Will of George Cockram late of Collompton, Gentleman
Proved 10 November 1646
© Crown Copyright
National Archives Catalogue Reference PROB 11/198/86 Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Twisse Quire Numbers: 149 – 195
Transcribed by Art Ames
In the name of God Amen
I George Cockram [ ] of Growen in the parish of Colompton in the countie of Devon gent being weake of bodie but of good and pfitt memorie (God be praised for it) revokeing all former Wills doe make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following (vizt.)
Imprimis I bequeath my soule into the hands of Jesus Christ my only Saviour and Redeemer trusting by a livelie faith through the holie merits of his meritous death and passion to obtaine full remission of all my sins in this life and eternall salvation in the life to come And my bodie I comitt to xpian buriall to be interred in decent manner in the church of Colompton aforesaid under or neare the tombstone goeing into the chancell where Anstise my late wife lyeth buried and the time of my death to be ingraved on the same stone
Item I give towards the reparation of the pish Church of Colompton fortie shillings to be bestowed by my executor hereafter named in and about the covering and sealing of the place and that part of the roofe of the church which is over the seate where I doe usually sit
Item I give towards the reliefe of the poore and needie people of Colompton aforesaid three pounds to be distributed by my executor and overseers or any two of them at or shortlie after my funerall as they shall think meete
Item my will is that the five pounds which was given in and by the last will of my sister Bethsheba to be bestowed in a communion cup for the said pish be performed and paid accordingly
Item whereas I stand now possessed and interested of and in one tenement with the appuretenances commonlie called Lower Growen als Growhaies wherein I know dwell and of and in one close called the Croft containing two acres and a meadow called Wilbne meade with the appurtenances situate in Colompton aforesaid for and during diverse yeares estates termes and interests therein yet to come and unexpired and by certaine leases deedes and evidences and other Wills and testaments thereof heretofore made more at large may appeare
Now I the said George Cockram doe hereby devise lymitt and appoynte the said tenement and premises with the appurtenances to remaine and come unto my eldest sonne George Cockram to have and to hould the same to him his executors and assigns from the day of my death for and during soe long time and soe many yeares as he the said George Cockram my sonne or such woman as shall be his wife at the time of his death or any child children or issue lawfullie begotten and to be begotten or which shall issue spring or come of the body of the said George Cockram my sonne or any the wives or husbands of the same child children or issues or either them shall happen to live
And from and after the end and determination of the said estate right and interest of in the said tenement and premises soe devised lymitted and appoynted to the said George Cockram as aforesaid then my will is and I doe hereby devise limitt and appoynte that the said tenement and the premises with the appurtenances called Lower Growen and the said Croft and meadow called Milbue mead shall remaine and come to my sonne Robert Cockram and his assignes to have and to hould the same to the said Robert his executors and assigns more enduring soe long time and soe many yeares of my said severall terms and interests therein as he the said Robert Cockram or such woman as shall be his wife at the time of his death or any child children or issues lawfullie begotten issuing or springing on which shall issue spring or come of the bodie of the said Robert Cockram my sonne or any of the wives or husbands of the said child children or issues or either of them shall happen to live and from
And from and after the determination of the said severall estates rights and interests of the said George Cockram and Robert Cockram my two sonnes of and in the said tenement and premises to them respectivelie lymitted and devised as aforesaid then my will is and I doe hereby devise lymitt and appoynte that the said tenement and all other the premises with the appurtenances shall whollie remaine and come to my sonne John Cockram and his assigns to have and to hould the same to the said John Cockram his executors and assigns for and during soe long time and soe manie yeares as he the said John Cockram or such woman as shall be his wife at the time of his death or any child children or issues lawfullie begotten issuing or springing or which shall issue spring or come of the body of the said John Cockram my sonne or any the wives or husbands of the same child children or issues or either of them shall happen to live
