Home › Peter Paggen › Katherine Paggen’s will, 1724
Last modified: 5 October 2026
Katherine Paggen (c.1655–1724), born Katherine Davis, was the widow of Peter Paggen of the Manor House, East Hill. She made her will on 19 January 1722, added a codicil on 16 March 1724, and died on 24 April 1724, aged 69. She was buried with her husband: the will asks for burial “in the Vault of my said late Husband in the parish of Wandsworth”, and their table tomb still stands at Mount Nod. The will was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 1 June 1724.
This transcription is made from the registered copy of the will (The National Archives, PROB 11/598/25). See also the will of Peter Paggen, 1717, the will of his brother William Paggen, 1688, and Peter Paggen, Humphry Morice and the slave trade.
A fortune in stock. Katherine’s estate was almost all in company stock: £6,956 in the East India Company, £5,623 in the Bank of England and £433 in the Million Bank — over £13,000 in all, at its face value. In 1717 her husband had left her £10,000 of East India and Bank stock, so she had added to it as a widow.
Trustees from the Paggen circle. All of it went to four trustees: James Booth of Theobalds, Hertfordshire, who had owned ships with Peter Paggen; William Shaw, son of the late Sir John Shaw of Cheshunt; Bernard Hale of Lincoln’s Inn; and John Rawlins, a London merchant, who was to keep the accounts for £50 a year (section 16), as he had for Peter.
The South Sea Company. Any surplus income was to be reinvested in East India or Bank stock, or in the stock of “the Governor and Company of Merchants of Great Brittain trading to the South Seas and other parts of America” — the South Sea Company, which since 1713 had held the contract (the asiento) to supply enslaved Africans to Spanish America (section 8; see the notes on the South Sea Company).
Her heirs, and Humphry Morice. The capital was to go to her grandson Paggen Hale at 25, with her widowed daughter Katherine Hale to have the income for life, “notwithstanding her Coverture”, free of the control or debts of any future husband (section 11). Five months after the will was signed, Katherine Hale married Humphry Morice, the slave-trader and future Governor of the Bank of England. In the codicil, Katherine Paggen calls Morice “my Son in Law”, makes him an executor, gives him £100 for mourning, and brings their baby son, another Humphry Morice, into her estate: as the first son of a second marriage he had been shut out by the will.
Wandsworth. She left £50 to the churchwardens for the poor of Wandsworth, and in the codicil directed that the interest be used “towards the Cloathing of two poor Women of the said parish of Wandsworth yearly for ever”. The Manor House is not mentioned: it had been dealt with in her husband’s will.
Her daughter Sarah. Her younger daughter, Sarah Paggen, had been provided for by her father, who wrote that she was “not capable of manageing or taking care of any Estate”. Katherine left Grace Hooker, who “now attends and waites on my daughter Sarah”, £30 a year for life after Sarah’s death, on condition that she stayed with her (section 7).
The will does not mention the slave trade or any enslaved person.
