Will of Sir John Hopkins, Knight, 1796

"John Hopkins one of the Aldermen of the City of London." My dear wife being in possession of a very ample fortune in her own right and not desiring any addition thereto, I give her all my Plate, Linen, China, Household Goods, Carriages and Horses. I give my said wife my messuage and appurtenances at Snaresbrook, Essex, wherein I now reside; my Exors after her death to sell the same. To my eldest son William Hopkins my freehold estate in Lanvihangel Ystern Llewern, co. Monmouth. To my daughter Elizabeth Hopkins £1560, I having already advanced a like sum to her brothers and sisters. I am entitled to two third shares of the Verdigrease works at Newnham, co. Gloucester. My son-in-law Christopher Taddy Esqr. My said son William, in the event of his surviving my dear wife, will be entitled under the will of my late father-in-law, Charles Simpkins Esqr. to a very considerable estate for life. My five children, William Hopkins, Charles Hopkins, Mary Ann, wife of Christopher Taddy, Amelia, wife of Thomas Hopkins Esqr., and Elizabeth Hopkins. Executors : my brother-in-law, John William Anderson, Esqr, Alderman, Nathaniel Boutflower, Esqr, and my son William Hopkins. Witnesses: P. W. Crowther, Edw: Peale and Jno Peale.

Codicil: 11 July 1793. "Sir John Hopkins, Knight, one of the Aldermen of the City of London." My daughter Elizabeth lately intermarried with Joseph Bradney, Esqr. Witnesses: P. W. Crowther, Edwd Peale, and ]no Peale.

Codicil: 23 Nov. 1793. I appoint my son-in-law, Mr Christopher Taddy, an Executor in place of my brother-in-law, J.W. Anderson Esqr, Alderman, &c., being apprehensive that by his late immersion in public concerns, and some other circumstances, he may be desirous to decline that trouble. As a further reason for my so doing I regret the indication of a diminution in his attachment to me and my family "conscious and so must he be too that I have ever deserved the contrary, respecting the groundless imputation he has frequently insinuated that I was instrumental to his prejudice in framing the will of our late father-in-law, Mr C. Simkins."

28 Oct. 1796. Apeared Thomas Jackson of Paternoster Row, Druggist, and Philip Wyatt Crowther of Guildhall, London, gent., to testify to handwriting of last Codicil.

Will dated 19 July 1792. Proved 2 Dec. 1796, by William Hopkins, Esqr, the son, and Christopher Taddy, Esqr. Nathaniel Boutflower, Esqr, the other executor, renouncing.