| Content Description | Requests that his body be interred in the same vault as his dear wife in Monk Weremouth Church; bequeathes to his nephew William Williamson all his jewels, pictures and household goods, and to his neice Shafto his best salver; leaves various sums of money to the poor of a number of towns or villages in the North East, presumably within the vicinity of his place of residence; leaves a mourning ring 'to Every of my freinds' listed to cost between 15 and 20s.; makes various monetary bequests to named friends and staff; gives the sum of £2000. to Thomas White and Robert Shafto in trust for the following uses: £500. each to his nieces Jane, Rebecca, Dorothy and Elizabeth Williamson, daughters of his brother Robert; stipulates that the money is to be paid 3 months after their respective marriages, provided that each of them marries with the consent of the trustees.
Further requests that the trustees pay to any of his 4 nieces the yearly sum of £25. if they remain unmarried; states that if any of his nieces die before marriage, or they marry without the consent of the trustees, then their portion is to go to his nephew William.
Requests that his body be opened up for the discovery of distemper and the cause of death, but that care should be taken to ensure that none of his 'inward parts' are to be taken away; makes various requests and arrangements for his funeral; desires that his brother Robert Williamson, and cousins William Fenwick and Stephen Waile be the trustees for the management of his estate and the accomplishment of his will; gives all his property in Walkeringham, Nottinghamshire and the remainder of his estate to the above trustees for the term of 99 years, in trust that the promised legacies and debts endorsed on the reverse are discharged; requests that any surplus money is to go to his executor, and states that he forgives those he has lent money to, which have contributed to his debts.
Executor: William Williamson.
Endorsed with a list of debts of Sir Thomas; records the name of the individual to whom he owes money and the amount in question. |