Last Will and Testament of Joshua Stopford of Croydon, clerk (National Archives reference: PROB 11/1220/187)

Summary

The will of Joshua Stopford of Croydon, clerk, was made on 8 May 1792 and proved on 27 June 1792. The executor was his sister, Margaret Stopford of Ashton Under Lyne, Lancashire. According to the probate register copy, Joshua left:

• £30 to Elizabeth Gibson “who now resides with me”, on condition that she was still living with him at the time of his death.
• Everything else to Margaret.

Below is my transcription of the probate register copy of the will. Bold and italic formatting reflect the different writing styles used in the document, and I have added paragraph breaks to make it easier to read.

Transcription

This is the last Will and Testament of me Joshua Stopford of Croydon in the County of Surry [sic] Clerk First I resign my Immortal Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator And my body to the Earth to be decently Interred at the discretion of my Executrix

And I do give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Gibson who now resides with me if she shall be resident with me at the time of my death the Legacy or Sum of Thirty Pounds to be paid to her within two Months next after my decease

And Subject to the payment thereof and of all my Just debts and my Funeral and Testamentary Expenses I do give and bequeath all and every my money and Securitys [sic] for money household goods and other Goods Chattels rights Credits Stock or Annuities in the Public Stocks or Funds and personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever unto my dear Sister Margaret Stopford of Ashton under Lyne Lancashire Spinster to and for her Sole use and benefit

And I do constitute and appoint the said Margaret Stopford to be the Sole Executrix of this my Will

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal the Eighth day of May in the year of Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and ninety Two Joshua Stopford [seal]

Signed Sealed and Published by the above named Joshua Stopford the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his and each others presence and at his request have hereunto Subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto Enoch Holding, Edward Satter

This Will was proved at London on the twenty Seventh day of June in the year of Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and ninety two before the Worshipful Thomas Champion Crespigny Doctor of Laws and Surrogate of The Right Honorable [sic] Sir William Wynne Knight Doctor of Laws and Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Margaret Stopford Spinster the Sister of the deceased and Sole Executrix named in the said Will to whom Adminstration was granted of all and Singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first sworn duly to administer.