Dated 1765

Below is the will of Thomas Hext, baptised on the 17th May 1699, the son of Francis Hext and Elizabeth Waddesden, and the husband of Getrude Hawkins.

In The Name of God Amen I Thomas Hext of Trewarren in the parish of St Austell in the County of Cornwall Esqr. being of Sound and Disposing Mind Memory and Understanding blessed be God Do make this my last Will and Testament in manner following

First I bequeath my Soul unto the hands of Almighty God and my Body to a private Christian Burial in full hopes of Everlasting happiness through the all Sufficient Merits of my most ? Redeemer Jesus Christ --- Item Whereas my Son Samuel Hext stands Tenant according to the Custom of the mannor of Tervington Pannell of the Ancient Dutchy of Cornwall of all and Singular my Messuages Lands and Premises Situate within the Villages and fields of Trewarren Parcell of the Said Mannor In Trust for such purposes as I Should by Will or otherwise Divert or Appoint I do therefore Give unto my Dear Wife Gertrude Hext my said Dutchy Lands and Premises Situate within the said villages and fields of Trewarren for and during her natural life and Demise She will be pleased to Accept of the Sum of Fifty Guinneas at her pleasure with all or any part of the Household Goods and Implements of Husbandry with the Stock on the Estate at Trewarren aforesaid my said Wife not to be Accountable for any of the Said Goods or Stock I also Give to my said Wife the use of my Silver Plate during her life Item I Give to my Son Henry Hext Ten Guinieas as my Four Estates are Intailed upon Him and I have been Generous in his Education he cannot expect more Item I Give unto my Son John Hext the One hundred and fifty pounds which was advanced by me and is now due from William Pearce by Mortgage on a Surrender of a Tenement called Olivers Tenement in Trewarren aforesaid to my said son John Hext and I also Give to my Said Son John Hext fifty pounds to be paid him at the End of Twelve Months after the Decease of his Mother but if his said Mother Gives him by ‐‐‐‐(?) fifteen or Twenty pounds a year with what restrictions She thinks proper as an Annuity, then this fifty pounds is not payable Item I Give to my sister Jane Hext Eight pounds per Annum during her life by Quarterly Payments the first payment thereof to be made and begin at the End of three months after my said Wifes Decease but in Case She Sales or Disposes of the Said Annuity or any part thereof the Same Annuity to be void and no more Payable Item I Give to my Daughter in Law Margery Hext and to each of her Children Ten Guineas a piece Item I Give unto my Said Son Samuel Hext and his Heirs after the Death of my Said Wife all and Singular my Said Messuages Lands and Premises Situate within the village and fields of Trewarren aforesaid parcell of the Said Ancient Dutchy of Cornwall but on this Consideration that my Said Son Samuel Shall pay unto my Said Son john Twenty five pounds per Annum During his life Provided nevertheless that if my Said Son John Shall Survive his Brother Henry and be thereby Possessed of or Intitled to the Lands which are Intailed upon by first Second and other Sons then and from thenceforth this Annuity to be Void and of no Effect and no longer Payable or Paid to my Said Son John Hext and my Intent and Meaning is and I do hereby Direct that this said Annuity of Twenty Five pounds shall be paid by Quarterly payments to my Said Son John Hext the first payment thereof to be made and begin at the End of three months after the Death and Decease of my Said Wife and not before and in Case my Said Son John Hext Shall Sell or Dispose of the said Annuity or any part thereof, the same to be also from thenceforth null and Void and no longer payable and paid Item also the rest of my Goods and Chattels with whatever Lands I may be possessed of or Intitled unto at the time of my Death (and which are not already Intailed on my first Second and other sons by any Deed or Deeds Will or Wills I do hereby Give Devise and bequeath unto my Said Son Samuel Hext his Heirs and Assigns for ever and do make and appoint him whole and Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this first Day of December in the yeare of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Sixty five ‐ Tho. Hext ‐ Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Testator as his last Will and Testament in their presence of us who have Signed our names in his presence and in the presence of each other, the interlineations in the 24 & other Lines being first made but particularly in the 19th Richd. Hobb Junr. Richd. Puckay Humphry Trewarran? This Will was proved at London the Twenty first Day of June in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Sixty Eight before the Right Worshipful George Hay Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully Constituted by the Oath of Samuel Hext the Son of the Deceased and Sole Executor named in the said Will to whom Administration was Granted of all and Singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased he having been first Sworn by Commission duly to Administer