‖1‖ [In the margin: Katharine Paggen] In the Name of God Amen I Katherine Paggen of Wandsworth in the County of Surry Widow the Relict and late wife of Peter Paggen Esqre deceased do make and Ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) First and principally I recommend my Soul to Allmighty God that gave it me hoping and assuredly beleiving that I shall receive Remission of my Sins by the meritts of my Saviour Jesus Christ and be made partaker of Eternall happiness in the Kingdome of Heaven
And my body I commit to the Earth to be buried in decent manner (at the discretion of my Executors and Executrixes hereafter named) in the Vault of my said late Husband in the parish of Wandsworth aforesaid and my will is that the whole Expences of my ffunerall shall not Exceed two hundred pounds
And as for that worldly Estate which it hath pleased God to bestow upon me I give and dispose thereof in manner and forme ffollowing (that is to say)
Imprimis I give devise and bequeath all my Six thousand nine hundred ffifty and six pounds Capitall Stock (in my name) in the united Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies and all my five thousand Six hundred twenty three pounds Capitall Stock (in my name) of the Governor and Company of the bank of England and all my four hundred thirty three pounds Capitall Stock (in my Name) in the Million Bank and all other the Capitall Stock which I now have or shall or may have or be intituled unto at the time of my death in the said Companys or Banks and the dividends Interest and proceed thereof unto James Booth of Theobalds in the County of Hertford Esqre William Shaw Esqre Son of Sir John Shaw late of Chesthunt in the County of Hertford deceased Bernard Hale of Lincolns Inn in the County of Middlesex Esqre and John Rawlins of London Merchant their Executors Administrators and Assignes upon the severall Trusts and to and for the severall intents and purposes hereinafter mentioned and declared of and concerning the same (that is to say)
in Trust that the said James Booth William Shaw Bernard Hale and John Rawlins and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors and
‖2‖ Administrators of such Survivor shall by and out of the dividends profitts and proceeds of the said Capitall Stock raise sufficient money to pay and discharge the charges of my ffunerall (not Exceeding two hundred pounds as aforesaid) and after the same shall be raised and paid that then the said James Booth William Shaw Bernard Hale and John Rawlins and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of the Survivor of them shall by and out of the dividends profitts and proceeds of the said Capitall Stocks raise and pay as well the severall Legacies and yearly and other Sums of money hereafter given and bequeathed as also the severall and Respective Legacies or Sums of money mentioned and Expressed in the Schedule annext to this my last will and Testament respectively to the severall and Respective person and persons and at such times and in such manner and forme as hereinafter and in the said Schedule are respectively mentioned and Expressed (that is to say)
I give devise and bequeath unto my Cousin Isabella [Pharoah?] the yearly Sume of ffourteen pounds of lawfull money to be paid to her yearly during her life at the four most usuall ffeasts or days of payment in the year (that is to say) the ffeast of St Michael the Archangell the ffeast of the Nativity of our Lord Christ the ffeast of the Annuntiation of the blessed Virgin Mary and the ffeast of St John Baptist by even and equall portions and payments the ffirst of the said payments to begin and be made on the ffirst of the said ffeasts which shall happen next after my decease
Item I give devise and bequeath unto my Sister Sarah Simonds the yearly Sume of twenty pounds of lawfull money to be paid to her yearly during her life at the said four most usuall ffeasts or days of payment in the year last above mentioned by even and Equall payments the ffirst of the said payments to be made on such of the said ffeasts as shall happen next after my decease
Item I give devise and bequeath unto my Cousin [Celesta?] Simonds the yearly Sume of Six pounds of lawfull money to be paid to her yearly during her life at the said four most usuall ffeasts or days of payment in the year last above mentioned by even and Equall payments the ffirst of the said payments to begin and to be made on the first of the same feasts which shall happen next after my decease
Item I give devise and bequeath to each of the three daughters of my Neice Katherine [Weston?] that shall be living at the time of my decease three hundred pounds apeice of lawfull money without any Interest till the time of payment but to be paid them respectively as money shall be raised and received out of the dividends of the said Capitall Stocks (after the payment from time to time of the yearly Sums herein before and hereinafter appointed to be paid) (Vizt) the Eldest of the said daughters to be ffirst paid the second of the said daughters to be next paid and afterwards the youngest of the said daughters to be paid
Item I give devise and bequeath unto the Churchwardens for the time being of the parish of Wandsworth aforesaid the Sume of ffifty pounds of lawfull money for the benefitt of the poor of the said parish
