I GEORGE STEBRY of the parish of Longhope in the County of Gloucester yeoman, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament according to the following form by the devised.

First I give and bequeath to my beloved wife MARY STERRY the hose and garden with the appurtenances thereto annexed situate in the parish of Longhope in the County of Gloucester and now in my possesion for the term of her natural life. Also I give and bequeath to my beloved wife MARY STERRY the little orchard called the Pig orchard adjoining the garden aforesaid also the goods and chattels now in my possesion for the term of her natural life And at the decease of my wife MARY STERRY the said house, garden, goods and chattels and orchard, I give and bequeath to my son JAMES STERRY and to his heirs for ever. Secondly I give and bequeath to my son JAMES STERRY and to his heirs for ever all that dwelling house situate in the parish of Longhope in the County of Gloucester my late residence together with the barn, millhouse all other out buildings appurtenances thereto annexed. Also I give and bequeath to my son JAMES STERRY aforesaid all my freehold and common land situate in the parish of Taynton and Longhope in the County of Gloucester and now in my occupation together with all securities for monies and weaving apparel and debts which shall then be due unto me. Nevertheless my son JAMES STERRY shall be subject to the payment of all my just debts funeral expenses and the following legacies or bequeathments to the undermentioned persons namely:-

First my son JAMES STERRY aforesaid shall pay to my beloved wife MARY STEBRY the sum of two shillings and six pence per week (and to be paid weekly for the term of my wife MARY STERRY’s natural life). Secondly I give and bequeath to my grandson GEORGE son of my daughter MARY ANN wife of JOHN CONSTANCE labourer the sum of thirty two pounds to be paid to him the said GEORGE CONSTANCE in good and lawful money within six months after the decease of my wife MARY STERRY if the said GEORGE CONSTANCE shall at that time be twenty one years of age. Thirdly I give and bequeath to my grandson JOHN son of the aforesaid MARY ANN and JOHN CONSTANCE twenty pounds to be paid to him the said JOHN CONSTANCE in good and lawful money within six months after the decease of my wife MARY STEBRY provided he the said JOHN CONSTANCE shall at that time be twenty one years of age. Forthly I give and bequeath to my granddaughter MARIA daughter of my daughter MARY ANN wife of JOHN CONSTANCE aforesaid the sum of forty pounds to be paid her the said MARIA CONSTANCE in good and lawful money within six months after the decease of my wife MARY STERRY and if the said MARIA CONSTANCE shall at that time be twenty one years of age. I do therefore charge my estate with the payment of the aforesaid legacies or bequeathments at the time aforementioned. Fifthly I give and bequeath to GEORGE and HENRY BOWKET Sons of my wife MARY STERRY all that piece of ground or common land now in my possesion and situate on Huntley Hill in the parish of Huntley in the County of Gloucester the said GEORGE and HENRY BOWKET to take possesion of the said piece of common land aforementioned twelve months after the decease of my wife MARY STERRY.

lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my son JAMES STERRY the sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament revoking all other Wills made by heretofore and do declare this to be my last Will and Testament. In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 21st day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three.

Signed sealed published and declared by the above Testator GEORGE STERRY as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto

Witnesses: Henry Clement Davies
John Coleman

The mark of George Sterry

 

7th September 1844

Appeared personally JAMES STERRY of Longhope in the County of Gloucester Labourer and alleged upon oath that the foregoing paperwriting contains the original last Will and Testament of GEORGE STEPRY late of Longhope aforesaid yeoman deceased who died on or about the 4th day of March 1844 leaving goods and chattels and credits wholly within the Diocese of Gloucester and Bristol under the value of twenty pounds that he is the sole Executor therein named that he will well and faithfully perform the said Will and render an inventory and account

Sworn under £20 Wherefore he prayed probate
before me let probate pass

 

In the Consistory Court of Gloucester

In the Goods of GEORGE STERRY deceased

31st August 1844

Appeared personally JOHN COLEMAN one of the subscribed witnesses to the last Will and Testament of GEORGE STERRY late of Longhope in the County of Gloucester yeoman deceased and made oath that he was present and did see the said GEORGE STERRY make his mark to the paperwriting hereunto annexed marked as purporting to be the last Will and Testament of the said deceased and that at the time the said Will was signed by the said Testator he this Deponent observed the interxxxx of the words ‘said GEORGE CONSTANCE shall at that time be twenty one years of age’ and the words ‘JOHN CONSTANCE shall at that time be twenty one years of age’ and the words ‘twelve months’ written upon an xxx in the said Will. And Deponent saith that the said Will is now in all respects in the same state and condition as the same was at the execution thereof aforesaid.

sworn at Gloucester the
31st day of August 1844 John Coleman
Before me.

(Longhope line. George Sterry was b aptised 10th Feb 1768 at Longhope. He died 4th March 1844 at Longhope. He married Joanna Brown, Sophia Colwell, Sarah Wintle and finally Mary Unknown.)