WILL of Robert White
Robert White's will was dated 27 May 1617, and indicates he lived for considerable time in the parish and was quite wealthy. He gave to support the poor of Messing, and to Rev. Richard Rogers, a non-conformist, and Rev. Bartholomew Scrivener, an established church minister. Robert's will names his wife and all his children. Son Daniel and wife Bridget were named executors, and John Christmas SR. and Ralph Bett (my kinsman and servant), and Joseph Digbie (my servant). The three unmarried children, Bridget, Anna, and John, were bequeathed money on the condition that they obtain the consent of their mother, and of Joseph Loomis and William Goodwin, before marriage (100marks to each daughter, and 200 marks to John. It is possible that Daniel was the son of a first wife, prior to Robert's marriage to Bridget on 24 June 1585 at Shalford, Essex.
May 27, 1617
In the name of God amen. May the seaven and twentyeth in the fifteenth yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord James by the grace of god Kinge of England, France, and Ireland defender of the faith etc and of Scotland the fifyeth. In the yeare of our Lord god 1617 I Robert White of Messinge in the countye of Essex yeoman, beinge of good and pfect remembrance, doe make this my last will and testament, in manner and forme followinge.
Imprimis. I comend my soule unto the hands of god almightey my most faythfull creator redemer and sanctifier and my bodie to be buryed in the parish church or church yeard of Messinge, at the discretion of mine executors.
Item I give and bequeath unto the poore people of Messinge fortye shillings of lawful mony of England, to be distributed amongst them, at ye discretion of mine executors and the minister of Messinge, within one month next after my depture from this naturall life.
Item I give and bequeath unto Mr. Richard Rogers preacher of gods word at Withersfield in Essex aforesaid; and to Bartholomew Scrivener Minister of the church of god in Messinge aforenamed to each of them the several summe of fortey shillings of like lawfull monie, to be payd unto them within two monthes next after my departure.
Item I give and bequeath unto mine eldest daughter Sarah, the wife of James Bowtell of little Sallinge, the summe of fifteene punds of lawfull mony of England, to be paid within fower years next after my depture.
Item I give and bequeath unto Jeames Bowtell the younger, son of my said daughter Sarah Bowtell, the summe of five pounds of good and lawfull mony of England, to be paid unto him when he shall come to ye sixteenth yeare of his age.
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Marie the wife of Joseph Lummis of Branetree, one pewter platter.
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth the wife of William Gooddinge of Bockinge the summe of fortye markes of like lawfull monye within one yeare next after my depture, to be paid unto hir.
Item I five and beueath unto my daughter Bridgett White the sum of one hundred marks of like lawfull monye, to be paid unto hir upon the day of hir marriage, provided that she my said daughter Bridgett shall not bewtow hir selfe in marryage without the approbation and consent of my two sonnes in law Joseph Lummys and William Goodinge formrly mentioned, and of my wife Bridgett White or the consent of two of them whereof my wife to be one of the twaine. But yf it happen that shee marrye without the consent aforesaid then I give hir only the summe of thirtye pounds of like lawful monie.
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Anna White the summe of onehundredth markes of like lawfull mony: to be paid unto hir upon ye day of hir marriage, yf soe be she shall bestow hir selfe in marriage, accordinge to the likinge and consent of my two fornamed sonnes in law, and my wife, as is aforesaid. But yf it soe fall out, as that she my said daughter Anna shall marrye without the consent and approbation formerly mentioned, then I give and bequeath hir only the summe of thirtey pounds of like and lawfull monie.
Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne Nathaniell White the sume of fortie pounds of like lawfull monye, wherof my will is that twenty pounds shalbe paid within one yeare next after my depture, and the other twentye pounds to be paid unto him within two years next after my said depture oute of this naturall life.
Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne John White the summe of two hundredth pounds of like lawfull lmonie to be paid him when he shall come to ye years of one and twentye of his age; yett provided that my said sonne John shall not bestow himselfe in marriage without the approbation and consent of my aforesaid two sonnes in law Joseph Lummys and William Goodinge, and my wife his mother. And yf it soe fall oute that this my son John shall match him selfe contrarye to the good likinge and consent aforesaid, then I give and bequeath unto him onlye as his full portion the summe of one hundred pounds of like lawfull monye.
Item my mind and will is, that yf any of my foresaid children that are unmarried shall depte this naturall life before the tymes appointed for the payment of their portions; or yf any of them shall marrye contrarye to the consent and approbation mentioned, then such summe or summes of monie (as shall remaine and accrew, eyther by their death or disobeydience) shall be equally devided amongste the rest of my children whither marryed or unmarried, pte and parte like.
Item I give and bequeath unto my said son John White the loyned standinge bedstead wch is in the parlour, wth the featherbed, flockbed, bolster coueringe wth other furneyture thereunto belonginge; alsoe the presse cupbourd the cupbourd table and newest chest. all wch are in the said ploure to be delivered him after the death of my said wife Bridgett White, or instead thereof the summe of twenty marks of like lawfull monye.
Item I constitute and ordaine my aforesaid sonnes in law Joseph Lumys and William Goodinge supuisors of this my last will and testament and doe give unto each of them the severall summes of fortey shillings of like lawfull mony: towards their charge and paines in seinge this my will executed according to my minde.
Item I five and bequeath unto Ralph Bett the younger my kinsman and servant the summe of five pounds of like lawfull monye, to be paid unto him within one yeare next after my depture.
Item I give and bequeath unto Joseph Digbie my servant, twentye shillings of like lawfull monye, to be paidwithin one yeare next after my depture.
Item all the rest of my goods unbequeathed I give and bequeath unto my wifeBridgett White, and to my sonne Daniell White whome I constitute and ordaynethe ioynte executors of this my last will and testament, hopinge they willfaithfullye execute this my will accordinge to the trust reposed in them.
In witness whereof I have hereunto sett myne hand and seale the daye and yeare first mentioned.
In presence of us:
John Christmas ye elders (+) marke
William Levett.
Probatu fuit Testamentu apud Kelvedon vicesimo Die mensis Junii 1617.
[Transcribed from The Goodwins of Hartford, by James J. Goodwin and
Frank F. Starr (1891) as published in the NEHGR Vol. 55 (1901), pp. 29-31]
May 27, 1617
In the name of God amen. May the seaven and twentyeth in the fifteenth yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord James by the grace of god Kinge of England, France, and Ireland defender of the faith etc and of Scotland the fifyeth. In the yeare of our Lord god 1617 I Robert White of Messinge in the countye of Essex yeoman, beinge of good and pfect remembrance, doe make this my last will and testament, in manner and forme followinge.
Imprimis. I comend my soule unto the hands of god almightey my most faythfull creator redemer and sanctifier and my bodie to be buryed in the parish church or church yeard of Messinge, at the discretion of mine executors.
Item I give and bequeath unto the poore people of Messinge fortye shillings of lawful mony of England, to be distributed amongst them, at ye discretion of mine executors and the minister of Messinge, within one month next after my depture from this naturall life.
Item I give and bequeath unto Mr. Richard Rogers preacher of gods word at Withersfield in Essex aforesaid; and to Bartholomew Scrivener Minister of the church of god in Messinge aforenamed to each of them the several summe of fortey shillings of like lawfull monie, to be payd unto them within two monthes next after my departure.
Item I give and bequeath unto mine eldest daughter Sarah, the wife of James Bowtell of little Sallinge, the summe of fifteene punds of lawfull mony of England, to be paid within fower years next after my depture.
Item I give and bequeath unto Jeames Bowtell the younger, son of my said daughter Sarah Bowtell, the summe of five pounds of good and lawfull mony of England, to be paid unto him when he shall come to ye sixteenth yeare of his age.
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Marie the wife of Joseph Lummis of Branetree, one pewter platter.
