Will of Ralph Fowler late of Cullompton Clothier
Proved 02 December 1676
© Crown Copyright
National Archives Catalogue Reference PROB 11/352/431 Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Bence Quire Numbers: 109 – 158
Transcribed by Art Ames
In the name of God Amen thirteenth day of June in the yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred seventy and six and in the twentie eighth yeare of his Majesties reigne I Ralph Fowler of Cullumpton in the countie of Devon clothier being of reasonable good health yet under some paines but of sound and perfect memorie praise be given to Almighty God for it I duly considering the fraile and mortall condition of this tabernacle of clay my bodie being but dust and ashes and like to be dissolved every day and the day and houre thereof being uncertaine I doe therefore for the settling and disposing of such temporall and worldly goods wherewith God have blessed mee make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following
First I commend my soule into the hands of Jesus Christ my only saviour and Redeemer through the merits of whose most precious death and passion I hope and rest ensured by a lively faith to receive remission of all my synns in this life and in the world to come eternall salvation and for my bodie being but dust and ashes I commend it to the earth from whence it came to be interred in the church of Cullompton neare my owne relations and I doe desire my dear friend Mr John Gilbert to preach at my funerall for which I doe hereby give unto him the summe of fortie shillings to be payd by my executrix hereafter named and also I doe give unto the said Mr John Gilbert the summe of twentie shillings more which I desire him to bestowe a gold ring to weare in memorie of me
Also I give to the poore of Cullumpton three pounds to be given in bread or money as my executrix shall think fit shortly after my funerall
Item I give devise and bequeath unto my deare and loving wife the house in which I now live for and during her naturall life and after her decease my will is the same house with its appurtenances shall come to and I doe hereby devise the same to Ralph Fowler my eldest sonne and to the issue of his bodie lawfully begotten and in default of such issue then to my second sonne William Fowler and his heires and assignes forever
Item I give unto my said deare wife one meadowe called Guyes meadowe and one close of land which I lately purchased of Mr Robert Cockram for and during the terme of her naturall life And after her death then all the remainder of my estate in me said two closes I give unto my eldest son Ralph Fowler and his heires and assigns
Item I give unto William Fowler my second sonne all my right title and interest which I have in the close at the north end of the town called the Barns close together with the barne and all the buildings in the said close to have and enjoy the same six months after my death
And if it shall happen my said sonne William shall dye without issue or before he attaine the age of one and twentie years then I doe give the same close of land with the appurtenances unto Ralph Fowler my eldest sonne and his heirs all the remainder of the estate I have in the same
Item I give unto my said sonne William Fowler all my right estate title and interest and benefit one meadow called George Well meadow and one close called Bales close lately purchased by me of James Cudmore gent and also all the remainder of the estate I have in a close called the Tagg adjoining to the said George Well meadow being the land of John Minifie gent together with all the writings belonging to all the said three parcels of ground before mentioned to be given
Item I give unto my youngest sonne John Fowler all my right title and interest I have in certain lands called Stobbindons Shortlands and Wormfell lately purchased by me of Sir John Strangwaies of Melbury in the countie of Dorset to have the profits of the same presently after my death towards his maintenance
Item I give until my eldest daughter Mary Fowler the summe of three hundred pounds to be payd to her within one yeare after my death and in the meantyme my will is that she shall have interest for the same except she have her maintenance from her mother
Item I give to Joane Fowler my second daughter the summe of three hundred pounds to be payd to her when she shall accomplish the age of one and twentie years or be married and in the meantime either to have her maintenance from her mother or interest of the said three hundred pounds for her subsistence and if shee happen to dye before shee shall accomplish the age of one and twentie years then the said three hundred pounds is to be equally divided betweene all my daughters then living at the time of her death
Item I give to Dorothy Fowler Elizabeth Fowler and Sarah Fowler my three youngest daughters the summe of two hundred and fiftie pounds apiece to be payd to each of them as they shall have accomplish the age of one and twentie years or be married and the interest of the said four summes to be for their maintenance and livelihood before the money becomes due to be payd and if either of my daughters happen to dye before they attaine to the age of one and twentie years then the portion of the said daughter to be equally divided between the surviving daughters
Item I give until my eldest sonne Ralph Fowler the summe of three hundred pounds to be payd to him by my executrix within one yeare after my death
Item I give unto William my second sonne the summe of two hundred pounds to be payd to him at the age of one and twentie years and the interest of the said two hundred pounds in the meantyme to goe towards his maintenance and further advancing of his portion and if he happen to dye before hee attaine the age of one and twentie years then the same to be equally divided between all the rest of my children than living
Item I give unto John Fowler my youngest sonne the sum of two hundred pounds to be payd to him when hee shall accomplish the age of one and twentie years and the interest of the said summe to be improved the best way can be for his maintenance and better advancing of his portion and if hee happen to dye before hee attaine the age aforesaid then the said summe to be equally divided betweene the rest of my children then living at the tyme of his death
Item all the rest and residue of my goods chatells leases messuages tenements cottages and personal estate whatsoever not formally given nor bequeathed in this my last Will I doe give demise and bequeath unto my dearly beloved wife Mary Fowler whome I doe also make and ordaine to be my whole and sole executrix of this my last Will and Testament
And I do intreat and appoint my loving friends John Gilbert of Cullumpton clerke William Sumpter clothier and Edward Axe clothier both of Cullumpton aforesaid to be my overseers of this my last Will and Testament desiring their best ayd and assistance in the performance thereof and I doe give the summe of ten shillings to each of them to buy a ring and they further to be payd for such trouble they shall be at assisting my business
In witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament contayned in two sheets of paper of my own writing set my hand and seale the day and yeare first above written
Ralph Fowler
Signed sealed and published by the above said Ralph Fowler to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of
John Prowsee James Hartnoll
Memorandum that on the nyneteenth day of October one six hundred and seventie six the above named Ralph Fowler did declare his mynd and will to be that Mr Gilbert should have onely twentie shillings for a ring besides the fourtie shillings for the funerall sermon and that instead of tenn shillings apiece given as above to Mr Sumpter and Mr Axe hee gave to each of them twentie shillings for a ring for each Ric Hewitt oo Hawkins
Probate in Latin