1656 Will - John Reeve
Introduction
Dated: 6 Dec 1656, Finchingfield, EssexProbated: Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 22 Dec 1656
Recorded: Piece 260 (Berkeley), folio 317
Transcript
In the name of God Amen. The Sixth day of December in the year of our Lord God according to the computation of the church of England One thousand six hundred fifty and six I John Reeve of Finchingfield in the countie of Essex yeoman being weak in bodie but of good & perfect memorie and understanding praysed be God therefore doe make and ordaine this my Last will and Testament in manner & forme followingFirst & principally I commend & committ my soule into the mercifull hands of God the Father my ? hopeing & trusting by the only meritts of Jesus Christ my only saviour and Redeemer to receive full & free pardon for all my sinnes. My bodie I commend to the earth from whence it came to be decentlie buried by the discretion of my executor hereafter named. And as touching my wrldlie goods wherewithall God hath blessed me I will give and devise the same in manner & forme following
Item I give and bequeath to the ppore of the parush of Finchingfield in the Countie of Essex where I was born and where by Gods providence I have lived untill this time the summe of tenne pounds of current monie of England to be distributed by the direction of my executor hereafter named, calling to his assistance the churchwardens and overseer of the poore of the said parrish within six months next after my decease
Item I give unto the same ppore of the same parish the summe of ten pounds more to be layd out in apparrell for the same poore people by the like discretion of my execturo hereafter named within six months next after my decease by the like assistance of the Churchwardens and oerseers of the poore of the said parish for the time being
Item I give and bequeath to Willia Chisell? citizen and merchant Tayler of London all that my messuage or tenement which I ? erected and built upon a parcell of land called Hovells? fieldes which I late purchased to me and my heires for ever of William Cadge and all the land thereunto belonging situate and being in finchingfield aforesaid which I also purchased of the said William Cadge. To have and to hold the said William Chsell his heires and assignes forever
Item I give and bequeath unto John Cracheroon? of Wood Ditton in the Countie of Cambridg gent which married my late deceased mothers sister, the summe of Twentie pounds of current money to be paid unto him by my executor hereafter named within three monthes next after my decease
Item I give & bequeath unto Judith Buttall now the wife of Walter George of Lindsell i;n the Countie of Essex yeoman the summe of ten pounds to be paid unto her by my executor hereafter named within six monthes next after my decease and her single acquittance shalbe a sufficient discharge for the same unto my said executor
Item I give and bequeath unto ye children of the said Walter George begotten upon the bodie of ye said Judith that shalbe living at the time of my decease the summe of fortie pounds of current monie of England equallue and indifferentlie to be devided amongst them part & part alike the same to be paid unto them by my executor hereafter named whe they shall accomplish their severall ages of sixteen years. And my will and mind is that if anie of the children shall happen to die before he or they shall accomplish their said severall ages of sixteene years that them his, or or their portion so dying shall equallie divided amongst the rest surviving part and part alike. And their severall acquittances at sixteene years old apeice shalbe a sufficient discharge to my executor hereafter named for payment of their said severall legacies in manner & forme aforesaid
Item I give unto (blank) Chisell of Saffron Walden in the Countie of Essex Scrivener the summe of ten pounds of current money to be paid to him within nine monethes next after my decease by my executor hereafter named.