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth the wife of William Gooddinge of Bockinge the summe of fortye markes of like lawfull monye within one yeare next after my depture, to be paid unto hir.
Item I five and beueath unto my daughter Bridgett White the sum of one hundred marks of like lawfull monye, to be paid unto hir upon the day of hir marriage, provided that she my said daughter Bridgett shall not bewtow hir selfe in marryage without the approbation and consent of my two sonnes in law Joseph Lummys and William Goodinge formrly mentioned, and of my wife Bridgett White or the consent of two of them whereof my wife to be one of the twaine. But yf it happen that shee marrye without the consent aforesaid then I give hir only the summe of thirtye pounds of like lawful monie.
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Anna White the summe of onehundredth markes of like lawfull mony: to be paid unto hir upon ye day of hir marriage, yf soe be she shall bestow hir selfe in marriage, accordinge to the likinge and consent of my two fornamed sonnes in law, and my wife, as is aforesaid. But yf it soe fall out, as that she my said daughter Anna shall marrye without the consent and approbation formerly mentioned, then I give and bequeath hir only the summe of thirtey pounds of like and lawfull monie.
Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne Nathaniell White the sume of fortie pounds of like lawfull monye, wherof my will is that twenty pounds shalbe paid within one yeare next after my depture, and the other twentye pounds to be paid unto him within two years next after my said depture oute of this naturall life.
Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne John White the summe of two hundredth pounds of like lawfull lmonie to be paid him when he shall come to ye years of one and twentye of his age; yett provided that my said sonne John shall not bestow himselfe in marriage without the approbation and consent of my aforesaid two sonnes in law Joseph Lummys and William Goodinge, and my wife his mother. And yf it soe fall oute that this my son John shall match him selfe contrarye to the good likinge and consent aforesaid, then I give and bequeath unto him onlye as his full portion the summe of one hundred pounds of like lawfull monye.
Item my mind and will is, that yf any of my foresaid children that are unmarried shall depte this naturall life before the tymes appointed for the payment of their portions; or yf any of them shall marrye contrarye to the consent and approbation mentioned, then such summe or summes of monie (as shall remaine and accrew, eyther by their death or disobeydience) shall be equally devided amongste the rest of my children whither marryed or unmarried, pte and parte like.
Item I give and bequeath unto my said son John White the loyned standinge bedstead wch is in the parlour, wth the featherbed, flockbed, bolster coueringe wth other furneyture thereunto belonginge; alsoe the presse cupbourd the cupbourd table and newest chest. all wch are in the said ploure to be delivered him after the death of my said wife Bridgett White, or instead thereof the summe of twenty marks of like lawfull monye.
Item I constitute and ordaine my aforesaid sonnes in law Joseph Lumys and William Goodinge supuisors of this my last will and testament and doe give unto each of them the severall summes of fortey shillings of like lawfull mony: towards their charge and paines in seinge this my will executed according to my minde.
Item I five and bequeath unto Ralph Bett the younger my kinsman and servant the summe of five pounds of like lawfull monye, to be paid unto him within one yeare next after my depture.
Item I give and bequeath unto Joseph Digbie my servant, twentye shillings of like lawfull monye, to be paidwithin one yeare next after my depture.
Item all the rest of my goods unbequeathed I give and bequeath unto my wifeBridgett White, and to my sonne Daniell White whome I constitute and ordaynethe ioynte executors of this my last will and testament, hopinge they willfaithfullye execute this my will accordinge to the trust reposed in them.
In witness whereof I have hereunto sett myne hand and seale the daye and yeare first mentioned.
In presence of us:
John Christmas ye elders (+) marke
William Levett.
Probatu fuit Testamentu apud Kelvedon vicesimo Die mensis Junii 1617.
[Transcribed from The Goodwins of Hartford, by James J. Goodwin and
Frank F. Starr (1891) as published in the NEHGR Vol. 55 (1901), pp. 29-31]
posted by Bart B. Christmas at
Friday, August 06, 2010
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