The Hadwen Family of Lancashire

I transcribed the will and other documents from the original image and an earlier transcription sent as scanned images 2 March 2008 by Doug Hacking. The original image is attached, but not the previous transcription. You may request a copy of the previous transcription. Please feel free to suggest corrections or addition information and insight. Additional discussion and location information, along with more information about the source is included after the transcription. The trail of family researchers sharing these records is quite impressive: Paul Henke, Donna Bird, Donna Walsh, and Doug Hacking had most of these records and made them available to the rest of us. This does not count the other researchers on whose shoulders we stand.

Eileen Hacking Lentz

James Hacking of Skerton in the county of Lancaster Yeoman whilst I am of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding do publish and declare this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say. In the first place I order and direct all my just debts, funeral and testamentary experience to be deducted from and paid out of my personal estate. I give and bequeath unto my Dear Wife, Ann all my house hold Goods and Furniture, Linen, and all other my personal Estate whatever of which I may be possessed at the time of my disease, (after deducting the changes afterward) for her own use forever. I give and bequeath unto my said Wife. All that my Freehold Messuage Dwelling house now used as a Publichouse and in the possession of Thomas Atkinson as Tenant thereof also all that my Cottage situated in Skerton a foresaid near, and upon the premises of the before mentioned publichouse and now occupied by Myself--- as Tenant. Also all my four Messuages or Dwellinghouses, Buildings, lands, gardens and all other my estate and premises, situated at Clawthorpe near Burton in Kendal in the county of Westmoreland and now in the possession of Thomas Richardson and others as Tenants thereof. To hold the same to my wife for and during the continuation of her life. But that upon the death of my said wife the rents profits and issues ______ of the premises situated at Skerton and Clawthorpe as aforesaid respectively shall be equally divided between my two sons William Hacking and James Hacking, their Heirs and Assigns forever: subject never the less and I charge the said premise, with the payment from my said son James Hacking to my said son William Hacking within twelve calendar months after the disease of my said Wife of the sum of Thirty pounds the first thirty pounds shall not however be chargeable with or liable to any interest whatsoever but should anything occur to involved my said Wife in difficulties she may sell all or any of the premises situate Clawthorp as aforesaid upon gaining the consent of both my said sons. And lastly I revoke all former Wills by me at anytime heretofore made and declared this to be my Last Will and Testament and I hereby appoint Alexander Ramsay of Lancaster in the County of Lancaster, weaver, sole executor of this my Will. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this twenty-eighth day of November in the Year of Our Lord one Thousand eight Hundred and Thirty Six (1836).

The mark or Cross of James Hacking (thumb mark)

Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.

/s/ Jon Earl, John Parkinson, George Tunstall

Written 28 Nov 1836

Died 2 Dec 1836

Filed 10 Dec 1836