The Document Chest
1661 Will of John Clarke
Gentleman
In the name of God Amen
the first day of
October in the
thirteenth yeare
of the Raigne of
our Soveraigne
Lord Charles the
Second by the
grace of God
Kinge of England
Scotland France
and Ireland
Defender of the
Faith Anno
Domini One
Thousand Six
Hundred Sixty
One I John
Clagge within
the parishe of
Yeovell in the
Countie of
Somersett
Gent[leman]
beinge weake of
body but of
perfecte minde
and memory
thankes bee to
Allmighty God
doe make and
ordaine this my
present last
will and
testament in
manner
followinge First
I Commend my
Soule into the
hands of God my
maker hopinge
assuredly
through the
onely merritts
of jesus Christ
my Saviour and
Redeemer to bee
made partaker of
life Eternall in
his everlasting
Kingdome of
glory And I
committ my body
to the earth
whereof it is
made Item I give
to the Church
where it shall
please God my
body shall bee
buried by the
discretion of my
Executrix
hereafter named
Forty shillings
Item I doe give
unto my sister
Susan Mines if
she shall bee
livinge at my
death twenty
pounds Item
Whereas I have
heretofore
sealed and
executed a
certaine
Indenture
bearinge date on
or aboute the
twentieth day of
June in the
eighth yeare of
the Raigne of
our late
Soveraigne Lord
King Charles
made betweene me
and others of
the one parte
and John Hodges
Esq[uire] of the
other parte By
which all that
my Mannor
Capitall
Messuage and
Farme of
[Pouches?] and
other lands and
hereditaments
are therein and
thereby limited
or intended to
come and bee
after my decease
unto my wife
Anne Clarke And
also whereas I
have by my one
other Indenture
or deed dated on
or about the
Nynth day of
November in the
fifteenth yeare
of the Raigne of
our said lait
Soveraigne Lord
Kinge Charles
and made
betweene me of
the one parte
and Thomas
Napper and Henry
Crewkerne
Gent[leman]
(Deceased) of
the other parte
limitted or
appointed
severall other
of my lands
Tenements and
hereditaments to
come and bee in
like manner unto
the said Anne my
wife for her
life after my
decease as in
and by the same
deeds may more
fully appeare
Now the Intent
my said wife may
the better hold
and enjoy All
the said Mannor
lands Tenements
and
Hereditaments
unto her soe
limitted and
intended for her
life as
aforesaid I doe
hereby by this
my last will
ratifye and
confirme the
said Mannor and
all and singular
the lands
Tenements and
Hereditaments in
the same
severall recited
Indentures or
Deedes unto her
the said Anne
And that all the
said premisses
shall come
remaine and bee
unto her duringe
her life
according to the
purporte of the
said Deeds And
because I have
ever founde my
said wife to
have bin a most
faithfull
Carefull and
lovinge wife
unto me And by
whose special
care my estate
hath bin [word
illegible] and
augmented I doe
by this my last
will give devise
and bequeath
unto my said ife
Anne all these
my lands
Tenements and
hereditaments
which I lately
had and
purchased of
Henry Hodges
Deceased called
Chilthorne
[Heares?] or by
what other name
the same are or
were formerly
called To have
and to hold the
said last
mentioned
Premisses unto
the said Anne my
wife for her
life And after
her decease unto
my brother
William Clarke
for his life the
Remainder
thereof unto my
grandson Hugh
Strode for the
terme of his
naturall life
and after his
decease then to
come and remaine
to Robert Strode
one other of my
grandsons and to
the heires of
his body
lawfully to bee
begotten And for
want of such
issue my will is
that it shall
come and remaine
to the right
heires of my
said grandsonne
Hugh Strode for
ever Item I give
unto Thomas
Browne of
Tintenhull
fortie
shillinges All
the rest of my
goods Chattles
and Credditts
whatsoever not
by this my will
before
bequeathed I
wholey and
freely give and
bequeath unto
the said Anne
Clarke my
dearely beloved
wife whome I
make and Ordaine
the full and
whole Executrix
of this my last
will and
testament In
Wittness whereof
I have hereunto
putt my hand and
seale the day
and yeare first
above written
John Clarke
Signed Sealed
and Declared in
the presence of
us
John Hodges
Valentine
Jacob
Tho[mas]
Browne
Proved at London in 1663
Transcribed by Bob Osborn
