1656 Robert Man

11-0256-49_RobertMan_1656

In the name of God Amen; the twenty-eighth of July etc. I ROBERT MAN of the Parish of Bridget alias Brides London, Haberdasher, being well and in perfect health at this present praised be God do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following: first I commit and bequeath my soul to Almighty God my maker and redeemer hoping through his mercy for salvation and through the merits of Christ; next I commit my body to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my executrix hereafter mentioned; and as for the disposing of that final estate which God in mercy has given me my debts and funeral charges being paid, the rest I give and bequeath in manner and form following: Imprimis, I give to the poor of Bride’s parish thirty shillings in bread and ten shillings in money; to ten poor ancient widows or other poor women that have been careful to live in the fear of God to be paid within one month after my decease.  ITEM; I give to the poor of Eggington being but four in number ten shillings and also ten shillings to the poor of Leighton Buzzard both which are to be paid within one year after my decease.  ITEM; I give to my brother JOHN MAN twelve pence.  ITEM; I give to my sister FARR five pounds.  ITEM; I give to my niece ELIZABETH LENNETT fifty pounds to be paid to her at the age of one and twenty years of age.  ITEM; I give to my cousin ANN LEWELLEN and her children five pounds.  ITEM; to ELLIS FARR the elder and ELLIS FARR the younger five shillings apiece.  ITEM; I give to my brother FRANKLIN’s children two shillings six pence apiece to so many as then are living and I give to JOHN TURNOW son of Hempstead five shillings.  ITEM; I give to my cousin MARGRETT DAVIS and MARY WHITE her sister five shillings.  ITEM; I give to my cousin BEW formerly wife to JOHN WOODALL five shillings.  ITEM; I give to my cousin WOODBRIDGE twenty shillings twelve pence to her son PHILLIPP and five shillings to her son WILLIAM.  ITEM; I give to SARAH and SUSAN MAN daughters to my late brother WILLIAM MAN five shillings apiece if they be living. My will is that all these final legacies to be paid within one twelve month after my decease.  ITEM; my will is that ELLEN MAN my wife shall have and enjoy all the leases and profits of the several houses that now are in my possession during the several terms of years in them unexpired if she shall so long live and be in her widowhood but if it pleases God that she marry again that then her husband to whom she is married unto shall put in good security to my overseers hereafter mentioned that she shall not sell nor mortgage any of them but that they keep them from all forfeitures and shall renew the same leases if possible she may for her own use hereafter expressed and if her husband with whom she shall marry shall reuse or neglect the putting in of security as aforesaid within the space of three months after their marriage my will is that these leases and the profits thereof shall forthwith be for the benefit of Elizabeth Lennett my own house and for the rest to be divided to Anne Lewellen and William Wood his children and not for my wife if security be not put in for preserving the leases and I desire my wife to be careful herein and my will is if there shall be any time in any of the leases unexpired after the death of my wife then my will is that the remainder of profit shall be to and for the benefit of Elizabeth Lennett and the other to Anne Lewellen and her children and to William Wood and his children; and of this my last will and testament I make and ordain my wife Ellen Man full and whole executrix and do hereby revoke and disannul all former wills and bequeathes whatsoever formerly given or done contrary to this last will; and I do likewise appoint and entreat my loving friends Master Richard Sommers, Fetter Lane, Attorney, and Master Edward Baker, Haberdasher as overseers of this my will and do give them as a token of my love 20s apiece to be paid them within one twelve month after my decease provided always that if any of the legatees aforesaid shall not hereafter or at present live a godly and a laborious life in the fear of God but shall live a wicked and disordered life as shall be judged by the executrix and overseers that all such persons shall have but one twelve pence and no more.  In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal the day and year above written.  This my last will and testament is written with my own hand and signed sealed and published and delivered in the presence of Robert Man, Rowland Hewer, Thomas Parrott

 

Proved 21st June 1656 by Ellen Man relict and executrix

 

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