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In the Name of God Amen I Mary Burnaby of Burton Latimer in the County of Northampton make this my last Will and Testament. I give and bequeath to my Brothers William Burnaby, Thomas Burnaby and John Burnaby and to my Sister Catharine Burnaby to each One hundred pounds in the three pr. ct. Stock reduced. I give to John Burnaby Son of my late Brother Samuel Burnaby and Elizabeth Clark daughter of my late Sister Ann Clark and to Elizabeth Burnaby daughter of my late Sister Martha Burnaby each Twenty five Pounds in Stock in the three pr. ct. reduced. I give to Sarah Burnaby Widow of my Brother Robert Burnaby ffive Guineas. I give to my Nephew William Burnaby and my Niece Mary Burnaby Son and Daughter of my Brother William to each Ten pounds. I give to my Nephew Thomas Burnaby and my Niece ffrances Arisson and daughter of my Brother Thomas to each Ten pounds. I give to my Nephews Thomas Burnaby, Joseph Burnaby and John Burnaby and my Niece Mary Burnaby Sons and Daughter of my Brother John to each Ten pounds. I give to my Nephew William Burnaby and my Niece Sarah Burnaby Son and Daughter of my late Brother Robert to each Ten pounds, to my Nieces Ann Bollard and Mary Bollard to each five pounds to Benjamin Ireland ffive pounds to Thomas Daniels Senior three Guineas to Mary Patrick Widow Two Guineas. I give to my Sister Catharine Burnaby the House now in the Occupation of Edmund Edee. I give to my Niece Elizabeth Clark the House now in the Occuation of Mary Caps and Widow West and also my Bedstead with the Bed and Bedding thereunto belonging. I give to my Niece ffrances Aris Six Silver Tea Spoons and Tongs. I give to my Sister Catharine Burnaby and to my Niece Mary daughter of William Burnaby, ffrances Aris, Mary daughter of John Burnaby, Sarah daughter of Robert Burnaby, Elizabeth Clark daughter of Ann Clark and Elizabeth Burnaby daughter of Martha Burnaby all my wearing apparel to be divided among them at the discretion of my Sister Catharine and I do hereby appoint the said Catharine Burnaby residuary Legatee and Executrix of this my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this second day of November Eighteen hundred and five Mary Burnaby – Signed Sealed delivered and declared to be the last will of Mary Burnaby this second day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred five in the presence of us Samuel Barwick, mark of Thomas Bryant, mark of Elizabeth Patrick.
This Will was proved at London the Twenty fifth day of ffebruary in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and Six before the Right Honorable Sir William Wynne Knight Doctor of law Master Keeper or Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully Constituted by the Oath of Catherine otherwise Catharine Burnaby Spinster the Sister of the deceased and the sole Executrix named in the said will to whom administration was granted and all and Singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased she having been first sworn by Commission duly to administer.
The text on Mary Burnaby's headstone reads:
In memory of Mary Burnaby
who departed this life Feb 3rd 1806
In the 72nd year of her age.
Much esteemed for her regularity
in the discharge of her duties
of religion and for her integrity and
prudent conduct in the management
of domestic affairs.
No less than Kingdoms are prepared
and on her endless bliss for their reward.
Who finish well this mortal life’s race
on earth our cup if sweet is mix’d
In Heaven all’s pure refin’d and fixt:
up then and to thy work apace.
Mary Burnaby was born in 1734, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Burnaby. Her father was a labourer so it may seem suprising that Mary, an unmarried woman, appears to have been so well off. However, it seems possible, although no proof has been found, that she was housekeeper to the Rev. Samuel Barwick, which would have been a well-rewarded position. The phrase "prudent conduct in the management of domestic affairs" in her epitaph above gives a clue to this. When he died in 1809 , the Rev. Barwick left money to her sister-in-law Sarah Burnaby, a charwoman, and her brother John Burnaby, a gardener, which might indicate that they also worked for him.
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