Will and Codicil of William Strange
[Public Record Office: PROB 11/1147]: numbers in square brackets indicate page breaks
In the Name of God Amen. I William Strange the Elder of the City of Oxford Chinaman being in perfect health and of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding but reflecting on the uncertainty of human life do for settling my worldly affairs make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) I desire to be decently buried by my Executors hereafter named and order and direct that all my just debts and ffuneral expences shall be pay off and discharged by my said Executors immediately after my decease. I give devise and bequeath all that my ffreehold messuage or Tenement and appurtenances situate in the parish of All Saints in the City of Oxford now in the occupation of my nephew William [2] Strange unto my Sister Eleanor Collins and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life and from and after her decease unto my said nephew William Strange and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life and from and after the decease of the survivor of them I give and devise the said premises to William Strange (the son of my said nephew) his heirs and assigns for ever. I give and devise all that my ffreehold Estate which I lately purchased situate lying and being at East Hanney in the County of Berks now in the occupation of William Herman unto my said nephew William Strange and Robert Godfrey of East Hanney aforesaid yeoman their heirs and assigns to for and upon the several uses Truste Ends Intents and purposes herein after mentioned expressed and declared of and concerning the same (that is to say) to the use of my nephew William Collins of East Hanney aforesaid and his assigns and from and after his decease to the use of my nephew ffrancis Strange and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life and from and after the determination of that Estate to the use of the said William Strange and Robert Godfrey and their heirs during the natural life of the said ffrancis Strange In Trust to support and preserve the Contingent uses and Estates hereinafter limited from being defeated or destroyed and for that purpose to make entries and bring actions as the case may require yet nevertheless to permit and suffer the said ffrancis Strange to receive and take the rents and profits thereof for and during the term of his natural life and from and after his Decease to the use of the first second third and all and every other son and sons of the Body of my said nephew ffrancis Strange lawfully to be begotten severally successively and in remainder one after another as they and every of those shall be in seniority of age and priority of birth and the several and respective heirs of the body and Bodies of all and every such son and sons lawfully assuming the elder of such sons and the heirs of his Body to be always preferred and to take before the younger of such sons and the heirs of his and their Bodys Issuing and for default of such Issue to the use of my Niece Catherine Clifford (the wife of Thomas Clifford) and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life and from and after the determination of that Estate to the use of the said William Strange and Robert Godfrey and their heirs during the natural life of the said Catherine Clifford In Trust to Support and preserve the Contingent uses and Estates hereinafter limited from being defeated or destroyed and for that purpose to make Entries or bring actions as the case shall require yet nevertheless to permit and suffer the said Catherine Clifford to receive [3] and take the rents issues and profits thereof during her life and from and after her Decease to the use of the first second third and all and every other son and sons of the Body of my said Niece Catherine Clifford lawfully to be begotten severally successively and in remainder one after another as they and every of them shall be in seniority of age and priority of Birth and the several and respective heirs of the body and bodies of all and every such son and sons lawfully Issuing the Elder of such sons and the heirs of his body to be always preferred and to take before the younger of such son and sons the heirs of his and their bodies Issuing and for default of such Issue to the use of all and every the Daughter and Daughters of the Body of my said Niece Catherine Clifford lawfully to be begotten and to be equally divided between or among them (if more than one) share and share alike to take as Tenants in common and not as joint Tenants and the several and respective heirs of the Bodys of all and every such daughter and daughters lawfully Issuing and in case one or more of such Daughters shall happen to die without Issue of her or their Body or Bodies then as to the share or shares of her or their so dying without issue to the use of the surviors or survivor and others or other of them to be equally divided between or among them (if more than one) share and share alike to take as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants and the several and respective heirs of the bodies of such survivors or survivor or others or other of them and if all such Daughters but one shall happen to die without Issue of their Bodies or if there shall be but one such Daughter to the use of such surviving or only Daughter and the heirs of her body and for default of such Issue to the use of my own Right heirs forever and to or for no other one Trust interest or purpose whatsoever I give and Bequeath unto my Niece Elizabeth Coles the sum of one hundred pounds secured to me by a mortgage of the Tolls taken at Saint Clements Turnpike by the Commissioners of the Oxford Paving Act I give and bequeath unto my nephew John Coles the sum of fifty pounds secured to me also by a mortgage of the said Tolls as aforesaid I give and bequeath unto my said nephew William Strange and Robert Godfrey one other hundred pounds secured to me by a mortgage of the said Tolls as aforesaid In Trust to pay the Interest thereof to my Niece Mary Godfrey and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life for her sole and separate use exclusive of her present or any future husband and wherewith he or they shall not Intermeddle or have any thing to do and direct that her