Will of Richard French, of Northam, Devon

Probate granted 1623

National Archives PCC will ref: PROB 11/141

Transcribed by David Carter 2022

[Spelling remains verbatim. All punctuation added by the transcriber]

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Transcribed text:

In the name of God Amen.

The three and twenteeth daye of March in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand sixe hundred, twentie and two [1622/3], I Richard French of Northam in the Countie of Devon, beinge sicke of bodie but whole of minde and good remembrance, laude and prayse be unto Almightie God, therefore doe make and ordaine this my last will and Testament in mann[er] and forme followinge (viz’t):

First I give and bequeath my soule into the hands of Almightie God my maker, hopinge by the death & passion of Jesus Christ to be made p[ar]taker of life everlastinge, and my bodye to the earth in Christian buriall within the p[ar]ishe Church of Northam, yf it please god that I dye within the said parishe.

Item: I give to the inhabitants of the p[ar]ishe of Northam ten pounds to be ymployed for ever to the use of the poore of the said p[ar]ish as by the discretion of the church wardens and overseers of the poore of the same p[ar]ish for the tyme being shalbe thought best.

And whereas one Richard Branton of the said p[ar]ish of Northam owes me the some of twentie pounds, as Nicholas Caldey of Barnestaple cann testifie, the foresaid some of twentie pounds uppon the Recovery thereof, I doe likewise give and bequeath to the said inhabitants of Northam to be imployed to the use of the poore of Northam in manner as the foresaid tenn pounds is to be imployed.

Item: I give and bequeath to the said inhabitants of Northam the some of ten pounds to be imployed for the maintenance of the Church for ever.

Item: I give to the vicar, preacher and p[ar]ish clarke of Northam for the tyme beinge twentie shillings a peece.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Willes twentye poundes, and her children five poundes a peece. And also I give to the said Elizabeth the quarter p[ar]te of my shipp named the Pelligrene, the adventure and proffittes of this voyadge onely excepted.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Willmote Milles fortie pounds, and to her children five pounds a peece.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Agnes Whitson twentie pounds, and five pounds a peece to her children.

Item: I give and bequeath unto John Cocke and my daughter Prudence one other quarter p[ar]te of my ship called the Pelligreene, and the fowerth p[ar]te of my adventures & p[ro]fittes of this voyage in the same shipp, with the fowerth p[ar]te of all thanetts[?] & other goods in her or belonging unto her. And I give to each the children of the said John and Prudence ten pounds a peece.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Susan Bennett two shillings a weeke, to be paid by my Executors weekely untill the livinge nowe in the tenure of George Berry happen unto her.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my nephewes Richard Bennett and William Bennett my two Shipps or Barkes named the Fawken and the Richard, joyntly betweene them.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my nephew John Bennett three score pounds to be putt out to use for her untill her mariage, or at her age of one and twentie yeares which shall first happen.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Peter Bennet my nephew the moitie of new P~~ishe named the Vincorne and five pounds in money.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Alice French six score pounds, and all my estate rights and interest in one tenem[en]t Messuage and sellers at Apledore, w[hi]ich I tooke of Mr Thomas Docton.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Sarah Bennett all my right and interest w[hi]ch I have in the howse in towne w[hi]ch I tooke of William Thomas.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my godchildren two shillings a peece.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Phillip Garland five pounds.

Item: the residue of all my goods not before given nor bequeathed, my debts and legacies being paide and my funeralls discharged, I doe give and bequeath unto my wief Thomzin French and my sonne in lawe Melchard Bennet, and they I make my sole and onely Executors of this my last will and testament. And for the more better p[er]formance hereof, I doe desyre my welbeloved freinds in Christ Mr William Leigh, Mr William Molford and Peter Chante to be overseers hereof. And for testimony of the trueth that this is my last will, I have hereunto sett my firme & seale the day and yeare above written.

The signe of Richard French, published, sealed & signed in pa[r]te of William Leighe, W[illia]m Molford, Edmond Shirme.

Probate granted at London 25 June 1623, to Thomazine French relict dicti defuncti and executor.

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N.B. Richard French was buried at Northam on 29th March 1623 (no further details).

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