The Will of Sir Peter Mews
Signed 22nd April 1725

[transcribed from HCRO 2M30/338 (Rose Estate)]

In the name of God Amen, I Sir Peter Mews of Hinton Admiral in the parish of Christchurch in the County of Southampton, Knt. being of sound mind memory and understanding do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner following;

Imprimis I give devise and bequeath unto my god daughter Mary Burrows daughter of Thomas Morley Esq. Serjeant at Law All that my moiety of the farm at Occult in Suffolk (the other moiety being in the said Serjeant Morley) To hold to her and her heirs and assigns for ever which said devised moiety I value at five hundred pounds;

Item I give devise and bequeath unto my dearly beloved wife Dame Lydia Mews and unto Dr. Thomas Rivers Prebendary of the Cathedral Church of Winton and the survivor of them and the exors and admons of the survivor the sum of two thousand pounds to be by them laid out paid and disposed of in manner and for the purposes following (that is to say) to purchase one or more estate or estates situate lying and being in the several counties of Southon Wilts and Dorset or in one of them of lands of inheritance and convey and settle the same for ever to trustees to raise and pay yearly and every year free from all taxes and outgoings the sum of twenty pounds unto the curate for the time being of the chapple of Holdenhurst the like sum yearly unto the curate of Milton for the time being the like sum yearly to the curate for the time being of Limmington and the like sum yearly to the minister or curate of the intended New Chapple at Hinton Admiral aforesaid hereinafter more particularly mentioned and in the meantime until such purchase can be made completed and settled in manner aforesaid my will and direction is that the said four several sum of Twenty Pounds shall be paid yearly by my residuary legatee hereinafter named out of my real and personal estate by two equal half yearly payments at Lady Day and Michaelmas the first payment to be made at or within one year after my decease and that the vicars of Bolder or of Milford or either of them shall have no benefit thereby but shall be paid to the use of the several officiates hereinbefore mentioned;

Item I likewise give devise and bequeath unto the said Dame Lydia Mews and Dr. Thomas Rivers and the exors and admons of the survivor them the further sum of three hundred pounds of lawful money within one year after my decease to be laid out applied and disposed of by them in the erecting a chapple in the tithing of Hinton Admiral aforesaid in the most proper place and manner they in their discretions shall think meet and I do hereby direct that the curate of Milton shall read Divine Service according to the use of the Church of England and preach a sermon every Sunday or procure some other person to do the same;

Item I give to the poor of the parish of Christchurch aforesaid the sum of fifty pounds and unto the poor of the parish of Overton in the said county of Southton the like sum of fifty pounds to be paid given and distributed within twelve months after my decease as the said Dame Lydia Mews shall direct and appoint;

Item I having already since the decease of my uncle the late Bishop of Winton in honour to his memory paid at least £700 in discharge of his debts out of my own estate I now give the further sum of five hundred pounds to be paid to tradesmen in and near Farnham in Surrey his creditors in discharge of the remainder of his debts which I hope and think will more than discharge the same which payments I order to be paid within twelve months after my decease and directed and applied at the discretion of the said Dame Lydia Mews and the said Dr Rivers;

Item I give unto my steward James Willis, gent, the sum of one hundred pounds and unto all my servants that shall live and be with me at my decease one years wages and mourning;

I give to the said Dr Thomas Rivers the sum of five hundred pounds to be paid within twelve months after my decease in grateful remembrance of my education in All Souls College in [illegible] I give the sum of one hundred pounds to the said college towards the building now erecting or to be erected there to be paid within twelve months after my decease [illegible];

The payment of all which said several legacies sum and sums of money in manner and for the several purposes hereinbefore named I charge all my real and personal estate (except the moiety of the said farm devised to my said god daughter);

Item all the rest residue and remainder of my estate of what nature kind or quality soever as all my manors hundreds castles liberties rents services courts leet courts baron wrecks of sea rents reservations reversions messuages tenements farms commons waters fishings and all other my estate both real and personal wheresoever situated and howsoever held or by or under what tenure (with which it has pleased God to bless me beyond my expectation) I give devise and bequeath the same and every part and parcel thereof to my beloved wife Dame Lydia Mews her heirs exors admons and assigns for ever according to the several tenures estate and interest I have therein;

I devise my body may be interred in the South Aisle of the Parish Church of Christchurch aforesaid in the vault with my mother which part of that church I would have decently repaired and adorned out of my estate at the discretion of my executors and hereby revoking and making void all other and former wills by me made I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Dame Lydia Mews and the said Dr Thomas Rivers joint executors of this my last will and testament;

In witness whereof I the said Sir Peter Mews have hereunto set my hand and seal and published and declared this my last will and testament this twenty-second day of April in the year of our Lord 1725. P. Mews – signed sealed, published and declared by the above signed Sir Peter Mews to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who set our names as witnesses thereto in the presence and at the request of the said Sir Peter Mews and in the presence of each other the day of the date above written. Thomas Price cler., James Stevens, Hutton Middleton.