Wills: Charles II (1660-85)

ANNO 15 CHARLES II.

Monday next before the Feast of S. Boniface, Bishop [5 June]

Mulson or Moulson (Thomas), of Wheelocke, co. Chester, esquire.—To be buried in his own "He" in the parish church of Sandbach. (fn. 9) To his nephew Thomas Steephens all his manors, lands, &c., whatsoever in tail male, charged with payment of legacies contained in schedule annexed; remainders over to Edward, brother of the said Thomas, Nicholas and Thomas Ranton his sister's sons, in successive tail male, subject to similar charges. Bequests of sums of money to his mother, his brother John Steephens, Alderman Kenericke, and many others. Dated 6 September, A.D. 1648.

A codicil whereby he makes divers pecuniary bequests to individuals, and leaves to the parish of "Sandbeach" the sum of two pounds ten shillings, to be disposed of by the church wardens on the day of his burial in the town of Sandbeach. Dated 24 September, A.D. 1648.
Roll 336 (7).

ANNO 16 CHARLES II.

Monday next after the Feast of S. Michael [29 Sept.]

Massey (Thomas), girdler.—A will nuncupative. Being asked by Alice his wife how he wished to dispose of his estate, he replied to this effect:—" Wife you have been a great paynes-taker with Me and a helper in the getting of that estate I have and to whom should I leave it but unto you because We have bought it with our labour Therefore I doe leave and give it all unto thyselfe." A.D. Which words or the like in effect were spoken by the said Thomas Massey with a serious intent to make and declare his last will and testament on or about the 24th of September, A.D. 1661.
Roll 337 (12).

ANNO 18 CHARLES II.

Monday next after the Feast of Epiphany [6 Jan.].

Reeve (Richard), of the parish of S. Paul, Covent Garden, cordwainer, but dying at Hampstead, co. Middlesex.—Memorandum that on or about the 7th of January, A.D. 1665, the said Richard, with an intent and purpose to make and declare his last will and testament nuncupative, uttered these words following or the like in effect, viz.:—" I heare that John Reeve is enquiring after my death but I am resolved I will leave him nothing but what my father hath left him by his will. I give all my estate to my wife and because I see and consider her troubles I take paines and spend my spiritts to write memorandums and notes of my concerns that she may have as little trouble as may bee." Which words or the like in effect the said Richard did utter and speak in a serious manner, and with an intent to settle and dispose of his estate as aforesaid, and that the same should stand and be for his last will and testament.
Roll 338 (25).

[Rolls 339 and 340 contain no enrolment of wills.]

ANNO 22 CHARLES II.

Monday the Feast of SS. Perpetua and Felicitas [7 March]..

Harris (John), girdler.—To Hester his wife her customary third part of his personal estate, to his children another third, and the residue, called "the testator's third parte," he proceeds to dispose of by making bequests to William his brother, Alice, widow of his brother Daniel, his sister Alice Browne and her children, Roger Marks his brother-in-law, and divers others. To the poor of the Company of Girdlers, London, he leaves five pounds; to the churchwardens of the parish of All Hallows, Breadstreete, twenty pounds for the repair of the parish church; and to the poor of Kevill (fn. 1) ten pounds. Also to William his son he gives his lands and tenements called "Castle Meades" near the city of Gloucester, and messuages in the parish of All Hallows, Breadstreete, in London. To Laurence his son lands and grounds called "Rignes stile grounds" in or near the city of Gloucester. To Ezra his son his copyhold and freehold messuages in Harlow and Latton, co. Essex. His wife to take the rents and profits of the estates so devised to his three sons, and to hold the same in trust for their maintenance and education until they arrive at full age, retaining only one third of the same as her dower. To John his son certain annuities charged on the manor farm of Churcham, co. Gloucester, which farm he leaves to his aforesaid wife for life, with remainder to William his son in fee, charged with the said annuities. The testament contained in eight sheets of paper, to which he set his hand and seal after the mending of the word "fifty" and inter lining of the word "tenn" in the third leaf, such alteration having been made before the ensealing thereof. Dated 14 July, A.D. 1653.
Roll 341 (15).

ANNO 23 CHARLES II.

Monday next before the Feast of S. Mathias, Apostle [24 Feb.].

Pigeon (Elizabeth), widow.—To Mary Mountague her sister lands and tenements in Wappecloth and Holbrick droves, (fn. 2) co. Line, so that the said Mary first pay the sum of forty pounds to her executrix. To Ebeneasor her son her moneys underwritten in the East India Company (fn. 3) in the name of her brother Edward Thorold. To Elizabeth Berlue her daughter land and buildings in course of erection in Basinghallstreete in the parish of S. Michael Basingshawe, to hold the same in tail; remainders over to her aforesaid son Ebeneasor and to her son-in-law John Jacob Berlue (fn. 4) of London, merchant, equally. Also to her daughter Elizabeth Berlue afore said she leaves a leasehold messuage in Paules Ally in Redcrossestreete in the parish of S. Giles, Criplegate. To her niece Elizabeth Blackwell five pounds; and unto each and every other of her kindred whatsoever twelve pence apiece in full of what they or any of them can or may claim out of her estate. Dated 23 January, A.D. 1669.
Roll 342 (3).

