The Will of Robert Swain 1798
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1798/Robert Swain

In the name of God Amen I Robert Swain of great Harwood In County of Lancaster Yeoman, being of a perfect mind and memory thanks be unto God for the same. Do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say, first it is my will and mind that all my just Debts be paid my funeral Expenses and the Charges of the Probation of this my Will be fully discharged in manner as is here under mentioned, first I give Devise and bequeath unto Margaret my beloved wife During her Natural life the issues and profits of all my Freehold and Leasehold Estates Lying in great Harwood aforesaid together with all of my household furniture, also I give and bequeath unto my daughter Alice Swain forty pounds of Lawful British Money, to be levied and raised out of my freehold estates in great Harwood aforesaid also I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Alice Swain, after the Decease of Margaret my beloved wife, one Cottage or Dwelling House During her Natural Life, with the Land or Ground lying on the backside thereof, now in the possession of Jonathon Dugdale as tenant, Also I give and bequeath unto Mary my Daughter, wife of William Mercer thirty three pounds of Lawfull British Money to be raised and levied out of my freehold estates in great Harwood aforesaid. Also I give and bequeath unto Margaret my Daughter Wife of John Ainsworth forty pounds of Lawfull British Money to be raised and levied out of my freehold estates in great Harwood aforesaid. Also it is my Will and mind that all the aforesaid Legacies Shall be raised as aforesaid and paid in Twelve Months after the decease of Margaret my wife, if it happens that she survive me. Further I give and bequeath unto Alice Swain my Daughter at the death of my beloved Wife one Equal Moiety of all my Household furniture of what kind and Nature soever it be and if she still Continues to Cohabit and Dwell with my beloved wife Margaret is my Will and mind that she shall have one fourth of the profits arising from my Freehold and Leasehold estates in great Harwood aforesaid. till the death of Margaret my beloved Wife. Also I give Devise to my son Robert Swain, after the decease of my beloved wife Margaret and to his heirs ALL my Freehold and Leasehold estates in great Harwood aforesaid and also the rest residue and remainder of my goods and Chattels and personal and effects whatsoever or whosoever the same may or can be found being my own in right paying thereout my Legacies as above and also paying and Discharging all my just Debts the probation of this my Last Will and Testament and the funeral of me and my beloved Wife. Also I give unto Robert Swain my son and his heirs that Cottage or Dwell House and premises. At the death of my Daughter Alice Swain. Lastly I nominate Constitute and Appoint Robert Swain my son and Alice Swain my Daughter. Executor and Executrix of this my last Will and Testament giving them Equal power in the Execution thereof. Hoping they will faithfully Discharge the trusts I have hereby reposed in them satisfying and Confirming this, and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have Hereunto set my hand and Seal in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety six
Signed sealed pronounced and declared by the said Robert Swain as his Last Will and Testament in his presence and the presence of each other have hereto subscribed our names. James Baron John Smalley James Smalley

24 April 1798 Robert Swain the executor within named was sworn in common form

Probate 24 April 1798