Proved in the Peculiar Court of Banbury in [ ]
 










This is the last Will and Testament of me JOHN HIRONS the Elder of Wardington in the county of Oxford Malster being infirm in body but of sound and perfect Mind Memory and understanding first I Will that my just debts Funeral Expenses the charges of proving this my Will and of erectong a Tombstone as hereinafter I have directed and the Legacy of fifty two pounds ten shillings hereinafter mentioned to my Granddaughter FRANCES COLE be in the first place paid and satisfied and I do charge my Estates both Real and Personal with the payment thereof Also I give devise and bequeath unto my Grandson WILLIAM HIRONS son of my late son WILLIAM HIRONS his Heirs and Assigns for ever all that my Messuage Cottage or Tenement with the Appurtenances situate and being in Banbury in the said County of Oxford as the same now is in the tenure or occupation of [            ] BARKER and in case my said Grandson WILLIAM HIRONS shall happen to die before he attains the age of twenty one years and his Brother JAMES HIRONS shall be then living my Will is that the said Messuage Cottage or Tenement with the Appurtenances do go to his Brother JAMES his Heirs and Assigns for ever and I do give devise and bequeath the same to him and them accordingly Also I give and bequeath unto my Granddaughter FRANCES COLE one of the Daughters of my late Daughter MARY COLE the Sum of fifty two pounds ten shillings of lawful Money to be paid her at the same time and the Interest thereof in the mean while to be applied in the same manner and the principal to be put out on such Securitys as is hereinafter directed containing her share of the overplus of my Real and Personal Estate hereinafter mentioned Also I Give devise and bequeath unto my good friends ALBAN BULL of Chalcomb in the County of Northampton Gentleman and WILLIAM WESTON the Younger of Aston in the Walls in the said County of Northampton Gentleman their Heirs and Assigns all that my Messuage or Tenement with the Close Homestall Buildings and Appurtenances thereunto belonging situate and being in Wardington aforesaid as the same now are in the tenure or occupation of WILLIAM SABINE his tenant or undertenants and also all those my several Closes or Grounds of new Inclosure with their and every of their appurtenances lying and being in the Parish Fields Liberties [prerimts] of Wardington and of Williamscott otherwise Willscott and Coton otherwise Cotes in the said County of Oxford or in some or one one of them as the same are now in my own possession and are called by the several names of the Little Meadows Church Hook Radmoor Lays Fenfurlong Charwell Leets Charwell Lands and Long Leys or by what other name or names the same are or have been called or known which said several closes or Grounds of new inclosure were awarded and allotted to me by the Commissioners named in the Act of Parliament for dividing and enclosing the open and common fields of Wardington Williamscott otherwise Willscott and Coton otherwise Cotes aforesaid in lieu of one yard land and three quarters my own personal Estate upon Trust that they the said ALBAN BULL and WILLIAM WESTON or the survivor of them his Heirs or Assigns do and shall sell and dispose thereof to the best purchaser or purchasers they can or may get for the same as soon after my decease as may be and out of the Money arising thereby in the first place pay and discharge so much of my debts Funeral Expenses the charges of proving this my Will and of erecting a Tombstone as aforesaid and of the said Legacy of fifty two pounds ten shillings as my personal Estate shall not be sufficient to pay and in the next place to put the Remainder of the Moneys arising by such sale or sales out at interest in the Names or Name of them the said ALBAN BULL and WILLIAM WESTON or the survivor of them his Executors or Administrators in the publick funds or on Government or such other Securitys as they or the survivor of them or the Executors or Administrators of the Survivor of them his Executors or Administrators shall think proper and pay the same to and amongst my several Grandchildren ELIZABETH HIRONS Daughter of my Son JOHN HIRONS  WILLIAM HIRONS  JAMES HIRONS and ELIZABETH HIRONS Sons and Daughter of my late Son WILLIAM HIRONS Deceased and WILLIAM COLE MARY COLE and the said FRANCES COLE Son and Daughters of my late Daughter MARY COLE deceased equally to be divided between them share and share alike to be paid them at their respective ages of one and twenty years and the interest of each Grandchilds part and in the mean time to be applied and disposed of towards the Maintenance Education and Cloathing of such Grandchild respectively until he she or they shall respectively attain his her or their respective ages of twenty one years and in case any or either of my said Grandchildren shall happen to die before he she or they attain that age my Will is that the part and share of such Grandchild so dying shall go to and amongst the Survivors and Survivor of them share and share alike  Also I give and bequeath unto the said ALBAN BULL and WILLIAM WESTON all my Goods Household all my Goods Household Goods and Implements of Household except as hereinafter mentioned and Husbandry stock and stocks of Cattle crop and crops of Corn Grain and Hay ready Money Securities for Money Book Debts and all other my personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever upon Trust that they the said ALBAN BULL andWILLIAM WESTON or the survivor of them do with what convenient speed may be after my decease sell and dispose thereof and out of the Money arising therefrom in the first place pay and discharge all my just debts Funeral Expenses charges of proving this my Will and erecting a Tombstone as aforesaid the said Legacy of fifty two pounds ten Shillings and all the charges and Expenses my said Trustees shall be at or put unto in the Exectuion of the Trusts hereby in them [reposed] and to pay apply and dispose of the Surplus (if any there be) and the Interest thereof to and amongst all my said Grandchildren in such parts and shares and at such times and in such manner as I have herein before directed concerning the disposal of the Money remaining out of the Sale of my Real Estate  Also I Give devise and bequeath unto my son JOHN HIRONS his Heirs and assigns for ever (subject as hereinafter mentioned) all my Messuage or Tenement Malt House and Homestall with the Buildings and appurtenances thereto belonging situate and being in Wardington aforesaid now in my own possession he paying thereout for my Grandchildren the said JAMES HIRONS  WILLIAM COLE and FRANCES COLE the sum of fifty pounds apiece within one year after my decease And I do charge the said Messuage or Tenement Malt House Homestall and premises with the payment thereof and my Will is that the said three several sums be paid into the hands of my said Trustees or the survivor of them his Executors or Administrators to be put out and the interest thereof together with the principal when due to be paid and applied for the benefit of my said three Grandchildren respectively in the same manner and at the same times as is hereinbefore directed concerning each of their shares in the Surplus Money remaining out of my Real and Personal Estates and the decise of my said Messuage or Tenement Malthouse Homestall and Premises unto my son JOHN is likewise upon this condition that he do sign and deliver unto my said Trustees and Executors such discharge as is hereinafter mentioned for all Rent and Sums of Money due from me to him and in case my said son JOHN shall neglect or refuse to give such Discharges as aforesaid Then I do hereby revoke the said Devise of the said Messuage or Tenement Malthouse Homestall and Premises unto my said son JOHN his Heirs and Assigns as aforesaid and do Give devise and bequeath the same unto my said Trustees the said ALBAN BULL and WILLIAM WESTON their Heirs and Assigns upon Trust to sell and dispose of the same and apply the Money arising therefrom to and for such uses intents and purposes and in such manner as I have hereinbefore directed concerning the Money remaining out of the sale of the other part of my Real Estate and whereas I have for some years past occupied the Lands and the several Closes lying in Ash Quarter in the said parish and Fields which were upon the said inclosure allotted to my said Son JOHN in lieu of three yard Lands belonging to him in settlement and half a yard Land purchased by him of JOHN ROGERS and my said Son JOHN hath at a great many different times as well before as since I occupied the said Lands and premises had and received several Sums of Money of me amounting to much more than the Rent of the said Lands and Closes besides Cattle and the frequent use of my Horses Trams Waggons Carts Ploughs Labourers and servants and whereas there had never been any account settled between us nor have I ever had any Receipt for Rent from my said Son JOHN Now I do hereby forgive my said Son JOHN all such Money so due from him to me as aforesaid provided he shall give and deliver to my Executors or one of them a full discharge signed with his own hand for all Money due from me to him for Rent or otherwise which I do hereby require him to do within one Week next after my decease and I do order and direct my said Executors at the same time my said Son JOHN shall deliver to them or one of them such Discharge as aforesaid to give to my said Son JOHN a Receipt or discharge in full of all Moneys due from him to me

