Lowndes Ladies

 Two different pairs of ladies named Lowndes leased Cosgrove Priory from 1808 to 1817 and from 1848 to 1856.

They were connected with wealthy families in Whaddon and Winslow and all were unmarried.
The first pair, Ann and Mary Lowndes, were sisters, had family links with Snelshall Priory, the site of which is at Tattenhoe in Milton Keynes. This was also connected to the Longuevilles of Wolverton and Cosgrove.

NAVE. North wall:
Mary Lowndes died in 1812 and her monument in the Nave of Cosgrove Church shows that she was buried there.

BENEATH
are depofited
the Remains of
MARY,
youngeft Daughter of
RICHARD LOWNDES Efqr
(of Winslow, Bucks)
Obiit 3rd June 1812,
Æ 7,6.

Miss Mary Lowndes had a friend called Ann Gavey who lived at the Priory with the two sisters. By a lucky chance, her letters to her brother Philip in London, written between 1808 and 1827, have been found in a lawyer's office and deposited in the County Archives. These also give a flavour of life in the Priory at Cosgrove in those times. Miss Gavey's letters

Mary Lowndes 1812

I Mary Lowndes Spinster of Cosgrove in the County of Northampton do on this Eighteenth day of May Eighteen hundred and five make my last Will and Testament in form and manner following To my Sister Anne Lowndes I give and bequeath all my Estate Real and personal for her life only paying the Legacis hereafter mentioned and all Funeral Expences my wish is to be buried in a plain decent manner in the parish church wherever I shall reside at the time of my decease to be carried to church on men’s shoulders and the solemn service to be performed by candlelight  to my two nephews William and Robert Lowndes I give Fifty pounds each by way of remembrance  only they being both amply provided for to my two other nephews Richard and Thomas Lowndes I give one hundred pounds each and appoint the said Richard and Thomas Lowndes my Executors to this my will and Testament the above Legacies to be paid one year after my decease from the Navy 5per cent standing in my Name I give to my Friend Ann Garvy one hundred pounds and to Patience Church Fifty pounds in the said 5per Cents both of which Legacis I will to be paid six months after my death to Patience Church I give all my wearing Apparel Linen etc. etc. my Tent bed and bedding also my quarter Bible Bound in Russia? To my Friend Ann Garvy I give my Custume of Clunia and Halys [William Hayley] Triumph[s] of Temper to my Neice Lydia Lowndes I give all my vols that are bound and all the loose Nos she wants to make up her .. complete of the Natural Magazine all the rest of my Books I leave to my Sister Anne Lowndes to dispose of as she thinks proper To my said Sister Ann Lowndes I leave my share of Household Furniture plate Linen and Elnia only leggings her to present my Brother with some paire of plates to show I have not quite forgot him after my Sister Anne Lowndes’s decease I will that all my shares in the Estate situate at Bragenham in the parish of Soulbury within the County Bucks and all Money …. In the Funds standing in my Name and likewise my share of what is standing in the Name of the late Robert Lowndes Esqr be equally divided share and share alike between my two Nephews Richard and Thomas Lowndes and my five Nieces namely Mary Lowndes and [name crossed out] Lowndes Essex Lowndes Elizabeth Harman and Lydia Lowndes this is my last will and Testament In Witnes whereof I set my hand and Seal this [blank] day of [blank] in the year of our Lord 18

20th June 1812

Appeared personally John Freer Congreve of Stony Stratford in the County of Buckingham Gentleman and John Olive of the same place Banker and make Oath that they severally know and were well acquainted with Mary Lowndes late of Cosgrove near Stony Stratford in the County of Northampton Spinster deceased for several years before and up to the time of her death also with her manner and Character of Handwriting by having often seen her write and having now carefully viewed and pronounced the paper writing hereunto annexed purporting to be and contain her Will and Testament of the said deceased beginning thus “I Mary Lowndes Spinster of the parish of Cosgrove in the County of Northampton do on this eighteenth day of May Eighteen hundred and five make my last Will and Testament in form and manner following” and ending thus “this is my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I set my hand and seal this  day of   in the Year of our Lord 18  they then deponents do say that they verily and in their Conscience believe the whole body se.es and Content of the said Will particularly [rest missing]   
Northampton Mercury March 8th 1817

COSGROVE PRIORY near STONY STRATFORD,

Buckinghamshire

Household Furniture, Library of Books, Linen, Chariot, Dairy Effects &c, &c.

