Welsh Journals

A CURIOUS WILL. The Will of Mrs. Jane Robinson of Brithdir, Montgomeryshire, wife of George Robinson, gentleman, of that place, in the parish of Berriew, makes some interesting reading and throws a light upon the status of married women in the XVIIIth Century. Mrs. Robinson came of the family of Fowler of Abbey Cwm Hir of Radnorshire; her husband was a member of the smaller county gentry of Montgomeryshire. She was the ancestress of one of the last bailiffs of the Borough of Pool, John Robinson Jones of Brithdir, who erected the stone obelisk upon the site of the cross-pump in Pool in 1835. The testator commenced her will by recommending her soul to her Creator, hoping thro' the merits and Intersession of Jesus Christ my Redeemer to obtain full pardon and remission of all my sins and Transgressions and my Body to be Buried in Christian Burial at the Discretion of my said Husband George Robinson and to be laid as near as may be to the coffin of my Father and Mother in the Chapell Abby Cwm Hyre in Radnorshire. And as there is a power sealed by my Husband George Robinson upon July 8th, 1712, for my giving £ 100 to who I pleased with other things. Now my will is and I beg of my Husband that it may be performed that the £ 100 be given to my Niece Jane Lloyd, Daughter of my dear sister Rachel she being my God-Daughter, and in case she dies before the payment of this £ 100 then to my brother Edwd. Fowler and Sister to have it to sutch use as they think best and my Niece Jane Lloyd to have all my wearing apparell and Cloaths of all sorts and two Trunks that were my Fathers with Hayre on the Leather of them, the one having a place to put a Hat, and a Box that was my Fathers where I keep my Hoods and Fans in, and a little comb Box varnished over with Yellow and Black and my Twiggin Basket that is in our Chamber on the top of the Serwtore and my Common Prayer Book and a feather Bed of which I bought the Tick and Boulster that is Reevd at the ends and two Fustian Pillow Beers with I.F. in each, and one pair of fine Sheets-that has thread drawn out and a couple of Scotch Cloth Pillow Beers. I desire my Brother to have the five silver spoons to one that he has already during his Life and then the six to my Niece Jane Lloyd. What I have writ here I hope my Husband will not scruple to do which I have put my Hand and Seal this 12th day of May 1720. Jane Robinson." Miscellany M. N. OWEN.