Will of Jane Buckner, widow of St Margaret Westminster, Middlesex, England, 1757 - (Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills, UK National Archives PROB 11/895/337)
Jane was the widow of John Buckner of St Margaret Westminster, who died around 1730. He was the brother of Anthony Buckner of the same parish. She was born Jane Charles, probably the Jane Charles daughter of Nathaniel and Mary Charles who was baptized in St Margaret on 31 Oct 1706 (curiously, another Jane Charles was buried there on 7 Oct 1706, perhaps her namesake?). She married John Buckner there in 1725. Anthony and Mary Buckner either lived in the same house or nearby in Strutton Ground, which is why they appear in each other's wills. Anthony died in 1756, leaving everything to his wife Mary. Apparently, neither John and Jane Buckner or Anthony and Mary Buckner had children who survived to adulthood, though both couples had christenings of several children recorded in the parish registers.
Date of will 23 Mar 1757
Date of probate 31 Feb 1764
People named:
In the Name of God Amen I Jane Buckner of the Parish of St Margaret Westminster in the County of Middlesex Widow considering the Uncertainty of this Mortal life and being of Sound and perfect Mind Memory and Understanding Praised be Almighty God for the Same Do make this my last will and Testament in manner and form following. First I commmend my Soul to Almight God hoping through the Merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ to obtain Everlasting life And my Body I commit to the Earth to be Decently Buried and that my funeral Charges be in the First place fully paid and Satisfied Item I Give and bequeath unto my Brother Nathaniel Charles Five Pounds Item I Give and bequeath unto my Brother Richard Charles Five Pounds Item I Give and bequeath unto my Niece Sarah Charles Five Pounds and all my Wearing Apparel Item I Give and bequeath unto my Neice Jane Charles One Shilling Item I Give and bequeath unto my Neice Elizabeth Savin One Shilling Item I Give and bequeath unto my Nephew Charles Kither Five pounds and incase of the Decease of Death of any one or more of the above named Legatees within tweelve Kalendar Months from or after the Day of my Decease I Give and bequeath the Legacys hereby Appointed to such deceased person or persons unto my Dearly and well beloved Sister Mary Buckner Widow and Relict of Anthony Buckner And Lastly also all the rest Residue and Remainder of my personal Estate Goods and Chattels of what Kind or Nature soever I Give and bequeath the same unto the above named my Dearly and well beloved Sister Mary Buckner Widow whom also I Do hereby Constitute and Appoint Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking Dissannulling and making Void all former Wills heretofore by me made Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this Twenty third day of March in the Thirtieth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God Great Britain France and Ireland Kimg Defender of the Faith and so forth And in the year of our Lord God One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Seven Jane Buckner Signed Sealed published and Delivered the within named Jane Buckner to be her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto Subscribed our Names as Witnesses thereof in the Presence of the Testatrix Rebecca Webb - E. Williams This Will was proved at London the thirty first Day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Sixty four before the Worshipful William Wynne Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipful Sir Edward Simpson Knight also Doctor of Laws Master keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury