I WILLIAM WALES of the Parish of Christ Church Newgate Street and Master of the Mathematical School in Christs Hospital being of sound mind memory and understanding make this my last Will and Testament as follows. I desire my body may be buried in as frugal a manner as decency will admit and that all my just debts may be paid I direct all my Books and Instruments the Clock in the Observatory and the Watch I usually wear together with all such other of my effects as are not immediately necessary for the use of my wife and that part of my family who may remain with her to be sold and the money arising from such sale to be laid out on Law or Government Securities the interest of which together with the interest of all other sums of money which may belong to me at my death after my debts are paid and my wife settled to her mind wheresoever or in whatever hands they may be found I give my wife Mary Wales for the term of her natural life and at her death I direct the principal whatever it may be to be divided equally among my five children Sarah Trollope wife of the Reverend Arthur William Trollope, Ann Hayley Wales, Mary Judith Wales, John Wales and James Wales or the survivors of them should any of them die unmarried before my said wife but should any of them be married and die before my said wife Mary Wales and leave children husband or wife then and in that case his or her share shall go to such children husband or wife but in every other circumstance the share of any of my five children Sarah, Ann Hayley, Mary Judith, John and James Wales dying before my said wife Mary Wales shall be divided equally among those who survive her or their representatives described above such stock as may be standing against my name in the books of the Worshipful Company of Stationers of this City at my decease with the dividends arising from the same together with all the rest of my estate not mentioned above or not expressly disposed of I give to my said wife Mary Wales to be disposed of as she may think proper.

Lastly I constitute and appoint my said wife Mary Wales The Rev Arthur William Trollope and my daughter Ann Hayley Wales (the rest of my unmarried children being yet under age) executors of this my Will and hereby revoking all former Wills by me made declaring this written with my own hand on one sheet of paper my last Will and Testament in witness of which I the said William Wales have set my hand and seal to it this sixth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety eight.

Wm Wales __________ signed sealed published and Declared to be the last Will and Testament of the above named William Wales before us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other leave subscribe our names as witnesses.

John Hillier.    Joseph Smith.

THIS WILL was proved at London the seventh day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and ninety nine before the worshipful Samuel Pearce Parson. Doctor of Law Surrogate of the Right Honourable Sir William Wy____ also Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or commissary of the Perogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oaths of Mary Wales widow the relict of the deceased the Revd Arthur William Trollope clerk and Ann Hayley Wales spinster the daughter of the said deceased and the Executors names in the Will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased having been first sworn only to admi.

Wendy Wales

Originally published in Cook's Log, page 1851, volume 24, number 3 (2001).