To be SOLD by AUCTION

By JOHN DAY & SON

On Wednesday the 19th of March 1817, and two following Days, on the Premises of the late Mrs ANN LOWNDES at COSGROVE PRIORY aforesaid:

The Furniture comprises full-size four post Bedsteads, with mahogany feet Pillars and dimity, cotton and other Furnitures; fine large goose down and other feather Beds, Mattresses and cotton Counterpanes, Quilts and Blankets, mahogany, oak and other dressing Drawers, night Tables, basin Stands, floor and bedside Carpets, large pier, chimney and swing Glasses, two capital mahogany Wardrobes, with Furniture, Bedding &c. complete; several valuable India and other Cabinets; capital India six-leaf folding Screen, excellent month Clock in inlaid case, and two valuable eight day repeating table Clocks, Set of mahogany dining Tables, with circular Ends; Pembroke, card and other Tables; parlour and chamber Chairs, three Sofas, with Covers; a capital chamber Horse, for Invalids, in mahogany Frame, in complete Repair; medicine Chest, liquor Ditto, Harpsichord, dumb Waiter, large Quantity of Glass and Earthenware, upwards of 10 Pair of Sheets, pillow Cases, table Cloths, Napkins &c.; Sharp’s patent stove Grate, with other Grates, Fenders and fire Irons; kitchen Furniture, as Grate, with Boiler, smoke Jack, patent Oven, and kitchen Furniture in general; 100 gallon brewing Copper, washing Ditto, double Cooler, mash Vat and Tubs, beer Pipes, hogshead and half hogshead beer Casks &c, &c.

Also a LIBRARY, consisting of upwards of 600 Volumes of Books, the greatest Part in excellent Preservation, amongst which are Chaucer’s Works, with the Siege of Thebes, Life of Chaucer, and Table explaining old and obscure Words, Folio 1617; Brown Willis’s Antiquities of Buckingham, Hundred and Deanry; Banks’s Geography, Pope’s Odyssey and Iliad, Dryden’s Virgil, Life and Reign of Henry the Eighth by Lord Herbert; Travels into Divers Parts of Africa and Asia; Chamber’s Cyclopaedia, Life of Prince James, Dodderidge’s Family Expositor, Baskett’s Bible; History of Russia, to the Death of the Empress Catherine, with a Number of other scarce and valuable Books, Paintings, Prints &c, &c.

 Likewise a neat Chariot with Harness, one coach Horse, five useful dairy Cows, Part of a Rick of Hay, stout six-inch Cart, horse Harness, Quantity of Manure, cucumber Frames and Lights, iron garden Roll, stone Ditto, temporary summer House, a very great Number of garden Pots and Evergreens, garden Tools in general, upwards of 20 Dozen of Glass Bottles, and numerous other Articles, which will be expressed in Catalogues, to be had five Days before Sale, at the Inns in the Neighbourhood, and of the Auctioneers, in Stony Stratford.

N.B.: The Chariot, Cows, Hay, garden Articles, dairy and brewing Vessels, Casks &c. will be sold the first Day; the Books, Linen, Glass and part of the Furniture on the second Day; and the remainder of the Furniture on the Friday.
Catalogues of the Books to be had separately from those of the Furniture &c.