Also I Give and bequeath unto my said Son JOHN HIRONS my Mash vat my two Furnaces four Barrells and four Tubs which he shall [choose] in case he shall deliver to my said Trustees or one of them such discharge in manner aforesaid but in case he shall neglect or refuse to give such Discharge as aforesaid then I Will that my said Mash vat Furnaces Barrells and Tubs be sold with the other part of my Household Goods and Personal Estate and the Money therefrom to be applied in the same manner and I do hereby make ordain and appoint the said ALBAN BULL and WILLIAM WESTON Executors of this my last Will and Testament earnestly requesting them to take the trouble upon them and to bury me in a decent manner as near my late Wife as may be and to cause a decent Tombstone to be Set up over both our Graves with a proper inscription thereon and to see my Will performed according to the Intent and meaning thereof and my Will is that my said Trustees and Executors do deduct out of the Moneys in their hands all such Costs Charges and Expenses they shall be at or put unto in the execution of the Trusts aforesaid and that they be not answerable one for the act of the other nor for any Money but what they shall respectively actually receive nor for the loss or Misapplication of any of the Trust Money through the Insolvency or Insufficiency of any person or persons except what shall happen through their own wilful act neglect or default respectively and I do hereby revoke all former Wills and Testaments by me at any time heretofore made and I do declare this and no other to be my last Will and Testament

In Witness whereof I the said Testator JOHN HIRONS have to this my last Will and Testament contained in four sheets of paper to the three first sheets set my hand and to this last sheet my hand and seal the fifteenth day of February in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Sixty Six – JOHN HIRONS – Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Testator JOHN HIRONS to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other subscribed our Names as Witnesses hereto (the words Leets in the first sheet John Williams parish and times in the third sheet being first interlined) – THOMAS GARDNER Junr – ROBT SPARROWSARAH SPARROW Junr

This Will was proved at London on the twenty sixth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and sixty eight before the Right Worshipful George Pay Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oaths of ALBAN BULL and WILLIAM WESTON the younger 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 having been first sworn by Commission duly to Administer