Item I give and bequeath unto Grace Hooker who now attends and waites on my daughter Sarah Paggen as a ‖3‖ reward for her fidelity the yearly Sume of thirty pounds to be paid to her the said Grace Hooker yearly during so long time as she shall live after the decease of my said daughter Sarah Paggen at the ffeasts of St Michael the Archangell and the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary by equall payments the first payment thereof to begin and be made on the first of the said ffeasts which shall happen next after the decease of me and my said daughter Sarah Paggen
provided allways and upon this Express Condition that she the said Grace Hooker shall ffaithfully diligently and carefully serve attend and waite upon my said daughter Sarah Paggen during their Joint lives
provided Nevertheless that in case the said Grace Hooker shall by sickness lameness old age or other infirmity or Indispositions be disabled or rendred incapable to serve attend and waite upon my said daughter and that she shall be so deemed and adjudged by the Executors and Executrixes of this my Will then and in such case the said yearly Sume of thirty pounds shall commence and become payable to the said Grace Hooker by such half yearly payments as aforesaid from the time she shall be so adjudged by my Executors and Executrixes to be disabled and Rendred incapable to serve my said daughter Sarah as aforesaid
and my will is that the same yearly Sume of thirty pounds when the same shall become payable to the said Grace Hooker by Virtue of this my Will shall be so paid to her without any deduction or abatement for Taxes or otherwise howsoever all which said yearly Sumes I doe appoint and direct my said Trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them to pay out of the dividends profitts and proceed of the said Capitall Stocks so long as the same shall Continue payable and the said Trustees shall stand and be possest of the same Stocks
and I doe farther declare my will to be that after my debts ffunerall Expences and the Legacies by this my will and in the Schedule hereto annext shall be satisfied and paid that the said Trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of the Survivor of them (ffirst paying the said severall yearly Sumes as
and when the same shall respectively become due) shall from time to time lay out all the remainder of the dividends profitts and proceed of the said severall Capitall Stocks in the purchasing and buying of more Capitall Stock either in the said united East India Company or the Bank of England or in the Stock of the Governor and Company of Merchants of Great Brittain trading to the South Seas and other parts of America and for Encouraging the ffishery or in some or one of them in such proportions and in such manner as my Executors and Executrixes shall appoint and that as
and when any dividends profitts or proceed of such Stocks so to be purchased shall become due and payable the same shall from time to time be again laid out with the Remainder of the dividends of the said Originall Stock in buying more Capitall Stock in all some or one of the said Companys by my said Trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them and so toties quoties untill my Grandson Paggen Hale second son of my daughter Katherine Hale shall attaine his age of five and twenty years ‖4‖ or untill some other of the cases or Contingencies shall happen for then Transferring such Stocks or funds pursuant to the directions of this my will hereinafter mentioned
and when my said Grandson Paggen Hale shall attaine his age of five and twenty years in case my daughter Katherine Hale shall Marry again and shall by any after taken Husband have Issue one or more younger Son or Sons or any daughter or daughters that then my said Trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor shall Transferr and assign all the said Originall Capitall Stocks and the Stocks and ffunds so to be bought and purchased as aforesaid (Subject to the Annuitys) unto the said Paggen Hale and such younger Son and Sons or any daughter or daughters as my said daughter Katherine Hale shall have (by such after taken Husband) as shall be living when the said Paggen Hale shall attaine his age of two [sic] and twenty years in the proportions hereinafter mentioned (that is to say)
in case my said daughter Katherine Hale shall have by such after taken Husband one younger Son only or one daughter only that then the said Paggen Hale shall have two third parts of all the said Capitall Stocks and the Improvement thereof and such only younger Son or such only daughter the other third or in case my said daughter shall have one such younger Son and only one daughter or two such younger Sons and no daughter or two daughters and no such younger Son then and in any of the said cases my mind and Will is that the said Paggen Hale shall have two fourth parts of all the said Capitall Stocks and the Improvement thereof and such only younger Son and only daughter or such two younger Sons or such two daughters shall have the other two fourth parts equally to be divided betwixt them
and so in like manner whatever the number of such younger Sons or daughters shall be my will and meaning is that the said Paggen Hale shall have a proportion of all the said Stocks and the Improvement thereof double to what any of the said younger Sons or daughters shall be Intitled to by Virtue of this my Will and
in case my said Grandson Paggen Hale shall dye before he attain the age of five and twenty years without leaving Issue of his body living and in case my said daughter Katherine Hale shall have Issue by such after taken Husband one or more such younger Son or Sons daughter or daughters as aforesaid that then the said Trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor shall Transferr and Assigne the said Originall Stocks and the Stocks so to be purchased unto such younger Child or younger Children of my said daughter Katherine Hale by such after taken Husband as shall be living at the decease of the said Katherine Hale share and share alike and
