The Last Will and Testament of me Gabriel Slater of Ovington in the County of Essex Farmer made this fifth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight

As to my worldly estates whereof I am possessed I give and dispose thereof as followith (that is to say)

I give and bequeath unto Sarah my wife the sum of fifty pounds

Also I give and bequeath unto my eldest son John Slater the sum of one hundred pounds

And unto my son Joseph Slater the sum of sixty pounds

And unto my daughters Ann Slater Sarah Slater and Elizabeth Slater the sum of fifty pounds apiece

And of the rest and residue of my personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever (after payment of the aforementioned legacies my debts and funeral charges and expenses) I give and bequeath unto my said children John Slater Joseph Slater Ann Slater Sarah Slater and Elizabeth Slater equally among them share and share alike but my will is that the said legacies and shares of the residue of my said personal estate given my said children respectively as aforesaid be paid to them respectively at their respective ages of twenty one years and in case either or any of them shall die before he she or they shall attain such age I will that the legacies or shares of him her or them so dying go to and be equally divided among the survivors of them my said children share and share alike

And I nominate and appoint the said Sarah my wife and my son John Slater executors of this my Will

And it is my desire that my said wife shall maintain and educate all my said children during their respective minorities at her own expense but in case any of my said children shall during their minorities be minded or desirous of a living separate from my said wife without requiring any maintenance or provision from her I do in such case direct that my said wife shall during such time as they shall so live separate pay and allow them annually after the rate of five pounds per centum per annum for their respective legacies

And my will and desire also is that my said wife shall within one month after my decease cause an inventory and appraisement to be made of my whole personal estate which I shall die possessed of what nature kind or quality soever the same be / such inventory and appraisement to be made by two different persons the one to be chosen by my brother John Slater and my friend Mr John Briant of Ovington aforesaid and the other by my said wife and shall deliver a copy of such inventory and appraisement to each of them my said brother and the said John Briant

And I constitute and appoint my said brother and the said John Briant supervisors of this my Will

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of May in the year of our Lord of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight
Gabriel Slater

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Gabriel Slater as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us and attested by us in his presence
Joseph Palmer
Jas. Harrington

This Will was proved on the fourth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight before the Reverend Ralph Sneyd Clerk Doctor in Divinity Surrogate by the oath of Sarah Slater widow the relict of the deceased and one of the executors therein named to whom administration.

Wills at the Essex Record Office Chelmsford :-
Ref : 1758 Slater, Gabriel, Farmer, Ovington 108/MR/12

Acknowledgement to the Essex Record Office

Return to links page

Return to Table of Contents