1625 John Pitt

11-0148-218_JohnPitt-Weymouth_1625

In the name of God Amen; I JOHN PITT of Waymouth and Melcombe Regis in the County of Dorset merchant being at present I praise God in perfect memory do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following.  First I bequeath my soul into the hands of God my Creator Jesus Christ my Redeemer and the Holy Ghost my Sanctifier three persons but one God with it to remain until the resurrection of all flesh; and for my body I commit to the earth from whence it came to be buried in the churchyard of this parish of Rodypoll called Christ Churchthere to remain until the coming of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and then that corruptible body to put on incorruption and to be joined to my soul whereby both my soul and body together shall remain eternally in the heavens with the Holy Trinity lauding and praising God.  And for my worldly goods which have been freely given me of my good God I give and bequeath in manner following.  ITEM; I give to the preacher which shall preach my funeral sermon the sum of twenty shillings lawful English money.  ITEM; I give to the poor of Waymouth [Weymouth] and Melcombe Regis the sum of ten pounds lawful English money to be delivered to the officers of the poor within one month after my decease to remain for a stock according to the Statute made for that purpose.  ITEM; I give towards the settling of the chapel in Waymouth side unto the Corporation of Waymouth and Melcombe Regis and for the settling of a lecturer for the same to be from time to time appointed by the mayor and some others of the chiefs of the Corporation being thereunto appointed the sum of ten pounds of lawful money of England within one month within one month after the same shall be effected.  ITEM; I give to RICHARD PITT my son during his natural life the houses and sellers [cellars?] in the southside of St Edmonds Street in Waymouth and Melcomb Regis aforesaid which I purchased of John Hoggis. Also I give to my son Richard one annuity or rent charge of forty pounds of lawful money of England yearly to be to him paid at the four most usual feasts or terms of the year vizt. St Michael the Archangel the Birth of our Lord God the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Nativity of St John the Baptist by equal portions to be issuing and payable out of all my messuage lands tenements and hereditaments in Brodway [Broadwey], Rodypooll [Radipole] Helton and Weeke [Wyke] being in the County of Dorset and for non-payment of the said annualty or yearly charge by the space of one month next ensuing after any of the said feasts or days of payment in which it ought to be paid being lawfully demanded and then not paid I do will that the sum of forty shillings shall be forfeited and paid to my said son nominee pene for such default and so forty shillings more for every month that the same annualty shall be unpaid; and then it shall be lawful for my said son to enter upon my said lands and distrain as well for the said annualty so behind as for the said sums to be forfeited nominee pene.  ITEM; I give to ALCE PITT my loving wife those parcels of land following vizt. Ridlands with the appurtenances in the Parish of Brodway in the County of Dorset aforesaid on both sides of the way leading to Dorchester also Rowe Closes with two meadows adjoining and tenement belonging to the same within the Parish of Rodypooll also  sundry parcels of lands in Ansty in the Parish of Helston containinig by estimation thirty acres besides the allowance of common also the Closes of pasture called the North within the parish of Weeke Regis by estimation thirteen acres without acre and half or thereabouts without the Wester hedge together with half a gentleman land which I purchased with Lan house and also Lan house with five closes of pasture containing by estimation fourteen acres together with a tenement upon the same and half a gentleman land allowance of which there is a lease of three lives made of the said Lan house also one other close of pasture next adjoining to Lan house called Cockle Close containing by estimation four acres and half also two closes near Sanflatt Castle in Weeke Regis the one called Castleclose containing four acres the other called Weeke containing there yards as also a dwelling house with the appurtenances in the North side of St Edmond Street and in the east of St Thomas Street as also the houses and garden in the west side of St Nicholas Street as also the house and garden in the West side of West Street to hold to my wife during her natural life.  Also I give unto my said loving wife my now dwelling house in the South side of St Edmond Street and in the East side of Mayden Street and the East ground near the haven there and the garden in the west side of St Nicholas Street and in the East side of West Street enclosed with a stone wall belonging to my said dwelling house and the sellers and the yards in the West side of my dwelling house purchased of John Reynolds and also the houses and sellers in the North of St Edmond street to hold to her until my son PHYNEAS come to the age of twenty and one years.  ITEM; I give to Phynias Pitt my said son his heirs and assigns my said now dwelling house in the South side of St Edmond Street in the East side of Mayden Street with the wainscots furnace coolefalls and other brewing vessels there as also the said East ground near the haven there and also the said garden in the west side of St Nicholas Street and also the sellers and yard in the west of my dwelling house purchased of John Raynolds and also the north sellers in the north side of St Edmond Street and east side of St Nicholas Street to hold to my said son Phineas his heirs and assigns immediately from and after he shall attain to the age of twenty one years.   