in case my said daughter Katherine Hale shall have no such younger Son or Sons daughter or daughters by any after taken Husband which shall be living when the said Paggen Hale shall attain his age of five and twenty years that then the said Trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor shall Transferr and assign as well the said Originall Capitall Stock and such Stocks and ffunds ‖5‖ soe to be bought and purchased as aforesaid (Subject to the said annuityes) unto my said Grandson Paggen Hale to his own use for ever at his age of five and twenty years as aforesaid
and in case the said Paggen Hale shall dye before he shall attaine his age of five and twenty years and shall leave Issue of his body lawfully begotten one or more Child or Children which shall be living at the time of his decease and in case the said Katherine Hale shall have no such younger Child or Children by any such after taken Husband then the said Trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor shall Transferr and assigne unto such Child and Children of the said Paggen Hale all the said Originall Stock and the Stock to be purchased as aforesaid
and shall pay the dividends then due for the same and such money as shall then be by them Received for dividends thereof and not laid out as aforesaid (if any such there be) Subject to the said Annuitys unto and Amongst such Child or Children of the said Paggen Hale in such parts and portions respectively as is hereinafter mentioned (that is to say) in case there shall be but one such Child (either Son or daughter) then the whole to such only Child
and in case there shall be more such Children than one and one or more of them shall be a Son or Sons then to the Eldest of such Sons a double portion or part with respect and in proportion to the portion or part of every other of such Child or Children and to every other such Child or Children half so much as the part or portion of such Eldest Son and
in case the said Paggen Hale shall leave no such Son or Sons but shall leave two or more daughters then the whole to be transferred and paid to and amongst such daughters Equally share and share alike such Transferrs and payment to be respectively made to such Sons at their Respective ages of one and twenty years and to such daughters at that age or their Respective Marriages first happening and
in case the said Paggen Hale shall dye before his said age of five and twenty years leaving such Issue of his body as aforesaid and in case my said daughter Katherine Hale shall by any such after taken Husband have Issue one or more younger Son or Sons daughter or daughters that then and in such Cases both happening my will is that my said Trustees and the Survivors of them and the Executors or Administrators of such Survivor shall Transferr and assigne all the said Originall Capitall Stocks and the Stocks and ffunds so to be purchased as aforesaid
and shall pay the dividends then due for the same and such money as shall then be by them Received for dividends and not laid out as aforesaid (if any such shall be) Subject to the said annuitys unto the Children of my said Grandson Paggen Hale and such younger Children which my said daughter Katherine Hale shall leave by such after taken Husband Equally share and share alike
such Transferrs and payments to be respectively made to such of the same Children as shall be Sons at their Respective ages of one and twenty years and to such of the same Children as shall be daughters at that age or their Respective Marriages first happening
and in case the said Paggen Hale shall dye before his said age of five and twenty years in the lifetime of my said daughter Katherine Hale without leaving Issue of his body lawfully begotten and my said daughter Katherine Hale shall him survive and shall have no such Issue ‖6‖ by any such after taken Husband that then the said Trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors or Administrators of such Survivor shall stand possessed of the said Originall Capitall Stocks and the Stocks so to be purchased as aforesaid (charged with the said Annuall payment as aforesaid) in Trust for the sole and separate use and benefitt of my said daughter Katherine Hale during the Term of her naturall life
and shall pay and dispose of the dividends and proceed of the same Stocks and ffunds as she shall from time to time appoint by any writing under her hand and for want of such appointment to the said Katherine Hale for her [proper?] and personall use notwithstanding her Coverture and her Receipt or Receipts shall be a sufficient discharge for the money respectively compriz’d in such receipt or receipts (notwithstanding her Coverture)
to the Intent that the same dividends should not be subject to the controll debts or Engagements of any Husband to be by her hereafter taken but only at her own disposall during her life and after the death of the said Katherine Hale in case of such the last mentioned contingencys that the said Trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors or Administrators of such Survivor shall Transferr and assigne all the said Stocks and ffunds (Subject to the said Annuitys)
and shall pay such dividends as shall be then due (and not paid to or to the order of the said Katherine Hale) unto such person and persons and in such parts and proportions and at such times respectively and as and when the said Katherine Hale (notwithstanding her Coverture) in and by her last will and or in or by any writing purporting to be her last will and Testament to be by her signed and Executed in the presence of two or more Credible Witnesses shall direct or appoint and for want of such direction or appointment unto the Executors or Administrators of the said Katherine Hale
and in case my said daughter Katherine Hale shall dye in the life time of my Grandson Paggen Hale without leaving Issue of her body body [sic] begotten by any such after taken Husband living and the said Paggen Hale shall afterwards and before he attain his age of five and twenty years also dye without leaving Issue of his body Lawfully begotten living and my Grand son William Hale or any Issue of his body lawfully begotten shall be then living then and in such case I doe hereby declare my will to be
and I doe hereby direct and appoint the said Trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors or Administrators of the Survivor of them to Transferr and assigne all the said Originall Stocks and the said Stocks and funds to be bought and purchased as aforesaid and to pay the dividends then due for the same and all such moneys by them then received for such dividends and not laid out as aforesaid (if any such shall be) Subject to the said Annuitys unto my Grandson William Hale at his age of five and twenty years in case he shall live to attaine that age
and in case he shall dye before such age then to all and every his Children lawfully begotten which shall be then living share and share alike (Vizt) to such of them as shall be Sons at their Respective ages of one and twenty years and to such of them as shall be daughters at their ‖7‖ Respective ages of one and twenty years or their Respective Marriages ffirst happening and
in case the said Paggen Hale shall dye before his age of twenty five years without leaving such Issue of his body living and my said daughter Katherine Hale shall dye in his life time without Issue by any Husband by her hereafter taken and the said William Hale shall also dye without leaving any Issue of his body living then and in such case my will is
and I doe hereby direct and appoint the said Trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors or Administrators of such Survivor to Transferr and assigne all the said Originall Stocks and the said Stocks and ffunds so to be bought and purchased as aforesaid and to pay the dividends then due for the same and all such moneys by them then received for such dividends and not laid out as aforesaid (if any such shall be) Subject to the said Annuitys unto and amongst the Children of my Neice Dame Sarah Shaw (Widow of the said Sir John Shaw) which shall be then living equally share and share alike their severall and Respective Executors and Administrators for ever
provided always and I doe hereby declare my will to be that if the said Company or any of them shall call in any Sum or Sums of money for or in respect of the said Capitall Stocks or ffunds on account of Trade or otherwise that then the said Trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors or Administrators of such Survivor shall from time to time raise and pay in unto such of the said Companys Respectively soe making such Calls such and so much moneys as the same Companys or any of them shall so respectively from time to time call in either by and out of the dividends of the said Stocks or by Mortgage or Mortgages or by Sale or Sales of a Competent part of the same Stock or Stocks as they and the Executors and Executrixes of this my Will shall adjudge most proper (without prejudice to any of the said severall Annuitants) any thing in this my Will to the contrary thereof in any ways notwithstanding
provided also that in case any of the said Annuitants shall be living at the time or times when any of the severall contingencyes or cases shall happen for the said Trustees Transferring the said Stocks or ffunds pursuant to the directions of this my will that then the said Trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors or Administrators of such Survivor shall during the lives of such Surviving Annuitant or Annuitants retaine and continue to stand possessed of a Competent part of the said Originall Stock in the united East India Company or Bank of England at the Election of such Surviving Annuitant or Annuitants not Exceeding one Thousand pounds of the same Capitall Stock as shall be sufficient to answer and make good their said respective Annuitys
and after the deaths of such Surviving Annuitants shall Transferr and assigne such Stock so retained pursuant to the direction of this my Will any thing herein before contained to the contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding
provided also that in case the said Trustees or any of them shall refuse to act in the Trusts hereby in them reposed then my will is that the said Trustees in case all of them shall refuse to act in the said Trusts or in case but part of them ‖8‖ shall refuse to act then such of them so Refusing shall with or without such acting Trustees in such Legall manner as shall be reasonably Advised transferr the said Stocks or their Legall Interest therein to such acting Trustees and to such other new Trustees as my Executors and Executrixes hereinafter named or the Survivors or Survivor of them shall appoint
