Will of Peter Watson late of Cullompton, Clothier
Proved 08 February 1696
© Crown Copyright
National Archives Catalogue Reference PROB 11/430/109 Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Bond Quire Numbers: 1 – 42
Transcribed by Art Ames
In the name of God Amen I Peter Watson of Cullompton in the county of Devon clothier being sick and weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory thanks be given to Almighty God for the same and calling to remembrance the uncertaine estate of this vaine and transitory life and knowing that all flesh must yield unto death when it shall please Almighty God to call doe make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in writing in manner and forme following
First I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God by only Saviour and Redeemer trusting and steadfastly believing through the merrits of Jesus Christ to have remission of all my sinns and as touching such worldly estate as the Lord in mercy far above my deserts hath been pleased to bestowe upon me I give devise and bequeath of the same in manner and forme following
Imprimus whereas I the said Peter Watson did on marriage with Winifred my deare wife grant and assure unto her one annuity or yearly sum of twenty five pounds as her joynture to be issuing and goeing out of all that my messuage tenement or dwelling house orchards and gardens thereunto belonging and also out of the five severall fields closes and parcells of land meadow and pasture called or commonly known by the name of Pasmore grounds now in my possession situate lying and being within the parish of Cullompton aforesaid in the said county of Devon and to be paid unto her the said Winifred my said deare wife for and during the terme of her naturall life in case should survive and overlive me
Now my will mind and meaning is and I doe hereby give devise and bequeath all and singular the said messuage tenement or dwelling house orchards and gardens and the said severall fields closes and parcells of land meadow and pasture with their and every of their appurtenances unto the said Winifred my said deare wife and her assignes during soe many years and untill Mary my daughter shall attain to the age of twenty one yeares
And from and after such time as my said daughter Mary shall attaine the age of twenty one years then I give devise and bequeath all and singular the said messuage tenement or dwelling house and the said several fields closes and parcells of land meadow and pasture with their and every of their appurtenances unto my said daughter Mary and the heires of her body lawfully to be begotten subject nevertheless to the said annuity or yearely summe of twenty five pounds settled on my wife in marriage as her joynture as aforesaid
And in case my said daughter Mary shall happen to dye without issue of her body lawfully begotten then I give devise and bequeath all and singular my said messuage tenement or dwelling house and the said several fields closes and parcells of land meadow and pasture with their and every of their appurtenances unto the right heires of me the said Peter Watson forever subject nevertheless to this said annuity or yearely sum of twenty five pounds payable to my said wife during her life as aforesaid
Item I give devise and bequeath the Fee simple and inheritance of all that my messuage or tenement commonly called or known by the name of Horwoods tenement situate lying and being within the parish of Old Dunkswill in the said county of Devon and now in the severall possessions of Thomas Davy John Hallwill George King and Mary Harwood widow my tennants with all houses edifices buildings orchards gardens lands meadows leasures pastures feedings wayes [ ] easements profitts commodities emoluments advantages and hereditaments whatsoever to the said messuage or tenement belonging or in any wise appertaineing unto my said daughter Mary and the heires of her body lawfully to be begotten
And if it shall happen that my said daughter Mary shall dye without any issue of her body lawfully begotten before she attaine to the age of twenty one yeares or in the lifetime of the said Winifred my said deare wife that then my will mind and meaning is and I doe hereby give and devise the said last mentioned messuage and tenement called Horwoods tenement with the appurtenances unto her the said Winifred my said deare wife and her assigns for and during the terme of her natural life
And from and after the severall deaths and deceases of my said deare wife and Mary my daughter (she dying in the lifetime of the said Winifred my wife without any issue of her body as aforesaid) I give devise and bequeath the said last mentioned messuage or tenement called Horwoods tenement with the appurtenances to the right heires of me the said Peter Watson for ever
Item I give and bequeath unto Mr William Crompton is summe of forty shillings of lawful money of England to be paid unto him within one month next after my disease
Item I give to my sister Elleanor Dorse widow the summe of twenty shillings to be paid unto her within one year next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto Joane Watson my sister the summe of twenty shillings of lawfull money of England to be paid unto her within one year next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto the said Winifred my said deare wife the summe of five pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid within one year next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto the said Winifred my said deare wife all my silver plate which I now have and also one feather bed performed six Turkey wrought chairs and one pair of brass andirons
Item I give and bequeath unto John Dorse my nephew the summe of twenty shillings of lawful money of England to be paid unto him within one year next after my decease
Item all the rest and residue of my goods chattells implements of household and household stuffe not herein before given or bequeathed my debts paid and funerall expenses discharged I give and bequeath unto Mary my said daughter whom I make and ordaine whole and sole executrix of this my last Will and Testament
And in case my said daughter shall happen to dye before she attaines to the age of twenty one years and in the lifetime of my said wife then my will and meaning is and I doe hereby give and bequeath unto the said Winifred my said wife the summe of fourscore pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid unto her within one year next after my said daughter’s decease she dying in the lifetime of my said wife and before she attaines to her said age of twenty one years as aforesaid by my trustees hereinafter named or the survivors or survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor and to be by my said trustees hereinafter named or the survivors or survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor raised and levyed out of by and with my said personall and testamentary estate given and bequeathed to my said executrix
And I doe hereby make and ordaine Thomas Speed of Cullompton in the county of Devon gent Thomas Pulman of the same gent and Edmund Crosse Braddon of [ W?] in the said county gent and Phillip Bickley of Blackwell Hall London factor my executors in trust to see this my last will and testament duly performed and I doe desire them to call in my debts with all convenient speed and for their care and paines herein I give unto each of them twenty shillings
In witness whereof I the said Peter Watson have hereunto sett my hand and seale this eighteenth day of May in the seventh year of the reigne of our sovereign Lord William the third by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith etc Anno domini one thousand six hundred & ninety two
Peter Watson
Signed and sealed published and declared (on one shilling stamp parchment) by the above named Peter Watson after the several interlineations above (as her joynture, the fee simple and inheritance of, before she attaines to the age of twenty one years, and to be paid unto her, my debts paid and funeral expenses discharged) in the presence of
Geo Crosse John Case the mark of Thomas Barle Ellianor Watson
Probate in Latin