Contents of the Will of John Peter of North Hill


John Peter died at North Hill on 27 September 1843
He was buried there on 3 October 1843
Wife Elizabeth [Marten] Peter buried 5 March 1833

His Birth and Parentage

This copy of the contents of his will
as supplied by David Holman


This is the last will and testament of me John Peter of West Illand in the parish of North Hill in the County of Cornwall, yeoman.

I give devise and bequeath unto my son Samuel Peter. All that my estate called West Illand otherwise the Home Tenement situate in the parish of North Hill in the County of Cornwall, (except Moulton's House and garden with the ground in front now occupied by and which I have hereinafter given to my son Robert Peter) and also the necessary house and small garden belonging to Stacey's Illand. To hold the same unto and to the use of my said son Samuel Peter his heirs and assigns forever. I also give devise and bequeath unto my said son Samuel Peter. All those my messuages and tenements situate in the parish of North Hill aforesaid called or known by the names of Kingbear and Whittamoor and Bowda with their appurtenances. To hold the same unto and to the use of my said son Samuel Peter his heirs and assigns forever. I also give devise and bequeath to my said son Samuel Peter. All those two fields or closes of land called the Home Lawns parcel of the customary lands of the manor of Rillaton situate in the parish of North Hill aforesaid and now in the occupation of my John Peter as tenant to me. To hold the same unto and to the use of my said son Samuel Peter his heirs and assigns forever. Subject nevertheless to the several mortgages debts and interest in respect thereof which shall be due on the said messuages lands and tenements called West Illand and Kingbear and Whittamoor and Bowda at the time of my decease. I also give devise and bequeath unto my said son Samuel Peter. All that my messuage and tenement called or known by the name of Palmer's Illand with the appurtenances situate in the parish of North Hill aforesaid and also all those old walls and courtlage and part of the Mowhay adjoining thereto as now used and which is part of my tenement called Stacey's Illand. And also all that my part of Eliot's tenement in the parish of North Hill aforesaid. To hold the same respectively unto and to the use of my said son Samuel Peter his heirs and assigns forever. Subject nevertheless to the payment of the mortgage debt and all interest which may be due on the said estate called Palmer's Illand at the time of my decease and also subject to and I hereby charge the same with the payment to my son Edward Peter of the sum of four hundred pounds and further subject to and I also charge the same with payment of the sum of one hundred pounds to my son Robert Peter which said several legacies or sums of four hundred pounds and one hundred pounds.

I hereby give and bequeath to my said sons Edward Peter and Robert Peter respectively the same to be paid at the end of twelve calendar months next after my decease.

I give devise and bequeath unto my son John Peter. All that my divided moiety or halfendeal (now forming an entirety) of one messuage and tenement with the appurtenances in Uphill otherwise Lahill also all that third part purparty and portion of and in one other messuage and tenement with the appurtenances in or called Downhill and also all that moiety or halfendeal of one other messuage and tenement with the appurtenances in or called Bathpool and Ridgewood all which said premises are situate in the parish of North Hill aforesaid and are now in the occupation of my said son John Peter as tenant to me. Also I give devise and bequeath unto my said son John Peter. All that my tenement called Cross Parks being parcel of Uphill aforesaid and now out on lease determinable with the life of Thomas Jasper. To hold the same respectively unto and to the use of my said son John Peter his heirs and assigns forever. Subject nevertheless to the payment of the mortgage debt and all interest which shall be due thereon at the time of my decease and also subject as hereinafter mentioned. I also give devise and bequeath unto my said son John Peter. All those my other two third parts of the said tenement called Downhill with the appurtenances. And also one piece of land called the Ham adjoining to Bathpool Bridge and also the houses orchards and gardens with the appurtenances situate at Bathpool in the said parish of North Hill aforesaid. And also the other moiety of my said messuage and tenement with the appurtenances called Bathpool and Ridgewood and also all other the premises which I purchased of Francis Heale Rodd Esquire situate in the parish of North Hill aforesaid. To hold the same respectively unto and to the use of my said son John Peter his heirs and assigns forever. Subject nevertheless and I hereby charge the entirety of the said messuages lands and tenements with the payment by my said son John Peter his heirs or assigns of the mortgage debts and interest which shall be due thereon respectively at the time of my decease (except nevertheless one half of the mortgage debt of two hundred and forty pounds and interest due on the said parts of Downhill purchased of the said Francis Heale Rodd and which said excepted moiety (being one hundred and twenty pounds and interest, is to be paid by my said son Robert Peter) and subject also and I hereby charge the same messuages lands and premises so given to my son John Peter as aforesaid with the payment of the following legacies viz: To my son Samuel the sum of one hundred pounds. To my son Edward the sum of fifty pounds. To my son Robert the sum of fifty pounds. To my son Arthur the sum of fifty pounds. To my son Richard the sum of fifty pounds. To my son Thomas the sum of fifty pounds. To my daughter Jenny the sum of fifty pounds and to my daughter Elizabeth the sum of fifty pounds and I hereby give and bequeath the said several legacies to them respectively the same to be vested interests and to be payable to the executors administrators or assigns of any or either of the said legatees who may happen to die before me such legacies to be paid at the end of twelve calendar months next after my decease.