Will of Anne Lowndes 1817

I Anne Lowndes of Cosgrove in the County of Northampton spinster do hereby revoke all Wills and Testamentary dispositions made by me at any time heretofore and declare this to be my last Will and Testament I give to my dear Brother William Selby the sum of Five Guineas for a Mourning Ring to my Nephew William Lowndes the like sum of Five Guineas for a Mourning ring and all my Family pictures to my Nephew the Reverend Richard Lowndes the sum of one hundred pounds to Maria Lowndes daughter of the said William Lowndes my gold repeating Watch to my servant Patricia Church if living with me at the time of my decease the sum of fifty pounds and to my servant William Goode if living with me at the time of my decease the like sum of Fifty pounds and to each of my other servants who shall be living with me at the time of my decease the amount of one Year’s Wages over and above the wages then due to them respectively and I direct the said several legacies to be respectively paid within three months after my decease I give devise and bequeath all the messuages lands Tenements and Hereditaments of or to which I or any person or persons In trust for me am is or are seized or entitles either in possession reversion remainder or Expectancy or which in Exercise of any special power I am authorised or enabled to appoint by this my will with their appurtenances and also all the rest and residue of my personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever unto and to the use of my said Nephew Richard Lowndes his Heirs and Executors administrators and assigns according to the nature and quality thereof respectively upon trust that he the said Richard Lowndes his heirs and Executors administrators and assigns do and shall with all convenient speed after my decease sell dispose of call in and convert into money all my said residuary personal Estate and Effects or as much  thereof that shall not consist of money and also do and shall with like convenient speed shall absolutely sell and dispose of the said messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments hereinbefore devised either in one Lot or in several Lots by public auction or private Contract to any person or persons willing to purchase the same and for such price or prices as to the said Trustees or Trustees for the time being shall soon reasonable and for promoting and facilitating such sale or sales do and shall enter into make and Execute all such Contracts conveyances surrenders assurances acts and deeds as the said Richard Lowndes his Executors administrators or assigns shall think proper and I do hereby declare that the said Richard Lowndes his heirs and Executors administrators and assigns shall with and out of the monies to arise from my said residuary personal Estate and Effects pay satisfy and discharge all my Just debts Funeral and Testamentary Expenses and the several pecuniary Legacies hereinbefore given and the legacies which I shall give by my Codicil to this my Will, or any Testamentary Writing whatsoever and shall divide the residue of the said monies into nine equal parts and shall pay two of the said nine equal parts to my Nephew Robert Lowndes for his own use and benefit and one other of the said Nine equal parts to the said Richard Lowndes for his own use and benefit and one other of the said nine equal parts to my Nephew Thomas Lowndes for his own use and benefit and shall stand and be possessed of the remaining five equal nine parts upon and for the trusts intents and purposes and with under and subject to the powers provisions and declarations hereinafter expressed and declared of and concerning the same and I do hereby further declare that the said Richard Lowndes his Executors administrators or assigns shall divide the monies to arise from the Sale of the said Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments hereinbefore devised into Eight equal parts and shall pay one of the said equal parts to the said Robert Lowndes for his own use and benefit and one other of the said eight equal parts to the said Richard Lowndes for his own use and benefit and one other of the said Eight equal parts to the said Thomas Lowndes for his own use and benefit and shall stand and be possessed of the remaining  five equal Eight parts upon and for the trusts intents and purposes and with under and subject to the powers provisions and declarations hereinafter expressed and declared of and concerning the same and I do hereby further declare that the said Richard Lowndes shall lay out and invest the remaining five equal nine parts of the residue of the monies to arise from my said residentiary personal Estate and Effects and also the said remaining five equal Eight parts of the monies to arise from the Sale of the said Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments hereinbefore devised in his or their  name or names in parliamentary Stocks or public Funds of Great Britain or at Interest on Government or local Securities in England or Wales and shall and may from time to time alter vary and transpose the said trust monies so to be laid out and invested as aforesaid and the Stocks Funds and Securities in which the same shall be laid out and invested for or into other Stocks Funds and Securities in which the same shall be laid out and invested for or into other Stocks Funds and Securities of the like nature at his or their discretion and I do hereby further declare that the said Richard Lowndes his heirs and Executors administrators or assigns shall stand and be possession of the said trust monies so to be laid out and invested as aforesaid and the Stocks Funds and Securities in which the same shall from time to time be laid out and invested and the Interest and dividends thereof upon and for the trust intents and purposes and with under and subject to the powers provisions and declarations hereinafter expressed and declared of and concerning the same that is to say as to one equal fifth part of the said trust