LEE/EVERETT in Hemel Hempstead

[[Ray]]

Hi

We did not address your question re proximity to the church.

I knew in the back of my mind something may not be what it may seem.
There are 3x "waterend/water end"'s in Hertfordshire around Hemel Hempstead.

You typed "waterend" which is "Brocket Hall" (N&E of HH)
You seem to be describing "Water End" which is either
"Colney Heath" (S&E ofHH) or
Great Gaddesden / HH (probable from your descriptions)

Would you expand on which one you "prefer" and why?

Ray

Grey, damp, overcast, miserable in Herts, and that's just me 

 

[carlp]

Please see below part of Marvin Bowles will.


Bowles Marvin of Great Gaddesden

In the name of God amen the thirteenth day of January in the tenth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord George by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith and In the year of our lord One Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty and Three I marvin Bowles  of Waterend in the parish of Great Gaddesden in the county of Hertford Yeoman being of good health and of  perfect mind memory  & understanding (thanks be to God for the same) and remembering the certainty of death but the uncertainty of the time thereof do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) First and principally I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Maker and Creator hoping assuredly through the merritts of Jesus Christ my Savior and Redeemer to be partaker of everlasting life and my body I committ to the earth to be decently burried in the churchyard of Hemelhempsted in the county of Hertford as near the grave of my late deceased Mother as may be as for such temporal estate as it hath pleased almighty God to bless me withal I do hereby give will devise and bequeath the same as followith: Imprimis, I do give will  and devise unto my nephew William Willis the younger (youngest son of my Brother in law William Willis of Bushey in the said county of  Hertford)  and his heirs and assigns, All those my free tenements or dwellings with their & every of their Appurtences Situate Standing and being at Waterend aforesaid in the parish of Great Gaddesden heretofore one Messuage cottage or Tenement and called or known by the name of Moses’s and all houses outhouses buildings barns stables yards gardens Orchards and backsides to them or any of them belonging or in any xxx appertaining and alls all those my three closes of arable land by meadows or pasture ground thereto belonging and adjoining containing together by Estimation Twelve Acres be their more or less and are called or known by the several names of The Home field, Middle Field and The Further Field with their and every of theier Appurtences (which said three tenements or dwellings and closes are copyhold and are holden by copy of court roll of the mannor of Great Gaddesden which I have surrendered to the use of this my last will and Testament) and all other my lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever situate lying and being of the said parrish of Great Gaddesden with their and every of their appurtenances to the use and behoof of my said nephew William Willis  the younger his heirs &  assigns for ever subject unto & under this provies and upon this condition nevertheless that he the said William Willis my said nephew


Carl

[[Ray]]

Hi

From the wording of the will I'd agree that Water End (northwest of HH) is the place meant.

Interesting though is that Marvin left his estate to his (youngest) nephew.

Does that mean he never married / had children?
Certainly implies that if he had then they were not living (nor any elder nephews).

Was he the "last living" Bowles?

Ray
ps You don't think that Bowles was really Bowler?

[HannahB]

He could have left the estate to his youngest nephew because the older ones were otherwise taken care of. H

[HannahB]

In the posted transcript of the will there is the beginning of a condition which is left off.  Could that condition have been that the nephew change his last name to Bowles?  This was a fairly common practice among affluent families - the Verneys from Claydon did it and also the family who owned Uppark (forget the name). H

[carlp]

I am going to try and send the entire Will in two parts, See Below.


