MIDDLEDITCH

OTHER SURNAMES MENTIONED: BROAD, DYER, HITCHMAN, MILLER, SMITH
1846 - The Will of John Middleditch, Farmer of Chedworth

This is the last will and testament of me John MIDDLEDITCH of the Parish of Chedworth in the County of Glouceter Farmer which I do make and ordain in manner and form following. First I order and direct that all my just debts funeral and testamentry expenses be fully paid and satisfied as soon as may be after my decease and I hereby charge and make liable my real as well as my personal estate with the payment thereof. I give devise and bequeath unto my friend John HITCHMAN of Northleach baker and Thomas DYER of the same place carpenter to hold to them their heirs executors administrators or assigns all my real and personal property upon trust to execute this my last will and testament as hereinafter directed and expressed. That is to say I give devise and bequeath unto my wife Francis MIDDLEDITCH all my neat proceeds from interest of money and also of all money which may be then due to me or in my possession at the time of my decease together with all my household furniture goods and chattels of what kind in nature so ever for and during her natural life should she continue my widow. Then at her decease I give and bequeath unto my son George MIDDLEDITCH all the residue and remainder of my said property to him and to his heirs forever should she have any further of her body by me then such property aforesaid to be divided between him and such issue in equal shares and portions to them their heirs and assigns forever. Should the proceeds thereof prove insufficient then my said trustees shall have full power to break in upon the principal so far as necessary and competency may require but on no other consideration whatsoever. Should she not continue my widow then she to have her thirds and all the residue and remainder of my real and personal property aforesaid. I give and bequeath unto my son George MIDDLEDITCH or to him as such issue as aforesaid as the case may be to be divided among them in such equal shares and portions as herein before directed.
Lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my wife Frances MIDDLEDITCH my executor and my friends John HITCHMAN and Thomas DYER my exectors in trust of this my last will and testament whom I equally charge with the payment of my just debts funeral and testamentry expenses. And I hereby order and direct that my said trustees shall and may retain and reimburse themselves for their troubles and expenses in and about the execution of the said trust out of the monies arising from my said property and I do hereby revoke and disannul all and every other former will or wills by me in any ways before named ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eighth day of December 1846.
The mark of John MIDDLEDITCH

Signed sealed and delivered by the said John MIDDLEDITCH as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us and in the presence of us who at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as in witness thereof.
Thomas Avery SMITH, Benjamin SMITH, John BROAD

Note by M. Tovey
Probate was granted to Frances MIDDLEDITCH on 6 December 1848. It was sworn to be valued at under £100. There is no record of his burial at St Andrews Church.
In 1841 John MIDDLEDITCH was of "Independent Means" and aged 69. In 1843 he was the tennant of William and Thomas MILLER at 395 (Rose Cottage) in Middle Chedworth.

Above will donated by Michael Tovey transcribed for a couple of local history classes that he ran last year (2000).