11-0083-331_ThomasSerle-Sidbury_1594
In the name of God Amen; the fourth day of March AD a thousand five hundred ninety three and in the six and thirtieth year of the reign of the Queen’s Majesty that now is; I THOMAS SERLE of Sidbury in the County of Devon yeoman being sick and weak of body but of good and perfect memory (God be praised) do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following; it is to say; first I commend my soul into the hands of God my maker hoping assuredly through the merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour to be made partaker of life everlasting and I commend my body to the earth whereof it is made to be laid in the churchyard of Sidbury aforesaid in the place appointed for the same. And to the poor people of same parish I give and bequeath the sum of twenty shillings of lawful English money to be paid and distributed among them by the direction of my executors and overseers hereafter named within one month next after my decease; and whereas I now stand possessed for divers years yet to come if I so long happen to live of and in the tenement wherein I now dwell in Sidbury aforesaid of and by the demise and grant of Richard Bampfild Esquire the remainder of the same tenement unto ELIZABETH SERLE my wife and THOMAS SERLE my son for and during the like term of years if they or either of them so long live; my will and mind now is that my said tenement with the appurtenances shall by them and the survivor of them occupied and enjoyed according to the said grant during their lives if my said wife so long live widow. But if my wife happen to marry again or if she like to take a certain yearly rent for her said estate and interest of and in her said moiety of the said tenement and not to meddle with the maintenance and occupation of the same; then my will and mind is that my said son Thomas shall have hold and enjoy the whole tenement paying for the same to his said mother fifteen pounds of lawful English money by the year at the four most usual feasts by even portions and permitting and suffering her to have convenient and necessary houseroom in the said tenement during her widow’s estate. ITEM; I give and bequeath to my said wife one feather bed performed and the use and occupation of all manner household stuff as pots pans dishes and all other like implements whereof I die possessed during her said widows estate. ITEM; where I now stand possessed to me and my assigns of and in one other tenement with the appurtenances in Sidbury aforesaid for divers years yet to come if HERCULES SERLE EDWARD SERLE and MARGERY SERLE my children or any of them so long live of the demise and grant of John Sherman gent I do by this my testament give and bequeath the same tenement with the appurtenances and all my estate right title interest and term of years yet to come of and in the same together with my lease thereof unto my said son Hercules Serle and his assigns upon condition that he do well and truly pay or cause to be paid to the said Margery Serle his sister the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful English money in form following that is to say fifty pounds at or before the end of one year next after my death and other fifty pounds at or before the end of one other year then next ensuing; and if she happen to marry in the meantime then the one fifty pounds to be paid unto her at the day of her marriage and the other fifty pounds at one year end then next ensuing; and if she happen to die before her said marriage and before the said money be fully paid unto her; then so much of her said portion which shall be then unsatisfied unto her she being not married shall remain unto NICHOLAS SERLE JOHN SERLE and EDWARD SERLE her brothers between them equally to be divided and to be paid unto them at the times aforesaid; and upon condition also that he do well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto John Serle and Nicholas Serle his brothers to either of them or their assigns the sum of ten pounds of lawful English money at one year’s end next after my death. ITEM; to my said son Hercules I give and bequeath the one moiety and [halfendeale] of allsuch corn and grain as shall be growing upon my said last mentioned tenement at the next harvest after my death and five of the ewes which I shall have at the time of my death to be appointed unto him by my overseers hereafter named. ITEM; I give and bequeath to my foresaid two sons Nicholas Serle and John Serle and to my son Edward Serle the sum of one hundred and twenty pounds of lawful English money to bepaid unto them by my executor hereafter named in form following: it is to say; top either of them twenty pounds at the year’s end next after my death and to either of them other twenty pounds at the year’s end then ensuing. ITEM; to my daughter ELLEN and to every one of my children’s children I give and bequeath one ewe sheep to be [] unto them within one month next after my death and to every one of my godchildren [twelve shillings] apiece. ITEM; I give and bequeath to my good friend George Isaacke in consideration of his good will and pains taken and to be taken for me and mine the sum of twenty shillings of lawful English money to be paid unto him within one month next after my death. ITEM; I give to William Carterson of Richard Carter towards his education the sum of twenty shillings of lawful English money; Finally of this my last will and testament I ordain and make Thomas Serle my son my full and whole executor to whom I give and bequeath all my goods and chattels whatsoever of what nature quality or condition so ever the same are or in whose hands custody or possession; and of the same this my last will and testament I ordain and make my cousin WILLIAM RAYMOND and the said Richard Carter my overseers to see this my last will performed giving to either of them four shillings apiece for their good care and pains to be taken in and about the same. Witnesses hereunto George Isaacke William Reymond and Richard Carter with others
Proved 7th May 1594 by Thomas Serle son and executor
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