The Document Chest
The Will of Katherine Merchant
The 1654 will of Katherine Merchant, Widow
I Katherine Merchant of
Yeavill in the County of Somersett Widdowe being sicke and weake of body but
of sound and
perfect memorie;
Doe make and
ordaine this my
last Will and
Testament in
manner and forme
following (That
is to say) I
give unto my
Kinswoman
Elizabeth Rodd
(who now liveth
with me) The
sume of Twelve
pounds due unto
me from John
Lockyer of
Chilton Cantelo
by Bond; Item I
give unto the
said Elizabeth
Rodd The sume of
Eleaven pounds
due to me by
Bond from
William Sealy
Item I give unto
her Fower pounds
due to me by the
Widdowe Lawrence
of Northover.
Item I give to
her the said
Elizabeth Five
pounds due to me
from Agnes
Dibble of
Closworth. Item
I give to the
said Elizabeth
All such Rents
and Sumes of
money as are due
to me att
Michaelmas last
past from any
person or
persons
whatsoever. Item
I give her One
pound Tenn
shillings which
is in the hands
of Elizabeth the
wife of Giles [Meach
?]. Item I give
to Robert Rodd,
my Brother,
Fourtie
shillings To bee
paid within two
yeares after my
Decease Item I
give to John
Hamon, sonne of
Richard Hamon
The sume of
Fiftie shillings
To be paid att
the Expiration
of his
Apprenticeshipp
with interest
for the same,
Accompting from
the day of my
Decease Item I
give to each of
the Children of
my Cozen
Ambrose
Seward Five
shillings To be
paid within one
month after my
decease. Item I
give Twentie
shillings to be
distributed
amongst Twentie
poore Widdowes
of the parish of
Yeavill. Item I
give to Joane
Hamon Daughter
of Richard Hamon
The summe of
Five shillings;
All the rest of
my Goods
Chattells and
Creditts
whatsoever I
give and
bequeath to the
said Elizabeth
Rodd Whom I make
and Constitute
sole Executrix
of this my last
Will and
testament In
Witness whereof
I have hereunto
sett my hand
this Fifth of
October One
thousand sixe
hundred Fiftie
fower
Signe of the foresaid Eliz: Merchant
Signed and delivered by the said Elizabeth Merchant to bee her last Will
before us
Hen[ry] Lavor Alice
Penny
Item I give my Brothere Jno Rodd All my Wheate that is in my Cozen Amb[rose]
S[eward] Mowe.
In the presence
of us
Amb[rose] Seward
Will
Sibble
This will was proved at London the sixe and Twentieth day of
February in the
yeare of our
lord God One
thousand sixe
hundred Fiftie
and fowre Before
the Judges for
Probate of Wills
and granting Adm[inistrati]ons
lawfully
authorized By
the Oath of
Elizabeth Rodd
the Kinswoman
and sole
Executrix named
in the said Will
To whom Adm[inistrat]ion
of all and
singular the
Goods Chattells
and Debts of the
said Deceased
was Committed
She being first
sworne by
Commission
truely to Adm[ini]ster
the same
Transcribed by Bob Osborn
