Hewitt Family Wills

JAMES HEWITT 1752 - 1829

This is the last will and testament of me JAMES HEWITT of Rockcliffe in the Parish of Rockcliffe in the County of Cumberland,Gentlemen being of sound and disposing mind,memory and understanding give and bequeath to my beloved wife MARY all any household furniture,Linen,Plate,China and Books with all my stock and crops.I give and bequeath to my daughter ISABELLA the wife of JOHNATHON NELSON the sum of six hundred pounds to be paid in the following manner,Three hundred pounds part thereof to be paid twelve months next after the death of my said Dear Wife MARY and the remaining three hundred pounds at the end of two years next after the death of my Dear Wife with lawful interest upon the last mentioned three hundred pounds for the two last years payable yearly and with payment of the said legacy of six hundred pounds accordingly,I do hereby charge and make chargeable my four Freehold Close,late Wilkins Close situate at or near Cringledyke aforesaid in the Parish of Stanwix. I also charge and make chargeable my Tythe at High Cringledyke aforesaid along with my said four closes for the said payment of the said legacy

I give and devise to my grand daughter MARY HEWITT my two fields lying on the north side of the road leading to Carlisle to Glasgow containing six acres or thereabouts to get and enter upon the said two fields at the death of my said Wife,but in case my said grand daughter dying before she attains the age of twenty one years and without issue my will in that case,my two said fields be sold and divided amongst her brothers and sisters,and have and have alike when the youngest one attains twenty one years.I give and devise unto my son JAMES HEWITT all my new erected dwelling house,buildings and office and garden now occupied be me and situate at Rockcliffe aforesaid also the close or enclosure of land thereto adjoining called the croft and also my cottages,weaving shops and premises,with there Appurtenances situate in Rockcliffe aforesaid,and I order and direct that my said son JAMES receive and enter upon the said premises at the death of my said wife.She my said wife occupying the said premises during the term of her natural life,and direct and order that my said wife shall pay and keep down the interest of the sum of four hundred pounds owing to {Mup BEWLEY?} and secured to her by a mortgage of part of the said premises devised to my said wife as aforesaid and further if it shall be called in or transferred during the term of natural life of my dear wife.I also direct that all such transfers shall be made at my son and heir JOHN HEWITT do not pay the interest of the said mortgage and transfers if and during the term of my dear wife's natural life.that it shall and may be lawful for her my said dear wife to enter upon my said four fields called WILKINS fields for the payment of such interest and expense incurred thereon during her natural life. I give and devise to my said wife the interest arising from Low Cringledyke Tythe her natural life. I give and devise the said dwelling house,buildings and offices,garden close or enclosure of Land Cottages weaving I hold and situate at Rockcliffe aforesaid.And I also give a devise unto my son JAMES the sum of ten pounds yearly and every year out of Low Cringledyke Tythe to be paid to him during his natural life by my son JOHN HEWITT or his heirs to begin and commence at the death of my said Dear Wife but in case my son JOHN HEWITT or his heirs refuse the said Tythe at the yearly rent,in that case it may be lawful for my trustees herein after mentioned to let or draw the said Tythe and pay the sum to my son JAMES HEWITT during his natural life and at my son JAMES HEWITT decease I nominate and appoint my Son in Law JOHNATHON NELSON and My nephew THOMAS ARMSTRONG in trust Actually to sell and dispose of my said premises at Rockcliffe aforesaid and also Low Cringledyke Tythe either in public sale or by private contract for the best price that can be reasonably had for the aforesaid premises so willed to my son JAMES HEWITT and the sum of money arising from the said property be equally divided amongst my son JAMES children when the youngest of the surviving children attains the age of twenty one years with reasonable expense attended the sale or execution of the same.I give and devise unto my son JOHN HEWITT all my allotment of peat moss lying and being in a place called The {JUNS?] in the said parish of Rockcliffe to be equally divided between them share and share alike,but with this difference that my son JAMES share of Peatmoss be sold with his other premises aforesaid and the said money thence ensuing to be divided equally amongst his children and I do hereby charge the said Closes late Wilkins and my Close or Closes part of Rockcliffe Common lying on the south west side of the said road leading from Carlisle to Glasgow with the payment of my debts for which I have given security for my said son JAMES wether by bond note or otherwise and exonerate him from the same.I give and devise unto my son JOHN my Heir at law,all the said closes Late Wilkins and the said Closes part of Rockcliffe Common,lying on the south west side of the Glasgow Road a fore said and all the residue of my real estate charged never the less as here in after mentioned.I give and bequeath unto my said son JOHN HEWITT all the residue of my personal estate subject to the payment of all my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses.Except the sum of four hundred pounds and interest secured by mortgage as a fore said from which exonerate my personal estate.And I nominate, constitute and appoint my said son JOHN Sole executor of this my last Will and testament and hereby revoke all former and other wills by me at any time hereto fore made and declare these present only to be and contain my last will and testament.

In witness whereof I have to this my will contained on two sheets of paper to the preceding sheet ,set my hand and seal this eleventh day of April one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine.

JAMES HEWITT Signed and sealed published and declared by the said testators as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us,who have here subscribed our names as witness.

John SINCLAIR,GEORGE SINCLAIR,ELIZABETH IRWING

Effects under £200 proved by JOHN HEWITT 14 April 1832.

Gravestone In Rockcliffe Churchyard {Near To Entrance]

James Hewitt of Cringledyke died at Rockcliffe Beck April 23rd 1829 aged 76 years

Mary wife April 1st 1834 aged 71 years.

John [Son] Cavandish Place Carlisle March 9th 1863 aged 69 years.

Elizabeth relic of the above.

John died at Meadow terrace November 18th 1865 aged 75 years

Margeret MESSENGER [Daughter of John and Elizabeth.] died at Cavandish place Carlisle Dec 71years

The Gravestone is not in good repair and some words not clear.