The Document Chest
1622 Will of John Colston
Gentleman of Marsh
In the name of
god Amen
the Seaventh
daie of March in
the yeare of our
lord god on[e]
Thousand sixe
hundred twentie
and two I John
Colston of Marsh
within the p[ar]ish
of yevell within
the Countie of
Som[er]set gent
beinge sicke of
bodie but of
perfect and good
memorie god be
praysed Doe make
this my last
will and
testament first
I give and
bequeath my
soule into the
hands of
Almightie god my
maker and
Redeemer hoping
through the
meritts of Jesus
Christ my maker
and redeemer to
be partaker of
his heavenly
Kingdome and I
give my body to
the earth from
whence it came
and to be buried
in the Church or
Church yard of
yevell aforesaid
It[e]m I give
unto the Church
of yevell Tenn
shillings It[e]m
I give and
bequeath unto
fifteen poore
widdowes livinge
within the p[ar]ish
of yevell
aforesaid five
shillinges
It[e]m I give
and bequeath
unto my daughter
Elizabeth
Colston five
hundred pounds
(around £100,000
at today's
value) to be
paid her when
shee shall
accomplish the
age of one and
twentie yeares
or at such tyme
as shall please
god shee shall
marrie or after
the death of
John Somerset
late of [Morlinges?]
within the
County aforesaid
this to be done
within one
moneth next and
ymmediately
after [such?]
tyme first shall
happen to be I
give and
bequeath unto my
daughter Marie
Colston one
hundred pounds
to be paid her
when shee shall
accomplish the
age of one and
twentie yeares
or at such tyme
as shall please
god shee shall
marrie or after
the death of
John Som[er]sett
late of [Morlinges?]
aforesaid within
the County
aforesaid this
to be performed
and donne within
one moneth next
and immediately
after [such?]
tyme first shall
happen to come
or be It[e]m I
give unto my
wief Mary
Colston all my
houshold stuffe
It[e]m I give
and bequeath and
my Will is that
William Colston
my sonne shall
have and [mien?]
one Tenem[en]t
for terme of
hios lief with
all house
buildinges and
ediffices with
appurtenances
sett lyinge and
beinge in Hewish
weithin the p[ar]ishe
of Burneham
within the
Countie
aforesaid nowe
in the tener or
use of one
Edward hext with
terme to comence
and beginn
ymmediately
after the decase
of my wief Mary
Colston her or
his assignes
yeilding and
payinge therefor
yearely Fower
Shillinges
duringe his said
terme at fower
equall Feaste of
the yeare by
even porcions
that is to saie
at the Feast of
St Michaell then
next and soe
quarterly this
to be paid unto
the right [heyer?]
of the said land
and farder my
Will is that the
porcions before
limitted & given
unto my two
daughter be
ymployed for the
best use and
benefitt for
their best
mayntenance &
breeding at the
discretion of my
wief & overseer
& furder my Will
is that yf shall
happen thet
either of my
said daughters
shall decease
before the age
or marige
accomplished or
default of John
Somersett That
then such some
or somes of
money to be
equally devided
bewtweene shee
longest living &
my sonne William
Colston Item I
give and
bequeath unto
John Colston my
Sonne all my
goods lande &
Tennemente not
yett given &
bequeathed whome
I make my heyer
and sole
executor of this
my last will and
testament And I
make my sister
Elizabeth
Colston Overseer
of this my last
will prayeinge
her to see it
performed &
donne and for
her paines
therein I give
her twentie
shillings in
witness whereof
I have hereunto
sett my hand and
seale the daye &
year abovesaid
John Colston
Signed & sealed
in the pr[esen]ce
of
Andrian X hawker
Tho[mas]
Swayne
Proved
in 1623
Transcribed by
Bob Osborn