In the name of God Amen I Joseph Whitchurch of London Linnen Draper – I being well in body and of sound and perfect mind and memory blessed bee Almighty God herefore but calling to mind the uncertanecy of this transitory life doe —– —– of my Spiritt and ordering my affaires make publish and declare this my last will and Testament in manner and forme following (that is to say first and principally I recommend my Soule into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hopeing to have full pardon and free remission of all my sins past and to enjoy eternall rest and happinesse in his Heavenly Kingdome through the alone merits death and passion of my Crucifyed Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ My mortall body I commit to the Earth from whence it was extracted in hopes of a joyful resurrection thereof to bee decently buryed in the parish Church of Froome Zellwood in the County of Somersett soe —– my most deare Father and Mother as conveniently cann bee And I doe hereby order that the summe of one hundred pounds bee laid out and expended att my funeral (not accounting —–) by my Executor hereinafter named and not above Afterwards with that all such debts as I shall justly owe at the time of my decease shall be paid and sattisfyed according to Equity and good constitute Then as —– and disposeing of my said worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to —– —– in this world I give will and bequeath thereof as followeth First I give and bequeath unto my loving brother – William Whitchurch of Froome Zellwood in the County of Sommersett aforesaid Draper the sume of one hundred pounds to putt himselfe and family in mourneing Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Nephews and Niece John William and (blank) Whitchurch sons and daughter of my said Brother William Whitchurch the sume of Fifty pounds apiece Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Uncles Edward James and Leonard Whitchurch Tenn pounds a peece to buy them mourneing Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Uncles Nathaniell Joseph and Robert Houlton and to my Uncle Edward Mortimer Tenn pounds a peece to buy them mourneing Item I give and bequeath unto all and every of my Aunts that shall bee living att the time of my Decease the sume of Tenn pounds to buy them mourneing. Item I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid loving Uncle Leonard Whitchurch the sume of one hundred pounds and to distribute such parte thereof unto and amongst all or any of his children as to him shall seeme convenient Item I give and bequeath unto my welbeloved Sister Joane Ranysford of London Widdow the sume of Fifty pounds to buy her mourneing Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Niece Johanna Raynsford daughter of my said sister Joane Ranysford The sume of One Thousand pounds to bee payd unto her att her day of Marriage Provided the same bee with the consent of my said Sister Joane Ranysford and my said Brother William Whitchurch (if they or either of them shall be then living) And I doe desire and intreate my said brother William Whitchurch to place the same out att interest upon such security or securityes as to him shall seeme safe and to pay the proceed and profit thereof together with the principall unto her the said Johanna Raynsford at her said day of marriage Provided always and it is my expresse will and pleasure that if my said Niece shall happen to intermarry with any person whatsoever without the joynt consents of my said sister Joane Raynsford and my said Brother William Whitchurch if they do either of them shall bee then living (to be testified by a writeing under their hands and seales to that purpose before Marriage Then I give will and dispose of the said Legacy of one Thousand pounds herein by mee before bequeathed to the said Johanna Raynsford in manner following that is to say One Moyety or halfe thereof being Five hundred pounds unto my aforementioned loving Nephew William Whitchurch youngest sonne of my said brother William Whitchurch —– with one Moyety of all interest and profits that shall have beene made thereof And the other Moyety or halfe parte thereof being Five hundred pounds I give will and bequeath unto George Whitchurch youngest sonne of my said Uncle Leonard Whitchurch together with one Moyety of all Interest and profit that shall have —– made thereof Provided alsoe and it is my expresse will and pleasure that if any of the security or securityes shall happen to faile and prove insolvent or any other accidentall casualty after the said One Thousand pounds or any parte thereof shall be placed and putt out (if the same bee not through wilfull neglect or on purpose) That my said Brother William Whitchurch shall not or his heires Executors or Administrators bee lyable or accountable in any manner of wise for the same Provided further and I doe hereby give full power and authority unto my said niece Johanna Raynsford (that in case shee shall happen to dye after her arrival att the age of Fifteene yeares before the day of her marryage to give and dispose unto whome she pleases By her last will and Testament Attested by three credible witnesses the sume of Five hundred pounds And the remaining Five hundred pounds I give will and bequeath unto my said loving Nephews William Whitchurch and George Whitchurch equally to bee divided betweene them share and share alike Item I give and bequeathe unto the poore of the parrish of Froome Zellwood in the County of Sommersett aforesaid the sume of one hundred pounds to purchase lands to bee settled upon them for their support and maintenance or otherwise as my said Brother William Whitchurch and the church wardens of the said parish for the then present yeare shall judge most proper for their advantage And —– further give and bequeath unto the said poore of the said parish of Froome the sume of Tenn pounds to be distributed by my said brother William Whitchurch amongst such of them as he shall thinke or bee informed deservesthe greatest Charity And the rest and residue of my personal Estate goods and chattels whatsoever I give and bequeath unto my said loving brother William Whitchurch And I doe hereby make ordayne and appointing said loving brother sole Executor of this my last will and Testament desireing him to —– the same punctually performed And I doe hereby revoake pronounce and make void all former and other wills by mee heretofore made In witnesse whereof I the said Joseph Whitchurch the Testator to this my last will and Testament have hereunto sett my hand and affixed my seale This fifth day of March Anno (Latin) One Thousand six hundred Eighty Nyne and in the second yeare of the Reigne of our Soverayne Lord and King William and Queene Mary of England – Joseph Whitchurch_Signed sealed published and declared by the within named Joseph whitchurch the Testator to bee as his last will and Testament in the presence of us whose names —–subscribed Joseph Blisse S(?) Martin Edw: Stracey(?)
Probatum (in Latin) 2 Jun 1690 William Whitchurch brother the Executor named in the will
Reference: Transcribed from a digital copy of a handwritten transcription – England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858
Relation to Author: 7th great-granduncle of husband
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