Also I give to my said son Phineas and to his heirs and assigns for ever after the decease of Richard Pitt my sonand SARA BALL my daughter my said house in the south side of St Edmond Street and in the east side of St Nicholas Street.  Also I give to Phyneas Pitt my son and to his heirs of his body lawfully begotten for ever the houses and gardens in Waymouyth and Melcombe Regis aforesaid  in the west side of St Thomas Street and in the east side of St Nicholas Street purchased of Henry Clarke likewise I give to my said son Phineas the sum of six hundred pounds lawful English money to be paid him at his age of twenty one years or at his day of marriage which shall first happen provided always that it shall be lawful for my said wife to continue to have and enjoy my now dwelling house aforesaid with the wainscots furnace and other brewing vessels there during her natural life so as she permit and suffer Phineas Pitt my said son to have and enjoy the said houses in the north side of St Edmond Street and east of St Thomas Street after he come to the age of twenty and one years during my said wife’s life and for so much as my said son Richard is much distracted in mind and thereby disabled to manage any affairs and unfit to have any of my lands settled on him but I hold it more expedient to maintain by a yearly rent charge or annualty as I have before in this my will provided for him.  Therefore I give to JOSEPH PITT my son and to his heirs for ever to hold to him and them after my said wife’s decease all my lands tenements and hereditaments aforesaid except that which is limited and bequeathed to my said sons Richard and Phyneas.  Also I give to Joseph pitt my son the sum of forty pounds lawful moneys of England of my lands yearly to be paid him ten pounds each quarter during my wife’s natural life.  Likewise I give to my said son the sum of two hundred pounds lawful English money to be paid him within six months after my decease.  ITEM; I give to Sara Ball my daughter after the decease of Richard Pitt my son the houses in the south side of St Edmond Street and east side of St Nicholas Street during her natural life provided always that if my son Joseph dies without heirs of his body lawfully begotten then the land before to him given to remain to Phineas Pitt my said son and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten and if my son Phineas Pitt happen to die without heirs of his body lawfully begotten then the said land before to him given to remain to Joseph Pitt my said son and to his heirs of his body lawfully begotten and if my sones Joseph and Phyneas die without heirs of their bodies lawfully begotten that then the lands before to them given to remain to be equally divided amongst such of my daughters as shall be then living and to their heirs.   And if it happen that there be none of my daughters then living then the aforesaid lands to be equally divided amongst the children then living of my five daughters MARGARET FRANCES SARA HANATH and DORCAS and their heirs.  ITEM; I give to Dorcas my daughter the sum of four hundred pounds lawful English money at the day of her marriage or within twelve months after my decease which shall first happen and if either of my two children Phyneas or Dorcas die before the time limited for the payment of the several portions of moneys that then the said portion of him or her so deceasing I appoint to remain to the survivor of them.  ITEM; I give to FRANCES CLARKE SARA BALL and HANATH ANTHONY my three daughters to each of them the sum of ten pounds lawful money of England.  ITEM; I give to ALCE TOUP MARY TOUP JOHN CLARKE ALCE CLARKE SAMUELL CLARKE JOSHUA CLARKE FRANCIS CLARKE DANIELL CLARKE ALCE BALL SARA BALL HANATH ANTHONY SAMUELL ANTHONY and JOHN ANTHONY my thirteen grandchildren fifty shillings lawful English money to each of them the moneys before given to my three children Frances Sara Hanath and to my thirteen grandchildren to be bestowed in plate for them.  ITEM; I give to Alce Pitt my loving wife all my goods and chattels not before given whom I make my full and whole executrix of this my last will and testament provided always that if my said wife shall marry then I do ordain and appoint that she shall make my portions of money given to my three children Phineas Joseph and Dorcas vizt. Phyneas’s portion the sum of eight hundred pounds Joseph’s portion the sum of four hundred pounds and Dorcas’s portion the sum of five hundred pounds of lawful moneys of England.  And lastly I do request and authorise my well-beloved Brothers JOHN BOND and JAMES ASHE and my well-beloved sons in law BARNARD TOUPPE CHRISTOPHER CLARKE JOHN BALL JNO ANTHONY to be overseers of this my last will and testament and do request them to accept of twenty shillings lawful English moneys to each of them for their pains and care herein – Witness my hand and seal dated at Waymouth and Melcombe Regis aforesaid the twentieth day of April one thousand six hundred twenty five – JOHN PITT – signed sealed and delivered in the presence of John Beddowe [… Stivy]

Proved 10th February 1625 (1626) by Alice Pitt relict and executrix

 

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