Handel's Will, 1st June, 1750

In the Name of God Amen.

I George Frideric Handel considering the Uncertainty of human Life doe make this my Will in manner following viz.
I give and bequeath unto my Servant Peter le Blond, my Clothes and Linnen, and three hundred Pounds sterl: and to my other Servants a year Wages.
I give and bequeath to Mr Christopher Smith my large Harpsicord, my little House Organ, my Musick Books, and five hundred Pounds sterl:
Item I give and bequeath to Mr James Hunter five hundred Pounds sterl:
I give and bequeath to my Cousin Christian Gottlieb Handel of Coppenhagen one hundred Pounds sterl:
Item I give and bequeath to my Cousin Magister Christian August Rotth of Halle in Saxony one hundred Pounds sterl:
Item I give and bequeath to my Cousin the Widow of George Taust, Pastor of Giebichenstein near Halle in Saxony three hundred Pounds sterl:
and to Her six Children each two hundred Pounds sterl:
All the next and residue of my Estate in Bank Annuity's or of what soever kind of Nature, I give and bequeath unto my Dear Niece Johanna Friderica Flverken of Gotha in Saxony (born Michdelsen in Halle) whom I make my Sole Exectrix of this my last Will.

In witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1 day of June 1750.

George Frideric Handel

1st Codicil, 6th August 1756

I George Frideric Handel make this Codicil to my Will.
I give unto my Servant Peter le Blond Two Hundred Pounds additional to the Legacy already given him in my Will.
I give to Mr. Christopher Smith Fifteen Hundred Pounds additional to the Legacy already given him in my Will.
I give to my Cousin Christian Gottlieb Handel of Coppenhagen Two Hundred Pounds additional to the Legacy given him in my Will.
My Cousin Magister Christian August Rotth being dead I give to his Widow Two Hundred Pounds and if she shall die before me I give the said Two Hundred Pounds to her Children.
The Widow of George Taust and one of her Children being dead I give to her Five remaining children Three Hundred Pounds apiece instead of the Legacy given to them by my Will.
I give to Doctor Morell of Turnham Green Two Hundred Pounds.
I give to Mr. Newburgh Hamilton of Old Bond Street who has assisted me in adjusting words for some of my Compositions One Hundred Pounds.
I make George Amyand Esquire of Lawrence Pountney Hill London Merchant Coexecutor with my Niece mention'd in my Will, and I give him Two Hundred Pounds which I desire him to accept for the Care and Trouble he shall take in my Affairs. In Witness whereof I Have hereunto set my hand this Sixth day of August One Thousand and Seven Hundred and Fifty Six.

George Frideric Handel.

On the day and year above written this Codicil was read over to the said George Frideric Handel and was by him Sign'd and Publish'd in our Presence.

Tho: Harris.
John Hetherington.

2nd Codicil, 22nd March, 1757

I George Frideric Handel do make this farther Codicil to my Will.
My old Servant Peter Le Blond being lately dead I give to his Nephew John Duburk the sum of Five Hundred Pounds.
I give to my Servant Thomas Bramwell the Sum of Thirty Pounds in case He shall be living with me at the time of my Death and not otherways .
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this Twenty Second day of March one thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Seven.

George Frideric Handel.

On the day and year above written this Codicil was read over to the said George Frideric Handel and was by him Sign'd and Publish'd in our Presence.

Tho: Harris.
John Hetherington.

3rd Codicil, 4th August 1757

I George Frideric Handel do make this farther Codicil to my Will. My Cousin Christian Gottlieb Handel being dead, I give to his Sister Christiana Susanna Handelin at Goslar Three hundred pounds. and to his Sister living at Pless near Teschen in Silesia Three hundred pounds.
I give to John Rich Esquire my Great Organ that stands at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden.
I give to Charles Jennens Esquire two pictures the Old Man's head and the Old Woman's head done by Denner.
I give to Granville Esquire of Holles Street the Landskip, a view of the Rhine, done by Rembrand, & another Landskip said to be done by the same hand, which he made me a Present of some time ago.
I give a fair copy of the Score and all Parts of my Oratorio called The Messiah to the Foundling Hospital.

In witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand this fourth day of August One thousand seven hundrd & fifty seven.

George Frideric Handel.

On the day & year above written this Codicil was read over to the said George Frideric Handel and was by him signed and published in our presence.

Tho: Harris.
John Maxwell.

4th Codicil, 11th April 1759

I George Frideric Handel make this farther Codicil.
I Give to the Governors or Trustees of the Society for the Support of decayed Musicians and their Families one Thousand pounds to be disposed of in the most beneficiall manner for the objects of that Charity.
I Give to George Amyand Esquire one of my Executors Two Hundred pounds aditional to what I have before given him.
I Give to Thomas Harris Esquire of Lincolns Inn Fields Three Hundred Pounds.
I Give to Mr. John Hetherington of the First Fruits Office in the Middle Temple One Hundred pounds.
I Give to Mr. James Smyth of Bond Street Perfumer Five Hundred Pounds.
I Give to Mr. Mathew Dubourg Musician One Hundred Pounds.
I Give to my Servant Thomas Bremwell Seventy Pounds aditional to what I have before given him.
I Give to Benjamin Martyn Esquire of New Bond Street Fifty Guineas. I Give to Mr. John Belchar of Sun Court Threadneedle Street Surgeon Fifty Guineas.
I Give all my wearing apparel to my servant John Le Bourk.
I Give to Mr. John Cowland of New Bond Street Apothecary Fifty Pounds.
I hope to have the permission of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster to be buried in Westminster Abbey in a private manner at the discretion of my Executor, Mr. Amyand and I desire that my said Executor may have leave to erect a monument for me there and that any sum not Exceeding Six Hundred Pounds be expended for that purpose at the discretion of my said Executor.
I Give to Mrs. Palmer of Chelsea widow of Mr. Palmer formerly of Chappel Street One Hundred Pounds.
I Give to my Maid Servants each one years wages over and above what shall be due to them at the time of my death.
I Give to Mrs. Mayne of Kensington Widow Sister of the late Mr. Batt Fifty Guineas.
I Give to Mrs. Donnalan of Charles Street Berkley Square Fifty Guineas.
I Give to Mrs. Reiche Secretary for the affairs of Hanover Two Hundred Pounds.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Eleventh day of April 1759.

G. F. Handel.

This Codicil was read over to the said George Friderick Handel and by him Signed and Sealed in the Presence, on the day and year above written, of us.

A. J. Rudd.
J. Christopher Smith.