monies Stocks Funds and Securities and the Interest and dividends thereof upon trust that he the said Richard Lowndes his Executors administrators or assigns so and shall during the life of my Niece Mary Howard the wife of the Reverend Thomas Howard of Hoggeston in the County of Bucks pay apply and dispose of the Interest and dividends of the said one equal fifth part of the trust monies Stocks Funds and Securities to such portion or portions only and for such intents and purposes only as the said Mary Howard whether Covert or sole shall from time to time by any writing or writings signed by her with her own hand divert or appoint and in default of and until such direction or appointment into the proper hands of her the said Mary Howard for her sole and separate use and benefit exclusively of her present or any future husband and without being subject to his debts control or interference or Engagements and the receipt or receipts of the said Mary Howard or of such person or persons as she shall from time to time direct or appoint to receive the said Interest and dividends or any part thereof shall whether she shall be covert or sole be an effectual discharge or effectual discharges for the money therein mentioned and acknowledged to be received and immediately after the decease of the said Mary Howard the said one equal fifth part of the said trust monies Stocks Funds and Securities and the Interest and dividends thereof shall remain and be In Trust for all and every or such one or more exclusively of the others or other of the Child or Children of the said Mary Howard  with such provisions for their respective maintenance Education and advancement and at such age day or time or respective ages days or times and if more than one in such parts shares and proportions and with such restrictions and in such manner as the said Mary Howard shall whether Covert or sole by any deed or deeds Writing or Writings with or without power of revocation and new appointment to be by her sealed and delivered in the presence of and to be attested by two or more Witnesses or by her last will and Testament in Writing or any Codicil thereto or any writing in the nature of a will to be by her Signed and published in the presence of and assisted by two or more Witnesses from time to time direct or appoint and by default of and until such direction or appointment and so far as any such direction or appointment if incomplete shall not extend In trust for all and every the Children or Child of the said Mary Howard who being a son or sons shall attain the age of twenty one years or being a daughter or daughters shall attain that age or marry under that age with the consent of her or their parent or parents or Guardian or Guardians and for the time being and shall be divided between or amongst them if more than one in equal shares as Tenants in Common and if then shall be but one such Child then the whole of the said one equal fifth part of the said trust monies Stocks Funds and Securities and the Interest and dividends thereof shall be in Trust for that one or only Child but no Child taking under any appointment to be made an Executor of the aforesaid power shall be entitled to any share of the unappointed part of the said trust monies Stocks Funds and Securities without bringing his or her appointed share into the Soo.chpot and accounting  for the same accordingly and if there shall be no Child of the said Mary Howard who shall become entitled  to the aforesaid one equal fifth of the trust monies Stocks Funds and Securities under the trusts hereinbefore declared concerning the same then after the decease of the said Mary Howard and such failure of her issue as aforesaid the said one equal fifth part of the said trust monies Stocks Funds and Securities and the Interest and dividends thereof shall remain and be upon and for such trusts interest and purposes and with under and subject to such powers provisions and declarations as the said Mary Howard whether covert or sole shall from time to time by any good deed or deeds Writing or Writings with or without power of revocation and new appointment to be by her sealed and delivered in the presence of and to be attested by two or more Witnesses or by her last Will and Testament in Writing or any Codicil thereto or any Writings under the nature of a Will to be by her signed and published in the presence of and attested by two or more Witnesses direct or appoint and in default of and until such direction or appointment and so far as any such direction or appointment if incomplete and shall not extend Intrust for the said Mary Howard her Executors administrators and assigns for her and their own absolute use and benefit provided always and I do hereby further declare that after the decease of the said Mary Howard and in the meantime and until the vesting of the portion or portions hereinbefore provided for her said Child or Children as aforesaid the said Richard Lowndes his Executors administrators or assigns shall receive the Interest and dividends of the portion or portions to which such Child or Children shall be entitled in expectancy or so much of the said portion or portions as shall from time to time remain after such advancement as hereinafter is mentioned and apply the same or a competent part thereof for or towards his her or their maintenance and Education and shall accumulate  in the Parliamentary Stocks or Public Funds of Great Britain or on Government or real securities in England or Wales the surplus or residue if any of the Interest and dividends so to be received as aforesaid and shall and may from time to time alter and vary the said Stocks Funds and Securities for or into other Stocks Funds and Securities or the like nature at his or their discretion and the said Richard Lowndes his Executors administrators and assigns shall have and be possessed of the said accumulations so to be made as aforesaid and in the stocks Funds and Securities in which the same shall be invested