

said Land be dressed after the last Crop was taken of such dressing to be valued

and paid for by the said Henry Stevens to go to the residue of my estate I give 

and bequeath to my before mentioned daughter Mary Gilbert to my son 

William Stevens to my sone Charles Stevens to my son Thomas Stevens to

my son Henry Stevens to my daughter Jemima Pond and to the surviving

children of my late daughter Jane Northcroft on share to be equally 

divided between them share and share alike excepting that the share of my 

daughter Jemima Pond and the share of the children of my late daughter 

Jane Northcroft be fifty pounds less than the others I having advanced my two

and daughters that sum each in my lifetime and lastly it is my will and 

meaning that my said Executors shall and my out or the monies which

shall come into their hands by virtue of the trusts aforesaid retain to and 

reimburse themselves all costs charges damages and expenses which they 

shall or may sustain expend disburse or be put unto in the execution of  

all or any of the trusts hereby in them reposed I hereby revoke all former 

will or wills by me at any time heretofore made declaring this to be my last

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal  this first day of 

February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five

The mark of X James Stevens   Signed sealed published and declared by the

James Stevens the testator as and for his last will and Testament in the 

presence of us who at his request and in the presence have subscribed have subscribed our 

names as witnesses thereto   Thos Ashton Colnbrook Schoolmaster    Joseph

Rayner  Colnbrook     Peter Kimber Colnbrook

Whereas I James Stevens of Colnbrook in the parish of Horton in

the Country of Bucks (late farmer there) have made and duly executed my last 

will and testament in writing bearing date the first day of February 1825 Now

I do hereby declare this present writing to be a Codicil to my said Will contained 

in this said sheet of paper and to be taken as part thereof whereas in my 

said Will I had directed my household furniture to go to the residue of ,u 

effects now I hereby revoke the said bequest of household furniture and I hereby

give all my household furniture household linen plate and China to my 

daughter Mary Gilbert mentioned in the said will in addition to what I have 

therein bequeathed to her And I do hereby ratify and confirm my said will 

in all other particulars thereof In witness whereof I the said James Stevens 

have to this Codicil set my hand and seal this 29th day of February in the 

year of our Lord 1825  The mark of  X James Stevens Signed sealed 

published and declared by the said James Stevens as and for a Codicil to his

last will and Testament and to be taken as part thereof in the presence of us

Ashton Colnbrook  Joseph Plumridge  Colnbrook  John Ashton

Colnbrook

Proved London with a Codicl 29th July 1828 by the oaths of William Stevens 

& Thomas Stevens the sons the executors to whom admons was granted 

being first sworn duly to administer