Will of Robert Hill late of Cullompton, Tanner
Proved 17 July 1658
© Crown Copyright
National Archives Catalogue Reference PROB 11/279/387 Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Wootton Quire Numbers: 363 – 416
Transcribed by Art Ames
In the name of God Amen I Robert Hill of Westcott in the parish of Collumpton in the county of Devon tanner being in reasonable good health of bodie and of perfect minde and memorie praised be God Almightie 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 commend my soule into the hands of Jesus Christ my mercifull Saviour and Redeemer by and through the meritts of whose most profound death and bitter passion I trust by a timely faith in him only to obtaine free pardon and remission of all my sinnes in this life and eternal salvation both a body and soule in the life to come and my bodie I committ to Christian buriall to be interred in the church of Collumpton aforesaid in decent manner as to my executrix hereafter named shall deem most meete
Also I give towards the reliefe of the poore people of Collumpton aforesaid forty pounds to be bestowed in some lands of inheritance or in some long lease of a thousand yeares and upwards as soone as conveniently it may be done and the yearely rents issues and profitts there are to be bestowed in weekely bread to be given to the said poore for ever and to be distributed by the churchwardens or overseers of the said parish for the time being and I do intreate and appoynte my loving brothers Roger Hill and John Hill with two or three honest men more whome they shall appoynte to be feoffes their executors and assignes to see this duelie and trulie executed
And my will is that the said fortie pounds shall be paid to and for such purchase of lands or lease as aforesaid within six months next after my decease if the said lands may be soe soon procured and gotten but if not then the said fortie pounds to remaine in the hands of my said executrix until the said lands be procured she paying the interest thereof by quarterly payments from and after the end of the said six months next after my death for soe long time as she shall leave it in her hands to be bestowed in weekely bread for the poor
And if she my executrix shall happen to die before the payment of the said forty pounds then my will is that the same immediately after her decease shall be payd over by her executors or assigns unto the churchwardens of Collumpton aforesaid to be imployed in lands as aforesaid
Also I give and bequeath towards the reliefe of the poor of Chawleigh in the same countie of Devon the like summe of forty pounds to be bestowed in lands or lease as aforesaid and the yearelie rents issues and profitts thereof to be bestowed in weekely bread for the poore of the same parish for ever and to be distributed by the churchwardens and overseers there as aforesaid and my will is that the said forty pounds be paid within six months next after my decease if the said lands can be soe soone procured but if not then the same forty pounds to remaine in the hands of my executrix aforesaid she paying the interest thereof and the same to be bestowed in weekelie bread for the poore of the same parish and if she happen to die before the payment of the same fortie pounds then the same after her death to be payd over by her executors or assignes unto the churchwardens of Chawleigh aforesaid for the time being to be bestowed as lands as aforesaid and the feoffees to be likewise as aforesaid
Alsoe I give and bequeath towards the reliefe of the poore of the parish of Cheldon being neare unto Chawleigh aforesaid twenty pounds to be bestowed in lands or long lease as aforesaid and to be paid and the interest thereof and the yearely rents issues and profitts of the said lands soe purchased to be ordered and imployed for the reliefe of the poore of the said parish of Cheldon in like manner as the other severall summes aforesaid are before limited and appoynted for the severall parishes of Collumpton and Chawleigh
Also I give and bequeath unto my mother Joane Hill twentie pounds to buy her a ring to be paid within twelve months next after my decease
Also I give & bequeath unto my two brothers Roger Hill and John Hill five pounds apiece to be paid within twelve months next after my decease
Also I give and bequeath unto my sister Grace Furse tenn pounds and to every of her children which shall be liveing at the tyme of my death thirty pounds apiece the same severall legaies so given to be paid within twelve months next after my decease and the said Grace or her husband John Furse to have & receive the said children’s legacies and to keepe the same for the good and benefit of her children and to be putt out to increase for them until they shall respectively accomplish their age of twenty yeares
And upon receipt thereof from my executrix she the said John Furse or Grace if she be then a widdowe or their executors or assignes to give a penall obligation to my said executrix for the true payment of the said thirty pounds apiece with the interest thereof sole use of the said children att theire severall ages aforesaid
Also I give unto my sister Rose Bellowe wife of William Bellowe twentie pounds to be paid within twelve months after my decease
Also I give unto Thomas Dynham my now apprentice five pounds to be paid att his age of one and twenty years if he shall stay to me soe long and continue a carefull and dutifull servant to his [ ] my now wife or otherwise to have nought.
All the rest and residue of my goods and chattells debts and ready monies whatsoever I give and bequeath until my loving wife Joane Hill whome I do hereby make ordaine and appoynte to be the full and whole executrix of this my last Will and Testament and doe also intreat and appoynte my said loving brothers Roger Hill and John Hill to be my overseers of this my last Will and Testament and to be ayding and assisting to my said executrix in the due performance thereof according to my true intent and meaning herein declared
And I doe further give unto each of them for their painnes and cares therein five pounds apiece over and beside the severall legacies which I have herein formerly given unto them In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the second day of April in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fiftiee and eight Robert Hill
Signed sealed and published in the presence of us Alexander Bullpen John Bale the younger
This Will was proved at London seaventeenth day of the month of July in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fiftie and eight before the Judges for Probate of Wills and granting Administrations lawfully authorized by the oath of Joane Hill the relict and sole and only executrix named in the above written Will to whom administration of all and singular the goods and chattells and debts of the said deceased was granted and committed she being first loyally sworn by witness of a commission truly and faythfully to administer the same