Having a right by a deed made by my father, Mr Aron Bourn, to dispose of the effects he mentioned in the deed if myself and child die first let any debt of my contracting be paid, then my mother, Mrs Sarah Bourn, to have the use of the remainder for her life if she does not let David Jones sit in the seat in the church. If she does, she forfeits every claim to what is my sincere wish she should enjoy and it becomes the next persons that is to have it at my mother’s death, Mr Edward Hore at the Hermitage, London to be paid one hundred pound, Mr William Whywall the younger of Birmingham, Warwickshire, one hundred and eight pound, to William Dudley of Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, eighty pounds or their heirs and executors if Mr Gwinnett does not pay it himself, the remainder Mr William Whywall aforesaid to have the use of for his life; at his death, my father’s nearest relations.
I declare this to be my last will and testament and I do hereby appoint Mr Robert Kemp Bourn of Hints in Staffordshire and Mr William Whywall the younger my executors.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the twenty fourth day of August one thousand seven hundred and seventy.
Ann Gwinnett
Signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence of us and of each other: Thomas Gill, Richard Jefcoate, Cornelius Hunds.
Charles Town, October 20th 1780.
My Executors, my trust is in you. I hope to heaven you will act and defend the innocent and just orphan (Eliz. Belin), daughter of Button and Ann Gwinnett, in her lawful property. I leave her all my effects, real and personal, separate and apart from her husband, Peter Belin, or any husband whatever as husband ever to control or have any thing to do therewith on any account or pretence whatever the same to be my executors and act as does for me in England in what my father left me there.
This is my last will and testament.
Ann Gwinnett
Signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence of witnesses: John Harris, Ann (Kraborks?), Mary Emery.
On the fourth day of May in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty five, administration (with the will and codicil annexed) of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of Ann Gwinnett, formerly of Wolverhampton in the county of Stafford but late of the province of Georgia in South Carolina, widow, deceased, was granted to Peter Belin, Esquire, the husband and administrator of the goods of Elizabeth Belin, formerly Gwinnett, deceased, whilst living the daughter and whole universal legatee named in the said codicil, he having been first sworn by commission duly to administer the said Elizabeth Belin formerly Gwinnett surviving the executrix but dying without taking upon her the letters of administration with the said will and codicil annexed of the goods of the said deceased and Robert Kempe Bourn the surviving executor named in the said will first renouncing the execution thereof.
Proved 4th May 1785: TNA Ref: PROB11/1129/157