receipt alone shall be a sufficient discharge for the payment [4] thereof and from and after her decease I Give and Bequeath the said last mentioned hundred pounds unto and amongst all and every the child and children of my said niece Mary Godfrey equally to be divided between them share and share alike to give and bequeath unto the said Catherine Clifford and Mary Pearte (the wife of John Pearte) the sisters of my said nephew William Strange the sum of one hundred pounds by me lent unto my said nephew equally to be divided between them share and share alike. I Give and Bequeath unto my nephews ffrancis Strange and John Coles the sum of fifty pounds each and direct the same to be paid by Executors within twelve months next after my decease I Give and Bequeath unto my Executors the sum of twenty five pounds due to me from Thomas Jones of [Garsington?] In Trust to receive and pay the sum of twenty five shillings yearly unto my niece Mary Godfrey for the term of twenty five years if she shall so long live and incase she shall happen to die before the expiration of the said term of twenty five years I will and direct that the remainder of the said sum of twenty five pounds which shall be then unpaid shall be paid yearly unto and amongst all and every the child and children of the said Mary Godfrey equally share and share alike and it is my Will and meaning that the said Thomas Jones his Executors or administrators shall not be compettable to pay the same sooner or otherwise provided he duly pays the twenty five shillings a year but if he or they neglect so to do then my Executors shall be intitled to sue for and recover the whole that shall be then unpaid upon the Trusts aforesaid to give and Bequeath unto my said nephew William Strange and the said Robert Godfrey the sum of two Guineas each as a recompense for the Trouble they will have in the execution of this my will and all the rest and residue of my personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever I give and Bequeath unto my said sister Eleanor Collins and my said
Robert Godfree John Cocke Adam Cowldry Appeared Personally Elizabeth Williams (wife of William Williams) of Oxford in the county of Oxford [mason?] said Elizabeth Godfrey of Oxford aforesaid spinster and under oath that they knew and were well acquainted with William Strange the Elder late of the City of Oxford deceased and with his manner and character of handwriting and subscription having often seen him write and subscribe his name and thereby came to know and be well acquainted with his manner and Character of handwriting and having carefully viewed and perused the paper writing hereunto annexed purporting to be a codicil to the last will and Testament of the said deceased the said Codicil beginning thus.
I give to my 2 Neses fiftey pounds each and ending my Executors in Trust Robert Godfree John Cocke Wm Cowldry. They say that they do verily and in their Consciences believe the whole series and contente of the said Codicil to be all of the proper handwriting of the said [6] William Strange deceased. Elizabeth Williams Elizabeth Godfrey on the 23d Day of October 1786 the said Elizabeth Williams and Eliz Godfrey were duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit by virtue of the Commission hereto annexed before me Wm Kennedy Commissioner This Will was proved at London with a Codicil the second Day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty six before the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Robert Godfrey the surviving executor named in the said will and John Cox otherwise Cocke and Wm Couldrey the Executors named in the said codicil to whom administration was granted of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the deceased having been first sworn by Commission duly to admster.
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The four nephews and four nieces listed are:
William Strange; William Collins; Francis Strange; John Coles; Catherine Clifford, wife of Thomas Clifford; Elizabeth Coles; Mary Godfrey; and Mary Pearte, wife of John Pearte. Catherine Clifford and Mary Pearte are specifically named as sisters of nephew William (even though we don't have marriage records for them, they neatly appear in the baptismal records as his sisters, although with their other brother Francis, who is also named). Eleanor (Strange) Collins, as you pointed out would be the mother of William Collins. So that leaves John and Elizabeth Coles. Now, William the elder had three younger sisters, Mary, Elizabeth, and Katherine, for whom I have baptisms but no marriage. We can assume that one of them married Mr Coles and was mother of John and Elizabeth. But which one? Haven't come across any of the marriages anywhere in Oxfordshire or Berkshire....yet.
Betty Judge said:
On the will of William Strange the elder, The Chinaman of Oxford, proved London 2 nov 1786.
"I bequeth unto the said Mary Pearte (wife of John Pearte) and Catherine Clifford sisters of my said nephew William Strange the sum of one hundred pounds by me lent unto my said nephew equally to be divided between them share and share alike.
In the Codicil (written by William the Elder himself)
"I Give to my to Nesies fiftey pounds each as menchened as in the hands of my nephew William Strange out of my Goods and Chatels if the sayd hundred poubds should be paid in if not then as meched on the above or paid out of the house"
I found that Mary Strange born 1744 East Hanney, daughter of Francis and Mary (Day) Strange, (died 1793 Brightwell Berks) married Thomas Peart (b abt 1745 Brightwell died 1825 aged 80 Brightwell Berks) on 19 november 1765 at St Bartholomew Church Brightwell after banns . I have not been able to find any children yet.
There is a Frances Peart who died 1777 in Brightwell and a Mary Peart died 1805 Brightwell. But no births.
Catherine Strange b 1746 East Hanney Berks daughter of Francis and Mary( Day) Strange (buried 16 August 1815 Winkfield Berks) married John Clifford b abt 1842 of Winkfield Berks died 1823 age 81 Winkfield Berks. Married 10 May 1771 St Bartholomew Church Brightwell,Berks.
6 children with birth years, all in Winkfield, Berkshire:
William Clifford 1771
John Clifford 1774
Richard Clifford 1776
Francis Clifford 1782
George Clifford 1785
Sarah Clifford 1790
