Will of Thomasine French, of Northam, Devon

Probate granted 1635

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 nynth day [N.B. no month stated] in the yeare of our Lord God, according to the computation of the Church of England, one thousand six hundred twenty and nyne [1629].

I Thomazine French of Northam in the Countie of Devon widdow, being sicke of body but whole of mynde and good remembrance, laude and prayse be unto Almighty God, therefore doe make and ordaine this my last will and Testament in manner and forme following, that is to saye.

First I give and bequeath my soule into the hands of Almighty God my maker, hopeing assuredly by the death and passion of Jesus Christ my Redeemer to be made p[ar]taker of lief everlasting, and my body I bequeath to the earth to be buried in the church of Northam, when it shall please God to separate and devide it from the soule.

Item: I give and bequeath to the inhabitants of the parrish of Northam fower pounds of lawfull money of England, to be by them imployed to and for the better releife and maintenance of the poore people of Northam forev[er].

Item: I give and bequeath to the same Inhabitation of Northam aforesaid other four pounds of lawfull money of England to be by them imployed to and for the better repairing of the parish Church of Northam for ever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Mr Thomas Larkham preacher of Gods word and Viccar of Northam, if he remaine Viccar at the tyme of my death, tenn shillings.

Item: I give and bequeathe unto the parrish Clarke of Northam for the tyme being ten shillings.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter in lawe Elizabeth Wills, to every of her children twenty shillings.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter in law Wilmott Mills forty shillings, and to every of her children twenty shillings a peece.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter in lawe Susan Webber fortie shillings.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter in law Prudence Cocke fortie shillings, and to her daughter thirty shillings.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter in law Agnes Whatson forty shillings, and to every of her children twenty shillings a peece.

Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter in lawe Phillip Sherman fortie shillings.

Item: I give and bequeath to my sister in law Johan Whitson twenty shillings, and to her children twenty shillings a peece.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my sister in lawe Julian Whitson twentie shillings, and to her daughter Agnes Dennis ten shillings, and to her daughter Em Preist twentie shillings.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Thomas Watts fortie shillings.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my nephew William Bennett and Thomazine Bennett the children of Melchard Bennett tenn pounds a peece.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Honor Bennett the wife of my nephew Richard Bennet fortie shillings, and to their three children tenn pounds a peece.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter in lawe Sara Bennett fortie shillings.

Item: I give and bequeath to my God children twentie pence a peece.

Item: I give and bequeath to Joane Haynes tenn shillings.

Item: I give and bequeath to my sister in law Johan Harris twenty shillings, and to her children tenn shillings a peece.

Item: I give and bequeath unto every of the children of Christopher Berryman deceased five shillings a peece.

Item: I give to Walter Martyn five shillings.

Item: I give to John Wenners daughter five shillings.

Item: I give to Agnes Striblyn five shillings.

Item: I give to Richard Babacomb five shillings.

Item: I give to Christopher Taylder five shillings.

Item: I give unto my daughter in lawe Jane Mugford fortie shillings, and to her sonne Christopher five shillings.

Item: I give and bequeath to my nephew William Bennets wife fortie shillings, and to their children tenn pounds.

Item: I give and bequeath to my nephew Peter Bennets wife twentie shillings.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my sonne Melchard Bennett the quarter part of the good Shipp called the Eagle, I meane the quarter part of the ship w[i]th th[e] app[ur]tenances the victualling and adventure excepted.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my nephew Will[ia]m Bennett the quarter part of the good ship or vessell called the Dragon, I mean the quarter part of the shipp and the appurtenances (the adventures of her and in her excepted), more I give to the same William Bennett one hundred pounds of lawful money of England.

Item: I give and bequeath to my nephew Peter Bennett, and to the issue of his body lawfully begotten, one messuage or dwelling house called the corner house scituate in the Towne or Village of Northam, nowe in the tenure of one Christopher Ridgsman, with th[e] app[ur]tenances to him and his heirs forever. And for default of the yssue of the body of the said Peter, my will is that the same p[re]misses shall wholly remayne come and be after the death of the said Peter and yssue of his body, unto my nephew Richard Bennett and his heires and assignes forever.

Item: I give also to the said Peter Bennett my nephew the quarter parte of the P[re]mises called the Pincorne, and fortie pounds of lawfull money of England.

Item: I give and bequeath to Eme the daughter of Peter Priest tenn shillings, and to all the rest of his children five shillings a peece.

Item: I give and bequeath to my nephue Joane Bennett three score pounds of lawfull money of England to be payed her at her day of marryage, provided alwais that if shee contract herself in marryage w[i]thout the consent or good likeing of my welbeloved friends Mr William Leigh, John Cocks and Melchard Bennett or the survivor of them, that then my will is and it is my true intent and meaneing that the foursayd sume of threescore pounds shalbe devided into two parts, that is thirty pounds to the said Joane Bennett and th[e] other thirty pounds to remaine to my executor.

Item: the resedue of all my goods not before given nor bequeathed my debts and legacies being payed and my funeralls discharged, I doe give and bequeath unto my nephue Richard Bennett, and he I make my whole sole and only executor of this my last will and Testament. And for the better p[er]formance of this my last will and Testament, I doe desire my welbeloved friends William Leigh, John Cocke and Melchard Bennett to be Overseers hereof.

And for the more better Testimony of the trust hereof that this is my last will and Testament, and that I doe hereby revoke all former wills my me herebefore made, I have hereunto sett my firme and seale the daye and yeare first above written.

Memorand[um] that theis words (and to the issue of his body lawfully begotten and yssue of this body, or the survivors of them) were all interlyned before th[e] ensealing hereof and then published signed and sealed in the p[re]sence of us hereunder written.

The signe of Thomazine French, William Leigh, John Crocke, Teste me Edo Sherme.

Probate granted in London 4th May 1635, to Richard Bennet executor.

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N.B. Thomazine French, widow, was buried at Northam on 5th January 1634/35.

 

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