Will
Derived from Dorset History Centre; Dorchester, England, UK; Reference Number: Ad/Dt/W/1730
Will Date: 23rd October 1661.
Witnesses: John ???? and George G?sney
| Beneficiary | Relationship to Testator | Bequest |
| Andrew Loder’s wife (unnamed) | Wife | Full and whole executor of all property ‘within door & without door’; all residual estate; appointed as overseerMany wills of the period appointed one or more Overseers. An Overseer is distinct from an Executor and acts as... In full. for child Andrew; paying him six score pounds (£120) but back if son Andrew dies before age 21; receives land inheritance if son Andrew dies without heir |
| Andrew Loder (son) | Son | To be allocated six score pounds (£120) at next Candlemas (February 2nd), with money held in trust until he reaches age 21 (and for it to revert to his mother if he dies before he is 21). Land inheritance if he has heirs, but if his mother dies and he dies without heirs then the land is shared equally between Mary Loder, Andrew Golsney and Susana Ford. |
| Mary Loder | Daughter of John Loder (relationship unclear) | Equal share of land inheritance if Andrew’s mother dies and son Andrew dies without heir (shared with Andrew Golsney and Susana Ford) |
| Andrew Golsney | Son of George Golsney (relationship unclear) | Equal share of land inheritance if Andrew’s mother dies and son Andrew dies without heir (shared with Mary Loder and Susana Ford) |
| Susana Ford | Daughter of Philip Ford; testator’s sister | Twenty shillings to be paid March 25th; equal share of land inheritance if Andrew’s mother dies and son Andrew dies without heir (shared with Mary Loder and Andrew Golsney); however, her inheritance share can be cut off if testator’s mother causes damage to house or trees |
| Church (unnamed) | Institution | Twenty shillings to be paid March 25th |
| The Poor | Community | Twenty shillings to be paid March 25th, to be delivered by testator’s wife |
| Richard Strong of Waymouth | Friend | Appointed as overseer for child Andrew (alongside the wife) |
Notes:
- This will contains numerous illegible sections and damaged text, and together with the phrasing, these make some relationships and provisions unclear
- Andrew Loder (testator) had a wife and one son Andrew. The wife’s name isn’t mentioned.
- Susana Ford is identified as Andrew senior’s sister
- There is a relationship to Mary Loder (daughter of John Loder) and to John Loder, but neither is explained. Andrew Golsney and his father George Golsney are also possible relatives.
- Wife receives full control of estate as executor
- Bequests (£1 each to church and poor) are modest.
- Sister receives small monetary gift (20 shillings)
- Primary monetary inheritance of £120 goes to son Andrew with various protections for his death without an heir.
- Protection clause against potential interference by testator’s mother.
- Contingency planning for multiple generations
Grant of Probate: date unknown, but before May 1667 when the manorial court rolls record that Andrew’s wife Elizabeth Loder, widow, had remarried. Also from the manor court roll of May 1667, the son Andrew is then stated as age 14.