Will of Alice Heathfield late of Cullompton, Widow
Proved 09 April 1660
© Crown Copyright
National Archives Catalogue Reference PROB 11/297/331 Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Nabbs Quire Numbers: 1 – 51
Transcribed by Art Ames
In the name of God Amen I Alice Heathfield of Colompton in the countie of Devon widdow being sicke and weake of bodie butt of perfect mynd and memory (thanks to bee given to Almightie God) callinge to mynde the fraylthe of this life and the certaintie of death and the most meantime however therof doe for the settlings and quietings of my estate which God have blessed mee withall make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following
First of all I commend my soule into the handes of Almightie God my maker hopeinge and fully assuringe my selfe by and through the holie meritts of Jesus Christ my Lord and onlie Saviour and Redeemer to bee made pertaken of everlasting life and my bodie to the earth from whence it had been first comge and to bee buried in a Christian and decent manner where itt please my executor in this Will to be named to lay me (if I shall not otherwise dispose thereof in my lifetime)
Item whereas my sonne in law William Smyth doth owe unto me the sume of one hundred pounds of lawfull money of England for which I have his bond for the repayment thereof I doe will and devise that my said sonne in law William Smyth shall have and quietlie enjoy this said one hundred pounds during the lifetyme of Mary his wife beinge my daughter hee giveinge new securitie by his owne bond or writeing obligatorie to my said executor and overseers hereafter to bee named for the repayment thereof within one quarter of a year next after his owne death or of the death of my said daughter Mary his nowe wife which of them shall first happen to be (if they shall have noe issue of their bodys liveings att the tyme of their deaths
Butt in case my said daughter Mary shall happen to survive and overlive her now husband then my will and meaning is and I doe hereby give and bequeath the said one hundred pounds unto my said daughter Mary Smyth and she is to dispose thereof wholly to her owne use and benefitt as she in her wisdome shall think fitt and meete
And if my daughter Marye shall happen to dye in the life tyme of her said husband haveinge noe issue of her bodie liveinge at the tyme of her death then my will and meaneing is and I do hereby give the said one hundred pounds remaininge in the hands of my said sonne in law William Smyth unto my sonne Anthonie Heathfield and Priscilla Heathield my daughter to be equallie divided betweene them
And if either of them shall happen to dye before the said one hundred pounds shall growe to bee due and payable as aforesaid then my will and meaneings likewise is that the said one hundred pounds shall wholly remain [ ] and come unto him or her that shall survive and out live the other of them
And in case both of them shall happen to dye before the same shall growe due and payable as aforesaid then I doe give the said one hundred pounds to the issue of their two bodyes lawfully begotten or to bee begotten and if neither of them shall have any issue liveinge at the tyme of their deathes then my will and meaneing is and I doe hereby give the same one hundred pounds unto my said executor in this my Will to be named
Item I doe give and bequeath unto my said daughter Mary Smyth the feather of bedd and feather bolster in the [ ] in the parlour the bedd and boulster in the chamber over the hall, the bedstead in the inner chamber the great chest standing in the said hall two of the best brasse milk pannes my mortar and pestell a warming flagon a little brasse [ ] brasse [ ] and the use of my greate cauldron upon all occasion duringe her life she giveing one dayes notice thereof unto my said sonne Anthonie Heathfield of the use of the said caldron hee haveing the custodie and belonginge of the same and unto him I doe give the said caldron wholly after my said daughter Maryes death
Item I doe give and bequeath unto my said daughter Priscilla Heathfield the full sum of one hundred and twentie pounds of lawfull English money to bee paid unto her within one halfe year next after my decease or at the time of her marriage which of them happened to bee I doe likewise give unto my said daughter Priscilla Heathfield my [ ] [[ ] butt hoghead a [ ] the bedstead and bedd performed whereon I now usually lay standinge and being in the chamber over the hall the chest standings in the same chamber next by my bedside the two candlestickes which usually stand upon the hall cupboard and [ ] a warminge pann a fryinge pann carpet the little [ ] or trendle bed in the parlour one little table board standing in the said hall one [ ] standing and being in the lower house and my best brass pann
Item whereas I have fourscore pounds owing by me my will is that my executor shall have and take the same into his custodie in my lifetyme with the intent that hee shall lend the same unto my two daughters Mary Smyth and Priscilla Heathfield each of them fourtie pounds a yeare as often as they or eyther of them shall have any urgent or necessarie occasions for the use thereof for the space of five or six weeks together duringe the tyme of their naturall lives without [ ] any comfitt of profitt for the same thereof which I noe ways doubt but that my said the executor will bee very careful to performe the same according to the trust reposed in him and the true intent of meaninges of this my said Will
All the residue of my said goods and chattells not before herein nor bequeathed I doe give and bequeath until my said sonne Anthoniey Heathfield whom I doe make my whole and sole executor of this my said Will [ ] and makinge voyd all former and other Wills by mee already made and I shall earnestlie desire my good friends Mr Humphrie Sanford George Potter and Edward Eland to be rulers or overseers to see this my will to be performed accordinge to the true intente and meaninge of the same and if any ambiguities doubt or question shall att any tyme after my death arise or growe touchinge or concerninge any word clause or contente in this my Will I doe referre the explanation and determination thereof unto my rulers or overseers before named and whatsoever they or major part of them shall adjudge and determyne that shall bee taken to bee the explanation and determination thereof and my true meaninge therein and noe other earnestli desireinge all my said children to live in unitie and love amongst themselves and to bee helpful one to another to the uttmost of their power and abilitye
In witness hereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the fourth day of March in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred and fiftie
The marke of Alice Heathfield
Sealed and published in the presence of George Potter, the mark of Edward Woolland
This Will was proved att London before the judges for Probate of Wills and granting administrations lawfully authorized the nynth day of Aprill in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred and sixtie by the oath of Anthony Heathfield ye reall and lawfull sonne and sole executor named in the said Will to whom administration of all and singular the goodes chattells and debts of the said deceased was committed hee being first by commission sworne thereto to administer ye same