Item I give and bequeath unto (bank) Chisell of London Tayler, the sonne of Bartholowe Chisell late of London Tayler deceased the summe of fifteene pounds and to Elizabeth Chisell the daughter f the said Bartholower Chisell deceased the like summe of fifteene pounds to be severally paid unto them when they shall accomplish their severall ages of sixteen yeares. And their severall acquittances at their said severall ages shalbe a sufficient discharge to my executor hereafter named for the
Item I give and bequeath unto the wife of Francis Godfrey of Thaxtal the summe of ten pounds to be paid unto her within six monthes next after my decease. And her owne acquittance to be a sufficient discharge for the same
Item I give and bequeath unto and amongst the children of the said Francis Godfrey upon the bodie of the said (blank) begotten summe of twentie pounds equallie and indifferentlie to be divided amongst the them part and part alike. The same to be paid unto them when they shall accomplish their severall ages of sixteene yeares. And my will and mynde is that if anie of the said children shall happen to die before he or they shall accomplish their said severall ages of sixteene years that them he her or their portion so dying shalbe equallie divided amongst the rest surviving part and part alike
Item I give and bequeath unto Marie Humfrey the daughter of John Humfrey of Little Bardfield gent the summe of twentie pounds to be paid unto her by my executor within six monthes next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto Sufan Abraham who hath ben my svant these three or foure yeares the summe of twentie pounds to be paid unto her by my executor hereafter named within six monethes next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto Thomas Gardner my servant the summe of ten pounds of current money to be paid unto him within six monethes next after my decease by my executor hereafter named
Item I give and bequeath unto Joseph ?oakering? my servant the summe of five pounds to be paid him by my executor hereafter named within six monthes next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath to Priscilla the wife of Robert Warner ale Brewer of Finchingfield aforesaid the summe of three pounds to be paid unto her by five shillings at a time to buyer her corne or other necessaries that she shall hae need of from tyme to tyme at my executor hereafter named shall ? untill the said summe of five pounds shalbe fullie paid unto her. And her acquittance for the same shalbe a sufficient discharge in that behalf
Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Eolding? of Finchingfield aforesaid widoww the summe of three pounds to be paid unto her by my executor hereafter named within six monthes next after my decease.
Item I give and bequeath until William Dawkin my workman the sum of five pounds to be paid unto him within six monthes next after my decease by my executor hereafter named
Item I give and bequeath unto my neighbor and friend Edward Bright of Finchingfield aforesaid my ? to be delivered unto him within one weak next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto William Tym of Finchingfieldaforesaid ? for his rare? and paines in making of this my last will and testament the summe of fortie shillings of current monie of England
Item I give and bequeath unto Willm Mafres the ? and to Anne his wife fortie shillings a piece for a remembrance of my love unto them
Item I give and bequeath unto William Mascall? the younger sonne of William Mascall before named all that my messuage or tenement wh the appurteenances ? lying and being in Bumpfield? ?Hellion in the Countie of Cambridge and twelve acres of land be the same more or less to the said messuage or tenement belonging lying and being in Bumpsted Lellion? aforesaid in the said Countie of Cambridg now in the tenure or occupason of John Prior and also all that ? called by the name of Inghfield? to the said tenement belonging lying and being in Bumpsted Hellion before named in the said Countie of Essex And two acres of meadow ground lying near adjoyning to the said highfield now also in the tenure and occupason of the said John Prior lying in Bumpsted Hellion aforesaid in the said Countie of Essex to have and to hold the said messuage or tenement and the said twelve acres of land in Bumpsted hellion in the Countie of Cambridge. And the said Close? called Highfield and the said two acres of meadow ground in Bumpsted Hellion aforesaid in ye Countie of Essex with their and everie of ther appurtenances unto the said William Mascall the younger his heires & assignes forever
Item I give and bequeath unto Susan Heard the daughter of Thoams Heard late of Finchingfield aforesaid yeoman deecased the summe of fortie shillings to be paid unto her within six monthes next after my decease by my executor hereafter named. The rest and residue of all and singular my goods chattels, cattle, corne, household stuff rights and credits whatosever unbequeathed (my debts legacies funerall charges probate of this my will and all other charges incident thereunto being first paid and deducted I doe hereby freelie will give and devise the same unto the said William Mascall the younger whom I doe hereby make constitute and appoint to be my full and sole executor of this my Last Will and Testament. And I doe hereby revoke and disannullj all former willes by me heretofore made And do hereby declare this same to be my true Last Will and Testament In witness whereof I the said John Reeve do ? sheet of paper of this my last will and Testament conteying? eight sheets of paper have subscribed my name and affixed my seale to the labill thereof the date time yeare first above written
John Reeve
Signed Sealed declared and published to be the Last Will and Testament of the said John Reeve by the said John Reeve the day & yeare above written in the presence of Edward Bright his marke William Mascall thelder his marke Will Tym
This will was proved at London the two and twentieth daie of December in the year of our Lord One thousand six hundred fiftie six Before the Judge for Probate of willes and granting of Administrasons lawfulli authorized ? thaoth of William Mascall the younger to be executor named in the said Will to whom was committed administration of all and singular the goods chattels and debts of the said Deceased. He the said William being first legallie sworne well and trulie to Adminsiter the same.