or in case such acting Trustees and new appointed Trustees before the said Trusts be fully performed shall be death be reduced to two that then such two surviving Trustees shall in a Legall manner make two other new Trustees to be Nominated by my said Executors and Executrixes or the Survivors or Survivor of them for the Executing the Trusts aforesaid or such of them as shall not be then performed and so toties quoties untill all the said Trusts are performed
provided also and my ffarther Will is that the Trustees appointed by this my Will or to be appointed by any power herein contained their Executors Administrators or assignes shall be only charged and chargeable with and accountable for so much money as they Respectively shall actually Receive by Virtue of this my Will and with and for no more nor the one of them for the other of them nor for the acts or deeds Receipts or disbursments of the other of them but each of them for his own proper Acts deeds Receipts and disbursments only
and also that they or any of them shall not be chargeable with or Accountable for any loss which shall happen of the said Stock dividends or money or any of them or any part thereof so as such Loss happen without their willfull default and also that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the same Trustees and every of them their and every of their Executors Administrators and Assignes from time to time in the first place to deduct and Reimburse themselves by and out of the said Stocks and the dividends and proceed thereof all such loss damages and Expences as they or any of them shall be put unto or any wise sustain by Reason of the Trusts hereby in them reposed or the Management or Execution thereof or any other thing in any wise relating thereto any thing in this my will contained to the Contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding
and in Regard I intend the said John Rawlyns shall principally take upon him the burden and care of the Trusts Reposed in him and my other Trustees by this my Will and that he shall keep fair Books of Accounts of my said Estate and the proceed and Improvement thereof so given and devised upon the Trusts aforesaid and Render his Accounts to my Executors once in every year truly and Justly made up and ballanced to be by them adjusted and stated and which I desire my Executors to see done accordingly I doe for his the said John Rawlins care and pains to be taken therein give and bequeath to him ffifty pounds per year to be paid and allowed him out of the said dividends and proceed of the said Stocks from and after my death during the Continuance of the said Trusts and
in case the said John Rawlins shall during the Continuance of the said Trusts happen to dye or doe not act therein to the satisfaction of my Executors and Executrixes then ‖9‖ the said ffifty pounds so given to him as aforesaid to cease and I doe thereupon give my said Executors and Executrixes or the Survivor of them full power and authority from time to time to appoint such other person or persons as they shall think fit in the place or stead of the said John Rawlins to act in the said Trusts as he was to have done under such yearly Sallary or allowances as they shall think fit
All the rest and Residue of my goods Chattells and personall Estate whatsoever I give devise and bequeath unto my said daughter Katherine Hale for her own use and benefitt in case she shall be living at the time of my decease but in case my said daughter Katherine shall dye in my lifetime and the said Paggen Hale shall be then living then and in such case I give all the said rest and Residue of my goods Chattells and personall Estate unto the said Paggen Hale but
in case the said Paggen Hale shall also dye in my lifetime and shall leave Issue of his body lawfully begotten living then I give all such rest and Residue of my goods Chattells and personall Estate unto the Children of the said Paggen Hale equally to be divided amongst them share and share alike and in case the said Paggen Hale shall dye in my life time without leaving such Issue of his body living at the time of my decease and
in case the said William Hale or any Issue of his body shall be then living at the time of my decease then I give devise and bequeath the rest and Residue of my goods Chattells and personall Estate to the said William Hale if he be then living and if he be then dead to his Children that shall be then living Equally to be divided amongst them share and share alike and
in case the said William Hale shall also dye in my life time without leaving such Issue as aforesaid then I give and devise the said rest and Residue of my Goods Chattells and personall Estate unto the Children of the said Dame Sarah Shaw which shall be living at the time of my decease unto their Respective Executors and Administrators Equally to be divided amongst them share and share alike
Item I doe hereby Nominate Constitute and appoint my said daughter Katherine Hale the said William Shaw Esqre and the said Dame Mary [sic] Shaw and the said Bernard Hale Executors and Executrixes of this my last will and Testament contained in ffifteen Sheets of paper Sett my hand to every of the said Sheets and my Seal to the ffirst and last of them the Nineteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand and seven hundred twenty and one Katherine Paggen Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Katherine Paggen as and for her last will and Testament in the presence of us whose names are hereto Subscribed who sett our names as Witnesses hereto in the presence of the said Katherine Paggen John [Lynton?] Job Mathew James Edwards
These legacies were “for mourning”, in addition to anything given in the will itself.
