Susanna Frederick was one of nine children of John Frederick and his wife Elizabeth née Sheppard. The Fredericks' were a wealthy family based in London in the seventeenth century. Susanna was baptised at Bampton in Oxfordshire on 22 August 1711. She died in 1798.

Susanna's Will is crucial in the identification of Sarah, the wife of Edward Whitaker. Edward was the progenitor of a large family of Whitakers based in Bampton. Edward's grandchild Elizabeth Frederick Maria Whitaker married Cabel Roope of Oporto and their daughter married Alfred Victor Dockery US Consul.

Edward Whitaker was the owner of one of the three Manors in Bampton and my father and I had for a long time looked into the history of the Whitakers. Edward was from a relatively inconspicuous family in Northampton and suddenly, so it seemed, acquired the Manor in or before 1800. The Manor had belonged to the Frederick family. There was also the added mystery of Edward's wife Sarah as neither their marriage or her parents could be traced. It was suspected that Sarah was in fact a Frederick. The clue came with the discovery of Susanna's Will. It can be seen that Edward Whitaker is the chief beneficiary of Susanna along with a separate annuity for Sarah. Susanna also took an interest in the education the Edward & Sarah's eldest child Frederick. It is believed that Sarah grew up at Bampton and was the natural daughter of Susanna's brother Gascoigne Frederick, also of Bampton.

Julian Rawes & Bryant Bayliffe 2009.

[Will:]
I Susanna Frederick of the Parish of Bampton in the County of Oxford, Spinster being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following:

First I give and bequeath unto Charles Owen of Villers Street and 20 Strand London the Sum of Three Thousand Pounds Capital Stock of the South Sea Company upon Trust to receive the Dividends and Interest thereof and to pay and apply the same or such part thereof as he the said Charles Owen in his discretion shall think fit to the Use of and Behoof [benefit] of Joseph Vines now clerk to the said Charles Owen and until the said Joseph Vines shall have attained the age of twenty four years, and when he shall have attained the said age of twenty four then upon Trust to pay and transfer the sum of Three Thousand Pounds Capital South Sea Stock together with the dividends and interest which shall be due thereon unto the said Joseph Vines his Executors Administrators or Assigns to and for his or their use and benefit.

I give devise and bequeath to the said Joseph Vines my Moiety [half] of the undivided Estate of Wescott in the County of Gloucester now in the occupation of Thomas State, Yeoman, tenant therein to him and his heirs for ever after him.

I give devise bequeath the Moiety to the first son of the body of the said Joseph Vines begotten or to be lawfully begotten and to the heirs male of the body of such first son lawfully issuing and in default of such issue to the second third and all and every son or sons severally and successively and in remainder one after another as they and every of them shall be in seniority of age and priority of Birth and the several and respective heirs male of his body issuing being always to be preferred and to take place before the younger of such sons and the heirs male of his body issuing with all the arrears of rent due at my decease.

I likewise give devise and bequeath to the said Joseph Vines all my right to the freehold Close called Fishers Bridge Close or Ettys Close purchased by my late brother Gascoigne Frederick of James Etty of Oxford.

I also give to the said Joseph Vines my freehold house with all the outbuildings and appurtenances thereunto belonging now in the occupation of Mrs Brown late Mrs Nedham & upon Lease to him and his heirs for ever.

I give to the said Joseph Vines the book case with all the books in the Little Parlour, my gold watch and half the plate that is otherwise disposed of.

I give to Susanna Brown of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire Five Hundred pounds, to her son John Brown Two Hundred Pounds.

I give to Susanna Gray Forth[?] Two Hundred Pounds and to each of her brothers and sisters who shall be surviving at my decease Two Hundred Pounds apiece.

I give to Ann Jackson Vines Two Hundred Pounds and whereas by the decease of Ann Frederick widow, relict and devisor for Life of my late brother John Frederick of Wellingborough deceased all his Estates descends to me as surviving sister and heiress at Law are now become mine lying and being at Cranfield in Bedfordshire, Cranfield Rudder[?], Wilby, Wellingborough Northamptonshire or elsewhere.

I give and bequeath all my Right Title Claim and Interest to the said Estates to the said Susanna Brown, Thomas Vines now residing in Jamaica, Ann Jackson Vines and all the sons and daughters of Mary Cutts now surviving their heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns not as joint Tenants but as Tenants in Common to be equally divided share and share alike.

I give and bequeath my Moiety of the Thornbury Estate in Northamptonshire to Edward Whitaker in Trust to receive the rents and profits thereof and to pay and divide the rents and profits to the surviving half sisters of the late William Mathews deceased and John Ready Jun'r equally amongst them or if the Estate should be sold that the money arising there from to be given to them.

I give to Edward Whitaker and Joseph Vines the three several Exchequer Long Annuity Orders and the tallies thereunto belonging the residue of the Term of ninety nine years unexpired to be equally divided between them.

