The (Humourous and Direct) Last Will of Sir Wolston Willoughby Dixie of Bosworth Hall 1700-1767. (Bosworth in Leicestershire).

Vincent Holbeche of Sutton Coldfield.

Published by Vincent Holbeche., Sutton Coldfield., 1830

About this Item

A manuscript handwritten will of the Landowner and Lord of Bosworth Hall (Bosworth Park) Leicester. This 99 line LAST will of the 4th Baron is handwritten in the early 19th century probably bu Vincent Holbeche over 4 pages details in rhyme the good, chattels and money he duly bequeaths to his family and staff at Bosworth Hall. With a bias towards the pithy and satirical in its form. It begins "I Willoughby Dixie of Bosworth Park, without the aid of scribe or clerk or pettifogger of the law, ready to find or make a flaw.To Sister Eleanor of Bourne, Lest she the fate to long should mourn, of her lamented brother dear, In land twelve hundred pounds a year and on her I do fix, to be my sole executrix. To Rosamond whose joyless bower, Never knew of bliss one single hour, I give 12 pence far more than due, to such a vexatious shrew.He leaves £17 thousand pounds to his dog Drakely. And he continues in the same vein throughout with bequests full and generous to all his maids, grooms, butler, laundry maid, the cook, even the scullion and labourer Tom. Some wear, remains of old blue sugar paper adhesion at edge, from being in an album or diary? Paper holed in gutter from its removal, rhymes not affected. *The 4th Baron had a reputation for being a full English eccentric with a real 18th century autonomy that the Landed Gentry enjoyed at that time. I like the fact he left his worldly goods shared out to his staff and not his family and hangers on. *I can find no mention of this will online nor does the only other example in the National archives have anything to do with this particular 4th baron. I stand corrected if not the case. I just could not locate any such will by this man, certainly not this unblemished and humorous version. Was it enacted upon?. Seller Inventory # A278

Bibliographic Details

Title: The (Humourous and Direct) Last Will of Sir ...

Publisher: Vincent Holbeche., Sutton Coldfield.

Publication Date: 1830

Binding: Loose as Issued.

Condition: Good

Edition: Unique