Transcriptions

In the name of god amen. The seaventh and twentith day of May in the seaventhe yeare of the reigne of our soveraigne Lord James by the grace of God king of England, ffraunce and Ireland and the ffourth and ffour of Scotland defender of the faythe &c Anno domini 1609. I Thomas Saunders of the parishe of Lanington in the countie of Somerset and of the diocesse of Bath and Wells being of good and perfect remembrance (for which God be thanked) doe make this my last will and testament, in manner and forme following. ffirst I bequeathe my soule to allmighty God and my body to Christian buriall. Item I give to the Cathedrall Church of Wells tow pence. Item I give towarde the reparations of the Church of Lanington twelve pence. Item I will my eight foote square stone to be buried in the Church. Item I give to the poore people of Lanington ffive shillings to be delivered by the discretion of my overseers hereafter to be appointed unto those that have most neede. Item I give to my godchildren twelve pence a peece. Item I give to my sonne Thomas a parcell of grounde commonly called Pester Close, within the parishe of Woollavington for and during the naturall lyfe of my sonne John paying yearly of lawfull English money to the poore Quakers some and equall portion of the yearly rent of this said close due lawfully to the owner, if he do keepe it to his owne use, otherwise the said Thomas shall not have the said Close, but to be had to him his heires executors and assignes, and the said Thomas to be unmarried having no children, the same to be and remayne unto my sonne John’s best and eldest son lawfully begotten and enfeoffed. but if it happen that the said Thomas dye unmarried having no children, that then it shall bee bestowed unto the children of my daughter Grace, to be equally devided among them, at the discretion of my overseers hereafter named. Item I give to my sonne John the free tenement that I dwell in with the outhouse, gardens, and orchards thereunto belonging, to be his during his naturall life, he paying out of the same the rent to the lord of the fee, and all other duties and charges thereunto belonging. And after his decease to the heires male of his body lawfully begotten, and for want of such heires, to my sonne Thomas and his heires male of his body lawfully begotten. And for default of such issue, to the children of my daughter Grace to be equally divided amongst them. Item I give to the said John the right interest and state of the copyhold tenement in the parish of Woollavington in the name of one Gregory West, now alias Bond, who in the said land is entered to the lord’s use, to this end and intent that he and his heires according to the custom of the Mannor there, and by the Lord’s licence, may regrant the same unto him the said Christofer the sonne to be had and possessed from the hands of the Lord unto the said Christofer and his heires at the charge of my executors. Item I give to Thomas my cousin three pounds and unto the poore of Lanington twenty shillings to be distributed by their friends and discretion. Item I give to my daughters Jane, Thomasin and Nicholas three pounds equally to be devided. Item I am desirous my sonne John to be my sole executor of this my last will and testament that all be fulfilled well and justly. And I make him my executor trusting not only in the honesty and uprightnes of my purpose, whom I make my sole and only executor of this my last will and testament, that my executor shall have two seared selecters for the payment of my legacies next after my decease. Provided also and it is my will that if the said Anne, my wife happen to be married again after my decease, that then she shall give unto my sonne Thomas forty pounds of lawfull English money. But if the residue to be more convenient, that then in my power that my sonne Thomas be more contented and satisfied with the payment of your said lawfull right of money. And it is my will and testament that my sonne Thomas have twenty shillings in and upon the tenement which is now in the hands of Anne, my sayd wife (Item) me the testator. Provided also and it is further provided that before my said shall enjoy the house and living that I now dwell in, that some execution shall leave unto him in stock for stocking all the ploughland and housing sufficiently, and implements to the old stock and condition of the able house for husbandry, wares and uses, and I order and dispose by this my last will and testament fully performed and fulfilled as neer as able may be, and write to them in payment taken in a charitable busyness. Memorandum that I the saidmore than for the ordinary legacies that she shall or may have in her house or that then she shall pay unto my sonne Thomas twenty pounds more of lawfull English money. **Signum Thome Saunders. Witnesses: Thomas Saunders the younger, Christofer Saunders, Robert Saunders.**

Probatum fuit suprascriptum testamentum apud London coram venerabili viro magistro Edmundo Pope legum doctore curie prerogative Cantuariensis commissario legitime constituto decimo tertio die mensis Septembris Anno Domini 1609 Juramento Thomae Saunders filii dicti defuncti et executoris in huiusmodi testamento nominati cui commissa fuit administratio bonorum etc. De bene etc. Jurato [juramento] etc. Examinat etc.