and the Interest and dividends thereof upon and for such and the same trusts interests and purposes and with under and subject to such other same powers provisos and declarations as are in and by this my will expressed and declared of and containing the Funds from which such accumulations shall have respectively proceeded and the Interest and dividends of such Funds or as near thereto as circumstances will then admit of provided always and I do hereby further declare that after the decease of the said Mary Howard and until the portion or portions hereinbefore provided for her said Child or Children as aforesaid shall become payable or in her lifetime with her consent in Writing it shall be lawful for the said Richard Lowndes his Executors administrators and assigns to advance the whole or any part of the portion or portions to which any such Child or Children may then be entitled for or towards his her or their preferment advancement or establishment in the World and as to one other equal fifth part of the said Trust monies Stocks Funds and Securities and the Interest and dividends thereof I do hereby declare that the said Richard Lowndes his Executors administrators and assigns shall stand and be possessed of the same upon and for such the same trusts intents and purposes and with under and subject to such and the same powers provisos and declarations in favor or for the benefit of my Niece Ann Lowndes and her Child or Children respectively as are hereinbefore expressed and declared of and containing the firstly hereinbefore mentioned fifth part of the said trust monies stocks Funds and Securities and the Interest and dividends thereof in favour of for the benefit of the said Mary Howard and her Child or Children respectively and as to the one other equal fifth part of the said trust monies stocks Funds and Securities and the Interest and dividends thereof I do hereby declare that the said Richard Lowndes his Executors administrators and assigns shall stand and be possessed of the same such other same trusts intents and purposes and with under and subject to such other same powers provisos and declarations in favour for the benefit of my Niece Essex Humphrys the wife of Robert Humphrys of Chippenham in the county of Wilts Esquire and her Child or Children respectively as are herein before Expressed and declared of and containing the firstly herein before mentioned fifth part of the said trust monies stocks Funds and Securities and the Interests and dividends thereof in favour or for the benefit of the said Mary Howard and her Child or Children respectively and as to one other equal fifth part of the said trust monies stocks Funds and Securities and the Interest and dividends thereof  I do hereby declare that the said Richard Lowndes his Executors administrators and assigns shall stand and be possessed of the same upon and for such and the same trusts intents and purposes and with under and subject to such other same powers provisions and declarations in favor or for the benefit of my Niece Elizabeth Harman the wife of Bernard Harman of Monk[ton] House[Monkton Farleigh] in the County of Wilts Esquire and her Child or Children respectively as are herein before expressed and declared of and concerning  the firstly hereinbefore mentioned fifth part of the said Trust monies Stocks Funds and securities and the interests and dividends thereof in favor or for the benefit of the said Mary Howard and her Child or Children respectively and as to the remaining equal fifth part of the said trust monies stocks Funds and securities others Interest and dividends thereof I do hereby declare that the said Richard Lowndes his Executors administrators and assigns shall stand and be possessed of the same upon and for such and the same trusts intents and purposes and with under and subject to such and the same powers provisos and declarations in favor for the benefit of my Niece Lydia Lowndes and the Child or Children respectively as are herein before Expressed and declared of and containing the firstly herein before mentioned fifth part of the said trust monies Stocks Funds and Securities others Interest and dividends thereof in favor or for the benefit of the said Mary Howard and her Child or Children respectively provided always and I do hereby further declare that if any one or more of my said Nephews or Nieces Robert Lowndes Richard Lowndes Thomas Lowndes Mary Howard Anne Lowndes Essex Humphrys Elizabeth Harman and Lydia Lowndes shall die in my lifetime and shall leave no Child or Children of his her or their body or respective bodies who being a Son or Sons shall attain the age of twenty one Years or being a daughter or daughters shall attain that age or marry under that age with the consent of the her or their parent or parents or Guardian or Guardians for the time being  then and in every such case the legacies hereinbefore provided for each such Nephew and Niece who shall so die without leaving such issue as aforesaid shall be added to the legacies hereinbefore originally provided for the other of my said Nephews and Nieces and increase the same in equal portions and the said Richard Lowndes his Executors administrators and assigns shall stand and be possessed of the addition which shall be made to the legacies of each Nephew and Niece who shall so die without leaving such issue as aforesaid upon and for such and the same trusts intents and purpose and with under and subject to such and the same powers and provisos and declarations as are hereinbefore expressed and declared of and concerning  the legacies to which such additions shall be made or as near  there to as circumstances will admit of provided always and I do hereby further declare  that if any one or more of my said Nephews Robert Lowndes Richard Lowndes and Thomas Lowndes shall die in my lifetime and shall leave any Child or Children of his or their body or respective bodies him or them surviving then and in every such case the said Richard Lowndes his Executors