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HANDWRITTEN WILL of RICHARD DODD, RECTOR of COWLEY, MIDDLESEX COUNTY. DATED MAY 13, 1798.
Single-Fold Sheet to make four pages, handwritten on the front page and on the two inner pages.
Written on laid-paper with the WATERMARK “ALLEE 1796”.
The writing is bright and clear, though the calligraphy is somewhat difficult. There are numerous folds from where the will had been folded into a small size, there is some edge wear including a few small closed edge tears. Still a solid, clean, manuscript Will.
Here is my transcription of the manuscript Will (pardon my errors):
“I Richard Dodd Rector of Cowley in the County of Middlesex revoking all other wills, do make this my last will and Testament. Imprimo: I appoint my dear wife Eliz. Dodd & the Revd. Philip S. Dodd my second son the joint executors & the administrators of this my said will desiring & ordering that they will within in one twelve month of my decease or before of they think proper buy & transfer & place two thousand pounds ________ in the name & for the use of my son William Dodd & likewise that they buy & place the same sum in the same stock in the name of & for the use of my daughter Frances Margaret Dodd. That they assign and make over to them likewise these shares. In the Middlesex _______________ that_______________ / _______________ / names of William / _______________, Dodd _______________. The rest & residue of my property, be it of whatever kind I leave to my dear wife desiring that she will leave it to her children. Elizabeth Philip & Charles such shares & proportions as she shall think right & proper (trusting she will not whilst living or at her death leave any improper partiality of she regards the memory of a Dear affectionate husband who look unwearied pains to save her of them from the distrust she in early life experienced from. The inability of a most excellent Father and afford him any _______________ I sign this on the thirteenth of May in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight.—Rich Dodd.”
