Will of John Smith late of Cullompton,
Proved 02 September 1657
© Crown Copyright
National Archives Catalogue Reference PROB 11/267/222 Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Ruthen Quire Numbers: 311 – 358
Transcribed by Art Ames
In the name of God Amen I John Smith of Collumpton being sicke in bodie but blessed be God of perfect memorie doe make this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme as followeth
Imprimus I give and bequeath my soule to God my Creator and Redeemer and my bodie to the earth from whence it came to be buried with Christian burial in the churchyard of Collumpton
Item I give unto my five children fiftie pounds apiece and fiftie pounds to the child which my wife is now big withall (that is to say) unto my sonn John Smith fiftie pounds to be paid him by my executrix hereafter named soe soone as he shall accomplish the full age of one and twentie yeares
Item I give to my daughter Mary Smith fiftie pounds to be paid her by my executrix so soone as she shall accomplish the full age of one and twentie yeares
Item I give unto my daughter Margarett Smith fiftie pounds to be paid her by my executrix soe soone as she shall accomplish the full age of one and twentie yeares
Item I give and to my sonne William Smith fiftie pounds to be paid him by my executrix soe soone as he shall accomplish the full age of one and twentie yeares
Item I give unto my daughter Dorothie Smith fiftie pounds to be paid her by my executrix soe soone as she shall accomplish the full age of one and twentie yeares
Item I give unto the child my wife is now bigge withall fiftie pounds to be paid unto him or her soe soone as the child shall accomplish the age of one and twentie yeares
Also my will is that in the meanetime the proffitts which shall be made of the said three hundred pounds doe goe towards the maintenance of my said three children and if any of them happen to die before they shall accomplish the said age of one and twentie yeares then my will is that the legacies which doth belong to such child or children shall be equally divided among those of my children that doe survive or live
Item my will is that my sonne John Smith shall have all my shopp goods racks and presse twentie pounds [ ] then it is worth to any in different [ ]
Item I give to my daughter Mary Smith the table board in the Fore Chamber
Item I give unto my daughter Margaret Smith the table board in the Hall Chamber
Item I give unto my sonne William Smith the cupboard in the Hall Chamber
I give unto my sonn John Smith the bedstead in the Hall Chamber also my great brass [ ]
Item I give unto my daughter Dorothie Smith my bedstead in the Fore Chamber with a bed performed and the curtaines and vallence that doe belong unto it
Item my will is that if my wife shall happen to marrie or to die that then all my household goods not before by mee bequeathed shall be equally divided betwixt all my children that shall be living att the time of her decease or att the time of her marriage
Item all the rest of my goods not before given I doe give unto my wife Mary Smith whome I doe make my whole and sole executrix of this my last Will and Testament
And I doe desire my brother William Smith and James Hartnoll to be overseers of this my Will and to see it performed and to be ayding assisting to my said executrix
In testinomie whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this thirtieth day of May in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fiftie and seaven John Smith
Signed sealed and published in the presence of us William Sumptor Thomas Taylor James Hartnoll
This Will was proved at London the second day of September in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fiftie and seaven before the Judges for Probate of Wills and granting Administrations lawfullie authorized by the oath of Mary Smith the relict and sole and only executrix named in the above written last Will and Testament to whom administration of all and singular the goods chattells and debts of the said deceased was granted and committed she being first legally sworne by virtue of a commission trulie and faythfully to administer the same