administrators and assigns shall lay out and invest the legacies hereinbefore provided for each Nephew so dying so dying as last aforesaid in their or his names or name in any of the said stocks Funds and Securities hereinbefore mentioned and shall and may from time to time alter vary and transfer the Stocks Funds and Securities in which the same shall from time to time be laid out and invested for or into other Stocks Funds and Securities of the like nature at his or their discretion and shall stand and be possessed of the legacies of each Nephew so dying as last aforesaid and the Stocks Funds and Securities in which the same shall from time to time be laid out and invested upon  and for such and the same trusts intents and purposes and with  and subject to such and the same powers and provisos and declarations in favour of for the benefit of the Child or Children of the parent who would have been entitled to the said legacies if he had not died in my lifetime as are hereinbefore expressed and declared of and containing the firstly hereinbefore mentioned equal fifth part of the said trust monies stocks Funds and securities and the Interest and dividends thereof in favor or for the benefit of the Child or Children of the said Mary Howard and I so hereby declare that the rents issues profits Interests and dividends of the said Messuages Lands Hereditaments residuary Personal Estate and Effects hereinbefore devised and bequeathed or of so much or such part or parts thereof respectively as shall not from time to time in pursuance of the trusts hereinbefore declared have been sold and disposed of or otherwise converted into money shall until that same shall be so sold and disposed of otherwise converted into money be applied by the said Richard Lowndes his Executors administrators and assigns to the same purpose and in the same manner to and in which  the Interest and dividend of the monies to arise therefrom and hereinbefore directed to be applied and I appoint my said Nephew Richard Lowndes Executor of this my Will provided always and I do hereby declare that the receipts of my said Trustees or Trustee for the time being for any money payable to them or him under this my Will shall effectually discharge  the power or powers paying the same from being obliged to see to the application thereof or from being answerable or accountable for the misapplication or nonapplication thereof provided always and I do hereby further declare that if the trustee appointed in this my will and to be appointed as hereinafter is mentioned or any of them or their or any of their Executors administrators or assigns shall happen to die or be desirous of being discharged from or refuse or decline or become incapable to act in the trust  hereby in them respectively revoked  as aforesaid before the said trust shall be fully executed then and so often it shall be lawful for the said Richard Lowndes his Executors or administrators by any deed or deeds Writing or Writings to be by them him or her sealed and delivered in the presence  and attested by two or more Witnesses from time to time to appoint any other person or persons to be a Trustee or Trustees in the stead of the trustee or trustees so dying or desiring to be discharged or so refusing declining or becoming incapable to act as aforesaid and when and so often as do any now trustee shall be appointed as a aforesaid all the trust Estates and monies and provisos or such of them as shall then remain subject to the trusts aforesaid shall be thereupon with convenient speed conveyed assigned and transferred in such manner as and so as that the same shall and may be legally and effectually vested in the portion or portions so to be appointed as aforesaid either solely or jointly with the Surviving or continuing trustee or trustees as occasion shall require upon for the trusts intents and purposes hereinbefore Expressed and declared of and concerning  the said estates monies and provisos  or such of them as shall be then subsisting and effective?  and capable of taking Effect and every person so to be appointed aforesaid shall have all the powers and authorities  of the trustee in release whom? he shall be substituted provided always and I hereby further declare that the said several trustees hereby appointed and to be appointed as aforesaid and each and every of them the Heirs Executors Administrators  and Assigns of them each and every of them shall be declared and chargeable respectively only for such monies as they shall respectively actually receive by virtue of the trust hereby in them reposed notwithstanding their or any of their giving or signing or Joining in giving or signing any receipt or receipts for the sake of Conformity and any one or more of them shall not be answerable or accountable for the other or others of them or for involuntary losses and also that it shall be lawful for them with and out of the monies which shall come to their respective hands by virtue of the trust aforesaid to retain to and reimburse themselves respectively and also to allow to their respective Co Trustees or Co trustee all Costs Charges damages and Expences which they or any of them shall or may suffer sustain Expend disburse be at or be put unto or about the Execution of the aforesaid trust or in relation thereunto In Witness whereof I the said Ann Lowndes have to this my last will and testament contained in Eleven sheets of paper set my hand and seal in manner following that is to say to the first Ten sheets thereof I have set my hand and affixed my seal this seventeenth day of June in the Year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and twelve Anne Lowndes Signed sealed published and declared by the said Ann Lowndes the Testatrix as and for her last will and testament in the presence of us who in her presence and at her request and also in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto John Worley Stony Stratford Bucks John Cowley Winslow Bucks John Goodger Winslow Bucks

