Indenture between Sir William Bowyer Smijth and Reverend William Shepherd

This indenture made the fifteenth day of February in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight-hundred and sixty one between the Reverend William Shepherd, Clerk, Rector of Margaret Roding in the County of Essex, the one part and Sir William Bowyer Smijth of Hill Hall, in the County of Essex, Baronet of the other part.

Whereas the said William Bowyer Smijth is entitled to present a Clerk to the United Rectories and Parish Churches of Stapleford Tawney and Theydon Mount in the County of Essex (now void by the death of the Reverend Henry Soames) the said William Shepherd shall be presented to the said Living upon the present avoidance thereof inasmuch as the said Sir William Bowyer Smijth is desirous that if William Bowyer Smijth, the first eldest son of him the said Sir William Bowyer Smijth and now of the age of twenty years or thereabouts, and Edward de Grey Bowyer Smijth, the second son of the said Sir William Bowyer Smijth and now of the age of fourteen years or thereabouts, or either of them shall live to take Holy orders, then and in such case the said Sir William Bowyer Smijth or other the Patron of the said Living for the time being shall at any time after have the option of presenting either of them the said William Bowyer Smijth and Edward de Grey Bowyer Smijth (being capable) to such Living, it hath been agreed between the said Sir William Bowyer Smijth and William Shepherd that he the said William Shepherd previously to his Presentation thereto on the avoidance as aforesaid, shall enter into the Covenant and Agreement hereinafter contained.

Indenture witnesseth that in pursuance of the said Agreement and in consideration of the promise he the said William Shepherd Doth hereby for himself his heirs, executors and administrators promise and agree with and to the said Sir William Bowyer Smijth his executors and administrators…promise and agree with the said William Shepherd (being duly presented by the said Sir William Bowyer Smijth to the Rectories and Churches of Stapleford Tawney and Theydon Mount aforesaid upon the present avoidance thereof shall thereupon with all convenient speed procure himself to be legally and actually admitted inducted into the said Rectories and Churches upon or by virtue of such Presentation.

And further that he the said William Shepherd shall and will at any time after the twenty fifth day of March eight hundred and seventy one and with one calendar month next after he shall have been thereunto required by Sir Willam Bowyer Smijth or such other person or persons as shall be the then Patron of Patrons of the Rectories make a full and absolute and legal resignation and ununciation of the said United Rectories and Churches of Stapleford Tawney and Theydon Mount aforesaid to the Bishop of the Diocese for the time being to the intent or purpose and so as that the same Rectories and Churches may become void and that such one of them the said William Bowyer Smijth or Edward de Grey Bowyer Smijth as the said Sir William Bowyer Smijth or other the Patron of the said Living for the time being shall name and who shall be of proper age and in order qualifying him to be presented to Rectories. In witness thereof the said parties to these present have hereunder set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.