A Schedule of the Legacies or Sums of money mentioned and referred in the second Sheet of my last will hereunto annexed and which said Schedule I Katherine Paggen ‖10‖ doe declare to be part of my said last will I give to the severall persons hereafter named the severall Legacies or Sums of money hereinafter mentioned to be paid to them respectively within [blank] days next after my decease for mourning over and above any the Legacys or other Sums of money to them or any of them in the body of my said Will given and bequeathed (that is to say)
| To my daughter Katherine Hale one hundred pounds of lawfull money | £100 |
| To my daughter Sarah Paggen twenty pounds | £20 |
| To my Grandson William Hale ten pounds | £10 |
| To my Grandson Paggen Hale ten pounds | £10 |
| To my Neice Katherine [Weston?] and her Children one hundred pounds (that is to say) to each of the Children of my said Neice ten pounds apeice and the Residue of the same one hundred pounds to my said Neice Katherine [Weston?] | £100 |
| To my Neice Dame Sarah Shaw ten pounds | £10 |
| To each of the Children of my Neice Dame Sarah Shaw ten pounds apeice | £10 each |
| To my Sister Sarah Symonds twenty pounds | £20 |
| To my Sister Brent and her Husband ten pounds apeice | £10 each |
| To my Cousin Katherine [Mayman?] ten pounds | £10 |
| To my Cousin Elizabeth Wilkinson ten pounds | £10 |
| To my Cousin Izabella [Pharoah?] six pounds | £6 |
| To my Cousin [Colesta?] Symonds six pounds | £6 |
| To James Booth Esqre (named in my Will as a Trustee) twenty pounds | £20 |
| To my Cousin William Shaw Esqre and to his Wife ten pounds apeice over and above the ten pounds hereby given to my said Cousin William Shaw as one of the Sons of my said Neice Dame Sarah Shaw | £10 each |
| To Bernard Hale Esqre (named in my will as a Trustee) twenty pounds | £20 |
| To Mr John Rawlins (also named in my will as a Trustee) twenty pounds | £20 |
| To Grace Hooker Servant to my daughter Sarah Paggen if she live with her at the time of my decease ten pounds | £10 |
| To each of my Servants that shall be living with me at the time of my decease two pounds apeice | £2 each |
| And to the waiting maid Servant that shall attend my said daughter Sarah Paggen at the time of my decease two pounds | £2 |
all which Sums in this Schedule mentioned and bequeathed shall be for mourning Witness my hand this nineteenth day of January 1721 Katherine Paggen Witness John [Linton?] Job Mathew James Edwards
Codicil to the last will of Katherine Paggen dated the 19 January 1721 by my said Will I have given my Estate to my Grandson Paggen Hale and the younger Children of my daughter Katherine Hale which she may have by any Husband hereafter taken to be divided as therein appointed
And whereas since the signing my said Will my daughter Katherine Hale has married Humphry Morice of London Esqre by which Marriage my said daughter has a Son named Humphry Morice who is Excluded in my said Will from any part of my Estate because he is the ffirst born Son of said Marriage
my will now is that my said Grandson Humphry ‖11‖ Morice shall have and receive the same dividend of my Estate as is appointed for a younger Son or daughter of my said daughter Morice but should my daughter Morice by any Marriage hereafter have Children I do exclude the Eldest Son of such Marriage from any part of my Estate bequeathed to my Grandson Paggen Hale and the younger Children of my said daughter Morice
Item I give unto my Son in Law Humphry Morice Esqre one hundred pounds for mourning and do hereby Nominate constitute and appoint said Humphry Morice my Executor together with Katherine Hale Wm Shaw Dame Sarah Shaw and Bernard Hale before appointed Executors and Executrixes of this my last will and Testament
And Whereas I have bequeathed ffifty pounds to the Churchwardens of Wandsworth for the benefitt of the poor thereof my will is that the Interest or Income of said ffifty pounds to be applyed towards the Cloathing of two poor Women of the said parish of Wandsworth yearly for ever
