Documents & Data relating to the Scard Family 

The Will of  James Scard, the Miller of Shroton.(Transcription) and Comments
     The Will of Elizabeth Scard the wife of James Scard,  Miller of Shroton. (Transcription) and Comments
     Dispersal  of Estate (Both Wills) 

The Will of James Scard of Shroton (Transcription)

This  is the Last Will and Testament of me James  Scard of the Parish of Iwerne Courtney in the County of Dorset, Miller who am  weak in body but of 
sound and disposing mind in memory and understanding thanks  be given to Almighty God for the same (as follows ) after all my just debts and  funeral 
expenses are paid by my Executors herein after named 

I give to my son  John the sum of one shilling 

also I give unto Harriot Scard and Elizabeth Scard daughters of my said son John Scard the sum of forty pounds each to be paid to them and each of 
them as they shall attain their age of twenty five years also  

I give devise and bequeath unto the said Harriot Scard and Elizabeth Scard all  that my house Garden and Orchard at Fiddleford in the said County now in 
the  occupation of my said son John Scard to lease from the said Harriett and  Elizabeth Scard [their] executors and administrators share and share alike as 
Tenants in Common for all their [left blank] town Estate and  Interest which I leave therein.  

Also I give and bequeath unto my wife  Elizabeth Scard and Philip Godwin of Pimperne in the County of Dorset my  Executrix and Executors herein after 
named the sum of one hundred pounds in  trust for them to place the same out on government or sure security and to pay  the sum of four pounds a year 
unto my daughter Elizabeth Kerley wife of William  Kerley by four equal quarterly payments yearly and every year during her  natural life independent of 
her said husband and her own. [?] shall be  a good and sufficient legacy to my said executors for the same [….?] provided and my will is that if the said 
William Kerley shall die leaving his  said wife the said Elizabeth Kerley left surviving him then and in such case my  said Executors shall and may pay the 
whole of the said sum of one hundred  pounds so given to them in trust as afore said unto the said daughter Elizabeth  Kerley and the said annuity 
[left blank] to [?]  but if my said daughter shall happen to die  then [……?] or […… ?]  said  husband I give the said sum of one hundred pounds so given 
to my said  Exectutors in trust as aforesaid unto my wife Elizabeth Scard.

Also I give and bequeath unto them my  said wife and Phillip Godwin the sum of two hundred pounds in trust for when my  said wife or Phillip Godwin or 
the survivor of them and the executors or administrators of such survivor to out and place the said sum of two hundred  pounds at interest on Government 
of other good securities and to pay and apply the interest and proceeds thereof unto my Son James Scard for and during the  term of his natural life by 
equal half yearly payments and my will and devise  further is that my said son James to not marry either single daughter of  William Brewer late of 
Shroton deceased or [left blank] Mullineux being now a  servant to Mrs. Baker at Bramston House, Dorset it being much against my  consent and in case he 
do not marry either of the above mentioned women but do  marry any other prudent woman with the consent of my said trustees the said  Phillip Godwin 
and his said mother then in such case I give and bequeath  the said sum of two hundred Pounds unto my  said son James to be paid soon after his 
marriage with the consent of the  Trustees as aforesaid in manner following to wit  fifty pounds part there of within one year after this said  Marriage fifty 
pounds more at the end of two years after the said Marriage, fifty pounds more at the end of three years after his said  marriage and the remaining fifty 
pounds at the end of four years after his said marriage but in the case of my said son shall and do marry either of afore said  Hannah Brewer or [left  blank]
Mullineux and in such case it is my will that my said Trustees and Exectutors shall not pay any part of the said sum of two hundred pounds to my said son 
James but only the interest thereof for his life as afore said and  when and in such case after the decease of my said son James I give the said  sum of two
hundred pounds unto my wife.  

Also I give unto my daughter Maria Scard  the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid to her when she shall attain the age  of twenty five years.  

Also I give devise and bequeath all that  my Messuage, Tenement,  Garden, Orchard and premises situate and being at Shillingstone within said County of
Dorset unto her my said daughter Maria Scard to give to her the  Executors and administrators for all my Term Estate and Interest wherein.  

Also I give unto my brother in law William French the sum of ten pounds to be paid one year after my decease.  

Also I give unto my good friend the said  Philip Godwin of Pimperne the aforesaid the sum of five pounds to be paid to him as soon after my decease [..?].

I request my Executrix and Executors above mentioned will give to the poor of the Parish Shroton the sum of fifty shillings to be by them  distributed [..?]
at their discretion.  

All the rest, residue and remainder of  my goods chattels, Estate and effects both [legal] and personal not  herein already disposed of I give devise and 
bequeath the same unto my loving  wife Elizabeth Scard her Executors administrators and assigned for ever.  

