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DIED.
9th inst. the Rev. William Smith, Rector of Badger, near Shiffnal, for more than forty years.
— Shrewsbury Chronicle, Friday 22 December 1837 source
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Dec. 9. The Rev. William Smith, Rector of Badger, Shropshire, to which he was presented in 1795 by J. H. Browne, esq. He has never been more than two Sundays absent from his church during his long incumbency.
— ed. Cave, Edward (1838) The Gentleman’s Magazine Volume IX. New Series. MDCCCXXXVIII. January to June Inclusive. J. B. Nichols and Son, Parliament Street. source
The following is a transcription of the will copy from probate records. I’ve preserved the line breaks so it might wrap weirdly. Security paraphs have been replaced with em-dashes. Words in bold I’m unsure of. Original PDF is linked at the bottom of the page.
TL;DR: Pay my debts, pay for a simple funeral, £10 to the poor of the parish of Badger, and everything else to my niece, Sarah Smith.
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The Rev. William Smith
This is the last will and testament of me
William Smith of Badger in the County of Salop., clerk. first I will that all my just—
debts & expenses of my funeral which I desire may be conducted with as little expense as—
possible be paid and discharged as soon as conveniently may be after my decease I give—
and bequeath unto the poor parishioners of Badger the sum of ten pounds the interest of——
which to be distributed among them every year on Christmas day in such proportions and
manner as the Rector of the said parish of Badger for the time being shall see fit. All that—
rest residue and remainder of my real and personal estate whatsoever and——
wheresoever and of what nature and kind soever the same may be and wheresoever situate—
lying and being or that I shall be possessed of or entitled to at the time of my decease in—
the construction of law and equity I give devise and bequeath the same and every part thereof
unto my niece Sarah Smith the daughter of my brother Jacob Childe Smith her executors—
adminors [administrators?] and assigns to and for her and their own use and benefit absolutely and I do hereby
constitute and appoint my said niece Sarah Smith the daughter of my brother Jacob Childe—
Smith sole Executrix of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills
by me made In witness whereof I the said William Smith have to this my last will and—
testament set my hand and seal this sixth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and thirty four _ Signed William Smith _ [L. S.] Signed sealed published
and declared by the said Testator William Smith as and for his last will and testament in—
the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have
subscribed our names as witnesses thereto _ Mary Ann Smith _ John Vaughan —Proved at London 13th Jany 1838 before the Judge by the oath of Sarah Smith——
spinster the niece the sole Executrix to whom ??? was granted having been first sworn
by commission duly to administer _
A couple of weeks after the will is proved, Sarah’s packing up and heading for the big city (or at least Shrewsbury):
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Badger Rectory.
MR. NOCK respectfully informs the Public that he has received instructions to submit for PUBLIC AUCTION, the whole of the valuable Household FURNITURE, excellent Linen, China, Glass, extensive Library of Books, fine old Wines, and other Effects, late the property of the Rev. William Smith, of Badger, in the county of Salop, deceased, which will take place on Tuesday, February 6th, 1838, and three following days. The Sale to commence at eleven o’clock each day.
Catalogues are in preparation, and may be had in due time of the Auctioneer, Castle Inn, Bridgnorth, and at the principal Inns in the neighbouring towns.
— Shrewsbury Chronicle, Friday 19 January 1838 source
I would have kept the library. And the wines.