In Witness whereof I the said Katherine Paggen have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Sixteenth day of March 1723 Katherine Paggen Signed Sealed and delivered in presence of [illegible] John Simmonds Matt Richardson
Probatum fuit hujusmodi Testamentum cum Codicillis Annexis apud London primo die mensis Junij Anno Domini Millesimo Septingentesimo Vicesimo quarto coram Venerabili Viro Gulielmo Strahan Legum Doctore Surrogato Venerabilis et Egregij Viri Johannis Bettesworth Legum Doctoris Curiae Prerogativae Cantuariensis Magistri Custodis sive Commissarij legitime Constituti Juramentis Catharinae Hale (modo uxoris Humfredi Morice Armigeri) Gulielmi Shaw Armigeri et Dominae Sarae Shaw Viduae Executorum in Testamento dictae defunctae nominat[orum] necnon dicti Humfredi Morice Armigeri Executoris in Codicillo eidem annexo Nominat[i] Quibus Commissa fuit Administratio omnium et singulorum bonorum jurium et Creditorum dictae defunctae de bene et fideliter Administrando eadem ad Sancta Dei Evangelia Jurat[is] Reservata potestate similem Commissionem faciendi Bernardo Hale Armigero alteri Executori in dicto Testamento Nominat[o] cum venerit eandem petiturus Exam[inatur]
In English (summary): This will, with the codicil annexed, was proved at London on 1 June 1724 before William Strahan, Doctor of Laws, surrogate of John Bettesworth, Doctor of Laws, Master, Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. It was proved on the oaths of Catherine Hale (now the wife of Humphry Morice, Esquire), William Shaw, Esquire, and Dame Sarah Shaw, widow, executors named in the will, and of the said Humphry Morice, Esquire, executor named in the codicil. They were granted administration of all the goods, rights and credits of the deceased, having sworn on the Holy Gospels to administer them faithfully. Power was reserved to make a like grant to Bernard Hale, Esquire, the other executor named in the will, when he should come to ask for it.
1. The register copy fills folios 51 to 56. Image 1 begins with the end of the probate act of the previous will in the register, which is not transcribed here. The margin heading reads Katharine Paggen.
2. Hooker. In this clerk’s hand a capital H is easily misread (it could be taken for a B), as in Peter Paggen’s will. “Grace Hooker” is confirmed by Peter Paggen’s schedule of 1717, which leaves £10 to “Grace Hooker present Tutress to my daughter”.
3. Uncertain surnames. Cousin Isabella [Pharoah?] (spelt “Izabella” in the schedule); Cousin [Celesta?] or [Colesta?] Symonds; the niece Katherine [Weston?] (possibly Moston); Cousin Katherine [Mayman?] (possibly Wayman). In this hand capital W, M and N are easily confused. The niece Katherine may be the daughter of Peter Paggen’s brother William, who left his daughters Katherine and Sarah his estate in 1688 (see his will); in 1693 a Peter West and his wife Katherine brought a Chancery suit about William Paggen’s personal estate (The National Archives, C 8/355/206). The will names Katherine’s sisters (or sisters-in-law) as Sarah Symonds, who was Peter and William Paggen’s sister, and Mrs Brent.
4. Dame Mary Shaw. In the appointment of executors (section 18) the clerk wrote “Dame Mary Shaw”. Everywhere else, and in the codicil and probate, she is Dame Sarah Shaw, Katherine’s niece and the widow of Sir John Shaw, so “Mary” is presumably a slip.
5. In section 9 the age at which Paggen Hale was to inherit is written once as “two and twenty”; everywhere else it is five and twenty. In section 11 the clerk wrote “body body”.
6. Witnesses to the will and schedule: John [Lynton? Linton?], Job Mathew and James Edwards. Witnesses to the codicil: one name written as a signature that cannot be read, John Simmonds and Matt Richardson.
7. A few letters at the left edge of image 1 are hidden in the binding of the register; the missing letters are obvious from the sense.
Transcribed from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury register copy by Philip Boys, with Claude, October 2026. Build 2.