The Wates Family

From «b»The Wates Family Saga «i»(6th Edition)«/b»«/i»

«u»«b»George Wates«/u»«/b» 1720 - Aug 1770 (CA50). He signed the minutes of the Parish Council on
20.10.1767 as churchwarden, signing Wates from hence-forth. On 2.2.1768 and 5.4.1768 he signed the minutes as Overseer of the Parish of Erith. His grandson, James, 1780 was a
Relieving Officer working for the Overseers of the poor.

There are records of the baptisms of his two sons named George but not of John. We cannot
therefore be certain of the order of births but the fact that John was his principal heir indicates
that he was older than the surviving George. He would have been born before the death of the
baby George which is why he would not have had that name himself. George snr was
presumably a widower at his death as there is no mention of his wife, and must have made
the will when dying as it was proved only 24 days after being made. Although the drafter of
the will spelt the name as Waites he signed Wates.

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THE WILL OF GEORGE WATES (Otherwise Waites)

In the Name of God Amen I George Waites of Pirfardy in the Parish of Erith in the County of Kent Husbandman being indisposed in body but of a sound and perfect mind memory and understanding my praises to almighty God for the same yet duly considering the failure of human nature and the certainty of death do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say first and principally I do with all humility resign up my poor and immortal Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping through the interventions death and Passion of my dear Redeemer Jesus Christ to have and receive full and free pardon and forgiveness for all my sins and transgressions and my body to commit to the Earth to be decently interred and buried at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named and as for such Worldly Estate as it has pleased Almighty God to bless me with all T give and dispose thereof as follows.

Item I give and bequeath unto my Son George Waites the sum of ten guineas to be paid to him at the Expiration of two years next after my decease by my executors hereinafter named Item I give and bequeath unto my Son John Waites after the payment of my just debts legacies and funeral expenses two clear third parts of my said personal Estate I give and bequeath unto my Son James Waites to be paid to him when he shall attain to be twenty one years of Age by my Executor hereinafter named and without any Interest whatsoever and in case of the death of my said Son James before he attains to be twenty one years of Age that then and in such case I give and bequeath one half of the said third part of my said personal Estate so given to my said Son James unto my Son George Waites to be paid to him by my Executor hereinafter named at the same time my said Son James would have been intitled to the same in case he had lived to be twenty one years of Age and the other half part I give and bequeath to my Son John Waites to and for his own use and benefit and all the Residue of my Personal Estate I give and bequeath unto my said Son John Waites And I do hereby nominate Constitute and appoint my said Son John Waites full and Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and declaring to be void all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made and do declare this only to be my last Will and Testament In Witness hereof I the said George Waites the Elder the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament set my hand and Seal this fourth day of August in the year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy.

George Wates, Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said George Waites the Elder the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed as Witnesses thereto.
John Gilbert - Thos Cartwright. (signed)

This will was proved, at London the twenty eight day of August in the year of Our Lord One thousand and seventy before the Worshipful Francis Simpson Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipful by the oath of John Waites the son of the deceased and sole Executor named in Will to whom administration was granted of all the Singular the goods chattels and Credits of the deceased having been first sworn duly to administer.

Will copied from Act book, of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, c/o Public Record Office Chancery Lane, London. Sept 1980