The Family of Thomas and Margaret Norris: Wills

Thomas Norris

In the Name of God, Amen, I Thomas Norris of Croston in the County of Lancaster Yeoman being weak in Body, but of sound Mind and Memory, (blessed be God) do this thirteenth Day of August in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred fifty & six, make & publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say) my Will and Mind is that all my just Debts, Funeral Expences & the Probate hereof be first paid & discharged and then I Will and Order that Margaret my Wife have for her own use the Parlour during her Life if the Lease in being continue so long, and all the rest residue of both my Real & personal Estate I give to my Son Hugh Norris, nevertheless chargeable with the following Sums respectively (Viz) One hundred Pounds to be paid out & from my personal Effects to my four Daughters Margaret, Jane, Elizabeth and Mary, share & share alike twelve Months after my Decease, I also give unto my said daughters the further Sum of ffifty pounds to be paid unto them yearly in five years after my said Wife's Decease

Also I will and Order that my said Son pay unto his Mother yearly the Sum of eight Pounds at two equal portions half yearly during her Life and I also give unto Robert my grandson the Sum of twenty Pounds to be paid him as soon as he arrives at his full age of twenty one years & if it should happen that his Uncle put him out as an apprentice that the Charge thereof be reckoned as part of his twenty Pounds and Lastly I do by these presents Nominate Constitute and appoint Margaret my Wife, Hugh my Son, and John Ryding of Croston aforesaid Yeoman Executors of this my last Will & Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal the Day & Year first above written.

Thos. Norris X his Mark (with wax seal)

Signed Sealed and Delivered by the within Named Thomas Norris as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who were present at the Signing & Sealing thereof.

(signed) Richard Coates, William Baxtonden, John Helm

March 29th 1757

Margaret Norris, Hugh Norris & John Ryding the Executrix & Executors within named took the Oath of an Executor in common form before me (signed) S. Master, Surrogate

Probate issued ye 4th of April 1757

Margaret Norris

I can find no record of Margaret Norris having left a Will. It is possible that she had no real or personal estate in her own right.

NOTES:
1:	The spelling of Margaret's surname was spelled variously as Whitely. Whiteley and Whitley.
2:	The approximate birth years for Thomas & Margaret's children are VERY approximate as I have been unable as yet to find any record of their births or baptisms.