WILL OF RICHARD MULLENS OF STURMINSTER NEWTON, DORSET – 1761

In the Name of God Amen. I, RICHARD MULLENS, late of Sturminster Newton in the County of Dorset in Great Britain, but now of WESTERN BAY in Newfoundland, boatkeeper, being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and the certainty of my departure out of this world, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, first I give and bequeath to the poor of the parish of Sturminster Newton aforesaid two hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executors thereinafter named in the following manner, that is to say fifty pounds to be distributed equally or at the discretion of my Executors to the poor aforesaid the first day of January that shall happen one year after my decease for a New Year's gift, and twenty five pounds to be paid in like manner the first day of January that shall next happen after the payment of the fifty pounds aforesaid, to be distributed equally or at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named, to the poor of the parish aforesaid and the like sum of twenty five pounds to be paid yearly, year by year, to the poor aforesaid by my Executors until the full sum of two hundred pounds as hereinabove mentioned shall be fully paid to the poor as aforesaid by my lawful Executors. And my will and bequest is that a book or register be kept by my Executors with the grants of every person therein written with the sums that they shall grant or that the charity herein intended is not unequally disposed of. I also leave it to the discretion of my executors to give or bequeath the above sums at such place or house they shall think most convenient and proper. Next, I give and bequeath to JOHN PENNY of Sturminster Newton aforesaid, my uncle, the sum of five pounds to be paid by my Executors on the first day of January one year next after my decease or the same day the above sum of fifty pounds shall be distributed, and in case the said JOHN PENNY should dye before the execution hereof, then the said sum of five pounds to be paid to his heirs, executors or administrators. I also give to my sister ELIZABETH MULLENS, now married in London (whose husband's name I have forgot) the sum of ten pounds of lawful money to be paid by my executors at the same time my first legacies are distributed. And in case of her decease, the said sum of ten pounds to be paid to her children by my executors. I also give and bequeath to my brother RENALTUS MULLENS one shilling to be paid by my executors as aforesaid. I also give and bequeath to my nephew RICHARD MULLENS, son of my brother Renaltus Mullens aforesaid, the sum of forty pounds which sum of forty pounds is to be disposed of as follows, (that is to say), when the said Richard Mullens arrives at the full age of fourteen years, my will and request is that my executors do find or shall cause to be found the said Richard Mullens apprentice to an Wine Cooper, if the aid Richard Mullens shall like such trade, and that they my Executors hereinafter named shall give such sum of money to his said Master to whom he the said Richard Mullens shall be bound on as they my said Executors and his paid Master shall contract for not exceeding the above sum of forty pounds, and if any residue or remainder after he the said Richard Mullens be bound on as aforesaid of the above forty pounds, the said residue or remainder to be kept by my said Executors until the said Richard Mullens aforesaid has served his apprenticeship out, and then to be laid out in tools for him by my Executors, my further will and request is that if the said Richard Mullens should not like the Trade of wine cooper as aforesaid, he is by no means to be bound apprentice to his father, but he may then choose any other trade he shall think proper and to be bound out the sum of forty pounds aforesaid to be disposed of then in the same manner at and after his apprenticeship, as if he had been bound to a wine cooper as aforesaid, but in case he should not choose any trade at all, then the said sum of forty pounds to remain in the hands of my Executors until he the said Richard Mullens arrives to the full age of twenty one years, and then to be disposed of to him or his brothers and sisters when they arrive at the full age of twenty one years as my Executors shall think proper, and to be entirely at their disposal. And in case the said Richard Mullens should dye before he arrives to the full age of twenty one years, the said sum of forty pounds then to be disposed of or the remainder if he had been bound apprentice in such manner as my Executors shall think proper, but by no means any of it to his said father. I also give and bequeath to RICHARD SINOTT, son of AMBROSE SINOTT my Godson when he arrives at the full age of twenty one years, five pounds, and to JOHN BUSSEY JUN^r , MICHAEL THISTLE, HEZEKIAH ROSE, ROBERT THACKER and ELIZABETH CHURCHILL, my godchildren, the like sum of five pounds to be paid to each of them by my Executors when they arrive to the full age of twenty one years, and in case of all or either of their deaths, that then the said sums or sum of five pounds to fall to my Executors. I also order and desire that my father be maintained by my Executors out of the interest of my money in the same manner that he now lives during his natural life, and at his decease to be buried by them in a Christian devout manner. I also give and bequeath to my wife ANN MULLENS and JOHN THACKER, all my Estate being copyhold situate lying and being in Sturminster Newton aforesaid, now occupied by MR. THOMAS BIRD and DOCTOR TULK, and let at the annual rent of thirty one pounds per annum, and all my money, goods and chattels in Newfoundland of what kind or nature soever to her the said ANN MULLENS and JOHN THACKER, their heirs, executors and administrators. I also give and bequeath to them the said ANN MULLENS and JOHN THACKER one hundred pounds sterling to be paid by my Executors when the first of my legacies are paid I also give and bequeath to the poor of the parish of Tiford in the County of Dorset aforesaid the sum of five pounds to be paid in the same manner and at the same time my first legacies are paid by my Executors. I also give and bequeath to GEORGE TOP SENIOR of Sturminster Newton aforesaid one guinea to be paid to him by my Executors if alive the same day that my first legacies are paid and in case of his death, I give and bequeath the same to my Executors. I also give and bequeath and order that my Executors do go into Deep Mourning for me. And lastly as to all the rest, residue and remainder of my personal estate, goods and chattles of what kind or nature soever, I give and bequeath the same to THOMAS BIRD of Sturminster Newton aforesaid, and GEORGE DAVIS of the Town and County of Poole, whom I hereby appoint sole and joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in Western Bay, Newfoundland, this twenty fourth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty one.

Rich^d Mullens

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named Richard Mullens to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us, who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the Testator and of each other (where no stamps are used).

JAMES THOMAS, WILLIAM PINSENT, JOHN HORWOOD JUN^r

This Will was proved in London, the thirteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty two before the Right Worshipful Sir Edward Simpson, Knight Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, lawfully constituted by the oath of THOMAS BIRD, one of the Executors named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the goods, chattles and credits of the said deceased having been first sword by Commission duly to administer power reserved of making the like grant to GEORGE DAVIS the other Executor named in the said Will, when he shall apply for the same.

This Will was proved at London the eighteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty three before the Right Worshipful Sir Edward Simpson Knight Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of GEORGE DAVIS …. (last page not copied).

Additional Research Notes by Susan Snelgrove, from records located at the Society of Genealogists, London, England

Reference DO/R105 – Dorset Marriages Volume 8:

Renatus Mullens married Ann Dawson on April 6, 1751

Hezekiah Rose married Ann Vacher on June 14, 1744

Parish Burial Records:

Renatus Mullens buried August 26, 1761

Richard Mullens buried Sept 12, 1762

And from Carbonear Plantation Records, Western Bay:

#175 – Hezekiah Rose & Edward O'Neil cut land out of woods 1783

#183 – Robert Thacker, 1797, by deed of gift from –