Bowles Marvin of Great Gaddesden

In the name of God amen the thirteenth day of January in the tenth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord George by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith and In the year of our lord One Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty and Three I marvin Bowles  of Waterend in the parish of Great Gaddesden in the county of Hertford Yeoman being of good health and of  perfect mind memory  & understanding (thanks be to God for the same) and remembering the certainty of death but the uncertainty of the time thereof do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) First and principally I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Maker and Creator hoping assuredly through the merritts of Jesus Christ my Savior and Redeemer to be partaker of everlasting life and my body I committ to the earth to be decently burried in the churchyard of Hemelhempsted in the county of Hertford as near the grave of my late deceased Mother as may be as for such temporal estate as it hath pleased almighty God to bless me withal I do hereby give will devise and bequeath the same as followith: Imprimis, I do give will  and devise unto my nephew William Willis the younger (youngest son of my Brother in law William Willis of Bushey in the said county of  Hertford)  and his heirs and assigns, All those my free tenements or dwellings with their & every of their Appurtences Situate Standing and being at Waterend aforesaid in the parish of Great Gaddesden heretofore one Messuage cottage or Tenement and called or known by the name of Moses’s and all houses outhouses buildings barns stables yards gardens Orchards and backsides to them or any of them belonging or in any xxx appertaining and alls all those my three closes of arable land by meadows or pasture ground thereto belonging and adjoining containing together by Estimation Twelve Acres be their more or less and are called or known by the several names of The Home field, Middle Field and The Further Field with their and every of theier Appurtences (which said three tenements or dwellings and closes are copyhold and are holden by copy of court roll of the mannor of Great Gaddesden which I have surrendered to the use of this my last will and Testament) and all other my lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever situate lying and being of the said parrish of Great Gaddesden with their and every of their appurtenances to the use and behoof of my said nephew William Willis  the younger his heirs &  assigns for ever subject unto & under this provies and upon this condition nevertheless that he the said William Willis my said nephew his heirs executors administrators and assigns or sum or one of them do and shall within Blank pay or cause to be paid unto my nephew Henry Willis his eldest brother and other of his sons of my said brother in law  Wm. Willis the Summ of Four Shillings p week for & during the term of his natural life which said Sum of Four Shillings p week I do hereby  give and bequeath unto him the R Henry Willis my said nephew for and during the time of his natural life to be paid to him on every Monday morning out of the rents and profits of my said copyhold estate in Great Gaddesden befor given & devised to the P Wm. Willis my nephew  and I do hereby charge and make the said copyhold estate chargeable with the payment of the same for & during the terme of the natural life of the said Henry Willis my said nephew and subject with and upon this further condition that he the said Wm. Willis my said nephew his heirs executors administrators or assigns or xxx any of them do and shall out of the said copyhold estate to him devised as  aforesaid well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto my nephew Marvin Bowles youngest son of my brother Leonard Bowles and my niece Mary Willis sister to him the said Wm: Willis the younger the full some of Fifty Pounds apiece of lawful money of Great Britain which I hereby give and bequeath them to be respectively paid to them by my said nephew Wm: Willis with legal interest fo the same from my death out of the said Cophold Estate held in the mannor at Great Gaddesden to him before herein given and devised when they shall respectively attain to their respective ages of One and Twenty years  And my Will is that in case my said nephew Marvin Bowles or my niece Mary Willis do or shall happen to dye or depart this life before he or she shall have  attained his or her respective age of one (and twenty) years then the legacy of Fifty Pounds and interest of him or her shall so dying shall not be paid nor shall the copyhold estate hereby given & devised to my said nephew Wm: Willis  Hand?

[carlp]

2nd page

? Or be charged or any ways chargeable with the payment thereof and after unto and upon this further condition that he the said Wm: Willis my said nephew his heirs executors administrators or assigns or sum or one of them do and shall within inxxx next after the decease of my said nephew henry Willis well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto and amongst all the sons & daughters of my said brother Leonard Bowles xxx be then living the full sum of One Hundred Pounds of lawful money of Great Britain I do hereby give & bequeath unto them to be paid out of my said copyhold estate xxxx of the mannor of great Gaddesden & I also do hereby charge & make the same chargeable with the payment of the said Sume of One Hundred Pounds unto & amongst the sons & daughters of my said brother Leonard Bowles and further my will is & xxxx my true intent and meaning that if my said nephew  Wm: Willis his heirs or xxx or shall refuse or neglect to pay any or either of the respective legacys or persons hereinbefore all any or either of the legacys or sums of money to them herein before by me respectively given & beginning on the days & times  herein before set hintaged and appointed for the payment thereof xxx & from xxx henceforth my will is & it is my true intent and meaning that it shall and may be xxx to & for such and so many of the said severall and respective legacies or persons xx paid xxx into and upon all or any part of the copyhold estate herein before devised to the said XXX Willis my said nephew situate lying & being at Waterend aforesaid in the parish of great Gaddesden and the same to have hold and enjoy & to have receive & to take the Issues & proffitts thereof untill due  payment  be made and full satisfaction given to him and them for their several & respective legacies & sums of money so unpaid and in and together with his her or their full costs and charges for their trouble be xxx xxx xx put unto or expend in or about the recovery thereof any gift or devise herein xxxx xx contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding Item I the said Marvin Bowles Testator do hereby give will & devise unto my brother henry Bowles of Wastford? In the county of Hertford Innholder and Leonard Bowles of Great Gaddesden aforesaid Yeoman & to their heirs All that copyhold messuage tenement or Inn called or know by the name or sign Red Lion  held by Copy or Court Roll of the Mannor of Hemelhempsted common? The said county of Hertford situate standing & being, at Waterend in the parish of Hemelhempsted in the county of Hertford together with all Houses Outhouses Barns Stables Yards Gardens Orchards & Backsides thereunto belonging xxxx Appertaining with their and every of their Appurtenances and also all these my Chase? Copy Hold Closes of Meadows and pasture ground thereto belonging containing together by estimation five acres (be they more or less) held also of the said mannor of Hemelhempsted end membris  with their & every of their Appurtenances which I have surrendered to the xxx of this my last will and testament and all other my lands tenements hereditaments whatsoever situate lying & being in the parish of hemelhemsted with their & every of their appurtenances To the only proper use & behoofe of my said brothers henry Bowles & Leonard Bowles their heirs & assigns for ever upon this special trust & confidence in them by me resposed and to the end intend & purpose that they the said Henry Bowles & Leonard Bowles and the survivor of them and the heirs of such survivor do and shall with all convient speed they may or can after my decease sell & dispose of the same messuage tenement or Inn and three closes and every part thereof with the appurtenances at & do or the best price that may or can be had or gotten for the same or do or shall in the first place dispose of pay & apply the monies arising by such sale for and towards the payment & discharge of all such Sum and Sumes of money as I owe upon mortgage surrender or bond at the time of my decease and afterwards do & shall within twelve months next after my decease pay or cause to be paid unto my nephews Henry Bowles & Geo: Bowles sons of my brother Henry Bowles the full sume of eighty pounds apiece of lawful money of great Britain which I do hereby give & bequeath unto my nephews Henry Bowles & George  Bowles respectively to br paid to them within twelve months next after my decease and also that they my said brothers Henry Bowles & Leonard Bowles do & shall out of the money arising by such sale pay or cause to be paid within twelve months next after my decease (unto my nieces Elizabeth Bowles, Hanah Bowles & Sary Bowles daughters of my said brother Henry Bowles the full summe of Forty Pounds apiece of lawfull money of Great Britain which I do hereby give and bequeath unto them my said nieces Eliz: Bowles Hanah Bowles and  Sarah Bowles repectively to be paid to them within twelve months next after my decease & in case any or either of my said nephews or nieces (sons & daughters of my said brother Henry Bowles) do or shall happen to die or depart this life before his her or their legacy’s so given to him her other as aforesaid shall be paid or become due or payable them my will & mind is that the legacy of him her or those so dying  shall go & be paid unto and amongst the surviving sons &