I give to Edward Whitaker Five Hundred Pounds upon Trust which I lent on Bond dated the 15th of May 1786 to William Roberts to receive the Interest thereof and to pay and apply the sum of Ten Pounds per Annum to Elizabeth Willett of Shipton for the term of her natural life then to make good any deficiency of the Annuity to Belinda Povey of Abingdon left by my sister Snell the Sunday Money as usual and Widow Carters rent after the demise of the Annuitants.

I give the principal and interest to Frederick Whitaker for his education except the above payments.

I give to the Society of Bampton called the Friendly Society Two Hundred Pounds which I lent on Bond to Mrs Ann Layborne the 17th May 1784 & give and bequeath unto Edward Whitaker and Joseph Vines the sum of Four Hundred Pounds upon Trust that they pay the same to the Treasurer of the Society who call themselves the President and Governors of the Radcliff Infirmary at Oxford for the relief of the sick and lame poor from whatsoever County recommended, which sum I charge to my Personal Estate and desire it may be applied to the charitable uses of the Infirmary.

I give and bequeath unto Clement Samuel Strong Esquire of Pancras Lane London the present Treasurer for the time being of a Society now known in London and called and described by the name of the Society of Stewards and Subscribers for and Maintaining and Educating Poor Orphans of the Clergy until of the age to be put Apprentices the sum of Four Hundred Pounds now lent upon Bond to John Edmonds the Younger of Whelford in the Parish of Kempsford in the County of Gloucester, Gent. bearing date the ninth day of April 1787.

I give to the Society for the Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts Two India Bonds No. 1017 and 707.

I give to the Humane Society for recovery of persons apparently dead by drowning Two India Bonds No. 62 and 1019 for the use and benefit of this Charity.

I give to Margaret Cozens, Widow of Taynton the Bond I have of her late husband for the money lent to him the third of May 1787 to be delivered to her at my decease.

I give One Hundred Pounds to be laid out in Ornamenting and Repairing the Church of Bampton in such manner as the Church was and my executor shall direct.

I give to the Clergyman who shall Officiate in the Passion Week One Guinea to Preach a Sermon on Good Friday on the subject of our Saviours merits death and Passion and the mysteries of Our redemption to be paid out of my Estate or any part of it forever.

I give the interest of Two Hundred Pounds now vested in the South Sea Annuities for the use of the Sunday School.

I give to the most distressed labouring poor of Bampton the interest of Two Hundred Pounds lent in Bond to Ann Layborne of Westwell, Widow dated the seventeenth of June 1784 to be laid out annually in linen or shoes as my Executor shall think fit.

I give to Ann Bishop, Widow Three Shillings per week during the term of her natural life .

I give to Leanora Godsawe a diamond ring.

I give to the eldest son of Levinia Fellows of Ramsey in Huntingdonshire the silver bread basket presented by that Lady to my brother.

I give to the female servants who shall be living with me at my decease Twenty Pounds each and my wearing apparel and linen. To the men servants Ten Pounds each over and above what shall be due to them for wages.

I give devise and bequeath to Joseph Vines all the furniture of the Room and Closet over the Small Parlour and half my household linen. All the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Effects, Right Title Property Interest Claim and Demand whatsoever I give devise and bequeath to Edward Whitaker of Bampton, Gentleman for and during the term of his natural life and from and immediately after the determination of that Estate by forfeiture or otherwise I give and devise the same and every part thereof unto William Stephens of Kencott, Esq. Oxfordshire and Charles Owen of Villers Street Strand London and to their heirs assigns extant only to preserve and support the contingent remainders and uses hereinafter limited from being defeated barred or destroyed and for that purpose from time to time and at all times to make entries and bring Actions as occasion may be or require nevertheless to permit and suffer the said Edward Whitaker to receive and take all the Rents Issues and Profits thereof during the term of his natural life and from and after the decease of the said Edward Whitaker.

I give and devise and bequeath all my Freeholds Copyholds and Leasehold Estates so given to the said Edward Whitaker for life as aforesaid unto and to the use and Behoof of the first son of the body of Edward Whitaker and to the heirs male of the body of such first son lawfully issuing and for the default of such issue to the second third and all and every son or sons severally and successively and in remainder one after another as they and every one of them shall be in Seniority of Age and Priority of Birth and the several and respective heirs male of his body issuing being always to be preferred and to take place before the younger of such sons the heirs male of his body issuing his heirs and assigns and in failure of such male issue to go to the lawful heirs and assigns of Joseph Vines charged and chargeable with the Annuity of Fifty Pounds per Annum for and during the term and natural life of Sarah Whitaker now wife of the said Edward Whitaker if she shall be living at the time of her husbands death and become a Widow left her by the Will of Elizabeth Snell and also an Additional sum of Fifty Pounds per Annum over and above the said Legacy to be paid free of all taxes and other deductions whatsoever to be issuing and payable out of the said Freehold Copyhold and Leasehold Estates and to be paid and payable by half yearly payments at and upon the Feast Day of St John the Baptist and the Birth of Our Lord Christ the first payment to be made on such of the Feast days as shall be first and next happen after the decease of the said Edward Whitaker.

