This is the Last Will and Testament of James Caswell of Trowbridge in the
County of Wilts being of sound mind memory and understanding and considering the uncertaint y of this transitory life do give and dispose of my worldly goods estate and efforts in manner and
form following that is to say In the First place I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Mary Caswell all and singular my household goods and furniture plate linnen and chinabooks sum and sums of money stock in
trade brewing utensils debt and debts and other my personal estate and
efforts of whatsoever nature or kind sooner and wheresoever situate and being and whereof I may dye seized or possessed from and immediately after my decease for and during her natural life subject nevertheless to the payment of my debts and ffuneral espenses

And from and immediately afterher decease I give and bequeath all and singular my aforesaid goods chattles and efforts unto my three children John Richard and James in equal shares and proportions if they be living but in case either of them shall be then dead then I give the share or shares of him or them so dying unto the survivor or survivors of them And my will and desire is that my good father Mr Richard Caswell and my good father in law John Gibbs both of Trowbridge aforesaid do assist my dear wife and attend and see the due execution of this my last Will and Testament performed and executed AND JUSTLY I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint her the said Mary Caswell my loving wife
Sole executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former and other Wills by me at any time
heretofore made IN WITNESS whereof I the said James Caswell have this my
last Will and
Testament sett my hand and seal this fourth day of march in the year of
our lord one thousand
seven hundred and ninety five

Signed sealed published and declared by the Testator
James Caswell as and for his last Will and Testament in
the presence of us

Edw Sheppard
Anthony Rogers James Casswell

The will was proven on 2 July 1795
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Trowbridge Register

James Caswell tp (this parish) & Mary Gibbs tp sp (this parish -spinster)
married 2 Nov 1802 licence.

In an entry in the Universal British Directory 1793-8 Vol 47 p 37, is an entry
for a Mrs Kaswell, victualler of "The Blue Ball".

The pub is actually named 'The Blue Bowl Inn'. The building is still standing
today, (1995) and is opposite the junction of Polebarn Rd.

Inclosure awards. Trowbridge and Hilperton

Act 55 G111 c28 Private. Award 8 Nov 1816 enrolled 1 Apr 1817. Area 9 aw Studley
green, Quar Lane, Silver St., Andrew's Lane, Holbrook Lane,Drynam Lane,
Choxhall's Lane. James Caswell (including herbage of Andrew's Lane).

Blue Bowls were a sign of punch-making (cf Punch Bowl). Blue
was quite a cheap paint compared with other colours and also
a lot of old crockery was blue and white. In the mid-18th
century there were 5 Blue Bowls in the centre of Bristol
alone, plus 2 more Bowls (no specific colour) and 3 Punch
Bowls. Mind you, there were a lot of inns and alehouses
then, sometimes 10 or more in a fairly short road and, of
course, it was a port..

Pew Rents transcriptions show:-
page 6 Pew 13(6 seats) Feb 23 1770, CASWELL James, son of Richard, in room of
Ann SHRAPNEL that left parish.