Timothy BULL (Junior), 1716 - 1787. Butcher, Helmdon, Northants.

This is a transcript of the last Will and Testament of the above, taken from the manuscript record kept by the PRO of Wills proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.

Will made 12.11.1785. Buried 24.11.1787. Will proved 27.3.1788.

Transcript by D J Bennett, a direct descendant of the above, in October 2003.
(e-mail djbennett@djbennett.karooco.uk Tel: 01482 665506)

In the Name of God Amen
I Timothy Bull of Helmdon in the County of Northampton Butcher do make and publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say I give and devise all that my Messuage or Tenement with the Appurtenances situate and being in Helmdon aforesaid commonly called or known by the name or Sign of the Chequer unto my son William Bull of Syresham in the said County Butcher his sons and Assigns for ever. Also I give and bequeath the sum of fifty pounds unto my son John Bull of Syresham aforesaid Butcher. Also I give and bequeath the sum of fifty pounds to my trusty and well beloved friend John Adkins of Helmdon aforesaid Gentleman and my said son John Bull upon Trust and confidence and to the intent and purpose that they the said John Adkins and John Bull or the survivor of them his Executors or Administrators do and shall so soon as conveniently may be able after they shall be entitled to receive the same sum of fifteen [sic] pounds put and place the same out of interest in their or one of their own names or names and from time to time pay the interest and proceed thereof and such part or parts of the said Principal Money as they shall think proper and see occasion for so doing unto my daughter Mary Stevens Wife of William Stevens of Helmdon aforesaid Hemp Dresser or her Assigns for and during the term of her natural life and from and after her decease then in Trust that they my said Trustees or the survivor of them his Executors or Administrators do and shall pay the said sum of fifty pounds or the residue thereof (if any) unto and amongst all and every the child and children of my said daughter Mary if more than one share and share alike on their attaining their respective ages of twenty one years or sooner if they shall think proper and I hereby Will and direct that the receipt and receipts of my said daughter Mary only shall be sufficient discharge and discharges to my said Trustees or the survivor of them his Executors and Administrators for so much of the said Trust Money as she shall under the Trusts aforesaid actually receive notwithstanding her (?)Covenant. Also I give and bequeath the sum of forty pounds unto my said Trustees John Adkins and John Bull In Trust that they my said Trustees or the survivor of them his Executors or Administrators do and shall pay and apply the same and the Interest thereof at such times and in such manner parts or portions as they shall think proper unto my daughter Hephzibah Bull or her Assigns for and during the term of her natural life and from and after her decease then In Trust that they my said Trustees or the survivor of them his Executors or Administrators shall pay and apply the said sum of forty pounds or the residue thereof (if any) unto or for the benefit of all and every the child and children (lawfully begotten) which she shall have, if more than one, share and share alike on their attaining their respective ages of twenty one years or sooner if they shall think proper.

And in default of such issue then In Trust to pay the same unto my said daughter Mary and my daughter Ann Wife of William Bliss of Syresham aforesaid Baker in equal shares and in case of the death of either of them my said daughters Mary and Ann in the life time of my said daughter Hephzibah then the part or share of her or them so dying shall be paid and payable unto and amongst all and every the child or children of her or them so dying share and share alike in manner aforesaid. Also I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Ann one guinea. Also I give and bequeath unto my Niece Sarah Stevens daughter of my said daughter Mary the sum of five pounds all which said several legacies or sums I Will and require shall be paid and payable by my Executors hereinafter apppointed within twelve months after my decease. Also I give and bequeath to my said son John Bull my (?)furniture, to my said son William Bull my Clock and to my daughter Hephzibah my Bed and Bedding. All the residue of my Goods, Chattels, Real and Personal Estates whatsoever and wheresoever I give and bequeath to my said two sons John Bull and William Bull their heirs and Assigns for ever to be equally divided between them share and share alike, subject to the payment of my just debts and defraying my funeral expenses. And my Will further is and I hereby direct and declare that it shall and maybe lawful to and for my said Trustees or the survivor of them his Executors or Administrators to deduct and retain out of the said Trust Money or the interest thereof all such sum and sums of money costs charges and expenses which they any or either of them shall from time to time lay out expend or be put unto in about or concerning the discharging and executing the Trusts hereby in them reposed and that the one of them my said Trustees his Executors or Administrators shall not be accountable or chargeable with or for the accountable loss of any of the said Trust Money hereby committed to their Trust as aforesaid or with or for any more money than he or they shall under the Trusts aforesaid actually receive or with or for the Act or Acts Receipt or Receipts of the other or others of them but each for his and their own respective Act and Acts, Receipt and Receipts only. And I make ordain and appoint my said two sons John Bull and William Bull Executors of this my last Will and Testament revoking all former Wills by me made. In witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament contained in three sheets of paper put my hand and seal, that is to say, my hand to the two first sheets and my hand and seal to the third or last sheet thereof and my seal to the tape that affixes the three sheets of paper together this twelfth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty five.
Timothy Bull signed sealed published and declared by the Testator Timothy Bull so and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names in witness thereof at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other. John Cherry, Edmund Cherry, William Key.

This Will was proved at London the twenty seventh day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty eight before the Worshipful Peter Calvert also Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oaths of John Bull and William Bull the sons of the deceased and the Executors named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased them having been first sworn by Commission duly to administer.

Summary of legacies
1. Property to son William Bull, Butcher of Syresham.
2. £50 to son John Bull, Butcher of Syresham.
3. £50 in trust for daughter Mary Stevens, wife of William Stevens, Hemp Dresser, Helmdon (and after her decease equally to her children).
4. £40 in trust for daughter Hephzibah Bull (and after her decease equally to any lawfully begotten children. If no children, then to go to daughters Mary and Ann, wife of William Bliss, Baker of Syresham.
5. One guinea (£1.05p) to daughter Ann Bliss, wife of William Bliss, Baker of Syresham.
6. £5 to 'Niece' (actually granddaughter) Sarah Stevens, daughter of daughter Mary.
7. Furniture(?) to John Bull.
8. Clock to William Bull.
9. Bed & Bedding to daughter Hephzibah Bull.
10. All residue equally between two sons John and William Bull.

Notes
1. Timothy (the Testator) was the son of Timothy Bull (1683-1738), Butcher of Helmdon. He was also the brother of Elizabeth Bull (1714-1735) who married Thomas Fawson in 1735 and who soon after murdered him by poisoning, for which she was tried convicted and executed by being burnt at the stake on Northampton Heath on 8.8.1735. There was also an older daughter Ann (born 1712) who married Edward Baylis in 1737. There were 11 younger siblings - all but one of whom died within a few days of birth, and even that one only lived for a month.
2. There is no mention in the Will of Timothy's other children Mary (illegitimate, born 1738), Sarah (born 1743) and Thomas (born 1746). This suggests that they had died before 1785, but none of them appears to have been buried at Helmdon.
3. The cash legacies of £146 total would be worth about £10775 in 2002 according to www.eh.net/hmit/ppowerbp. A simple multiplier of about 75 is therefore approximately right.
4. An image of the original can be downloaded from www.pro.gov.uk. The catalogue reference is 'Prob 11/1163 image reference 154'. Type 'Timothy Bull, Helmdon, 1788' on the 'Search' page. The fee is £3.