The Document Chest
1628 Will of John Combe
Mercer
In the name of God Amen
I John Combe of
Yeavell in the
Countie of
Somersett Mercer
doe here ordaine
and make this my
last will and
testament this
third daie of
June in man[n]er
and forme
following 1628
Imprimis I
bequeath my soul
to Allmightie
god my maker
beinge fullie
perswaided
through the
merritts of his
sonne Christ to
have
everlastinge
lief And my
bodie to be
buried in
Christian
buriall Item I
give and
bequeath unto my
sonne John one
hundred & fortie
poundes [around
£30,000 at
today's value]
Item I give and
bequeath unto my
daughter
Margarett
fowerscore [ie
80] poundes And
alsoe I give and
bequeath unto my
daughter
Margarett one
featherbedd and
beddsteed and
all thinges
thereunto
belonginge
standinge in the
Chamber over the
hall Item I give
and bequeath
unto my daughter
Elizabeth
fowerscore
poundes of
lawfull money of
England Item I
give and
Bequeath unto my
daughter
Elizabeth the
best Bedd and
Beddsteed and
all thinges
thereunto
belonginge
standinge in the
Chamber over the
Kitchen All
w[hi]ch said
money given unto
my three
children as
aforesaide to be
paid and the
ende and terme
of two yeares
after my decease
Item my will is
that my wife
Elizabeth shall
have the rest of
my house the
which I now
dwell in duringe
her lief if she
happen to dye
before the
yeares be
expired then the
yeares that
remaiyne
unexpired in the
said house I
wholie give unto
my sonne John
Item I give and
bequeath unto
parish church of
Yeavell three
shillinges and
fower pence Item
I give and
bequeath unto
the poore people
of the parish of
Yeavell fortie
shillinges to be
paid unto the
Collectors for
the poore to
distribute it
unto such as
have moste neede
Item I give and
bequeath unto my
mother one pound
seaventeen
shillinges five
pence the which
she oweth me
Item I give and
bequeath unto my
uncle Rob[ert] [Jellen?]
three poundes
and tenne
shillinges the
which he oweth
me me Item I
give and
bequeath unto my
brother Walter
Combe fortie
shillinges the
which he oweth
me and my
ridinge Coate
Item I give and
bequeath unto my
sister Ellinor
Masters of
Bradforsd
twentie
shillinges Item
I give unto my
Servant Anthonie
Traske my cloake
I give and
bequeath unto my
Servant William
Holloware all my
wearinge
apparell and
five yeards of [Karsie?]
Lastly I make
and ordaine my
wife Elizabeth
to be the sole
and onelie
Executrix of
this my last
will and
testament Item
my will is that
my wief
Elizabeth beinge
my executrix
shall paie the
said legacies
the which I have
given unto my
three children
as aforesaid
unto my
wellbeloved in
Christ William
Combe my brother
and Thomas
Marshe of
Yeavell in twe
yeares after my
decease as
aforesaid whom I
doe ordaine and
make to be the
Overseers of
this my last
will and
testament And my
will is that the
said William
Combe my brother
and the said
Thomas Marsh to
have the aid
money for the
good and benefit
of my children
allowinge them
Sixe poundes of
the hundred
yearelie everie
yeare untill my
saide sonne
accomplish the
age of one and
twentie yeares
And my two
daughters
accomplish the
age of Eighteene
yeares either of
them Item my
will is that if
either of the
said children
happen to die
before they
accomplish the
age aforesaide
Then the said
Legacies to be
equallie divided
betweene the
other Survivors
if two of them
happen to die
before
they accomplish
the age
aforesaide then
this Legacies
wholie to
remaine unto the
Survivor In
wittnes whereof
I have sett my
hand and seale
John Combe
John Withell
The marke
of John Brodlie
John
French
Item I give and
bequeath unto my
uncle John
French fortie
shillinges the
which is to be
abated upon a
Bond of Eight
poundes which
shalbe the last
payment of the
said Bond
whereunto I have
sett my hand In
the presence of
us John Withell
William Combe
John Combe
Item my will is
that my wief
Elizabeth being
my executrix
shall keepe and
maintaine the
said children at
her owne costs
and charges
untill they
accomplish the
age aforesaid
Item my will is
that if my
daughter
Margarett or my
daughter
Elizabeth happen
to marrie
without the
consent of my
wief being my
Executrix and my
said Overseers
then the said
legacies to be
equally devided
betweene the
other two if
both of them
happen to Marrie
as aforesaide
then the
legacies
aforesaide to
remayne wholie
unto my sonne
John In wittnes
whereof I have
sett my hand
John Combe
John Withell
The marke
of John Brodlie
John
French
Proved at London in 1628
Transcribed by Bob Osborn