Will of Symon Atkyns late of Cullompton, Yeoman
Proved 20 June 1653
© Crown Copyright
National Archives Catalogue Reference PROB 11/231/337 Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Brent Quire Numbers: 319 – 367
Transcribed by Art Ames
In the name of God Amen The seaven and twentieth daie of Julie in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fiftie and two I Symon Atkyns of Venne within the parish of Cullumpton in the countie of Devon yeoman being sick of bodye but of good and perfect minde and memorie God be praised for it revoking all former Wills and Testaments whatsoever doe make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following
First I bequeath my soule into the hands of Jesus Christ my onlie Saviour and Redeemer by and through the onlie merritts of whose most precious death and passion I hope to receive remission of all my sinns in this life and after this life ended everlasting salvation of my bodie and soule in the life to come
And for my bodie being dust and I committ it to the earth from whence it came to be interred in the churchyard of Cullompton aforesaid in Christian and decent manner and my will and desire is to have a decent tombe erected upon the place where I shall be buried with a subscription of my name and the tyme of my death or burial to be putt thereon
Item I give and bequeath towards the reliefe of the poore people of the towne and parish of Cullompton aforesaid twentie pounds to be paid and distributed in manner and forme following that is to say fouer pounds thereof to be distributed at or shortlie after my funerall in such manner as my executors or overseers hereafter named shall think meete and the other sixteen pounds residue to be distributed in manner and form following that is to say fortie shillings yearlie and every yeare during the first eight years next after my death within two or three daies before Christmas the same to be given and distributed to such poore people and in such manner as my executors or overseers hereafter named shall think meete
Item I give to the minister of Cullompton for the time being which shall preach my funerall sermon or to such other minister as shall happen to preach my funerall sermon the summe of twentie shillings in recompense of his paynes therein
Item whereas Henry Walrond esqr. by his deed or indenture of lease bearing date the twentieth daie of August in the two and twentieth year of the reigne of the late King Charles over England etc hath demised and granted unto me all those two tenements with the appurtenances therein commonlie called the Fenne als Venne and the other called Stockcombe situate in Cullompton aforesaid sometyme in the tenor of one William Parrye and now in the possession of me or my assigns for the terme of four score nyneteene yeares if Elizabeth Knight alias Gird the daughter of Symon Knight alias Gird deceased soe long shall happen to live to commence from and after my decease now by the same deed appeareth
Now I do hereby give devise and bequesth the said lease and all my right estate terme and interest of and in the said two tenements and premises with the appurtenances unto the said Elizabeth Knight alias Gird my kinswoman and my will and meaning further is that the tenement and premises called Stockham shall be charged nevertheless with one annuitie or yearlie rent of tenn pounds of lawfull English money payable out of the same unto Henry Knight alias Gird (brother of the said Elizabeth) and his assigns during all the said terme therein to come by virtue of the said lease if the said Henry soe long shall happen to live and the same annuitie or yearlie rent to be paid quarterlie at the fouer usual feasts of St Michael the Archangel, the birth of our Lord God, the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary and the Nativitie of St. John Baptist by even portions at or upon the tombestone of Mr Richard Carpenter deceased situate in the churchyard of Cullompton the first payment thereof to begin as such of the said feasts as shall first happen next after my decease or on the thirtieth day next after such feast
And if the said annuitie or yearlie rent of tenn pounds or any part thereof all shall be behinde or unpaid by the space of thirtie days next after any or either of the feasts aforesaid being lawfully demanded at the place aforesaid and then not paid that then and from thenceforth it shall be lawfull to and for the said Henrie Knight alias Gird and his assignes into the said tenement and premises called Stockham with the appurtenances to enter and the same to have hold possesse and enjoye to his and their owne proper use and behoof for and dureing all the residue of the said terme and estate which shall be then to come and unexpired of and in the same by virtue of the said recited lease
Item I give devise and bequeath unto my kinsman Henry Knight alias Gird all those three cottages with the appurtenances situate at or in Mutterton within the parish of Collumpton aforesaid which I have and hold by the demise and grant of Sir John Hole baronet by deed dated the first day of June in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fiftie and one and also all my right estate terme and interest of and in the same premises together with the said deeds or lease thereof
Item I give and bequeath unto the three daughters of my brother in law John Wyne of Culmestock Jane Martha and Elizabeth the summe of twentie pounds that is to say twentie nobles apiece to each of them to be paid within one yeare next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto Henry Manley sonne of Henrie Manley of Manley in the parish of Halberton deceased and unto John Salter sonne of John Salter of Kentisbeare deceased and unto [ ] Webber the sonne of Roger Webber the summe of twentie nobles apiece to each of them to be paid at their severall ages of twentie yeares if they shall respectivelie live so longe
Item I give and bequeath unto the said Elizabeth Knight alias Gird my kinswoman all the seeling and wainscott and bench in and about my dwelling house at Venne
Item All the rest of my goods and chattells household stuffe corne cattell debts and ready money I doe give and devise and bequeath unto the said Henry Knight alias Gird my kinsman and unto the said Elizabeth his sister to be equallie divided between them in such manner as my overseers hereafter named shall think meet and convenient And I doe hereby make and ordayne the said Henrie and Elizabeth to be joynt executors of this my last Will and Testament
And I doe also entreate and appointe my loving brother in lawe Anthony Oatway of Kentisbeare and John Cole of Cullompton to be my overseers of this my last Will and Testament to be aiding and assisting to my said executors in and about the performance of this my last Will and Testament and for their paines advice and assistance therein I give to each of them five pounds a piece to be paid within one yeare after my decease
In witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament contayned in two sheets of paper sett my hand and seale the day and yeare first above written the mark of Symon Atkins
Signed sealed and published by the above named Symon Atkyns to be his last Will and Testament the day and yeare first above written in the presence of us
John Cole Anthony Otway and Henry Smith
This Will was proved at Westminster the twentieth day of June in the yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred fiftie three before the Judges for Probate of Wills and granting Administrations appointed by Act of Parliament instituted an Act for probate of Wills and granting Administration by the oathes of Henry Knight als Gird and Elizabeth Knight als Gird joynt executors named in the said Will to whome was committed administration of all and singular the goods chattells and debts of the said deceased they being first sworne by commission well and trulie to administer the same