Yeovil's Virtual Museum

1727 Will of James Prowse

Esquire, of Keyford

 

In the Name of God Amen I James Prowse of Keyford within the parish of Yeovill in the County of Somersett Esq being of a perfect sound mind and understanding do this Sixth day of November Anno D[omi]ni 1727 make and declare this to be my last Will and Testament hereby revoaking and making voyd all former and other Wills by me att any time made Impr[im]is I give unto my dear and loving wife Elizabeth Prowse the use of all my plate Linnen Household goods and Implements of household whatsoever as long as she shall Continue a widow and no longer and after the death or Marriage of my said Wife I give the same plate linnen Household goods and Implements of household whatsoever unto my loving Brother and Godson Thomas Prowse Item I give unto my dear and loving Mother Mrs Anne Prowse the sume of three hundred pounds of lawfull money of great Brittaine to be paid unto her within Six Months after my death Item I give unto my three Brothers George Prowse John Prowse and William Younge Prowse and to my two Sisters Anne Prowse and Elizabeth Prowse the sume of three hundred pounds a peice to be paid unto each of them within one year next after my Death Item I give to my Cousen Amos Prowse the elder my Friends Ambrose Seward John Newman John Shute and Thomas Knight ten pounds a peice to buy them mourning Item I give to my Goddaughter Isabella Knight Daughter of the said Thomas Knight the sume of Fifty pounds to be paid into the hands of her Father for her use within a year next after my death Item I give devise and bequeath to my said Brother Thomas Prowse his heirs and assignes for ever all that my mannor of Pinxmore with all its rights members and appurtenances Scituate lying and being within the parish of Wellington in the said County of Som[er]sett and also all and Singular my messuages Farmes Tenements lands and hereditaments whatsoever together with all and Singular their and every of their appurtenances Scituate lying and being within the severall parishes of Wellington aforesaid Norton Fitzwarren Yeovill East Coker and Barwick or elsewhere in the said County of Som[er]sett Except such Lands as are Settled in Joynture to the said Elizabeth my wife which Settlement to her for her life I doe hereby ratifye and confirme and after my said wife's decease I do give devise and bequeath the same Lands which are soe settled to her my said wife for her Joynture and every part and parcell thereof with their and every of their appurtenanaces whatsoever unto him the said Thomas Prowse his heirs and assignes for ever Also I give unto the said Thomas Prowse after my said wives decease All that my Tenement and Mills called Paviotts Mill Tenement with its appurtenances lying in East Coker afores[ai]d for all the Then remainder of my terme and Estate therein also I give unto the said Thomas Prowse my teo leasehold Tenements lying att Closworth in the said County the one called Mundens Tenement and the other Tinney's Tenement and my little plott of Ground lying in Barwick aforesaid with their and every of their appurtenances for and during all the remainders of my severall and respective termes and Estates therein Item all the rest and residue of my goods Chattells and personall whatsoever not herein before given I do also give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto him the said Thomas Prowse Provided always that if my said Brother Thomas Prowse shall happen to dye before he hath attained his full age of one and twenty years that then and in such Case My Will is and I doe hereby give devise and bequeath all that my said Mannor of Pinxmore aforesaid with all its rights Members and appurtenances And also all and Singular my said Messuages Farmes Tenements lands and hereditaments whatsoever with their and every of their appurtenances Scituate lying and being within the said Parishes of Wellington Norton Fitzwarren Yeovill East Coker and Barwick or elsewhere in the said County of Som[er]sett which are not limitted to my said Wife in Joynture and also all those Lands which are limitted to my said Wife for her Joynture (after her decease) and every part and parcell thereof with their and every of their appurtenances unto my said Brother William Younge Prowse and to his heirs and assignes for ever And further my will is That if my said Brother Thomas Prowse shall happen to dye before he hath attained his said full age of one and Twenty years Then I give my said Tenement and Mills called Paviotts Mill Tenements lying in Closworth and my little plott of ground lying in Barwick and all my plate Linnen household goods and Implements of household after my said wives Marryage or death which shall first happen And also ll the rest of my goods Chattells and Personal Estate whatsoever after my Debts and legacy's are paid unto my said Brother William Younge Prowse in the same Manner as the same are hereinbefore respectively given to the said Thomas Prowse And I do hereby Charge all my said lands and personall Estate with the payment of all my just debts and the severall Legacys herein before by me given and lastly I do nominate and appoint the said Amos Prowse Ambrose Seward and Thomas Knight Executors of this my Will and also guardians and Trustees of the person and Estates of my said Brother Thomas Prowse during his minority In Witness whereof I the said James Prowse have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day and year above written

Ja[mes] Prowse

Signed sealed published and declared by the said James Prowse to be his last Will and Testament in the p[re]sence of us who Subscribed our names as witnesses hereto in the p[re]sence of him the said James Prowse these words to my said wife said and Thomas Knight being first interlined

Anne Knight     Elizabeth Fulford Tho[mas] [Trefatig ?]

 

Proved at London, 1728

 

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn