Evan Richards’ Will
This is the Will of Evan Richards, father of Ann Rosser.
In the Name of God, Amen. I Evan Richards of the parish of Shirenewton in the County of Monmouth being through God’s Mercy (though weak in body) yet of a sound & perfect understanding & memory, do make this my last Will & Testament – Imprimus. I commit my Soul into the hands of God hoping that when it departs from hence he will it into his eternal kingdom –
Item I give my Body to the earth when it shall please God to call me hence, desiring my Executrix to be at the expense of seeing it decently buried – As to my worldly estate I will that all my lawful debts be paid & I give to my beloved Granddaughter Mary Lewis the house wherein I now live & all the household furniture thereto belonging, to her and her Heirs forever. I also give to the said Mary Lewis & her Heirs forever that Land of mine situate in the manor of the Rector of Shirenewton parish together with all the rights and privileges thereof as now enjoyed by me. I also give unto the said Mary Lewis the remainder of all of my worldly goods & estate of what nature soever, only that out of my said estate I give to my Granddaughter Anne Morgan the Sum of five pounds sterling to be paid to her by my Executrix when she shall arrive at the age of twenty one years.
I also hereby appoint the aforesaid Mary Lewis the sole Executrix of this my last Will & Testament. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand & seal this nineteenth day of October in the Year of our Lord 1796: The Mark // of Evan Richards. Sealed, signed & delivered by the abovenamed Evan Richards for & as his last Will & Testament in the presence of us;
John Hughes
David Mathews
Christopher Spurr
8th January 1798
Mary Lewis Spinster the natural & lawful granddaughter & sole Executrix in the above written with named was sworn to the truth thereof & to the faithful performance of the same & that the Goods Chattels & Credits[?] of the said deceased do not amount in value to the sum of Twenty Pounds. Before me [?] Hall
Proved at Llandaff before the Chancellor on the eighth day of January one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight on the oath of the granddaughter and sole Executrix.
It is interesting to note that Evan Richards passes his entire estate down to two granddaughters. One, Mary Lewis, is the daughter of Ann Rosser and the other, Ann Morgan, is the daughter of Mary Richards a younger sister of Ann Rosser.
Of interest is that in one of Elizabeth Cooper’s documents it is recorded that only one daughter of Ann Rosser was alive at the time of her first husband’s death. This daughter is named in Evan Richards Will as Mary Lewis. This means that the two deceased daughters of Ann Rosser were Susanna and Nancy. One of these will be the daughter buried beneath the Chapel in the vicinity of the pulpit.