Will of Johane Atkins late of Cullompton, Widow
Proved 18 November 1618
© Crown Copyright
National Archives Catalogue Reference PROB 11/132/553 Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Meade Quire Numbers: 66 – 127
Transcribed by Art Ames
In the name of God Amen the thirteenthe day of Maye in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred and seaventeene and in the yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne Lord James by the grace of God king of England France and Ireland defender of the faith etc fifteene and of Scotland the fortiethe I Johane Atkins of Colompton in the countie of Devon widowe beinge of whole mynde and prfect remembrance (the Lord be praised for the same) do make and ordayne this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following
First I bequeath and commend my soule into the handes of Allmightie God my maker and redeemer hoping by the meritts of Jesus Christ my redeemer and saviour to be saved and to enjoye eternall life in his kingdome of heaven and I do will my body to be buried in the parish church of Colompton aforesayd neare to the place where Henry Atkins my late husband was buryed
Item I give and bequeath towards the reparation of the church of Colompton aforesayd ten shillings
Item I do give and bequeath unto the poore of the Colompton afresayd fyve poundes to be distributed my executors and overseers hereafter named by their discretions in suche tyme after my death as with convenience may be done
Item I do give and bequeath unto Thomas Atkins my sonne in lawe all my estate rights title and interest which shall be to come and unexpired of and in all my landes and tenements lying in or neare Colebrooke in Colompton aforesayed which were at leased to my late husband Henry Atkins by William Walrond esquire Roger Aishford esquire and Sir George Smith knighte or any or either of them for the terme and interest for yeares as I now have in parcells thereof by the demise of one [ ] portions only excepted and [ ]
Item I do give unto the said Thomas Atkins all my tableboards fourmes stooles cupboards and bedsteads now lying in my hall and parlour at Colompton or either of them and likewise my brewing furnace two of my best brewing fatts and my best [ ] with all his furniture and all my [ ] being made of earthware and faggotts
All which legacy by me given to the said Thomas Atkins are by me given and bequeathed unto hym uppon the condition that he permitt and suffer his sister Marye nowe wife of Robert Gird and such as she shall assigne and appoynte to have and enjoye all such groundes as my late husband boughte of Mr Skynner and Mr Piggott for and during the severall terms which he boughte therein and bee yett to come and unexpired and do allso for his parte performe and pay all such legacyes and bequeaths as have or shall be given by me by this my last Will and Testament according to my true intent and meaning therein
Item I do give and bequeathe to Henry Atkins Peter Atkins Johane Atkins Grace Atkins and Margaret Atkins children of the said Thomas Atkins fyve pounds apiece to be paid unto them within one yeare after my deathe
Item I do will and devise that my executors hereafter named shall ymploye twentie poundes of my goodes for the best use and benefitt of the said Mary nowe wife of the said Robert Gird dureing the life of the sayd Robert Gird the husband for her better mayntenance in lyvinge after my death and shall paye the profitts thereof unto her during the same tyme and within one quarter of a yeare after the death of the said Robert Gird shall pay the same twentie pounds unto the sayd Mary (yf she be then living) and if she be then dead then to suche of her children as she shall in her lifetyme appointe
Item I do give and bequeath to the sayd Mary Gird my second best silver goblett or cupp
Item I do give and bequeath to Johane the wife of Thomas Sannders my best silver goblett or cupp and fyve poundes
Item I do give and bequeath to Johane nowe wife of the said Thomas Atkins my third best silver goblett or cupp
Item I do give and bequeath to all my sisters that shall be living at the tyme of my death all my apparell both woollen and lynnen equallie to be divided amongst them
Item I do give and bequeath to Henry Gird sonne of the said Robert Gird fyve poundes
Item I do give and bequeath unto Johane Sannder and Thomasine Sannder children of the said Thomas Sannder fyve poundes apiece
Item I do give and bequeath unto every of my servants that shall be in [ ] or apprentice with me at the tyme of my death twentie shillings apiece
Item I do give and bequeath unto Abraham Webber and Mellany Webber children of my brother in law Edward Webber fortie shillinges apiece and to Johane Webber and Mary Webber likewise the children of the said Edward fyve poundes apiece
Item I doe give and bequeathe unto Richard Johane and Mary children of Richard Brooke fyve pounds apiece and to Thomasine Williams daughter of the said Richard Brooke fortie shillings and to every of the children of the said Thomasine by Abraham [ ] her former husband twentie shillinges apiece
Item I do give and bequeathe unto every of the children of Edward Hitchcocke fortie shillinges apiece and to [ ] Mannder daughter of Thomas Mannder and of [ ] his wife fouer pounds
Item I do give and bequeath to Abraham Channon Johane Channon and Margery Channon children of James Channon and of Katherine his wife fyve pounds apiece
Item I do give and bequeath to every of my godchildren demannding the same twelve pence apiece
Item I give and bequeath foure poundes unto such honest poore labouring people of the parishe of Halberton as my overseers hereafter named shall thinke fitt the same money to be paid into the handes of my said overseers within shorte tyme after my death and by them to be distributed by theire discretions to the same poore people
All the residue of my goodes and chattells my debts legacyes and funerall expenses paid and discharged I give and bequeath unto my said sonne in lawe Thomas Atkins and Thomas Sannder whome I make and ordayne my sole executors of this my last Will and Testament
And I do appoynte my brother Nicholas Turner and my brother in lawe Phynes May to be overseers of this my last Will and do praye them to be ayding and assisting to my said executors to see this my last Will and Testament onlie and trulie performed according to my true intent and meaning herein
And I do give and bequeath unto my said brother Nicholas Turner for his paynes herein my best brasse [ ] and to the said Phines Maye for his payne my second best brass [ ]
And I do hereby revoke and make voyde all former wills legacyes and bequeaths by me heretofore made given or bequeathed
In witness that this is my true and last Will and Testament I have hereunto set my hande and seale in the presence of those witnesses whose names are underwritten the mark of Johane Atkins
This will was read unto the said Johane Atkins and by her seales and [ ] for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us Nicho. Turner and me Phm. May and me Henry Ken[ ]
Probate in Latin