Office copy PROBATE OF THE WILL of Sir George Downing of Gamlingay Park, Cambridge made 20 Dec 1717; codicil added 23 Dec 1727; proved 13 June 1749
all and singular manors, lands, tenements and hereditaments both freehold and copyhold and leasehold lying in counties of Cambridge, Bedford and Suffolk left unto Trustees: James, Earl of Salisbury, Charles, Earl of Carlisle, Nicholas Lechmere Esq., Chancellor of Duchy of Lancashire, John Pedley of Tetworth, Huntington and Robert Pullyn of St Neots, Huntington to and for the uses as follows:
concerning all of said manors, lands, tenements and hereditaments that are freehold, to the use of Cousin Jacob Garrard Downing, son and heir apparent of Uncle Charles Downing of p. St Andrews Holborn, for the term of his natural life; and after that determination to the use of the first son of the body of Jacob Garrard [/Garrett] Downing lawfully begotten and to his heirs male, and in default to use of second third etc sons successively and their heirs; and in default of such issue to use of second, third etc sons of Charles Downing and heirs male; and in default of such issue to the use of Thomas Barnardiston, son and heir apparent of Aunt Barnardiston, wife of Thomas Barnardiston of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, during the term of his natural life, and then to use of sons etc as above; in default to use of other sons of Aunt Barnardiston; and in default of such issue to the use of Cousin Charles Peters now or late of University of Oxford, for his natural life, and then to his sons etc; in default of such issue to use of Cousin John Peters of same University, brother of said Charles Peters, for his natural life, and then to his sons etc;
and in default of such issue to the use and behalf of said Trustees and their heirs in trust to buy, out of the rents and profits of the estate, the inheritance and fee simple of some piece of ground in town of Cambridge for the erecting of a College which is to be called Downing College 'and incorporating a Body Collegiate by that name in and within the University of Cambridge'; and the Trustees and heirs to be seized of all the estates in trust for the College for ever.
[Leasehold property to conveyed by the Trustees according also to preceding limitations].
Codicil: to Mrs Mary Townsend, Housekeeper [and Mistress] £200 pa for her life, plus £100; to Mary Townsend's daughter [his own child] £500 pa for her life.
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