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Will of Catalina Neesham widow of London 1676 |
In the name of God Amen
I Catalina Neesham of London widdow being sick and weak in Body But
of sound and perfect mind and memory (Praised by Almighty God) Doe
make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner as followeth
(That is to say) First and prinicipally I committ my soule into the hands
of Almighty God, my Creator and of Jesus Christ my only Saviour
and Redeemer assuredly hoping through his mercy and merritts and the sanctifying
opperations of God the Holy Ghost to inheritt amongst the Elect the Joyes
and fruitions of Eternall life; My body I committ to the Earth whence it was
Extracted to be decently buried att the discretion of my Executors herein after
named, And concerning my Worldly Estate I give and bequeath All my
goods Chattels cattell household Stuffe Plate Jewells ready money debts Creditts
and Rights whatsoever To my very good freinds John Pelling of London
Apothecary and William Bramfield of Grayes Inne Lane in the county of
Middlesex gentleman for the payment of my debts and Legacies and performance
of this my last will and Testament. Nevertheless upon the trust and confi-
dence hereinafter following, That Whereas my daughter Dorothy Brewster
is indebted to me by bond one hundred and Fifty pounds principall besides
Interest my will and mind is That my Executors shall from time to time
pay to the proper hands of my daughter Elizabeth Luddington the Interest of
one hundred pounds Principall part of the said sume of one hundred and
Fifty pounds And when my Executors shall receive the said one hundred pounds
they shall put the same forth or purchase an Annuity therewith att their
discretions (with the consent of my daughter Margarett James) still Conti-
nuing paying the Interest on the said Annuity To the proper hands of my
said daughter Luddington according as her necessities or occasions shall require
the same, But soe and in such manner as the husband of my said daughter
Luddington shall not intermeddle with the same or any part thereof And a
Receipt or acquitance only under the proper hand writing of my said
Daughter Luddington is to be a sufficient discharge for the said Interest and
annuity or any part thereof. Item I give and bequeath fifty pounds The
Remainder of the said one hundred Fifty pounds to my said daughter
Dorothy Brewster upon Condicon that my said daughter Brewster within Three
moneths after my decease give security to my Executors (such as my daugh-
ter Margarett James shall approve off) To pay the severall sumes of Forty
pounds and Twenty Seven pounds which she owes them over and above the said
one hundred and Fifty pounds, sometime within seven years after my decease
And in the meane while interest for the same after the Rate of Six pounds per
Cents per Annum And in case my said daughter Brewster shall refuse to give
security as aforesaid, Then, my will is That this my beqeust to her be void Item
my mind is That out of the said Fifty pounds she find herselfe mourning Item
I give and bequeath to my Sonne Thomas Neesham (if liveing) Five pounds
Item I give and bequeath to my Sonne in lawe George Jeffreys Esquire and
to Sarah his wife both of them Tenn pounds a peice for mourning Item I
give and bequeath to my Granddaughter and Goddaughter Miss Margarett
Jeffreys my best Diamond Ring Item I give and bequeath to my Granddaughter
and Goddaughter Catalina Brewster my silver Sugar Chest Item I give and
bequeath to my Sonne in law Stephen Luddington and his wife Five pounds a
peice for mourning: Item I give and bequeath to my Servant Ann Banister
Five pounds Item I give and bequeath to the Poore of the parish of Bromley in
Kent Three pounds, And to the poore of the parish where I shall dye Forty shillings
Shillings To be distributed att the discretion of my Executors All the Rest and
Residue of my personall Estate whatsoever my mind and will is That my executors
pay and deliver the same To the proper hands of my said daughter Margaret
James (for whom they are especially entrusted) And an acquittance or acquit-
tances or other Release under her proper hand shalbe sufficient discharge from time
to time to my Executors for the same I doe hereby make and ordaine the said
John Pelling and William Bamfeild my executors And I do heartily intreate
them to take care of the due performance of this my last will, And over and
above all their Charges and expences, I give to each of them Forty shillings a
peice to buy a Ring Lastly I Revoake all former wills guifts and bequests by me
formerly made and given And Establish this my Last Will and Testament In
witnes whereof I the said Catalina Neesham the Testatrix have hereunto sett
my hand and seale the Fower and Twentieth day of Aprill Anno Dni 1676 And
in the Eight and Twentieth year of the Reigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles the
Second King of England &c Catalina Neesham Signed sealed Published and
declared by the said Catalina Neesham the Testatrix As and for her last will and
Testamentr in the presence of Thomas Avery Sam: Hoyle Ser
Probatum fuit Testmentum suprascriptum apud London Sexto
die Mensis Junii Anno Domini millimo Septcentesimo Septuagesimo Sexto
Juramentis Johannis Pelling et William Bamfeild Ex[ecu]torum in hu[ius]o[d]i Test[ament]o
nominat Quibus Commissa fuit Administraco Omnium et Singulorum bonerum
Jurium er Credir[orum] dict defunct De bene et fideliter Administrand[o] ead[e]m Ad
Sancta Dei Evangelia Jurat (viz) d[i]c[t]o Johanne Pelling Coram ven[era]bili
viro D[omi]no Thoma Exton milite Legum D[o]c[t]ore Surrogato ven[era]bilis et Egregii viri
D[omi]ni Leolini Jenkins militis etiam et Legum doctoris Curia Prerogativa Canta
magri Custodis sive Comissarii le[gi]time Constitut Et d[i]c[t]o Willimo Bamfeild
Coram ven[era]bili viro Henrico Fantenberry Legum d[o]c[t]ore Surrogato etiam d[i]c[t]i
Domini Leolini Jenkins militis Comissarii &c
Very Approximate translation
Probate of the above written will granted at London on the sixth
day of the month of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy six
John Pelling and William Bamford executors named in this will were sworn to this Commision
to administer all and singular the goods rights and credits of the said deceased truly and faithfully.
viz the said John Penning before the venerable lord Thomas Exton knight doctor of laws surrogate of the
honorable Lord Leolin? Jenkins knight and doctor of lawsof the Prerogative Court of Canterbury master keeper
legitimately constituted to the comission and the said William Bamfield before the venerable Henry Fantenberry
doctor of laws and surrogate of the said lordd Leolin? Jenkins knight Commissioner