I give devise and bequeath unto my son Robert Peter. All that my messuage and tenement called Stacey's Illand with the appurtenances (except the necessary house and small garden as aforesaid.). Also the dwelling house he now lives in on West Illand called Moulton's House with the piece of ground in front and adjoining as far out as the road or highway and the ground adjoining whereon some old walls stand and the garden belonging. All which said premises are situate in the parish of North Hill aforesaid. To hold the same respectively unto and to the use of my said son Robert Peter his heirs and assigns forever. Subject nevertheless to the payment of the mortgage debt and interest which may be due on Stacey's Illand at the time of my decease. I also give devise and bequeath unto my son Robert Peter. All those leasehold houses and fields or closes of land called or known by the name of Morles? situate at Illand in North Hill aforesaid. To hold the same to him his executors administrators and assigns for and during all my estate and interest therein. Subject nevertheless to the payment of one half of the mortgage debt of two hundred and forty pounds and interest due thereon and on the parks of Downhill purchased of the said Francis Heale Rodd the other half being one hundred and twenty pounds and interest, to be paid by my said son John as aforesaid. I likewise give and bequeath to my said son Robert Peter the sum of fifty pounds to be paid to him by my said son Samuel Peter at the end of three calendar months next after my decease out of the proceeds of my stock.

I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Peter the sum of two hundred pounds to be paid to him by my said son Samuel Peter at the end of twelve calendar months next after my decease.

I give and bequeath unto my son Richard Peter the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid to him by my said son Samuel Peter at the end of twelve calendar months next after my decease.

I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Hender West the wife of John West, the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid by my said son Samuel Peter at the end of twelve calendar months next after my decease. And I hereby charge and make chargeable the lands and hereditaments which I have before devised to my said son Samuel with the payments of the said legacies respectively.

I give and bequeath unto my said son Samuel Peter his executors administrators and assigns the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds upon trust to lay out and invest the same in his or their name or names on Government or real security at interest and to pay the interest dividends or annual proceeds thereof unto my son in law John West of Lamellion in the parish of Liskeard in the said County of Cornwall during the minorities of his three children by my deceased daughter Mary Hender West his late wife, towards their education and support until they shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years. And upon further trust and I hereby direct that when as soon as the youngest of such children shall have attained the age of twenty one years then to divide and pay the said sum of one hundred and fifty pounds equally between them share and share alike. And I hereby declare that if any or either of the said children shall die before attaining the age of twenty one years as aforesaid then upon trust to pay the share and proportion of such child or children so dying to and for the use of the survivors or survivor of the equally the same to be paid when and as soon as the youngest of such surviving children shall have attained the age of twenty one years as aforesaid. And in case all such children shall happen to die before attaining such age as aforesaid then I hereby give the said sum of one hundred and fifty pounds to my said son Samuel Peter his executors administrators and assigns. And I declare that the same shall form part of my residuary estate.

I give and bequeath to my son Arthur Peter and his assigns for and during his natural life one annuity or annual sum of five pounds the same to be paid to him by my said son Samuel Peter, my executor hereinafter named, by half yearly payments.

I give and bequeath unto my daughter Jenny, the wife of Thomas Hender and her assigns for and during her natural life one annuity or annual sum of two pounds and ten shillings, the same to be paid to her by my said son Samuel Peter, my executor hereinafter named, by yearly payments. And I hereby declare that her receipt alone, notwithstanding her coverture, shall be a sufficient discharge for the said annuity and that such annuity shall be free from the debts or control of her present or any future husband. I also give to my said daughter Jenny Hender the sum of five pounds to be paid within three months after my decease by my said executor. I hereby declare that the said annual so given to my said son Arthur Peter as aforesaid shall commence from and, first half yearly payment thereof be made at the end of six calendar months next after my decease and that the said annuity so given to my daughter Jenny as aforesaid shall commence from and the first payment thereof be made at the end of twelve calendar months next after my decease.

All the rest uses? and remainder of my messuages lands and tenements whatsoever and wheresoever situate and also all my household goods, furniture and effects money and securities for money and all my stock, cattle, corn, implements of husband, chattels and personal estate whatsoever. I give devise and bequeath unto my said son Samuel Peter, his heirs, executors administrators and assigns and I hereby constitute and appoint my said son Samuel Peter sole executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me at any time heretofore made and do declare this only to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I the said John Peter the testator have written? my last will and testament contained on five sheets of paper, to the first four sheets thereof set my hand and to this fifth and last sheet my hand and seal this fourteenth day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three.

Sealed, published and declared by the
John Peter the testator for his last
will and testament in the presence of us who at
??? ??? in his presence, and in the presence of
??? ??? have subscribed our names as witnesses.

The word 'three' in the fourteenth line of the fourth page having first been written on ????

??? ???
Robert Bishop
Henry ?????

(The bottom of each page except the last is signed by John Peter)

End of Will

3 Harbour Court, North Parade, Portscatho, TRURO Cornwall TR2 5HH UK


Hender ~ Hender The wife of this John Peter was Elizabeth Marten, the daughter of John Marten and Elizabeth Hender of North Hill. It is from 'Grandma' Hender that John Peter's two daughters carried Hender as a 'middle name'. As for John Peter's daughter Jenny, she got her own Hender name from marrying Thomas Hender of Altarnun.

The Parentage of John Peter of West Illand

A key to understanding is that John Peter was of West Illand in North Hill as opposed to the East Illand Peter family that continues on the Visitationr pedgree as they are both related as found on page 609 of the 1620 Visitation. Both of these Peter families are related and both are of descent from the Launceston Peter family. On the Peter Family of Launceston, there is one Peter who is named as being of West Illand on page 608. This is Edward Peter, the son of John Peter and Susanna Daw and whose wife was Christiana Dingle/Dingley. Both families are on the same Cornwall Peter of Launceston Pedigre. He is the Edward Peter who was the signer and recepiant of the admon bond of his deceased brother John Peter in 1791. That bond also named another John Peter, son of Edward Peter who would be this John Peter whose wife was Elizabeth Marten, the daughter of John Marten and Elizabeth Hender. Edward is the father to this John Peter of West Illand and Elizabeth Marten's Hender ancestry may be seen on the North Hill page.

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rev. 3 April 2020