[carlp]

3rd page and last?

daughters of my said brother  Henry Bowles share &  share alike and it is my mind & will that if any surplus or overplus of the said money that shall be raised by sale of my said copyhold estate in hemelhempsted hereinbefore given to be sold as aforesaid after mortgages and bonds by me owing and legacies by me given and bequeathed satisfyed and paid shall remain the same shall be put out at interest by my said brothers Henry Bowles & Leonard Bowles for the benefitt of my nephew Henry Willis for & during the time of his natural life and from & after his decease it is my mind and will such surplus or overplus shall immediately go & be paid to my niece Mary Willis her executors administrators or assigns I give & bequeath Ellen Perkins Widow my sister in law the xxxxx of Ten Pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain to be paid to her by my executors xxx named out of my personal estate within six months next after my decease if she shall then be living Item I give &  bequeath unto my niece Frances the wife of William Crane of Ellesborough my best featherbed & cover thereto belonging two of my best feather pillows & Boulster & ten pair of my best sheetts  Item I give to my niece Mary Willis? All the rest of my sheetts of what sort soever, Item It is my will &  desire that in case  Hxxx Arising by sale of my Copyhold Estate in theparish of Hemelhemsted shall fall short and benot  sufficient for the payment of what money I shall owe on mortgage or & legacy’s herein before by me given & bequeathed to the sons & daughters of my brother Henry Bowles that then all my personal estate shall come in aide thereof and be subject and liable to the payment of the some mortgages bonds & legacies Item All the rest residue & remainder of my lands tenements hereditaments &  real estate whatsoever & wheresoever not herein before given or devised & all the rest residue of my goods Cxxzx Cattle & personal Estate hereinbefore given or bequeathed after the payment of Debts & Legacies & my funerall expenses & other incident charges thereof discharged & satisfied I the said Marvin Bowles the testator do hereby give will devise bequeath unto my said brothers Henry Bowles & Leonard Bowles these my executors administrators and assigns fo rever & I do hereby make constitute and appoint the said Henry Bowles & Leonard Bowles my brothers executors of this my last will & testament and I do hereby revole and make void all former &  other wills by xxxtofore made &  I do declare this my last will & testament & I do hereby devise to my? Loving friends Ephraim Howe of Hemelhempsted aforesaid Woolen Draper & Thomas? Smith of puddephats in the parish of Flampsted in the said county of Hertford to be overseers of this my will to see this my last will and testament be doth? Punctually observed & performed to every thing, according to the true intent & meaning thereof and do hereby give to each of them a gold ring of one & twenty shillings in value to wear in remembrance of me In Witness whereof I the said Marvin Bowles the testator have to this my last will & testament contained & written on five sheets of paper set my hand & seal to each sheet thereof the day & year first before weitten signed sealed published & declared by the said marvin bowles the testator to be his last will & testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the said testator John Beach Richard Marriott Wm: Ginger Jr. Marvin Bowles (LS)