In the Name of God Amen I William Whitchurch the elder of Froom Selwood in the Countie of Somerset Lynnen draper being at this present time sick and weak in bodie but of sound and perfect mynd and memorie Praised by All Mightie God And considering with myselfe the Certaintie of death and the uncertaintie of the time when it shall please the Lord to call for mee out of the world, revoking all former and other Wills and Testaments by mee heretofore made, Doe therefore make ordaine and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, (that is to say), First and principally I commend my Soul into the hands of Almightie God my Creator that gave it, stedfastly believing and firmly hoping that by and through the —– death and passion resurrection and effectual mediation and in—– of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ it shall be —– into everlasting Bliss and happiness, and my bodie I commit to the Earth from whence it was taken? to be decently buried according to the discretion of my Executor hereinafter named, there to rest in hope of a joyfull Resurrection unto life eternal at the last day; And as for those worldly Goods and estate which it hath pleased my good God to bless mee with all in this life I give devise bequeath and dispose of the same in manner in forme following: viz) Imprimis I will that my dearly beloved wife Joan Whitchurch shall have and enjoy my Tenement and Lands thereto belonging in Lullington for her widowhood according to the Custome of that Mannor, And for her better livelihood and maintenance in time to come I give and bequeath unto my said deare wife One Annuitie or Rent Charge of Seventie Pounds of lawfull English money to be during the Terme of her naturall life immediately after my decease yearly issuing and payable out of all that my Messuage Tenements and Lands called Queens-Field in the Parish of Melkesham in the Countie of Wilts, the sume to be payed by half yearely by equal payments Provided my said wife accept the sume in full satisfaction of her Dower; And in case the said Annuitie or yearely Summe or any part thereof shall be behinde by the Space of Three months next the same shall become payable, Then my will is that my said wife and her assigns shall and may —– —– for the same upon my said lands charged with the payment thereof, or else enter upon the same lands and —– the profits thereof until the said Rent and the —– thereof be —– fullie satisfied; But my will is that my wife shall out of the Seventie pounds allow and abate a proportionable part of all Taxes and payments which shall be charged on the said Lands. Item I give and devise unto my Sonn Joseph Whitchurch all that my aforesaid Tenement and Lands called Queene-Field and all other my Lands in the Parish of Melkesham To hold to him for and during the Terme of his naturall life, charged nevertheless with the Payment of the said Annuitie; But nevertheless my will is that my Sonn Joseph shoud be under the Age of One and Twentie yeares at the time of my decease Then my Sonn William shall during the minoritie of my said Sonn Joseph receive and take the Rents and profits of the said lands and therewith shall in the first place satisfie the said Annuitie to my wife And afterwards Fifty pounds yearely to the Overseers of this my Will to be them and my said Sonn William to be disposed of for the education of and raising a Stock for my said Sonn Joseph; Out of —– Fiftie pounds a proportionable part of the Taxes and payments is likewise to be deducted and the Overplus of the said profits (if any be) my said Sonn William shall reteyne to his own use without being accountable for the same to my Sonn Joseph at his full age; And in case my said Sonn Joseph after his full Age shall be mynded and by his Deed in revising shall grant or lymitt the said lands soe devised to him for his life only, or any part thereof, to any woman during her life my will is that such wife shall at the death of my said Sonn Joseph hold and enjoy the said lands or such part thereof as shall be soe lymited to her for her jointure during her naturall life charged with the said Annuitie during my Wifes life; And from and after the determination of the Estate and estates herein before thereof devised lymited or appointed my will is, and I doe devise, that my said Tenements and lands in the Parish of Melkesham shall be and remaine to the first Sonn of the bodie of my said Sonn Joseph lawfully to be begotten and to the Heirs of the bodie of such first Sonn issuing; And for want of such issue To the Second Sonn of the bodie of the said Joseph lawfully to be begotten and to the Heirs of the bodie of such second Sonn issuing, And for want of such issue To the third Sonn of the bodie of my said Sonn Joseph lawfully begotten and to the Heirs of the bodie of such third Son issuing, And for want of such issue to the fourth, fifth, sixth and all and every other Sonn and Sonns of the bodie of my said Sonn Joseph lawfully to be begotten severally and successively one after another as they and every of them shall be —- of —– and Senioritic of Age and to the severall and respective heires of the bodie and bodies of all and every such Sonn and Sonns issuing, Childer of such Sonns and