Will of Richard Morgan late of Cullompton, Merchant
Proved 24 November 1593
© Crown Copyright
National Archives Catalogue Reference PROB 11/82/539 Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Neville Quire Numbers: 48 – 96
Transcribed by Art Ames
For as much as in the begginning man was created to glorifie God in this lyfe and likewise appointed the date of his dayes whiche none can expecte the certainty whereof the creator of heaven and earthe hathe received duely to him selfe thereby continually remembering every man of his mortalityw and frailtye and advising him to be allwayes in a readyness because death comes stealing lyke a theife and thosethat leste thinke on him the consideration whereof hathe moved me Richard Morgan of Collumpton in the county of Devon merchant beinge (thankes to almighty God) in sounde and perfect memorye to make knowne to the worlde my forethoughte of deathe for end of all fleshe by making this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following
First I comend into the handes of Almighty God my maker and redeemer my poore oppressed soule which he with the losse of his dearest blessed and will purifye by the abundance of his mercy notwithstanding that the greatness of my sinnes have deserved his [ ] in which hope I rest and leave this memoriall remembrance to the worth of my stedfast and assured trust in his never fayling merritts
Touching those wordly blessings whiche God hathe bestowed on me my Will is to have them disposed as following
First my will is that my executor within one monthe next after my death shall paye or deliver unto those such persons as shall be then church wardens of the parishe of Collompton forty pounds of lawfull money of England to be laid out or delivered unto tenne poor men of handy crafts dwelling within the said towne or parishe of Collompton aforesaid by even portions the same poore men putting in such good securitye with those sufficient securities as the said wardens shall lyke of for the repayment thereof at suche time as the said wardens shall according to the ambient order of the parishe of Collompton aforesaid make their account to the parishioners of the said parishe at which time the said then churchwardens shall deliver over the said forty pounds to the churchwardens then next succeeding
And if the defaulte of the payment be made by any of the said poore men at the time or times of theire or either of theire severall bonds that then the saide church wardens to whome the saide bonds shall be so made shall prosecute against the partyes of bonds or otherwise give theire securitye to make satisfaction of the said summes so by them lent and not repayde to the churchwardens next succeeded them
Provided allwayes that if the church wardens for the time being shall not agree for the laying out of the saide summe of forty pounds and every parte thereof to suche poore men as shall make request and offer sufficient security with those securityes as aforesaide for the repayment thereof at the time before expressed that then my Will is that it shall be lawfull for the then chiefe inhabitants or owners of the mansion houses of Kingsmill Upton Hakeland or Growing or to two of them to take into theire handes from the saide then churchwarden such summes of money as shall be so lent and dispose thereof according to the intent of this my last Will taking security as aforesaid
Item I give and bequeathe unto my sister Joane one hundred and fifty pounds of lawfull money of England
Item I give and bequeathe unto my brother George Morgan one hundred pounds of like lawfull English money
Item I give unto my cosin John Cole the elder a hundred markes of like lawfull English money
Item I gave to my cosin Kelwaye twenty pounds of like lawfull English money
Item I give and bequeath unto [B…] Collipriste tenne pounds of like lawfull money
Item I give and bequeathe until Humfrey Tross twenty nobles to be paide within tenne days of my death
Item I give to every of my godchildren tenne shillings
Item I give and bequeathe to Mr Jennings thirty shillings of lawfull money of England
Item I give and bequeathe unto William Dyer forty shillings
Item I give unto John Bale forty shillings
Item I give unto mother Pratt twenty shillings
Item I give unto the maide Margaret of the house tenne shillings
Item I give unto George Chappell forty shillings
Item I give and bequeathe unto my brother Henry Morgan and to his heires for ever all of my inheritance or fee simple landes and tenements which I have within the realme of England to that intent and effect he shall see this my last Will and Testament performed
And if he shall refuse and not accomplishe this my last Will according to my meaning herein that then my will is that Simon Kelwaye of Collompton shall have all my said lands and tenements to him and to his heires for ever so that he or his heires doe see this my last will and testament performed accordingly
Item I give and bequeathe unto Mr Richards [ ] and John Manning and to either of them forty shillings to be putt by them into two rings for a remembrance of me
Item all the rest of my goods and chattells not as yet bequeathed I give and bequeathe unto my brother Henry Morgan whome I make executor of this my last Will and Testament
In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hande and seale upon the fifteenth daye of September in the five and thirtith yeare of the reigne of our Soveraigne Ladye Elizabeth by the grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen defender of the faith
Sealed and delivered in the presence of John Manning Richard [ ]
Probate in Latin