Quaker Family History Society

Will of Joseph ALBRIGHT, Dairy Man of Chicherley, Buckinghamshire

Will 19 February 1739   Probate 3 March 1740

Summary.

Biographical Notes.

·         Parents: William Albright and Deborah (nee Roberts) of Ampthill, Bedfordshire.

·         Date of Birth: 30 March 1669 at Ampthill, Bedfordshire.

·         Profession: Grazier and Dairy Man of Chicheley, Buckinghamshire.

·         Marriage: Mary Harris on 6 September 1700 in Friends’ Meeting House, Sibford, Oxfordshire.

·         Meetings:  Hitchin MM then Leighton MM.

·         Date of Death: 29 September 1739 at Chicheley, Buckinghamshire.

·         Burial: 2 October 1739 in Friends’ Burial Ground, Sherington, Buckinghamshire.

·         He had at least one younger brother William Albright born in 1671.  He and Mary had at least  six children Ann (1701), William (1702), Mary (1705), Rebecca (1707) and Joshua (1713)  His wife Mary died in 1738.

Highlights of Will

·         Name of Executor: William Albright, his son.  He was a Quaker.

·         He left his son Joshua Albright £120 and a bed, a trunk, six pewter plates and a third of the linen.

·         He left his daughter Mary Albright £50 and a bed, two chests, six chairs, a looking glass, six pewter plates and a third of the linen.

·         He left his son William Albright all the rest of his property and effects and a third of the linen.

Transcriber’s and Editor’s Notes

This is one of a number of linked Albright family wills, including his son William (1754) and grandson William (1820. The town of Chicheley is written Chircherley in this will.  The dates of the making of the will and the proving of the will are both written in the old calendar, so February 1738 is actually February 1739 by today’s reckoning, while March 1739 is actually March 1740 by today’s reckoning.

Will as transcribed from a copy of the original document

(Original line and page breaks preserved as far as possible)

The Will of the Lord be

done and in humble Submission thereto I Joseph Albright of

Chircherley in the County of Bucks Dairey Man being in good

health of Body and of Sound mind memory and Understanding

(Blessed be God for the same) Yet considering the certainty of

Death and the uncertainty of the time thereof do make and

Ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and Form

following (Vixt.) First and principally I recommend my Soul unto

Almighty God my Creator and my Body to the Earth decently

to be buryed at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter named

Item I give and devise unto my Son Joshua Albright Six Score

Pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain to be paid by my

Executor within twelve Months after my decease And also I

give my Son Joshua One Bed and Bedding in the Chamber over

the Chest one Trunk and Six pewter plates Item I give and devise

unto my Daughter Mary Albright fifty Pounds of like lawfull

Money to be paid by my Executor within twelve Months

after my decease and also I give my Daughter Mary one Bed

and Bedding In the Best Chamber One Chest of Drawers One

Chest Six Chairs One looking Glass Six pewter plates and my

Mind and Willis all my Linnen shall be equally parted

between my three Children William Albright Joshua Albright

and Mary Albright Share and Share alike all the rest of my

Money Goods Cattle and Chattles whatsoever or wheresoever

after my just Debts and Funerall expences are discharged and the

Legacys before given paid I give and devise unto my Son William

Albright whom I do make constitute and appoint full and Sole

Executor of this my last Will and Testament revoking all former

and other Wills and bequests by me heretofore made and this to

Stand for and be my last In Witness whereof I have hereunto

Sett my Hand and Seale this nineteenth day of the twelfth

Month called February in the Year One thousand Seven hundred

thirty eight 1738 Joseph Albright – Signed Sealed Published and

declared to be the last Will and Testament of Joseph Albright

the Testator in the presence of us and Witnessed hereunto in the

Sight of the Testator and in the Sight and Presence of each other

The mark of Thomas Booth The mark of Samuel Kingston

Thomas Simond.

This Will was proved at London the third day of

March in the Year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred

and thirty nine before the Worshipfull Edward Simpson Doctor of

Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth also

      [page break]

Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative

Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of William

Allbright the Son of the said deceased and Sole Executor in the said

Will named To whom Administration was granted of all and

Singular the Goods Chattles and Credits of the said deceased he

having first made a Solemn and Sincere Affirmation or Declaration

duly to administer ./.

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