the heires of his bodie issue to take and be preferred before the younger and the heires of his bodie; And for want of such issue then I devise that all my said lands in the Parish of Melkesham shall be and remaine to the daughters of the bodie of my said Sonn Joseph lawfully to be begotten and to the heires of their bodies to be equally divided – if there shall happen to more than one daughter, and if but one daughter, such daughter and the heires of her bodie to have the whole, And for want of such issue then I devise the same To my Sonn William Whitchurch and his heires forever: Item I give unto my wife the summe of Twentie pounds more, to be payd within tenn days after my death; Item I give and devise One Moitie? or halfe of my Plate and Household: Goods, as Brass —– Bedding and such like to my said wife, and the other moitie unto my said Sonns William and Joseph, and I desire the Overseers of this my will to make a Division between my said wife and Sonns accordingly, And my will is that each of them shall have only such part as upon such Division shall be allotted unto her and them. Item I give and bequeath unto my said Sonn Joseph the summe of Two thousand pounds if hee shall live to accomplish the Age of two and twentie years to be payd him by my Executor within One month after hee shall attaine that Age, But if hee dye before that Age, then the Bequest of the said Two thousand pounds to be void: Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Joan Raynsford the Summe of Six hundred pounds to be payd her within three months after my decease by my Executor to be at her own dispose; Item I give and bequeath unto my grandchild Joanna Rainsford the Summe of Foure hundred pounds which I will shall be payd by my Executor hereinafter named unto the Overseers of this my will to be by them disposed of and secured at their discretions for the advantage and benefit of my said grandchild Joanna Rainsford: Item I give unto my three kinswomen Alice Merchant Ann Merchant and Joan Merchant daughters of Henry Merchant deceased the summe of tenn pounds apeece to be payd within six months after my decease: Item I give and bequeath unto my two grandsonns John Whitchurch and William Whitchurch the summe of Two hundred pounds apeece to be payd at their respective Ages of One and Twentie years: I give unto the Poore of the Parish of Froome Selwood Five pounds to be distributed by my Executor the next day after my funerall: Item I give Six long black coats unto six poore men of the Parish to be provided by my Executor and worne by them at my funerall: All the rest residue and remainder of all my Goods and chattells —– money credits and estate whatsoever not alreadie by mee given and disposed of my just debts and legacies being payd and my funerall expences discharged I doe hereby devise and bequeath unto my said Sonn William Whitchurch whom I doe make ordain nominate constitute and appoint the full whole and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament, and I doe make my loving Brothers Edward Whitchurch James Whitchurch Samuel Whitchurch and Leonard Whitchurch and also George Hooper the elder to be Overseers of this my Will earnestly requesting and desiring them to be ayding and assisting unto my said Executor in the performance and due Execution of this my last Will and Testament, and to use their endeavors to keepe and continue Annuitie Peace and a good Understanding amongst my Family and Relations; and I doe give one to every of them Twenty Shillings apeece to buy Rings to be by them worne for my sake; And if it shall happen that any difference or dispute shall arise or be made about concerning or any wayes relating to this my will or anything herein conteyned (which God forbid) It is my will, and I doe hereby desire, that the same may be heard composed reconciled and determined by my said Overseers, or some of them, which I desire and hope they will take on them to doe and performe in the best manner that they can and as may be most agreeable to the intent and true meaning of this my will for the procuring and preserving of Friendshipp and Concord amongst them, and —– charges or expences any or either of them shall be at lay out or expected in or about the execution of this my will and the Trust hereby in them reposed, I desire my Executor to reimburse and pay unto him them or any or either of them againe with thankes. In witness whereof I the said William Whitchurch the elder the Testator to this my last Will and Testament conteyned in three Sheets of Paper annex’d together have set my hand and affixed my seale to every Sheet this Fifth day of September —– One thousand six hundred eightie one —– (Latin) William Whitchurch Senr. Signed sealed published and declared to be the last Will and Testament of the above said William Whitchurch the elder the Testator in the presence of: Ja. Thatcher: Bozoun Goodrick: the mark of Elenor Hill: Jno. Sturgis.
Probatum (Latin) 4 Nov 1681 to William Whitchurch
Reference: Transcribed from a digital copy of a handwritten transcription – England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858
Relation to Author: 8th great-grandfather of husband
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