LAST WILL & TESTAMENT

WILLIAM TAVERNER
Mariner of Poole (c1698-1768)

In name of God Amen. I William Taverner of the Town & County of Poole Marriner do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) I bequeath my Soul to Almighty God who gave it hoping for Salvation only through the Alsufficient merrits & Intercesscion of a Dear Redeemer the Lord I trust my Righteousness - and my Body to be buried at the discretion of my friends

And as touching what worldly goods or Chatels I shall have or may be possessed of or may be mine at the time of my decease I give and bequeath & dispose of in manner and form following (that is to say)

To my son in law John Coombes one shilling

To my Daughter Mary his present wife one shilling

To their eldest son William Coombes one shilling

To their son Charles Coombes one shilling

To their son John Coombes one shilling

To their son Samuel Coombes one shilling

And to their youngest son Thomas Coombes one shilling

Say to each and every of them one shilling each and no more

The Remainder and Remainder of all my goods and chattles and whatsoever shall become mine I give and bequeath to my present wife Hannah Taverner for and during her naturall life and at her decease to my Executrixes hereinafter named Say in equall part between them two

And I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my Daughters Elizabeth Taverner and Henrietta Taverner to be my joynt Executrixes of this my last will and Testament revoking all former wills and testaments made by me

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and Seal this fifteenth day of April One thousand seven hundred sixty eight and in the Eighth year of our Souvraign Lord George King of Great Britain an so forth

Wm. Taverner

Sign'd Seal'd & Delivered in the presence of (being witnesses thereunto call'd)

Moses Hooper
William Thomas
John Hooper junior

The nineteenth day of June 1769. The within written Will of William Taverner late of the Town and County of Poole Mariner deceased was proved by the Oaths of Elizabeth Taverner and Henrietta Taverner the lawful Daughters of the said deceased and joint Executrices within named to whom administration of all and singular the Goods Chattells and Creditts of the said deceased was granted, they being first sworn well and truly to administer the same also to Exhibit a true and perfect Inventory thereof unto the Registry of the peculiar & exempt jurisdiction of Great Canford & Poole & render a just account thereof when lawfully required

Sworn before me,
Samuel Fawconer
Surrogate

Dorset History Centre Reference: C/P/W 34
Transcribed from an image of the original document by Kim Parker

William Taverner married Hannah Bird at Poole on 16 January 1722/3. The Bird family was another prominent merchant family, active in the corporation of Poole. Neither William nor Hannah would live to see it, but one of the younger generation, John Bird, would serve as Mayor of Poole 5 times between 1772 and 1777.

Both William & Hannah were fondly remembered in the Will of their nephew, Robert Taverner, mariner and master of the Ship "Mediterranean", who died at sea in 1749. He left them both money to buy a mourning ring.

It's not known whether as a mariner William worked the Poole-Newfoundland route, but given his family connections, it seems probable. He may even have been born there.

William was buried at Poole on July 7^th, 1768.

Hannah was buried there on January 24^th, 1771, aged 70.

Mary, the eldest daughter of William & Hannah, married John Coombes at Morden on September 12^th,1748, and by 1768 had 5 sons, as listed in the Will.

Henrietta, their youngest daughter, was buried at Poole on February 12^th, 1820, aged 81.

Elizabeth, their middle daughter, has left no trace.