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