And I request that I may be carried to Church by six poor men to each of whom I gave half a crown 

and I hereby nominate constitute and appoint to my said Wife Elizabeth Scard and Phillip Godwin joint Executrix and Executor of this my said Will 
hereby [?] all  former and other Will and Wills by me at any time [made] before and do  hereby publish and declare this to be and contain my last Will and 
Testament  containing in two sheets of paper. In  witness whereof I have to the first [?] out my name and to this last  sheet my hand and seal this the third 
day of October in the  year of our Lord one thousand  seven hundred and ninety five.  James Scard. [small Seal]

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said the Testator as said for this last Will and Testament in  the presence of us who in his presence and at his
request and in the presence  of [?]  have subscribed our  names as Witnesses [?],  John [Treg] [T] King, Betty [Tite], John Willis.   

This  Will was  proved at London the fourteenth day of January in the year of Our Lord one  thousand seven hundred and ninety six before the Right 
Honourable Sir William [Wyund]  [Knight] [?] of Laws [?] Commissionary of the Prerogative Court of  Canterbury lawfully constituted by the [?] of 
Elizabeth Scard Widow the [?] of  the deceased and Phillip [otherwise] Philip Godwin the Executors named in the said Will to whom administration of all 
and singular the Goods Chattles and Credits of the said deceased was granted them leaving [?]  first sworn by  Commissioner Duly to Administer.

NOTES:   

Information regarding the witnesses to the Will has proved elusive at this stage. However investigations regarding the two maidens, disapproved as  
potential spouses for his son James, faired a little better with some  interesting results.   James (the  younger) was at that time twenty-six years old and 
the likely Hannah Brewer  would have been twenty, James in his Will states that she was “the daughter of William Brewer deceased, late of Shroton”.   
Indeed a record was found which recorded  the burial of William Brewer on the 31st July 1794 at St. Mary’s at Shroton which would have occurred 
18 months before James recorded the event in his Will.  A baptism was recorded in the name of Hannah Brewer b.b. [base born] daughter of Martha no 
surname, a widow at St. Michael Church on the  10th March 1776 at Gussage five miles north of Shorton, it is unknown it this is the same child . 
Investigations showed that a William Brewer (he or his father) was shown on Title Deeds at Dorset Record Office for  Sotherby and Co. London 
[Cat.Ref.D1721] dated 29th September 1767  the parties mentioned were Edward Hooper of Beverage, George Read of Wiltshire  and William Brewer of 
Gussage All Saints. Which places him with interests in the village. This document was dated  around the same time that James and Elizabeth acquired the 
Shillingstone  Estate. I will leave it to the reader to continue the research if desired. 

Little information was found for; “[left blank] Mullineux being now a servant to Mrs.  Baker at Bramston House”.  No  information was uncovered for  Miss 
Mullineux, Bramston House nor Mrs. Baker. A very faint inference to a Henry Baker who married Ann Mullineux was  recorded at Alverstone Hampshire 
on the 7/7/1760.  

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The Will of Elizabeth Scard of Child Okeford (Transcription)

 The  Last Will and Testament of me Elizabeth Scard of the Parish of Child Okeford in the County  of Dorset Widow made and published the first day of 
January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety nine first I will that all sure  debts as I shall owe at the time of my decease 
together with my funeral  expenses be paid and discharged by my executors hereafter mentioned. Also I  give and bequeath unto James Lock and John 
Lock sons of Robert and Ann Lock of the Parish of Longham in the County of Dorset the sum of twenty five pounds of  good and lawful money of Great 
Britain as soon as they come to their respective ages of twenty one years but if either of them should die before they attain to that age then I give the 
whole fifty pounds to the survivor.  

Also I give and bequeath unto my  grandson John Scard son of John and Jane Scard the sum of twenty five pounds, of true and lawful money as soon as 
he arrives to the age of twenty one years  but if he should die before he come of age then I give the said twenty five pounds equally between his two 
sisters Harriot Scard and Elizabeth Scard share and share alike if they are living, if not then I give the whole to the  survivor.  All the above Legacy 
together with the Legacy left to my two granddaughters by their grandfather James Scard dead to be paid them as soon as they and any of them to reach 
the ages of twenty one years together with interest for the same from the time of my  decease and I do hereby nominate and appoint Philip Godwin of the 
Parish of  Pimperne and Benjamin Godwin of the Parish of Sturweston Cola of the said  County as trust for the said grandchildren until they cordially 
arrive to the age of twenty one years.  

Also I give and bequeath unto my son  John Scard my Leasehold Estate situate and lying in the parish of Irwerne  Minster in the said County (viz) my 
Tenement, Orchard, Garden and all belonging thereso (Leased under [Hinksman] Esq.) of Salisbury in the County of  Wilts (Wiltshire) to him and his 
heirs till the expiration of the lease  together with fifty pounds of good and lawful money of Great Britain.  

Also I give and bequeath unto my  daughter Elizabeth Kerley out of my Leasehold tenement (late Mills?) situate and lying in the said Parish of Iwerne 
Minster in said County (Lease under Thomas Boyer or Bower Esq.) annuity the tenement and garden next to said  Parish only for her life, if she dies 
without fruit, then and in that case I  give the said tenement and garden to my granddaughter Harriot Scard daughter to  my son John Scard to her and of 
the lease. 

