This is the last will and testament of me, John Gwinnett of Stourbridge in the county of Worcester, fishmonger. First I will and direct that all my just debts, funeral expenses and the costs and charges of proving this my will be fully paid and satisfied.
And subject to the payment thereof, I give and bequeath unto my friends William Nock of Stourbridge aforesaid, innholder, and Samuel Price of the same place, ostler, the principal sum of one hundred pounds now secured to me by the bond of Mr William Evans of Stourbridge aforesaid, surgeon, bearing date the fifteenth day of August instant together with the said bond and all interest which shall be due thereon at the time of my decease upon trust that they the said William Nock and Samuel Price or the survivor of them, his executors, administrators or assigns do and shall as soon as conveniently may be after my decease call in and receive the said principal sum of one hundred pounds and the interest which shall then be due thereon and do and shall pay and divide the same principal money and interest unto and amongst such of the children of my son John, my late son Richard and my late daughter Nancy as shall happen to be living at the time of my decease in equal shares and proportions the same to be paid and payable to them respectively at their respective ages of twenty one years or day or days of marriage which shall first happen with interest in the mean time to be applied towards their maintenance and education.
And in case there shall happen to be but one such child living at the time of my decease then in trust to pay the said principal sum and interest unto such one child, his executors or administrators.
I give and bequeath all my ready monies and monies at interest, bills, bonds, notes and securities for money (except as before mentioned) and also all my household goods and furniture and all other my personal estate and effects of what nature or kind soever unto the said William Nock and Samuel Price, their executors or administrators, upon trust that they the said William Nock and Samuel Price or the survivor of them, his executors or administrators do and shall thereout pay and allow unto my wife Martha and her assigns during so many years of her life as she shall happen to continue my widow one annuity or clear yearly sum of thirteen pounds to be paid and payable to her weekly at the end of every week clear of all outgoings and deductions whatsoever, the first payment thereof to begin and be made at the end of the first week next after my decease.
And subject to the payment thereof upon trust to pay, apply and dispose of my said personal estate and effects unto my said son John, his executors, administrators and assigns to whom I give and bequeath the same accordingly to and for his and their own use and benefit. I nominate constitute and appoint William Nock and Samuel Price and my son John executors of this my will and I hereby declare my will to be that it shall and may be lawful to and for my said trustees and executors and their respective executors and administrators by and out of all or any of the monies which by virtue of this my will or any trust therein declared shall come to their or any of their hands to deduct, retain to and reimburse themselves respectively all such reasonable costs charges and expenses as they respectively shall or may sustain expend or be put unto in or about the execution of this my will.
And also that my said trustees and executors and their respective executors and administrators shall be charged and chargeable only every of them with and for his own receipts, payments, acts and wilful defaults and not otherwise and shall not be charged or chargeable with or for any sum or sums of money other than such as shall actually and respectively come to his and their hands by virtue of this my will nor with or for any loss or damage which may happen in or about the execution of all or any of the trusts hereby in them reposed provided the same happen without his or their respective wilful neglect or default.
And lastly hereby revoking all former will and wills by me at any time heretofore made, I do declare this only to be my true last will and testament.
In witness whereof I the said John Gwinnett have to this my will contained and written upon two sheets of paper to the first sheet thereof set my hand and to the second and last sheet thereof set my hand and seal this sixteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six.
The mark and seal of John x Gwinnett
Signed sealed and published and declared by the testator John Gwinnett as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have subscribed our names as witnesses: Henzey(?) Roberts, Henry Roberts
[Note: John Gwinnett Senr. died Sunday morning, October 12th 1806.]