Will of Ann BENHAM

This is the last Will and Testament of me Ann BENHAM of the parish of Durley in the County of Southampton, Widow, which I make and publish in manner following, that is to say, I give and devise All that my Copyhold or customary Cottage or Tenament and Land thereto belonging situated in Stroudwood and held of the Manor of Bishop's Waltham and to which I was admitted on the Surrender of my late Son Rheuben BENHAM unto my Grandson Stephen BENHAM the Son of my said late Son Rheuben. To hold to my said Grandson Stephen BENHAM and his heirs according to the custom of the said Manor Subject nevertheless and I hereby will and direct that Sarah BENHAM the Mother of the said Stephen BENHAM shall have the use and occupation of the said Copyhold messuage and Premises during her life without paying any Rent for the same but I will and direct that she shall not have power or be at liberty to sell or Mortgage her said Interest in the same it being my will that she shall only have the use of the same for her life. And upon the death of the said Sarah BENHAM I charge and make chargeable the said Copyhold or customary Premises to and with the payment of the sum of Five Pounds apiece to my Grandchildren Ann BENNHAM, Miram BENHAM, Solomon BENHAM and Sarah BENHAM the Sisters and Brother of the said Stephen BENHAM or to such of them as shall be then living but if any or either of them should happen to die in the life time of the said of the said Sarah

BENHAM their Mother Then the said Legacy or Sum of five Pounds given to such of them as shall happen to die shall be lapsed and shall not be paid. And I appoint the Said Sarah BENHAM the Mother of the said Stephen BENHAM Executrix of this my Will. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this fifteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five.

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Ann BENHAM the Testatrix as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in her presence and in the presence of each other have signed our names as witnesses thereto.

On the thirteenth day of February 1826
On which day Sarah BENHAM the within named Executrix was duly sworn well and faithfully to administer the Goods Chattels and Credits of the within named Ann BENHAM deceased And she also made Oath that all the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased did not at the time of her death amount in value to the Sum of Twenty Pounds as she verily believes.

Before Me T WATHANS Surrogate

20th Febr. Passed Seal to Lampand.

In the Goods of Ann BENHAM Deceased - In the Consistory Court of the Lord Bishop of Winchester.
On the thirteenth day of February 1826 appeared personally Sarah BENHAM of the Parish of Upham in the County of Southampton, Widow.

The executrix named in the last Will and Testament of the said Ann BENHAM late of Durley in the County of Southampton, Widow deceased., and made Oath that the Estate and Effects of the said Deceased, for and in respect of which a Probate of the said Will is to be granted, exclusive of what the said deceased may have been possessed of or entitled to as a trustee for any other Person or Persons, and not beneficially --- and without deducting any thing on account of the Debts due and owing from the said Deceased, are under the value of Twenty Pounds, to the best of this Deponent's Knowledge, Information and Belief. And she lastly made oath that the said deceased was not possessed of or entitled to any Leasehold Estate or Estates for years either absolute or determinable on lives to the best of her knowledge, information and belief.
Sworn the Day aforesaid Sarah BENHAM.
Before me T WATKINS Surrogate