Archdeacon Wills 1752 #54, of Elizabeth Heywood, dau of Govr Rbt Heywood & housekeeper of Bshp Wilson:

‘In the name of God, Amen. I Elizabeth Heywood, being by the blessing of God in good health, and of sound and disposing mind and memory, and considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, do make this my last will and testament in manner following: First, I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God, trusting through the merits of my blessed Redeemer for pardon, in hopes of a happy resurrection. Item, I leave and bequeath to the three children of my deceased sister Jenkins, namely William Jenkins, Heywood Jenkins, Elizabeth Lesley, the sum of twenty five pounds each. Item, to my niece Mary Day twenty eight pounds, and to my niece Margaret Quayle twenty pounds. And my will and intent is that the legacies so left to my said two nieces shall be for their own proper use and at their own disposal. Item, I leave to my niece Elizabeth Murrey twenty pounds. To my godson John Allen fifteen pounds. To his brother Henry Allen ten pounds, and to their brother the Revd. Thomas Allen five pounds, and to my god-daughter Margaret Wilks wife of the revd. Mr. Wilks a guinea. Item, I leave to the poor of the Parish of Bury in Lancashire the sum of five pounds, to be disposed of by the Rector of the said parish for the time being. Item, I leave to my nephew Capt. Thomas Heywood a mourning ring of a guinea value, and my father’s picture. Item, I leave to the Minister a guinea for preaching my funeral sermon, and desire that nothing may be said on that occasion, but the hopes of my dying in the favour of God, a true Christian. Item, I leave to poor Elizabeth Casement twenty shillings, and to the eldest daughter of her sister by Thomas Cannell twenty shillings. I leave also to each of the maid servants of this house, who have lived with my Lord Bishop upwards of one year, five shillings each. And I do declare that is it my will that all and every of the legacies before mentioned are to be pain in British value. And forasmuch as I have a note from my niece Catherine Stevenson deceased, writ with her own hand and signed, but not attested by any witnesses, which note is hereunto annexed, by which she leaves to me the use of one hundred pounds in England during my life, and the principal to her sisters after my decease, if any of my nieces should dispute the validity of that note, I do hereby make void the respective legacies left to such as shall so question the said note or paper dated the 21 of July 1736. I leave the largest of my two gold rings to my cousin Elizabeth Lesley, and the other gold ring to my cousin Mr. William Jenkin’s wife. I leave also my large quarto Bible to my cousin Capt Heywood. I also leave to the Revd. Dr. Wilson a ring of the value of two guineas. To my cousin Mrs. Elizabeth Fargher of KK Malew five pounds British, and to her sister Margaret Quayle five pounds British. Also to my cousin Richard Allen five pounds British. I also leave and bequeath to the Revd. Mr. Allen’s wife my calico gown and petticoat lined with white silk and the rest of my apparel I leave to my aforesaid cousin Mrs. Elizabeth Fargher & her sister Margaret Quayle. Item, I leave and bequeath to my godson Robert Heywood ten pounds British. Item, to the poor of the parish of KK Michael, I leave the sum of ten pounds British whereof the vicar and wardens of said parish for the time being are to be trustees, and who are to lay the same out at interest for the perpetual use of said poor, and my will is that common beggars are to be excluded from any benefit of this my bequest, and that poor, old and infirm people are to have the sole benefit thereof. And that this my intention may be truly complied with, I desire that the said vicar and wardens may yearly return an account to the Lord Bishop of this diocese for the time being how the same is disposed of. Lastly, I do constitute and appoint my cousins Capt. Thomas Heywood & Mrs. Margaret Quayle executors of this my last will and testament, and of all the rest of my effects moveable and immoveable whatsoever, bequeathing them more particularly ten pounds British towards my funeral expenses. In testimony of all which I do subscribe my name and affix my seal this twenty eight day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty one. [signed] Eliz. Heywood. Witnesses: James Wilks, John Hughes, Cathrine Curlett.

At Bishop’s Court Novr. 27^th, 1752, The Revd. James Wilks, John Hughes, & Catharine Corlet have deposed that Mrs. Elizabeth Heywood being of sound mind & memory, signed, sealed & declared the foregoing writing in their presence, to be her last will and testament, and to which they at her request subscribed their names. Wherefore & whereupon Capt Thomas Heywood & the Revd. John Quayle, husband of Mrs. Margaret Quayle, are sworn executors in form of law and have given pledges for payment of debts & legacies, namely, Mr. William Quayle merchant of Douglas, & John Hughes of Bishop’s Court.

Sept. 11^th, 1753, rec’d from Capt Thos. Heywood the twenty shillings British bequeathed by the testatrix to Eliz. Casement & to be laid or for her use. [signed] Matthias Curghey.

If is pleases God, my aunt Elizabeth Heywood survives me, I leave her the use of that money I have settled in England while she lives and after her death the half of it to my sister Allen & the other half to sister Day & sister Quayle. The 21 of July 1736. [signed] Catherine. Stevenson.’