ABSTRACT
Nuncupative wills are wills that were spoken orally and later committed to writing. In 1699, Peter Rogerson of Little Budworth in Cheshire made a nuncupative will which led to a dispute between Catherine Rogerson, his widow, and Henry Briscall, his executor. One example is the nuncupative will of Edmund Jones of Hengengates in Middleton, which was contested by his widow, Alice, against John and Henry Jones, his two sons. Jane Laithwayt said that between 10 and 11 in the morning of 27 October her husband declared his wishes, which were written down in the nuncupative will which Jane exhibited in court personally and the will had been witnessed by James Watmough and Elizabeth Roome. A lengthy dispute arose over the nuncupative will of James Morgan, spurrier of Clevely, who was also a shoemaker, between William Richmond, the residual legatee, and John Walton of Lancaster, uncle of James Morgan, who died 20 November 1728.
