James Spargo Will

Transcript of James Spargoe’s Will 1851

In the Name of God Amen I James Spargoe of the parish of Mabe in the County of Cornwall Yeoman being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to God for it, calling into mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make this and ordain it to be my very last Will and Testament that is to say Principally  and first of all I give and recommend my Soul into the hand of Almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent manner at the discretion of my Executor nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the almighty power of God and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give demise and dispose of the same again in the following manner and form.

Pious Preambles: Many wills began with a religious statement or preamble, such as “In the name of God, Amen,” or commended the testator’s soul to God, reflecting a belief in a Christian afterlife and the importance of dying in a state of grace.

The lack of punctuation is normal for legal documents. 

First I give and bequeath to my Son Thomas my leasehold premises known by the name of Nicholas Downs situate in the parish of Mabe and part of Palestine – I likewise to Thomas give the house near to Helland Mill which is built on the tenement of Higher Spargo by paying to his Brother John the sum of two pounds a year of lawful money of Great Britain and that every year as long as Thomas hold the House and Gardens the first payment to be made in the twelve calendar months after my decease the repairs of the house to be kept up by Thomas and John share and share alike I also give to my Son Thomas all my Goods and Chattels of every description in doors and out in order to pay my debts and demands as far as within his power I likewise give unto Mary my Daughter one pound per year of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to her by her Brother Thomas the first payment to be made in twelve calendar months after my decease – I also give to my Daughter Peggy two shillings and sixpence of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to her in six calendar months after my decease. I also give to my Grandson Jeremy my Violin as asked it in my lifetime – I likewise give to my Grandson William James my Gold Watch and Gold Guard chain the same to be taken care of by some trusty person until the said William James attain the years of twenty one and should he die before twenty one then it is to be delivered over to his parents as the …… I also give to Hannah my Sister a pair of Spectacles in silver frames and lastly I give to Emma my watch that I frequently take in my pocket and other sundrys to requite her kindness to me in my lifetime trusting she will keep the same as a token in memory of a dying friend I also give Luke one shilling – James Kempe one Shilling – Rebecca one Shilling and Elizabeth one Shilling and Phillis my daughter in law one shilling. Each to be paid in lawful money in six calendar months after my decease

So what were the bequests actually worth? 

£2 would be worth approximately £162 in 2017 and would buy you 3 stones (42lbs) of wool but not enough to buy a cow in 1850.

2 shillings and sixpence (12 ½p) would be worth about £10. So a shilling……. Not much. Suggests that James did not have a lot of cash, or it was left to Thomas to run the farm.