Proved at London 1st March 18VI before the Worshipful John Dodson Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the Oath of The Reverend Richard Lowndes Clerk the Nephew and sole Executor to whom admon was granted having been first sworn only to administer.
The second pair of Lowndes ladies were an aunt, Anne Lowndes, and her niece, Maria Selby Lowndes, who occupied the Priory from 1848 to 1856. These ladies seem rather to have been overlooked and passed over by their families, presumably because of their spinster state, and they must have been quite relieved to have been able to lead their own lives at Cosgrove. They are also both interred in Cosgrove Church, Anne in 1852 and Maria in 1856.

NAVE. North wall:
NAVE. North wall:
IN MEMORY

OF
ANNE LOWNDES
SECOND DAUGHTER OF THE LATE
WILLIAM LOWNDES ESQre
WHO AFTERWARDS ASSUMED THE NAME OF SELBY:
OF WINSLOW BUCKS

BORN 12 m JUNE 1769
DIED AT COSGROVE PRIORY 28th DEC 1852

HER REMAINS REST IN THE
AISLE OF THIS CHURCH
IN MEMORY

OF
MARIA SELBY LOWNDES,
DAUGHTER OF
WILLIAM SELBY LOWNDES ESQre.
OF WHADDON HALL, BUCKS.
DIED AT COSGROVE PRIORY,
19th JANUARY 1856:
AGED 57 YEARS

