In the name of God Amen I William Bancks of Wigan in the County of Lancaster parish Clerk being sound in mind and memory do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say, first it is my will and mind and I do hereby order and direct that my debts and funeral expenses with the probate hereof be imediately after my decease satisfied and paid by my executors hereinafter named and as for and concerning all and singular my goods chattells and effect whatsoever real and personal whereof I die possessed of it is my will and mind and I do hereby give devise and bequeath the same unto my wife Ellen for her life and after her death to ans amongst my children Grace, Gerard, Anne, Ellen, Lydia and Elizabeth equally share and share alike excepting five pounds to be deducted out of my daughter Ann’s share and to be added to my other children’s share but if my said wife Ellen should happen to marry again then it is my will and mind and I do hereby order and direct that all and singular my said goods chattels and effects whereof she shall at such her intermarriage stand possessed of shall immediately be by her delivered up and disposed of and given amongst my said children Grace, Gerard, Anne, Ellen, Lydia and Elizabeth equally share and share alike except as aforesaid and lastly revoking all former and other will and wills by me made I do publish and declare this to be my last will and testament and thereof do nominate my wife Ellen, my daughter Grace and son Gerard Executors In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this ninth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty four.
witnessed by Alice Bullock John Acton ??? Boulton Martha Shrigley
On the twentieth day of August in the year 1734 Gerard Bancks and Grace Bancks two of the executors named in this will (Ellen Bancks being dead) appeared personally and took the usual oath of an executor before me Saml ??
Probate 24 August
Original document at Lancashire Record Office
Updated: 10 February 2007