1716 Christopher Cradock of Madras

11-0554-290_ChristopherCradock_1716

In the name of God Amen I CHRISTOR CRADOCK of Madras mariner and now master of ship Harriot bound on a voyage to the Mallabar coast and that being in perfect state of health of mind and memory thanks be to almighty God for the same yet considering the many hazards my life is subject to as well those of the seas as sickness or any other disaster that may happen do therefore make and ordain my last will and testament in manner and form following first I bequeath my soul into the hands of my heavenly father hoping to receive pardon for all my sins and my body to the earth in hopes of a joyfull (sic) resurrection at the last day then I give and devise all my moneys goods houses lands and tenements all my credits personal estate and chattels whatsoever to my dear wife Florentia Cradockmy good friend Edward Fleetwood of Madras merchant and my beloved brother Richard Cradock their heirs and assigns forever upon this trust that they and the survivors and survivor of them shall raise a just inventory to be taken and made soon after the discharge of my funeral expenses and payment of my debts my will is that the then overplus (sic) and remainder shall be imployed (sic) from time to time as my said wife and other trustees shall think fit for the better maintenance of my wife and children and that a just dividend thereof house furniture excepted be made when one or any one of my children shall be arrived to the age of one and twenty years and equally given share and share alike to and amongst my wife and children then being further my will and meaning is that the shares of such children under age shall remain in the hands of my trustees aforesaid till their respective ages of one and twenty daughters excepted who shall attain their age of one and twenty sooner and on the day of their marriage if it be with the consent of the trustees aforesaid and in the case of the deaths of one or any of my children after such dividend made and before they shall have attained their respective ages of one and twenty then his her or their share or shares shall be divided in the same proportion aforesaid to and amongst the survivors and survivor and my said wife if not married after my decease Then I will that the dividend aforesaid shall be made at or upon the day of next marriage of my said wife after my decease and then my said wife shall be excluded from all further benefits only the enjoyment of her equall (sic) share aforesaid and the home furniture which I give and bequeath unto her for her use and of this my last will and testament I make and ordain my said wife, Edward Fleetwood and Richard Cradock executors in trust giving them and each of them full power and authority from time to time to reimburse themselves all costs charges and expenses which they or any of them shall be put to lay out or expend for or by reason of the loss of any money through the insolvency of any debtor or debtors whatsoever or otherwise howsoever in or about the management or execution of the trust aforesaid and that none of them shall be accountable for the receipt of other of them my will being that neither of my said friends in trust shall or may in any wise be damnified or receive any loss for or by reason or in respect of the execution or performance of this my last will and testament or otherwise in relation to the trust in them reposed giving to each of them twenty pagodas to buy themselves a ring In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal aboard the ship (sic) Harriot this eighteenth day of November in the ninth year of the reign of our sovereign lady Queen Ann (sic) by the grace of God Queen of Great Britain or Anno Dei 1710 – Christr Cradock – signed and sealed (where no stamp paper is to be had) published and declared by the within named Christopher Cradock to be his last will and testament in presence of us Fk Molyneux, Ben Corbett, Ben Charlton

 

Codicil 3/9/1711

Codicil to my last will and testament as follows Mr Edward Fleetwood being dead my will is that Mr Bernard Bennyon shall act in his room witness my hand in Fort St George this 3rd September 1711 – Christr Craddock

 

Codicil 23/7 Calcutta

Codicil to my will left in Madras then I will if it pleases God to take me to him during my stay in this place that all my effects come into the hands of Abraham Adams Esquire and Henry Charlton purser of the Barrington and that it be remitted to my trustees in Madras as the said Abraham Adams and Henry Charlton shall think most for my advantage signed sealed and wrote with my own hand in the presence of the undermentioned witnesses – Christ Cradock – Benja. Walker Edwd Trenthfeild

 

Probate 8/11/1716

Probatum – in Latin

…London octavo die mensis Novembris anno domini millesimo septuigentesimo decimo sexto [8/11/1716] in the presence of Florentia Cradock alias Warr…

 

Marginal Notes 21/1/1764

On the twenty first day of January 1764 with the will and two codicils annexed of the goods chattels and credits of Christopher Cradock late of the Merchant Ship Harriot at Madras deceased left unadministered by Florentia King formerly Cradock otherwise Warr[1] wife of John King the relict of the said deceased one of the executors and one of the beneficiaries named in the said will now also deceased was granted to William Smyth King Esquire the son and administrator of the goods of the said Florentia King formerly Cradock otherwise Warr deceased having been first sworn [  ] to administer Richard Cradock the other executor named in the said will and Bernard Bennyon the executor named in the first codicil and [one] of the [    ] legatees in trust [    ] [    ] had taken upon them the execution of the said will and codicils and Hannah Cassamaijor widow the natural and lawful daughter and only child of the said deceased and as such the surviving residuary legatee named in the said will first under [    ] the letters [     ] with the said will and two codicils annexed of the goods unadministered of the said deceased.

 


[1] Boyd’s Marriage Index 1538-1840 (www.britishorigins.com)

 

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