And from and after the end and determination of the said severall estates rights and interests of the said George Cockram Robert and John Cockram my three sonnes and everie of them of and in the said tenement and premises soe to them respectively lymitted and devised as aforesaid then my will and meaning is and I doe hereby devise lymitt and appoynte that the said tenement called Lower Growen and all other the premises with the appurtenances shall whollie remaine and come to my daughter Agnis Cockram and her assigns to have and to hould the same unto the said Agnis Cockram her executors and assigns for and during soe long times and soe manie yeares as she the said Agnis or such person as shall be her husband att the time of her death or any child children or issue lawfullie begotten issuing or springing or which shall issue spring or come of the body of the said Agnes or any of the wives or husbands of the same child children or issues or either of them shall happen to live
Item I give devise and bequeath unto my said sonne Robert Cockram the summe of one hundred pounds and to my sonne John Cockram the like summe of one hundred pounds and to my three daughters Agnis Cockram Mary and Jane Cockram the summe of one hundred pounds apiece the said severall summes aforesaid to be paid unto them the said Robert Cockram John Cockram Agnis Mary and Jane Cockram respectively at their severall ages of one and twenty yeares if they respectivelie shall soe long happen to live
And my will and meaning is and I doe also devise and appoint that the said severall summes of one hundred pounds and everie of them shall be issuing and payable and charged and chargeable to be paid out of and upon the said tenement called Growen and all other the premises with their appurtenances and the same to be paid by him her or them their executors or assignes respectivelie which shall from time to time have possess and enjoy the same or any part thereof by virtue of this my last Will and Testament
And I doe further give grante devise and bequeath unto each and everie of the said Robert Cockram John Cockram Marie and Jane Cockram my children one annuity or yearlie rent charge of twelve pounds apiece of lawfull English money to be issuing and goeing out of all and singular the tenement and premises aforesaid and to be paid unto them severally and respectivelie from the time of my death until they shall severallie and respectivelie accomplish their severall ages of one and twentie yeares if they respectivelie shall soe long live at the fouer severall feasts of the birth of our Lord God the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary the Nativitie of St John Baptist and St Michael the Archangel by even portions
And I doe hereby also devise and appointe that if they said severall summes of one hundred pounds or either of them or any part thereof or the said annuities or yearlie rent and rent charges or any or either of them or any part thereof shall be behind and unpaid by the space of fourtie daies next after any or either of the said feast daies or times wherein the same respectivelie shall growe due or ought to be paid according to the true meaning of this my Will being first lawfullie demanded at my now dwelling house at Lower Growen aforesaid that then and soe often it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said severall legatees and either of them and their assigns to whom the said severall summes aforesaid and yearly annuities are respectivelie lymitted and devised as aforesaid to enter into the said tenement called Lower Growen and all other the premises with the appurtenances and the rent issues and proffitts thereof and of everie part there are to have take and carry away to his her and their own proper use and behoofe untill the said severall summe and summes aforesaid and the said severall annuitie and annuities or yearely rents charge with the arreares thereof if any be shall be to them and either of them respectivelie and fullie satisfied according to the true meaning of this my Will
And if either of the said Robert Cockram John Cockram Agnes Mary or Jane Cockram shall happen to dye before their severall age of xxi yeares that then the portion or summe aforesaid soe before given or intended to be paid to him or her so dying shall remain and come to the survivors and survivor of them to be equallie divided between them
Item I give devise and bequeath all that my messuage and dwelling house with the appurtenances in Colompton wherein John Warren and John Smith now dwell and all those severall closes and lands called Turnett and Townlake which I hould by severall leases of the grant and demise of John Minifie gent and all my whole estate terme and interest therein unto my daughter Agnis Cockram provided nevertheless and my will and meaning is that if she happen to dye before her marriage that then the same messuage and all other the premises shall remaine and come to my sonne John Cockram and his assigns for and during all the residue of the estate terme and interest which shall be respectivelie then to come and unexpired of and in the same or any part thereoff
