From the Will of Adam Mort

In the name of God Amen. The nineteenth day of May Anno Domit 1630 I Adam Mort of Tildesley in the parish of Leigh, Gentleman now being aged and diseased infirm in body but of good and perfect memory. I commend my soul and spirit into ye hands of Almighty God for that I have builded a Chappell or house for ye public worship and service of God in Astley near my abode.And for that many of the inhabitants of Bolton in the Moores, being the place of my birth.

Thomas Mort my eldest son and heir apparent and Adam Mort my younger son. All that Messuage and tenement in Tildesley and land and meadow in Pennington called the great Backfield and Stockeyes. The profits thereof to be yearly and every year for and towards the wages and maintainances of a Schoolmaster in Astley. That ye said Thomas Mort my son shall during his life have nomination and election power and authority of displaceing and removing as he shall see cause of ye said preaching Minister and Schoolmaster.

Also it is my will give devise and bequeath all that messuage and tenement in Bedford called Serjeants for and until Thomas Mort my grandchild son of my deceased son Richard Mort shall have attained the full age of twenty and one years. I bequeath unto Margaret Mort youngest daughter and child of my deceased sonne Richard Mort do attain the full age of twenty and one years one rent charge of ten pounds. Also it is mind that my eldest sonne Thomas Mort shall have and enjoy all that messuage and tenement in Little Hulton commonly called Wartons. Thomas Mort and Adam Mort my sonnes all my messuage buildings lands tenements in Lyme and Lymeboothes in ye county of Chester.

I give and bequeath to my said sonne Adam Mort all my leased and termes fof years which I have in any messuages in Bolton Halywal Tonge Harwood and Leaver. And to my old servant Jane Worsley forty shillings. And whereas I have already delivered tm said sonne Adam Mort the sum of one hundred and twenty pounds which I intend for ye three youngest children of my said son Richard deceased called George Bridget and Margaret respectively accomplish the age of twenty and one years.

This is the last Will and Testament of me, Mary Mort, of the township of Ashton in the parish of Tarvin in the County of Chester, widow. First I direct the payments of all my just debts, funeral expenses and the charges of the probate of this my will out of my personel estate. I give and bequeath to my son John Mort, son Charles Mort and son James Mort and daughter Betty Beckett each of them a feather bed, my daughter Betty Beckett to take her choice and I give to my son Charles Mort three pairs of sheets and I give to my two daughters, Mary Muskett and Betty Beckett my half dozen of silver tea spoons, china and glasses and all my clothes to be divided equal shares alike. I give and bequeath all my monies and securities for money and all my household furniture, dairy and brewing vessels and all my livestock, implements in husbandry and all the residue and remainder of my personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind serves not herein, before specifically disposed of unto my son-in-law Samuel Beckett, son-in-law Thomas Muskett and son John Mort. Upon trust that that the, my said trustees or the survivor do and shall with all convenient speed after my deceased, sell and dispose and convert into money so much thereof as shall be in the nature saleable, and collect, get in and receive the residue thereof. And all out of the said monies, pay, satisfy and discharge all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses and divide the residue of the said moneys after answering the purpose aforesaid into five equal shares. Upon trust that the my said trustees or trustee for the time being to pay and divide four shares of the residue of the said monies equal amongst my son John Mort and daughter Mary Muskett and my daughter Betty Beckett and my son Charles Mort equal share alike. And upon further trust that the my said trustees or trustee shall take out of the remaining firth share 90 pounds and place out – interest upon good security and I direct my trustees or trustee to pay out of the said 90 pounds, 30 pounds apiece to my son James Mor’s three children, daughter Betsy Mort and daughter Ester Mort and son Samuel Mort when they arrive at the age of 21 but providing it should be wanted before they arrive at that age my trustees or trustee for the time being to pay a part or the whole with the interest as they shall think proper but if any of the said children shall die not receiving their full amount the remaining part to go to the survivors and also to pay to my son James Mort all the monies remaining above the said 90 pound out of the said remaining 5th share and I do hereby declare that the receipt of my said trustees or trustee for the time being shall be good discharge for all monies which in such receipts shall be expressed to be received and the persons or person paying the same and taking such receipts or receipt shall not afterwards be liable to see to the application thereof and further that my said trustees or trustee for the time being or any or either of them shall not be liable to make good any loss which shall happen to the said trust, estate moneys and premises or any part thereof or unless the same shall happen through their own or his own wilful neglect or default, nor shall any or his own wilful neglect or either of them shall be answerable for the act, receipt, neglect or default of others or either of them for his own act, receipt, neglects or defaults only. And also that it shall be lawful for my said trustees or trustee for the time being to reimburse themselves and each of them and to pay and allow to each other out of my estate, all costs, charges and expenses which the all, any all, either of them shall be put to the execution of the trust of this my will. And I do hereby nominate and appoint my said son-in-law Samuel Beckett, my son-in-law Thomas Muskett and my son John Mort to be the executors of this my last will and lastly I do revoke all former wills by me at any time heretofore made and do declare this only to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I the said testator, Mary Mort, have to this my will set my hand and seal this 16th day of August 1845.