Also  I give unto my said daughter Elizabeth Kerley the sum of one hundred and fifty  pounds of good lawful money.  

Also I give and bequeath unto my daughter Maria A Scard the other tenement and that Orchard (late Mills?) situate as last mentioned also under the said 
Lord and adjoining to that last  mentioned on condition that she pay to her sister Elizabeth Kerely the yearly  sum of two pounds and ten shillings by two 
equal payments (viz) one pound and five shillings at every half year next after my decease during my daughter  Elizabeth’s life out and from the said 
orchard and I do hereby charge the said  Orchard with the payment thereof.

Also I give and bequeath unto my said  daughter Maria A Scard that the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds of good  and  lawful money together with my 
best [?] and all belongings, my cloak and best looking [Chafs].  My wearing apparell of every sort and kind I  give equally between my two daughters 
Elizabeth Kerley and Maria Scard and two daughters of my son John Scard share and share alike. 

Also I give and bequeath unto my son  James Scard my Leasehold Estate situate and lying in the Parish of Shroton otherwise Iwerne Courtney in that said
County held under Lord Rivers on condition that he pay to his brother John Scard out and from said Estate the  yearly sum of four pounds by two equal 
payments namely two pounds every half year during my son John Scard’s life to [?]   from the time of my decease of good and lawful money of Great 
Britain and I do hereby charge the Tenement and Mill with the payment thereof.  I will that as soon as a lease drops that my said son James Scard shall 
put in another to fill up otherwise his brother or either of his sisters may do it but if my said son James Scard should die without lawful heirs then I give 
the said Tenement and Mill to my daughter Maria Scard and her heirs.  

And I will that all the above Legacies (except the Legacies which are given to James Lock and John Lock and to my grandson John Scard together with the 
Legacies left my granddaughters by their grandfather James Scard) shall be paid within six  calendar months next after decease likewise the Legacy that 
was left by their  grandfather James Scard if not paid before said time.  

All my household goods and furniture of  every sort and kind (that is not above given) I give equally between my two  sons and two daughters share and 
share alike at the discretion of my Executors. Also I give and bequeath unto my two Executors Philip Godwin and Benjamin  Godwin the sum of five pounds
to be divided equally between them (viz) two  pounds and two shillings for their trust and I will that it shall and may be  lawful for my trustees and the 
survivor of them to [?] and retain to themselves and himself out of and from the efforts all efforts costs and expenses and they  or other than them shall 
sustain or be put unto (more that the legacy left  them) for or by reason of the execution of the trust hereby in them  imposed. All the efforts that I did [?]
of (after my funeral expenses just debts and all the above mentioned legacies are paid together with my dues and demands of whosoever or whatsoever [?]
I  give equally between my two sons and two daughters share and share alike. 

And I  do hereby make nominate constitute and appoint the said Philip Godwin and  Benjamin Godwin joint executors to this my last will and testament the
witnesses wereof I the said Elizabeth Scard [?] to this my last will and  testament by my hand and Seal this day and year first above written 
Elizabeth Scard [small Seal]

Signed Sealed Published and declared by the Testatrix Elizabeth Scard as and for her last will and testament by two prosecute of us was subscribed our 
names as witnesses George [Mark] [ Sow, Low or Gow]. and Robert Ames.

This Will was proved at London the twenty sixth day of March in the  year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred before the most honourable Sir  
Willam [?] Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissionary of/at  Prorogation Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oaths of Philip  
Godwin and Benjamin Godwin the executors named in the said will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the goods Chattels and credits
of the deceased [leaving them] first sworn duly to Admin.

NOTES:  

The two other beneficiaries of  Elizabeth’s Will other than her immediate family i.e. James and John Lock:  James was the elder of the two boys baptised  
on the 27th May 1781 at St. James at Poole Dorset [FHO] and was  nineteen years old at the time of the bequeathal.  His brother John was baptised‘John Scard Lock’ on the 14th  February 1787 [FHO] at the same venue and was thirteen at the time of his  bequeathal.  Nothing at this stage was 
discovered regarding their parents or their relationship to the Scard  family.  An investigation to reveal the maiden name of their mother Ann proved 
fruitless. Although the Will states they were at that time resident at  Longham some 16 miles away, they seem to be late of Poole just 10 miles from  
Shroton.  A death was found of Robert Lock on the 16th September 1837 at St.James Poole aged 85 years.  This reference was disregarded as too many 
similar burials of this name were found.  The burial of Ann was not pursued for the same reason. 

Nothing was found for the two witnesses  George Sow (Low or Gow) and Robert Ames.   Both would be valuable in finding potential extended connections to
the Scard family.   
[note: The  former name was mentioned on the Immigration Papers to Australia of James Scard (the younger) of Henstidge.  James was recorded on the document 
stating that a John Gow (Low or Sow) was his uncle and had preceded him to Australia. Investigations in identifying this ‘Uncle’ have so far been unsuccessful.]

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Dispersal of the Estate  (Both Wills)

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©Judy Adams 2007