In 1714 William Short was the sole executor and residuary legatee of his mother's Will.
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Abstract of the Will of William Short of Wootton Bassett in the County of Wilts, Gent., written 27 Aug 1743, proved 3 Dec 1743. 3
Gives, devises & bequeaths his freehold tenement, garden, orchard and two closes of meadow in Bushton in the parish of Clyffe Pypard in co. Wilts which he purchased from Nicholas Spackman to Henry Short and his heirs, second son of his late nephew William Short, baker, deceased*. If Henry should die without heirs he bequeaths the same to Thomas Short and his heirs, third son of the said William Short deceased. If Thomas has no heirs then he wills the same to William Short, eldest son of the said William Short.
* Nephew William Short, son of Vincent Short, died a month before the testator wrote his will.
Gives & bequeaths to the said Thomas Short, third son of his nephew William Short, and to Thomas's heirs, one acre of arable land in Coxtalls in Wootton Bassett, which he purchased of William Clifford Martyn and Elizabeth his wife (née Elizabeth Langton). And if Thomas has no heirs to gives the same to the said Henry Short and his heirs; and for default of such issue he gives the same to the said William Short, eldest son of his nephew of the same name, and to his heirs. And should the said William die without heirs he bequeaths the one acre of arable to Thomas Short the son of Thomas the son of Vincent Short and to his heirs.
Forgives the said Thomas Short son of Vincent Short a debt of £110.
Gives and bequeaths to £50 Joanna Jefferys wife of Thomas Jefferys of Wootton Bassett.
Gives £50 each to his two nieces Elizabeth Short and Mary Short, both of Wootton Bassett.
Gives £10 each to Alice Short, spinster, and Ann Short, spinster, daughters of William Short deceased, by Margaret his now widow.
Gives & bequeaths £50 to Thomas Short of Hunt Mill in Wootton Bassett, yeoman, to be deducted out of the £100 the said Thomas owes him. The remaining £50 he gives to his friends Paul Forrester of Wootton Bassett, clerk, and Thomas Hulbert of the same place, gentleman, upon Trust, directing them to place the £50 out at interest and pay the proceeds from time to time to the said Thomas Short, for the term of his natural life, and to his heirs thereafter. And if Thomas should die without heirs, then he wills the same to Mary Short, daughter of his said deceased nephew William Short.
Gives & bequeaths £35 in trust to the said Paul Forrester and Thomas Hulbert, directing them to pay the interest to the said Thomas Short son of Vincent Short, for the term of his natural life, and after his death, to his children the said Thomas Short by Jane his former wife, and Elizabeth Short.
Gives & bequeaths an additional £50 in trust to the said Paul Forrester and Thomas Hulbert, for them to pay the interest to Christian Sherwood wife of Thomas Sherwood of Wootton Bassett, blacksmith, for her own use.
Gives & bequeaths £5 each to Mary Short, Thomas Short, Alice Short and Elizabeth Short, children of John Short late of Wootton Bassett, barber, deceased, paying the £20 to his trustees for them to outlay for the benefit of the said four children.
All the rest of his ready money, plate, goods, chattels and personal estate he bequeaths to his said friends Paul Forrester and Thomas Hulbert, in trust, for the benefit of Ann Short, widow of his late nephew the said William Short, for the term of her natural life or for as long as she remains a widow. And after Anne dies or re-marries, he wills that the residue pass to the eight children of his said nephew William Short, i.e. to William Short, Henry Short, Thomas Short, Elizabeth Short, Martha Short, Joanna Short, Sarah Short and Anne Short, share and share alike.
Appoints the said Anne Short, widow, sole executrix of his last will and testament.
Witnesses: Mary Newell, Moses Sarraude, Thos Miles
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