HER REMAINS REST
IN THE AISLE OF
THIS CHURCH

Anne Lowndes Will & Codicil 1853

The Will of Anne Lowndes of Cheltenham in the County of Gloucester spinster second daughter of the late William Selby Lowndes of Winslow in the County of Bucks Esquire I appoint my nephew Thomas Lowndes Esquire my Executor and I give him the sum of Two hundred pounds I give to my niece and God-daughter Maria Selby Lowndes the sum of one hundred pounds and all my plate and plated articles linen china books …. of Garnetts boxes of trinkets and the pictures in such case and boxes or in any of them and all my cases of goods now standing in the warehouses or being in the care of Messieurs Wells and Company Win Street Cheltenham and about to be removed to the house or premises of Mrs Essex Humphreys Ivy House Chippenham or where ever the same …. be at the time of my decease I also give to the said Maria Selby Lowndes my close carriage and packing cases belonging to it for her own absolute use I give my watch with its appendages to the daughter of Mrs. Charlotte Wright by her first husband I give to William Selby Lowndes of Whaddon Hall Bucks Esquire To Thomas Selby Lowndes of the same place Esquire To Richard Selby Lowndes of Bletchley in the County of Bucks Esquire To Charles Selby Lowndes of North Crawley in the said County of Bucks Clerk To Hary? Selby Lowndes of Walton Lodge in the County of Bucks Esquire and To Edward Selby Lowndes of Winslow aforesaid Esquire the sum of nineteen guineas each as a mark of respect I give to my nieces the said Charlotte Wright Louisa Howard and Clara Howard the sum of twenty five pounds each as small tokens of my regard And also all my clothes and wearing apparel to be equally divided between them I also give the sum of twenty five pounds to my nephew The Reverend William Howard of Whitchingham in the County of Norfolk Clerk as a remembrance As to all my real estate and the Residue of my personal estate I give and bequeath appoint and devise the same unto and between The Reverend Thomas Howard of Worldham in the County of Hants Clerk and his two sisters the said Essex Humphries and Lydia Goldesborough of disco? In the County of Somerset Widow in equal shares as tenants in common and in the event of the death of either of them during my lifetime then to the two survivors in equal shares as tenants in common or to the one survivor absolutely as the case may be In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty sixth day of December one thousand eight hundred and forty nine.
Anne Lowndes Signed by the Testatrix Anne Lowndes in the presence of us present at the same time and who in her presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses John Edward Willis Esqr. Cheltenham Edward Lloyd Griffiths Solr. Cheltenham

This is a Codicil to the last Will and Testament of me Anne Lowndes (now residing at the Priory in the parish of Cosgrove in the County of Northampton) spinster bearing date the 26th day of December one thousand eight hundred and forty nine Whereas I have by my said Will given and bequeathed to my niece Maria Selby Lowndes All my plate and linen and also my carriage I do hereby declare that I have disposed of such plate linen and carriage And I revoke said bequest And whereas I have by my said Will given and bequeathed to my nieces Charlotte Wright Louisa Howard and Clara Howard all my cloathes and wearing apparel Now I do by this my Codicil revoke the said bequest and in consequence of the attention and faithful service of my servant Elizabeth Jaquest I give and bequeath All the same cloathes and wearing apparel (Except all lace dresses veils scarfs and other lace) unto my said servant Elizabeth Jaquest if living with me at the time of my decease) and I give and bequeath such lace dresses veils scarfs and other lace unto my said nieces Charlotte Wright Louisa Howard and Clara Howard equally to be divided between them I also give unto my said servant Elizabeth Jaquest (if living with me at my decease) one years wages in Addition to such sum as may be then due to her I give and bequeath to Mrs. Henry Mancel of Cosgrove a legacy of five pounds as a small token of my regard I also give and bequeath to John Christopher Mansel Esquire a … of five pounds illeg of my esteem and regards I give to Harriett Parker? And Harriett Taylor who have attended me as nurses during my illness a legacy of five pounds each in addition to what may be due to illeg wages at the time of my decease provided they are severally attending me at the time of my decease I also give and bequeath the several following legacies to the servants of my said niece Maria Selby Lowndes namely To Mary Cla… five pounds The following 12 rows of text are very blurred. ………. Shillings To Ellen ……… ………. And ……… Swannell twenty shillings provided…………. At the time of my decease ………….  Such will in all respect……. Said codicil…..

In witness whereof I have set my hand …… this twenty eight day of October one thousand eight hundred and fifty one Anne Lowndes ….. Jns Fr. Congreve Solr Stony Stratford Thomas Theophilus Dawson of Cosgrove Miller

Proved 17 January 1853