1671 Will - Sir Richard Ryves

Introduction

Dated: 20 Aug 1671, Yateley, Hampshire
Probated: Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 30 Aug 1671
Recorded: Piece 337 (Duke), folio 44

Transcript

In the Name of God Amen the twentieth day of August in the three and twentieth yeare of the Reigne of Our Soveraigne Lord King Charles the Second over England &c Annoq Domini one thousand six hundred seaventie one I Sr Richard Ryves of Yateley in the County of Southton knight one of the Aldermen of the Cittie of London being sicke and weake in body but of sound and perfect memorie Blessed be God, but considering the variety of Changes that mortall man is subject unto in this life, and for the preventing of all differences which may at anytime hereafter happen to be betweene my deare wife and any of my Friends and relations Doe make and ordayne this my last Will and Testament in mnanner and forme following And first I give and bequeath my soule into the hands of Almightie God my Creator trusting in & through the merits of Jesus Christ my Redeemer to receave it againe glorifyed my bodie to the Earth to be decently interred in the Parish church of Yateley at the discretion of my executrix hereafter named. And for that outward estate which God of his mercie hath blessed mee with, I give and bequeath the same as followeth
And first I give and bequeath unto my deare and loving wife my customary hallincot called Hall Place with the lands thereunto belonging lying in Yately and hold of the mannor of trundall for the terme of her widowhood according to the custome of the said Mannor And after the determynation of her estate therein I lave the same to descend and come unto my nephew John Ryves onely sonne of my brother John Ryves late of Kensington in the County of Middlesex Esqr deceased and to his heires forever as being my heire at Lawe And my desire is that hee may be admitted unto it accordingly And for my personall estate my will is that my deare and loving wife shall have moitie or one halfe thereof according to the custome of the cittie of London, And for the other moitie thereof I give the same as followeth that is to say to my nephew John Ryves the onely sonne of my late Brother Mr John Ryves I give the summe of five hundred pounds to be deposited in the chamber of London till hee accomplish the age of one and twentie yeares and the interest thereof in the interim to be payd unto him for his maintenance at the universitie of Oxford or elsewhere, and then the principall to be payd unto him. Also I give unto his two sisters Christian and Letice the daughters of my said Brother to each of them ye summe of five hundred pounds apeece; Alsoe I give unto my sister Mrs Elinor Staneley the interest of three hundred pounds for terme of her life for her better maintenance and livelyhood wch said three hundred pounds I doe by this my will order and direct to be payd into the chamber of London, and the interest thereof to be payd unto my said sister during her naturall life, And after her decease the principall money to be equally divided betweene Richard Stanely Bridget wife of John Boucher citizen and draper of London and Katherine wife of Thomas Bright of Finchamfeed in the Countie of Berks clerke sonne and daughter of my said sister Staneley; Alsoe I give more unto the said Richard Staneley who is my godsonn the summe of foure hundred pounds; Alsoe I give unto Charles Staneley younger sonn of my said sister Staneley the sume of three hundred pounds to be payd unto him by my executrix hereafter named at such time as hee shall become a Freeman of the Cittie of London; Alsoe I give unto Joseph Staneley eldest sonn of my said sister Staneley the summe of two hundred and fiftie pounds besides what I have formerly given him and my will is that the said Joseph upon the Receipt thereof shall give a genrall? Release to my Executrix of all claymes promises and pretentions whatsoever which hee may any wayes make to my estate or any part thereof which in case hee shall refuse to doe, then this Request to be voyd; Alsoe I give unto my kinsman Robert Seawell sonn of Robert Seawell citizen and draper of London the summe of two hundred pownds; Alsoe I give unto the worshipfull companie of Drapers of the Cittie of London of which Companie I am a Freeman the summe of twentie pounds to be bestowed upon a peece of plate with my name to be inscribed upon it as my Guift unto them; Also I give unto my brother in Law Mr Robert Seawell the summe of tenn pounds to be bestowed upon a leice of Plate; Also I give unto Mrs Warren wife of Mr Richard Warren my wifes sister the like summe of tenn pounds to be bestowed if shee please upon a peere of plate Alsoe I give unto Mrs Anne Wescombe wife of Mr Richard Wescombe cittizen of London the summe of tenn pownds to buy her a peece of Plate. Alsoe I give unto my loving friend and neighbour Mrs Sarah Ball of Yateley widdow twentie pounds and I desire my executrix to be carefull to bestowe the same upon a peice of plate to be presented unto her. Alsoe I give unto the Inn parish of Yateley and within that tything the summe of fiftie pounds to be layd out by the churchwardens and overseers for the poore upon a parcell of land, and the rent thereof to be yearely divided amongst the poore of the said Inn Parish of Yateley; Alsoe I give unto the poore of the Parish of St Peter in Shaftsbury in the Countie of Dorset the summe of tenn pounds to be divided by the churchwardens and overseers of ye poore amongst the poore of the said parish; Alsoe I give unto Mr John Waller minister of Yateley the summe of tenn pounds and doe desire him to preach my funerall sermon; And to each servant who shall be living wth mee at the tyme of my decease I give the summe of fortie shillings; And for the rest of my estate (my debts lagacies and funerall expenses being discharged) I leave the same to my deare and loveing wife whome I make sole executrix of this my last will and testament, desiring of her to take care for the payment of my severall legacies hereby given; And alsoe in case my estate cometh in so that the moitie thereof doth exceed the legacies by this my will given, I then desire my said wife that shee will divide the remainder of the said moitie of my psonall estate amongst my severall legatees who are of my kindred or amongst those of them which in her discretion shall appeare to have the greatest need thereof. As also my desire is that my said wife according to her promise to mee will have a tender respect care and kyndness for my kindred out of that part of my estate which descends and comes unto her by the custome of the Cittie of London, of which I am confident shee will be myndfull. And I desire my loveing freinds William Salmon of London merchant Nicholas Warren of London merchant George Hill of London neare Temple Barr gent and John Tut of Mattingley in the Parish of Heckfield in the countie of Sothton gent to be overseers of this my last Will and Testament, and to be ayding and assisting to my executrix in the execution thereof, and for their paines therein I give to each of them thirtie pounds to buy them pate; And I doe hereby renounce and revoke all former wills and in token that this is my last Will I have subscribed my name to the same conteyning five sheets and have alsoe affixed my seale thereunto the day and yeare first above written.
Ric: Ryves
Signed Sealed & delivered and published and declared to be the last Will and Testament of the said Sr Richard Ryves in the presence of Richard Bankes John Petty James Swayne John Barres

Source

England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 (Ancestry)