Will of Thomas Atkins late of Cullompton, Gentleman
Proved 03 September 1655
© Crown Copyright
National Archives Catalogue Reference PROB 11/246/109 Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Aylett Quire Numbers: 160 – 209
Transcribed by Art Ames
In the name of God Amen the third of October in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand sixe hundred fiftie and three I Thomas Atkins of Colompton in the countie of Devon gent beinge of perfect minde and of a disposing memorie (blessed be God for the same) and now callinge to minde the nowe frailtie of this life and the certainty of death and the uncertaine houer thereof knowinge assuredlye that I have not longer to live beinge alreadye well stricken in yeares doe make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following
And first I commend my soule into the handes of Almightie God my maker hopeinge and fully assuringe my selfe throughe holie meritts of Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to bee made pertaker of everlastinge life and my body to the earth from whence it had it first begin and to be buryed in the churchyard as neare unto my father’s grave as may be
Item I give and bequeath unto the poore sort of people of the towne and parish of Colompton aforesaid the summe of five poundes which my will is shall be bestowed in bread and to be distributed amongst them within a short tyme of death by my Rulers in Trust hereafter in this my Will to be named
Item I give unto the preacher which shall preach my funerall sermon twentie shillings and my desire is that my cosin James Kingwill be the man if he may be gotten with any conveniency and in case you may not be gotten then I shall leave the nomination of him to my executrix and overseers hereafter in this my Will likewise to be named
Item I give unto all my children which shall be liveing at the time of my death to every and each of them five poundes apiece to be paid unto every of them within one whole yeare next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto all my children children which shall be liveinge at the tyme of my death (excepting only my cosin Henry Atkins) five poundes apiece to be paid unto them in manner and forme following (that is to saie) to all of them which shall be of the full age of fourteene yeares at the time of my buryall within two yeares next after my decease and to all the residue which shall be under the age of fourteene years at the tyme of my buryall to every of them when they shall accomplish their severall ages of fourteene yeares provided always that neither of them which shall accomplish their severall ages of fourteene yeares before the two years be expired shall be paid untill it shall be at them of the third yeare next after my decease
Item I doe give unto my said cosin Henry Atkins before in this my Will named the standing bedstead in the Parlour and the windscott or [ ] in the same parlor the cupboard in the hall and the two table boards in the same hall with all the [ ] in the same kitchin and the furnaces in the [ ] house but my will and meaninge is that my loveinge wife Johane Atkins shall have the use and benefitt thereof during her naturall life if she shall survive me
Item I doe give and bequeath unto my sonne in law Mr Anthony James and Mr Hughe Spark and Mr William Sumpter and unto my daughter in law Mrs Sarah Atkin and unto my said cosin Henry Atkins and Isabell his wife for every and each of them the summ of twentie six shillings and eight pence and the same to be bestowed in gold ringes and they to weare them for my sake
Item I give unto all the children of my saide cozen Henry Atkins which shall be borne before my deathto each of them twenty shillings apiece to be paid unto every of them when they shall accomplish their severall ages of tenn yeares
Item I give unto Thomas Marshall my ancient servant tenne shillings and to all the residue of my household servants which shall be liveing with me at the time of my death to eache of them five shillings apiece
All the residue of my goods and chattells not before in this my said Will given nor bequeathed I doe give and bequeath unto my said loveing wife Johane Atkins whome I doe make my whole and sole executrix and I shall desire Mr Peter Atkins and my said sonne in law Mr Antony James Mr Hughe Spark and Mr William Sumpter to be Rulers and Overseers of this my Will prayinge them to be aydinge and assisting of my said wife in the managing of her estate and to see this my Will and Testament to be in all thinges performed accordinge to my true intent and meaninge In witness hereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day and yeare first above written
The marke of Thomas Atkins
Memorandum my will is that all the goodes in my dwelling house which I have given by this my Will unto my grandchild Henry Atkins shall remaine after the death of the said Henry unto his sonne Peter Atkins and in case he dye before his father then to the right heir
Signed sealed and published (after the writinge of the memorandum abovesaid and the alteringe of the word tenn by way of interlyninge of the word five) in the presence of us
Will Sumpter Peter Atkins
This Will was proved at London before the Judges for Probate of Wills and granting of Administrations the third day of September in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fifty five by the oath of Johane Atkins the relict and sole executrix named in the last Will and Testament of the said deceased to whome administration was committed she beinge first sworn by commission duly and faithfully to administer