Will of Richard Stone late of Cullompton Clothier
Proved 05 February 1681
© Crown Copyright
National Archives Catalogue Reference PROB 11/365/179 Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, North Quire Numbers: 1 – 47
Transcribed by Art Ames
In the name of God Amen the eighth day of December in the two and thirtieth yeare of the reigne of our Sovereign Lord Charles the second over England now King or Anno Domini one thousand six hundred eightie I Richard Stone of Cullompton in the countie of Devon cloathier being sick and weake in bodie but of perft and sound mynd and memorie praise be given to Almighty God for the same and knowing the uncertainty of this vaine and transiente life revoking hereby all my former Wills doe make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following
First I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my creator trusting and assuredly believing through the meritorious death and passion of Jesus Christ my merciful Redeemer to have remission of all my synne and to be received into the glorious Kingdom and my body I commit unto the Earth from whence it was taken to be buried in decent and Christian manner
And concerning such worldly estate as the Lord in his mercy hath confirmed I give and devise the same in manner following
First I give and bequeath unto the poore of the parish of Bodnam in the countie of Cornwall five pounds to be payd and distributed amongst them within three months after my decease
Also I give unto the poore men of the occupation of burlers weavers and shearmen of the town and parish of Cullompton aforesaid the summe of five pounds to be distributed by my executor hereafter named unto and amongst them within one month after my decease the greatest part whereof unto such of them as have formerly wrought for me
Also I give and devise unto Gertrude Chapman and Katherine Dagg my two sisters tenn pounds apiece yearely and every yeare for and during the terme of their naturall lives to be issuing and payable out of those messuages land and tenements which I lately purchased situate lying and being in Cullompton aforesaid the said annuities or yearely payments of compounds to be payd unto each of my said sisters in foure equal parts in quarterly payments upon the foure dayes hereafter named (that is to say) the five and twentieth day of December the five and twentieth day of March the foure and twentieth day of June and nyne and twentieth day of September the first quarterly payment thereof to be payd unto each of them on the second of the said dayes which shall happen to be next after my disease
And if it shall happen the said annuities or yearly paymt or either of them to be behinde and unpayd in part or in all by the space of one month next after any or either of the said dayes whereon the same ought to have been payd according to the intent of this my Will that then or soe often as the same shall be soe behind and unpayd (being careful it demanded) it shall and may be lawfull from time to time for her or them to confirm the same ought to be have been payd to enter into and upon all singular the said messuages lands and tenements and the same and every part and parcel thereof with the appurtenances to have hold kept and enjoy untill the said annuities or yearly payments with charges thereof (if any shall happen be) be fully and clearly satisfied and payd
And my will is and I doe hereby declare my mynd and meaning to be that my said two sisters nor their husbands nor any or either of them joyntly or severally shall have any power or authoritie to sell alien or convey the said annuities or either of them or any part thereof
Also I give and bequeath unto Samuel Stone and Elizabeth Stone sonn and daughter of my brother Robert Stone one hundred pounds apiece to be payd unto each of them as they shall attaine the age of one and twenty yeares
Also I give unto my cousin John Hamme the summe of thirtie pounds to be payd when he shall attaine the age of one and twentie yeares
And farther my will herein is that my executor hereafter named all the same costs and charges shall give and reimburse the said John Hamme all things necessarie and commence for him immediately from and after my decease until such time as my executor shall see contentment to then place him unto some honest calling or occupation and also in the meantime to bring him upp in reading and writing
Also I give unto Sarah Stone the daughter of Roger Stone of Cullompton aforesaid thirtie pounds to be payd within two yeares after my decease
Also I give and bequeath unto my cousins John Stone Richard Stone William Stone the elder and Abel Dagg five pounds apiece to be payd within one yeare after my decease
Also I give to Lewis Wilson of Cullompton aforesaid husbandman and to John Pope of Sanford and to John Bragg of the parish of Saint Thomas the Apostle sergemakers five pounds apiece to be payd within one month after my decease
Also I give unto Arthur Axe John Wishe Roger Donne and Joan his wife fifteene shillings apiece to buy a gold ring
Also I give unto Andrew Franke fortie shillings
Also I give unto Thomas Foster my best cloake
All the rest of my estate lands and tenements goods and chatells not hereinbefore given I give and devise unto my loving brother Robert Stone whom I doe hereby make and ordaine my whole and sole executor of this my last Will and Testament
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale the day and yeare first above written
Richard Stone
Sealed and declared in the presence of Tho Pulman John Smith Hum Marshall
Probate in Latin