Item I give devise and bequeath unto my sonne Robert Cockram all that messuage and dwelling house with the appurtenances in Colompton wherein Anthonie Reynold carrier now dwelleth and all those fouer closes of land and one meadowe with the appurtenances thereunto belonging late in the tenure of Robert Cockram gent deceased my late uncle to have and to hould the said messuage and fouer closes of land and meadows with the appurtenances unto the said Robert Cockram his executors and assigns for and during soe manie years and soe long time as he the said Robert Cockram my sonne or such woman as shall be his wife at the time of his death or any child children or issues lawfullie to be begotten issuing or springing of the bodie of the said Robert Cockram my sonne or any of the wives or husbands of the same child children or issues or either of them shall happen to live
And from and after the end and determination of the said estate right and interest of him the said Robert Cockram the sonne and his assignes of and in the same then my will and meaning is and I doe hereby devise and appoynte that the said messuage and fouer closes of land and meadow with the appurtenances shall remain and come to my sonne John Cockram and his assigns to have and to hould the same unto the said John Cockram his executors and assigns for and during soe long time and soe manie yeares as he the said John Cockram or such woman as shall be his wife at the time of his death or any child children or issues lawfullie begotten issuing or springing or which shall issue spring or come of the bodie of the said John Cockram my sonne or any of the wives or husbands of the same children or issues or either of them shall happen to live
And from and after the end and determination of the said severall estates rights and interests of the said Robert Cockram and John Cockram my two sonnes and everie of them of and in the said messuage and closes of land and meadow with the appurtenances soe to them respectivelie limitted and devised as aforesaid then my will and meaning is and I doe hereby devise lymitt and appoint that the same messuage and closes of land and all other the premises last mentioned with the appurtenances shall remaine and come to my eldest daughter Agnis Cockram and her assigns to have and to hould the same unto the said Agnis her executors and assigns for and during soe long time and soe many years as she the said Agnis or such person as shall be her husband at the time of her death or any child or children or issue lawfullie soe begotten issuing or springing or which shall issue spring or come of the bodie of the said Agnis or any the wives or husbands of the same child children or issues or either of them shall happen to live
And from and after the end and determination of the severall estates rights and interests of the said Robert Cockram John Cockram and Agnis Cockram my three children and of everie of them of and in the same premises so respectivelie lymitted and devised as aforesaid then my will and meaning is and I doe hereby devise lymitt and appoint that the same messuage and closes of land and premises last mentioned with the appurtenances shall remain and come to my daughter Mary Cockram and her assigns to have and to hould the same until the said Mary her executors and assigns for and during soe long time and soe manie yeares as she the said Mary or such person as shall be her husband at the time of her death or any child children or issues lawfullie begotten issuing or springing or which shall issue spring or come of the bodie of the said Mary or any the wives or husbands of the same child children or issues or either of them shall happen to live
Item I give to my sonne Robert Cockram all the goods now remayning in the said messuage or dwelling house in Colompton which were given to me by the Will of my sister Bethsheba excepting one [ ] and such of the said goods are to remain to the said [ ] provided alwaies and it is now my true intent and meaning that if it shall happen the said messuage and fouer closes of land and meadow last before mentioned to fall and come in hand unto the said Robert Cockram John Cockram Agnes and Marie Cockram my fouer children or to either of them respectivelie as devised thereof by virtue of this my Will before their age of one and twentie yeares that then the said annuitie or yearliey rent charge of twelve pounds above mentioned to be issuing out of the tenement and premises called Lower Growen as above said which shall be due or payable to him or her of the said fouer children to whom the possession or interest of the said messuage and fouer closes of land and meadow shall soe happen to fall and come in hand as devised thereof by virtue of this my Will shall from thenceforth cease and discontinue to him or her soe possessing and enjoying the same for and during soe long time as he or her shall soe possesse and enjoy the same premises
Item I give unto my daughter Agnis Cockram fiftie pounds to be paid within fouer yeares after my death
