The Last Will and Testament of John Dawes (C19)

About John Dawes

Information about the Daws family, and the will, kindly submitted and transcribed by Margaret and Tom Shaw

The date on the will is 20 August 1741, John Dawes died in 1743. In 1784 the administration of the will was finally sorted on the death of his daughter Sarah Dawes. His grandson was the Reverend John Dawes Ross, who ended his days as the vicar of Syston, but he was also a master at the Free Grammar School, and a friend of John Nichols. None of his daughters married until after his death and all to wealthy widowers!
The church at Newton Harcourt was by standards quite new, hence the fact that the early ones are buried at Wistow.

Will of John Dawes

In the name of God amen I John Dawes of Newton Harcourt in the county of Leicester Gentlemanbeing of sound and perfect mind and memory do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament revoking all former Wills by me made And first I give and bequeath unto my Niece Mary Sumerfield the sum of five pounds to be paid her within One Year next after my decease As to all my household goods I give and bequeath the same unto my Daughter Sarah Dawes I give and bequeath unto Thomas Chamberlain of Arnsbey in the county of Leicester Gentleman William Wyatt of Arnesby aforesaid Gentleman and John Brewin of the Burrough of Leicester in the county of Leicester felmonger five pounds and also One half of the rest of my personal Estate not herein before disposed of In trust unto and for the only use and benefit of my Grandson John Dawes Ross And as to the rest of my personal Estate not herein before disposed of after my debts and legacyes paid and funeral expences discharged I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid Daughter Sarah Dawes whom I make full and Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament revoking all other Wills by me heretofore at any time made In Witness whereof I the said John Dawes the Testator have hereunto Sett my hand and Seal this Twentieth Day of August in the fifteenth Year of the reigne of our Soveraign Lord George the Second by the grace of God of Great Brittain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith and soo forth and in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred forty and One
Signed Sealed published and declared by the Testator John Dawes to be his last Will and Testament in the ----- of us who did subscribe our Names in the ----- of the said testator
John Dawes

Tho. Jeffs
John Perkins
Tho Linthwaite