Context Note: The document, in common with many wills of this period, is long and rambling – not much of which is transcribed here. However, the portion in the middle disinheriting his son Charles if he marries Ann Potter is unusually specific and fascinating. In the end, Charles junior couldn’t be stopped and he married Ann on 2nd August 1762 – presumably disinheriting himself of this legacy in the process.
This is the last will and testament of me Charles Cocks of Bishops Cleeve in the county of Gloucester, gentleman, being at present in an ill state of health but of sound mind and memory
[…]
But in case of the death of my said daughter Elizabeth before her age of twenty one years, then I do hereby give the said sum of two hundred pounds hereby intended for her portion, and all the interest that shall be then due for the same, unto my said son Charles Cocks and my said daughter Mary equally between them, share and share alike – and from and after the raising of the said several sums of two hundred pounds and two hundred pounds for the portions of my said daughters and such other sums of money as will be sufficient for payment of my debts, funeral expenses and the expenses of my said trustees, my will and desire is that my said trustees and their heirs shall stand seized of all my said messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments, to and for the use and behalfs of my said son Charles Cocks and his assignees for and during the term of his natural life, with full power and authority for my said son to make a […] by way of settlement upon any woman that he shall hereafter intermarry with (except Anne Potter the daughter of James Potter of Bishops Cleeve aforesaid, yeoman) for the life of such woman, with remainder to the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten – and in default of such issue then to and for the use and behalfs of my said two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth as tenants in common and not as joint tenants, and of the heirs of their respective body lawfully issuing – and in defualt of such issue then to and for the use and behalfs of my nephew, Seth Cocks, eldest son of my brother Peter Cocks and of the heirs of his body lawfully issuing – and in default of such issue then to and for the use and behalfs of Peter Cocks the younger and the son of my said brother Peter Cocks and of the heirs of his body lawfully issuing – and in default of such issue then I do hereby give […]
[…] I have set my had and to the last my hand and seal the twenty seventh day of May in the year of our Lord 1758
(Probate at Gloucester, 27th November 1758)
Our Family 2 