All the rest residue and remainder of my Effects Right Title Interest Claim Property and Demand whatsoever I give devise and bequeath to Edward Whitaker of what nature the same may consist Leasehold Copyhold Freehold Tythes in the Manor of Bampton granted by the Lease from the Dean and Chapter of Saint Peters Exeter charged and chargeable with the before mentioned Legacies my just debts and funeral expenses and all other legacies I shall think fit to give by any codicil or codicils hereafter made by me and executed to be renewed supported and upheld as usual according to the Custom of the Manor. I likewise give and bequeath unto the said Edward Whitaker all the Tythes granted by the Dean and Chapter aforesaid by Lease called Marsh Nasson[?] in the Parish of Brise Norton in the County of Oxford or elsewhere subject nevertheless to the Rents and of or Condition by the Indenture of the said Lease reserved and contained. Also a Lease from the Rector and Scholars of Exeter College in the University of Oxford all that Messuage [Dwelling house with outbuildings etc.]Tenement or Cottage with the appurtenances thereunto belonging now occupied by Thomas Eaton, Yeoman all and every the Tythes of hay corn and diverse other Tythes recited except those before mentioned.

I give to Edward Whitaker my Mortgage Bond Goods Chattels Money in Government Funded Security not before otherwise given except altered by any codicil or codicils I shall hereafter make or raise to be made and executed.

This my last Will and Testament is written with my own hand and Intent and if the form or expression hereof may be deficient in the Letter of the Law yet it is my will and desire the meaning and devises thereof may stand good upon further Trust.

I appoint and request William Stephens of Kencott and Charles Owen of Villers Street Strand London or his assigns to see this my Will justly and truly executed. To each of them I give Two Hundred Pounds for their trouble therein if they accept of the Trust and I so hereby nominate and appoint Edward Whitaker and Joseph Vines Executors of this my last Will and Testament written on these three sheets of paper and lastly reconciling my Soul to Almighty God and hoping through the mercy and merits of my ever blessed Saviour and Redeemer to inherit eternal life.

I declare this to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty ninth day of April in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Nine

Susanna Frederick @ Signed. sealed and published and declared by the Testatrix Susanna Frederick as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at her request in her presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto: Wm. Robert Clark & Rich'd Williams.

[Codicil:]
I Susanna Frederick of the Parish of Bampton in the County of Oxford Spinster do by this Codicil confirm my last Will and Testament date the twenty ninth day of April in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Nine in all things not altered by this Codicil or any Codicil I shall hereafter make or cause to be made and my mind and Will is that the same shall be and be seemed and taken to be part of my said Will and as fully and effectually performed to all intents and purposes as if the same had been inserted therein.

I do by this Codicil give devise and bequeath to Edward Whitaker all that Estate I have lately purchased of George Knapp deceased Yeoman lying and being in the Fields adjacent of what tenor or nature the same may consist Leasehold or Freehold or otherwise to him and his heirs after him under the same terms and restrictions as I have named in the other Estates given him by my Will.

Whereas in my said Will I have given Four Hundred Pounds to the Society of Stewards for Educating Poor Orphans of the Clergy described by a Bond in my Will which being since discharged I direct my Executor Edward Whitaker to pay that sum out of my Personal Property for the above purposes and I have added to the 3 per cent New South Sea Annuities One Hundred Pounds which makes it 3 hundred pounds. I desire all the Dividends arising from it may be appropriated to the use and support of the Sunday School with power to nominate other Trustees occasionally if necessary. And I do also give to Elizabeth Willett of Shipton Ten Pounds for Mourning. To Joanna Bolt the Annuity left her by Will of my sister Mary Frederick during the time of her natural life. I likewise give to Ann Whitaker daughter of Edward Whitaker my Resignee Legatee, my diamond earrings, pearl necklaces and rings except before given.

This Codicil all written by my own hand and signed by me after interlining in the first sheet of paper such late heirs Willett of 2nd sheet Mrs Ann or assigns all 3rd to and in all other things I confirm my said Will. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this ninth day of November in the Year of Our Lord 1793.

Susanna Frederick @ Signed sealed published and declared by the Testatrix Susanna Frederick as and for a Codicil to her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at her request and in her presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto: Richard Clark, Edw'd Bateman, John Bartlett

This Will was proved at London with a Codicil the fifteenth day of June in the Year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety eight before the Worshipful John Fisher Doctor of Laws and Surrogate of The Right Honourable Sir William Wynne, Knight also Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper of Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted By the Oath of Edward Whitaker and Joseph Vines the Executors named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the deceased having been first sworn duly to administer.

Transcribed from the original by Bryant Bayliffe, 2009