Will of Roger Meredith Talgarth 1712

[Llanfihangel]

Hi,
I can decipher the first part of the Will up to the part where a Christian burial is requested at the discretion of the executor named herein, but I get lost after that.

I would really appreciate some help is deciphering the connection with Sir Thomas and Sir Edward Williams of Gwenyfed, and the name of the nephew beneficiary Benjamin ?

Also, what does Roger Merdedith's wife Sibil get?

Thanks for you kind attention!

Llanfi 

[goldie61]

from line 2
remainder of my terme in the lands which I hould by lease  from Sir
Thomas Williams of Gwe      in the County of Brecon Barronett & Sir
Edward Williams of Gwe       knight situatt ling & being in the p(ar)ish of
Tallgarth in the sayd County of Brecon for ninty and nine years determine
upon three lives which are yeat in being and unexpired unto my well
beloved neaphew Benjamin    ?ite.......

.......... ..my loveing wife Sibill shall have one anuity or one
yearly rent charge of the sim(m)e of [/b]two pound


Although you say the Williams are of 'Gwenyfed", those are not the letters here in the name.
It look like 'Gwernnett'? Definitely 'nett' at the end - compare it to the 'ett' at the end of Barronett.

Can't make out the first couple of letters of Benjamin's surname.
It occurs later on too.
IS it another capital 'B'? Compare it to the other capital Bs - 'Brecon' (especially on line 4), and Barronett.
In which case it may be 'Brite'?
There's a similar 'r in  the word 'year' and 'Naturall life' further down.

[Greensleeves]

Gwernyfed (note spelling) was an estate in the Talgarth area and the site is now Gwernyfed High School which serves the Talgarth and Hay-on-Wye areas.  Info regarding the estate: 

"Sir David Williams (?1536-1613) bought the Gwernyfed estate in 1600 from John Gunter. Sir David's grandson, Sir Henry Williams (d. 1652) was created a baronet in 1644. Sir David's grand-daughter, Elizabeth Williams, carried by marriage the Gwernyfed estate to Sir Edward Williams (d. 1721) of Eltham, who was descended from the Williams family of Talyllyn. However the family title did not pass with the estate, but went to Sir Walter Williams. The estate descended in the male line until the death without a surviving son of Sir Edward Williams in 1804. He had married firstly, Mary, daughter of Isaac Leheup of Gunthorpe, Norfolk. Gwernyfed was inherited by his daughter, Mary Williams. She married Thomas Wood of Middlesex, and their son, Thomas Wood (1777-1860) was M.P. for Breconshire, 1806-1847. The estate remained in the hands of the Wood family until it was sold in 1922. "  (source: nat library of wales)

[horselydown86]

Try Benjamin Brice as the name of the nephew.  I'm not sure of this - the first two instances of the surname have a mark above what I think is a c, while the third doesn't.

If the mark is meaningful, it's not clear - given the time of the writing - what it signifies.  At one time it might have meant an er had been omitted (thus giving Bricere) but I doubt that is meant here.

ADDED:

Just noticed he has put the same mark above the c in declare near the bottom.  Therefore I have more confidence in Brice.

[horselydown86]

Although you say the Williams are of 'Gwenyfed", those are not the letters here in the name.
It look like 'Gwernnett'? Definitely 'nett' at the end - compare it to the 'ett' at the end of Barronett.

I'd say this place is the Guernevet mentioned here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_baronets

Just as an aside, I would like to see another G to compare.

[Greensleeves]

FYI Guernevet and Gwernyfed are the same place.  There is ever the issue of the English not understanding Welsh place-names.

[goldie61]

I thought that may be the case Greensleeves - but this is a Handwriting Transcribing board, so we just have to go on what is in front of us.
So in this will the name will be 'Gwernevet' - pretty tricky to see all the minims in there with this writing.

[horselydown86]

So in this will the name will be 'Gwernevet' - pretty tricky to see all the minims in there with this writing.

If that is a G, then it's written Gwernvett.

[Llanfihangel]

Hello again horselydown86, goldie61, Greensleeves, and to (absent) Bookbox and I hope you are all doing well!

I have all the answers I need thanks to you all. The property in question was in Talgarth Breconshire, and was leased from the Gwenyfed Estate. Benjamine Brice wasn't a Meredith, and that is the family I am trying to trace. The properties I am interested in are Cym-Gwillim in Llandefealog Fach and Gelli-Hir in Llandefalle, if you ever stumble across them!!!!

I am very grateful to you all. Thank you, and best wishes!

Llanfi