Item I give to my two other daughters Marie and Jane the sum of fiftie pounds apiece to be paid at their severall ages of fouer and twentie yeares if they shall respectivilie live so long
Item I give unto my said daughter Agnis my young bay colt which is now about the age of twelve months and a quarter of a yeare and to Mary my daughter my best heifer yearling which I shall have att the time of my death and to Anne my daughter my second best heifer yearling which I shall have at the time of my death and to my sonne Robert Cockram my best steere yearling which I shall have at the time of my death and to my sonne John my second best yearling steere which I shall have at the time of my death
Item whereas diverse legacies and summes of money were heretofore given and bequeathed unto my said sonnes and daughters by the severall last Wills or gifts of my late father David Cockram and my late uncle Mr Robert Cockram and my sister Bethsheba Cockram deceased and alsoe by my father in law Richard Clarke and Alexander Clarke his brother likewise deceased and all with severall legacies are yet unpaid to my said children my will and meaning is that the said Robert Cockram John Cockram Agnes Mary and Jane Cockram my said children and everie and either of them shall severallie and respectivelie thereof acquitt and discharge my said executor of and from their said severall legacies and summes of money except such part as I shall otherwise lymitt or devise by this my Will which if either of them shall refuse to doe being thereunto reasonablie required that then they the said Robert Cockram John Cockram Agnis Cockram Marie and Jane Cockram and everie and either of them respectivelie so refusing to release and discharge my executor as aforesaid to debarred and excluded from receiving and enjoying of any gift or legacie to them given or bequeathed by this my Will untill they and either of them respectivelie shall doe and pforme the same according to my desire
Item I give unto my daughter Agnis Cockram the feather bed which was given to my late wife by her said father Richard Clarke and which is now remayning att Bridwill House in the parish of Halberton
Item I gave unto Mr William Skinner vicar of Colompton or to the vicar or minister there for the time being twentie shillings if he shall preach my funerall sermon
Item I give unto John Rutly the elder one of my daily workmen twentie shillings and to John Rutly the younger mine apprentice thirtie shillings whereof twentie shillings was of the gifte of my sister Bethsheba Cockram for which he shall release my executor and the other tenn sillings is of my own gifte to him soe as he live and abide in service to me or my executor untill the end of his apprenticeshipp
Item I give to Mary Horrell my apprentice tenn shillings besides the twentie shillings which my sister Bethsheba gave her by will which I desire may be paid unto her soe as she doe dwell and abide in the service with me or my executor untill the end of her apprenticeshipp
Item I give unto Grace Howe tenn shillings and to Richard Butt tenn shillings and to Edward Horwell mine apprentice tenn shillings if he dwell and abide in service with me untill the end of his apprenticeshipp
Item I give fortie shillings to be bestowed in and about the repairing of the tower or battlement of the Almshouses in Colompton as by the direction and discretion of my executor and overseers or any two of them shall seem most meete
All the rest and residue of my goods and [ ] cattle household stuffe and other goods whatsoever my debts legacies and funerall charges being discharged I give and bequeath unto my sonne George Cockram whom I doe make and ordaine to be sole executor of this my last Will and testament with my heartie prayers to God for him and all the rest of my children that they may soe feare and serve God in their yeares that they may not depart therefrom all the daies of their life
Item I doe appoint and intreat my loving brothers Thomas Cockram David Cockram and my loving brother in lawe Mr. Richard Clarke and my cosin John Cole to be overseers of this my last Will and to see the same trulie performed according to my true intent and meaning and for their paines therein and my love to them I give them twentie shillings apiece and my will is that if any doubt or controversie shall arise concerning the words or meaning of this my Will or any part thereof that the same be resolved and determined by my said overseers and the survivors of them and by the advice of learned counsell and all costs charges thereafter to be borne by my executor
In witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament contayned in seaven sheetes of paper sett my hand and seale this fifth day of October in the nineteenth yeare of King Charles over England etc Anno Dom 1643 George Cockram
Signed sealed and published by the said George Cockram to be his last Will and Testament in the pnce of us William Fowler John Cole Robert Cockram senr Thomas Cockram
Probate in Latin