Transcribed Will
John CORKER of Uttoxeter, Staffordshire.

Staffordshire, Dioceses of Lichfield and Coventry wills and probate,
images online at the FindMyPast website.

Will dated: 20 Mar 1776;   probate date: 7 May 1776

John Corker was buried at St Mary’s Church, Uttoxeter on 5 May 1776.
Six years later, his widow Rosamond was buried at the same church on
17 June 1782 (Staffordshire Burials, FindMyPast database).

In the name of God Amen I John Corker of Uttoxeter in the County of Stafford being of sound memory and understanding thanks be to Almighty God for it, do make this my last will and testament in the manner and form following, first I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God hoping through the merits of my blessed saviour Jesus Christ to inherit eternal life and my body I commit to the earth to be decently interred and as for my worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with I give and bequeath in the following manner. First I will that all my just debts to be paid within the space of and after my decease and if I die before my wife I then do give and bequeath unto my said beloved wife Rosamond Corker the interest of all money which shall become due upon all mortgages deeds bonds or notes whatsoever for her sole use and benefit during her natural life and to be paid to my said wife by my executors as hereafter mentioned as the interest money from time to time shall become due from said mortgages bonds notes etc. and after my said wife's decease, all my estate shall be disposed of as follows. and first I give and bequeath to my son Daniel Corker and to his heirs forever all those houses tenements with house buildings gardens stables which I purchased of Mr Nangle with some few fixtures with the coppers and smooth jack with the pump etc. etc. etc. and I do hereby appoint my said son Daniel Corker joined with Mr John Wilson my son-in-law to be my executors of this my last will and testament. In twelve months after me and my wife's decease I will that my said executors do pay to my son John Corker out of my personal estate the sum of fifty pounds yearly until such time as three hundred pounds hath been paid him as I think it will be an advantage to both himself & family to receive his legacy as above mentioned. I likewise will and bequeath to my son Nathaniel Corker the sum of two hundred pounds to be paid him in twelve months after our decease as aforesaid after he hath accounted with the estate concerning his bond and the interest due upon the same. And I likewise give and bequeath to my said son Nathaniel's son Nathaniel one hundred pounds to be paid to him when he comes to the age of twenty one years. I will likewise that a fund of three hundred pounds be put out on interest     next page by the executors and the interest arising therefrom to be paid annually or half yearly to my son Thomas Corker during his life and after his death then the said three hundred pounds shall be divided equally amongst his surviving brothers and sisters. I will that the remainder of my estate to be divided in the manner following amongst my daughters and their children when it can be asserted justly what the said remainder will amount to each daughter being divided equally into five shares which said shares may be calculated by said executors. and first I shall begin with my daughter Mary Corker she being not married I will that immediately after the decease of her parents she shall be put into the possession of her fifth share either in money or by and assignment of a mortgage made over to her for the purpose aforesaid she being sole mistress of her self and her fortune. and as my daughter Rosamond Wilson hath no child I will that she shall receive her fifth share along with her sister Mary and to be at her own disposal as she may think proper. I will that my daughter Martha Seach and her husband Edward Seach shall be paid all the interest money which shall become due to them from time to time from their fifth share to be put out on land security for that purpose during their natural lives and after their decease then the principle shall be paid to their child or children equally divided when they come of the age of twenty years. And I will that John Smith and his wife Dorothy Smith with their child or children shall be paid all interest which shall become due to them from their fifth share as above during their natural lives and the principle to be divided after their parents decease equally amongst them when of age as above written. and lastly I will that my daughter Susanna Wilcock shall be paid the interest of her fifth part from time to time as it shall become due into her own hands and shall be wholly at her own disposal as she shall think proper during her natural life and after her decease the principle shall go to her child or children lawfully begotten of her own body and if there is more than one child then to be divided equally amongst them when they come of age of twenty one years provided the     next page mother should die before the said child or children should come of age and if their mother should die before her child or children are of age as aforesaid then in such case their father may be entitled to receive the said interest money for their support during the time of the child's or children's minority but if the child or children should die before they arrive at the age of twenty one then in that case their fifth share or their mother's fortune shall return into her own family from whence it came that is to say to be divided amongst her surviving brothers and sisters. the legatees shall have the liberty to inspect the executors amounts annnually that there may be no fraud or mistake made by any neglect of said executors. and if any sum or sums of money at any time must be shifted or removed from one security to another in such case the executors shall take the approbation of the legatees in that case said executors may be found blameless in case of a miscarriage or loss of money which might not be have fore seen. This being my last will and testament revoking all former wills in witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this twentieth day of March one thousand seven hundred and seventy six.     [signature of John Corker]

Transcribed by Diana Whistler, February 2016.