Monday next before F. of Annunciation of V. Mary [25 March].

Sheffeild (John), late of Navestocke, co. Essex, esquire.— Memorandum that on or about the 1st December, 1670, the said John, with a desire and intention to settle and dispose of his estate, declared his last will and testament nuncupative in these or very like words: "I give all my houses in London to bee sold and the money thereupon raised to bee equally divided betweene my two children Misse and Billy meaneing his daughter Sarah Ellenor and his sonne William Sheffeild, his daughter to have her share or portion att the age of eighteene yeares and his sonne William to have his parte and portion att the age of one and twenty yeares," which words, or words to the same effect and purpose, the said John Sheffeild did utter, speak, and declare as for his last will and testament nuncupative.
Roll 342 (7).

Monday next after the Feast of S. Andrew, Apostle [30 Nov.].

Drake (Roger), of Stepney, co. Middlesex, Doctor of Physic.— To Susannah his wife money and chattels so that she pay the sum of one hundred pounds to the two children of his brother Richard and two hundred pounds to the four children of his brother John on their coming of age or marriage, with interest at four per cent, in the mean time. To Roger his son he leaves his books, watch, and seal ring. Bequests of money to divers friends and relations, as well as to the poor of Epping, co. Essex. A certain plot of land in Gutter Lane, London, and his lands and tenements in the parishes of Tullogh and Clownbough in the county Tipperary, Ireland, he leaves in trust for sale, the proceeds to be devoted to the discharge of certain debts and legacies, a portion of the surplus to be disposed of in placing his son Roger out as an apprentice and providing a marriage portion for Mary his daughter* Mention made of Roger his father. Dated 24 July, A.D. 1669
Roll 342 (52).

[Rolls 343-348 contain no enrolment of wills].

ANNO 32 CHARLES II.

Monday next before the Feast of S. Katherine, Virgin [25 Nov.]

Pope (William), of White Horse Street in the parish of Stebonheath, alias Stepney, co. Middlesex, citizen and carpenter. —To Elizabeth his wife his freehold tenements in Chimney Alley in Colemanstreete in fee; also leasehold messuages in Forestreete in the parish of S. Giles without Cripplegate, with remainder, in case of her decease, to his sister Elizabeth Pearce. Also to his said wife he leaves certain new-built messuages in Philpott Lane in the parish of S. Andrew Hubbard, and near Tower Dock in the parish of All Hallows, Barking, held by him on lease. Pecuniary legacies to his aforesaid sister and her sons. To the Master, Wardens, and Commonalty of the Carpenters' Company of London an annual rent-charge of three pounds ten shillings on the premises in Chimney Alley for the relief of the poor of the said company. (fn. 5) To every one of his kindred not named in his will he leaves twelve pence apiece, the same to be paid on demand. Dated 21 August, A.D. 1678.
Roll 349 (39).

ANNO 33 CHARLES II.

Monday next before the Feast of Conversion of S. Paul [25 Jan.]

Mosse (Henry), scrivener.—To be buried near Francis Mosse his late father in the church of S. Michael, Cornhill. His per sonal estate to be divided into three equal parts according to the custom of London, one part whereof he leaves to Jane his wife, another to his only child, Benjamin, and out of his own third part he makes bequests to the poor of the parish of S. Michael, to the Company of Scriveners, to Christ's Hospital, and divers friends and relatives, among the latter of whom appears Francis his grandson, son of Richard his son deceased. To Mr. James Taylor and the wife and son of the same he leaves ten shillings apiece for rings. Also to his aforesaid wife he leaves messuages in Marke Lane in the parish of S. Olave, Hart Street, and in the parish of All Hallows, Barking, for life; remainder to Benjamin his son in tail; remainders over. Dated 30 December, A.D. 1673.
Roll 349 (63).

[Roll 350 contains no enrolment of wills.]

ANNO 36 CHARLES II.

Monday next after the Feast of S. Luke, Evangelist [18 Oct.].

Weld (Elizabeth).—To her grandchild Thomas Hedge her estate in a brick house situate in Broad Street, charged with certain annuities to her grandchildren Elizabeth Medley and Samuel Hedge. Dated 14 October, A.D. 1676.
Roll 361 (8).

Monday next after the Feast of Epiphany [6 Jan.]

Hodges (Henry) the younger, son and heir of Henry and Hannah Hodges.—To Henry his father he leaves his reversionary interest in certain messuages in the parish of S. "Ethelborow" in Bishopsgate Street, and in Hesson, (fn. 6) co. Middlesex, as well as in a messuage commonly called "Gunpowder barne," alias "Read lead barne," in the parish of S. Leonard, Shorditch, to hold the same in fee simple. Dated 5 September, A.D. 1682.—Memorandum that before the publishing of the above will the testator declared his desire that in case his father died without an heir of his body, then his said father should leave the lands in Shoreditch and in Hesson to the testator's kinsman Thomas Hodges, citizen and "Silkethrower" of London.
Roll 351 (11).