The Document Chest
The 1696 will of John Knight
of Yeovill
In the name of God Amen
November the twenty sixth Anno D[omi]ni one thousand six hundred ninety six
I John Knight of
Yeovill in the
County of
Somersett being
sick of body but
of good and
perfect memory
thanks be to
Almighty God doe
make constitute
and ordaine this
my last will and
Testament in
manner and forme
as followeth
Imprimis I give
and bequeath my
Soule into the
hands of
Almighty God my
Saviour and
Redeemer in
whome and
through the
meritts of Jesus
Christ I hope
for a free and
absolute
remission of all
my sins and my
body to be
buried in the
Parish Church of
Yeovill
aforesaid and as
for my worldly
goods and estate
which it hath
pleased God far
above my deserts
to bestowe upon
me I give and
bequeath them as
followeth
Imprimis I give
unto my wife
Joane Knight all
the household
goods that are
in the said
dwelling house
that were
formerly her
owne and are yet
undisposed of
Item I give unto
her the free use
and benefitt of
the Kitchen and
Kitchen Chamber
in the dwelling
house which I
now live in
Yeovill as alsoe
the freedome and
use of the
backside
thereunto
belonging and
the use and
benefitt of the
Cellar and well
for her
necessary uses
and accacons as
long as she
continue and
remaine a widow
and in my name
Item I give unto
her one bed and
bedsted with all
its
appurtenances,
one chest of
Drawers one new
Chest one table
board one livery
table six green
chaires one
trunke one
silver tumbler
or bowle one
silver Cupp and
four silver
spoones all her
owne Linnen in
the [word
illegible]
togeather with
her linnen and
woollen apparell
which premisses
aforemencioned
are now in the
Kitchen Chamber
in the dwelling
house
aforemenconed
Item I give unto
her one Pott one
kettle fitt for
her use one
warming panne
one dosen of
pewter plates
halfe a dosen of
pewter dishes
which were
formerly her
owne and are now
in the Kitchen
aforesaid Item
one feather bed
in the servant
Maids Chamber
Provided always
that she pay or
cause to be paid
unto Ralph Penny
or his Assignes
the full sume of
twenty five
pounds and five
shillings with
lawfull Interest
if any due and
alsoe doe pay or
cause to be paid
unto Thomas Fort
or his Assignes
the sume of Tenn
pounds with due
interest for the
same Item I give
unto her three
middle brasse
panns in the
Kitchen
aforesaid Item I
give to my
Daughter
Elizabeth
Chaffey tenn
shillings Item I
give to my
Grandaughter
Theodosia
Knotley Daughter
of the
aforementioned
Theodosia
Knotley five
shillings Item I
give to my son
Simon Knight one
roane Mare and
the dwelling
house which I
now live
togeather with
all my goods in
shopp shopp
bookes and debts
thereon as alsoe
all other my
household goods
and household
stuffe
unmentioned for
and dureing the
residue and
remainder of
time that is yet
to come and
unexpired on the
dwelling house
aforesaid Item I
give unto him
one Copyhold
estate being
three dwelling
houses with the
outhouses garden
and orchard
thereunto
belonging with
all and singular
theire
appurtenances
scituate and
being in Yeovill
aforesid to have
and to hold the
same for and
dureing the
remainder of
time that is yet
to come thereon
Item I give unto
him one
leasehold estate
containing
fourteene acres
of arable land
be it more or
less com[m]only
called or knowne
by the name of
Kattshill lying
in the Parish of
Preston
Balmonsey and
now in the
occupacon of
Thomas Freke of
the same Parish
to have and
enjoy the same
for and dureing
the residue of
the terme that
is yet to come
and unexpired
Item I give unto
him one dwelling
house scituate
and adjoining to
the Parish
Churchyard of
Yeovill
aforesaid and
now in
possession of
Anne Bryant
widow for the
terme and number
of yeares that
are yet to come
thereon Provided
he pay or cause
to be paid unto
Mr Edward
Berwick or his
Assignes the
full sume of
twenty pounds in
two moneths time
after my decease
and alsoe if he
pay or cause to
be paid all my
other and
singular lawfull
debts whatsoever
due to any
person or
persons And I
doe hereby make
and constitute
him the said
Simon Knight the
whole and sole
Executor of this
my last will and
Testament
revokeing and
disannulling all
other and former
wills whatsoever
by me heretofore
made In witness
whereof I have
hereunto sett my
hand and seale
the day and
yeare above
written
John Knight
Signed sealed published and delivered in the presence of us
Humphry Morris
John Knight
Ann
Mansell
Joane
Knight
Memorandum that the whole interlinoacon vizt those words Item I give to my
Grandaughter
Theodosia
Knotley Daughter
of the
aforementioned
Theodosia
Knotley five
shillings was
inyerlined
before the
sealing and
delivery hereof
Proved at London, 1697
Transcribed by Bob Osborn
