11-0062-196_RobertPytt-mercer_1580
In the name of God Amen. The fourth day of December in the year of our Lord God 1579 and in the 22nd year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith etc. I ROBERT PYTT of Blandford Forum within the County of Dorset, Mercer being sick of body but of good and perfect remembrance laud and praise be given to the Almighty God do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following: First I bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God my maker redeemer and only saviour and my body to be buried in the church or churchyard where it shall please God. ITEM; I give and bequeath to the church of Blandford Forum forty shillings. ITEM; I give and bequeath to the building of the alms house in Blandford Forum forty shillings. ITEM; I give and bequeath to the reparations of the bridges and streets of the said Blandford Forum forty shillings. ITEM; I give and bequeath unto DORATHEY my wife in money nine score pounds. ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my son GEORGE PITT in money two hundred pounds; more I give unto my son George Pytt a silver goblet double gilt which my father gave me and a little silver ale cup parcel gilt and half a dozen of silver spoons. ITEM; I give and bequeath unto the child which my wife Dorathy goeth with all if it please God to send it into world one hundred marks of money a silver salt and half a dozen of silver spoons. And if it happen that my son George Pitt do die before he comes to the age of twenty-one years that then my will is that one hundred marks of his legacy to be distributed amongst my sister’s children and one hundred marks of the said legacy to the child that my wife now goeth withall and the residue that remaineth of the two hundred pounds to my Brother John Pitt’s children and the plate of the said George to my brother John Pitt’s eldest son Nicholas Pitt. And if it happen that the child which my wife now goeth all do die before the age of twenty-one years that then my will is that his portion or legacy of one hundred marks to be and remain amongst my sister’s children and his plate to remain unto my brother John Pitt’s son named Sidrake. ITEM; I give and bequeath unto Dorathey my wife all my household stuff except one great chest in my chamber the chests in my shop and weights belonging to my occupation the which I give to my son George Pitt. ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my brother John Pitt my best gelding and my best gown. And the residue of my apparel I give and bequeath to my apprentices the overplusage of my goods not given and bequeathed my debts being paid and funerals ended if any be to be equally divided amongst my sister’s children by the direction of my overseers provided always that if my wares and debts do not surmount to the payment of my foresaid legacies that then my will is that my wife Dorathy and George my son shall perform it of their legacies whom I appoint also to be my executors of this my last will and testament. And for the bringing up of my children I appoint my brother John Pitt to have and appoint the government of them until the age of twenty-one years where he shall think good and I will desire and also appoint Christopher Comedge, my brother John Pitt and John Gould to be overseers of this my last will and testament and for the diligence and pains taken herein to see everything performed according to the purport and true meaning hereof I give to every one of them ten shillings a piece. In witness whereof I have set my sign in the presence of those persons hereunder named – Robert Pitt – read subscribed and delivered in the presence of Thomas Fry; [X] this is Richard Hancock’s mark who was witness to this will; [X] and this was John Hancock’s mark who is a witness also to this will; and in the presence of me John Swayne parson of Gonnvile Esq
Proved 9th June 1580 by Dorothy Pitt (relict and executrix)
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