1587 David Smith Embroiderer

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In the name of God Amen the seventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred four score and seven [7/4/1587] and in the nine and twentieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God Queen of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith etc. I DAVID SMITH Citizen of London Embroiderer unto Her Majesty and inhabiting within the Parish of Saint Benet near Paul’s Wharf in London being in good health of body and also in good and perfect mind and memory all thanks be unto our good and merciful God therefor and calling to mind the uncertainty of man’s life do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say: First I do commit my soul and spirit into the hands of my creator and redeemer most humbly beseeching him of his great mercy and infinite goodness to receive the same and although I am the most unworthy of all other creatures yet my only hope and trust is that all my sins and wickedness is clean washed away with that most precious blood which my Saviour Jesus Christ did shed upon the altar of the cross for my sins and for the sins of the whole world that faithfully do put their whole trust in him and in none other. And this is my steadfast belief and grant I may ever continue the same.  As for my mortal body I remit it unto the earth from whence it came in perfect hope of a joyful resurrection the burial thereof I will to be such as doth become a Christian man at the discretion of KATHERINE my good and loving wife and of my overseers hereafter expressed in these presents within the Parish Church of St Bennett aforesaid near Paul’s Wharf in London. And as touching the world I ask forgiveness of all that ever I have offended from the bottom of my heart and I do as willingly forgive all the world as I would be forgiven all my sins by God. And as touching my worldly goods chattels and debts whatsoever I will devise limit and bequeath the same in manner and form following, that is to say: First my funerals discharged and my debts being paid or deducted unto the uttermost farthing then I do give and bequeath unto Helene Baker of Carlyne if she be living at my decease the sum of five pounds of lawful English money to be paid within one year after my decease.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto Welthian the daughter of Alice Daylight of London widow the sum of five pounds of lawful English money to be paid within one year after my decease; and to Sara Daylight daughter of the said Alice other five pounds of like money to be paid within one year after my decease.  ITEM; I give and bequeath other five pounds of like money to be paid within one year after my decease for and about the providing of a convenient Master for Richard Daylight son of the said Alice to be apprentice with all to learn some good occupation to get his living with when he shall come to man’s estate.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my wive’s three sisters JOANE, MARGARET and ELIZABETH to every of them six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence apiece in money to be paid within one year after my decease; Also I give and bequeath unto the wardens and livery of the brothers if they come to my burial four pounds in money to make them a drinking.  Also I give and bequeath to the Journeymen of the same company to make them [admarking] a dinner amongst them after my decease four pounds in money.  ITEM; I give and bequeath to every covenant servant being at my decease within my house and being retained by the year and to every apprentice in my service at my death three pounds six shillings and eight pence in money to be paid at the several ends of their years of covenant or apprenticeships behaving themselves faithfully and honestly until that time.  ITEM; I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of England to be paid and delivered into the hands and custody of my son in law JOHN BATE for the which hundred pounds the said John Bate his executors or administrators within six months after my decease shall enter into a bond of fifty pounds unto the Treasurer and governors of Christ’s Hospital for the time being and their successors governors of the said hospital with a condition on the same obligation indorsed to pay unto JOHN HAWTHORN my wive’s brother the sum of fifty shillings yearly during the space of twenty years next ensuing from the end of one half year after my decease that is to say twenty and five shillings every half year at the now dwelling house of the said John Bate in London if the said John Hawthorne shall live during the said twenty years the first half year’s payment thereof to begin at the end of one whole year after my decease in which bond there shall be no sureties exacted by the said governors either of the said John Bate or of his executors or administrators; and if the said John Hawthorne fortune to die before the said twenty years be expired then I will his said yearly payment to cease and determine for ever; And the overplus of the said hundred pounds to remain unto the said John Bate and to his executors to his and their own use forever.  ITEM; I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of England to be paid and delivered into the hands and custody of my son in law WILLIAM STYLE for the which hundred pounds the said William Style his executors or administrators within six months after my decease shall enter into a bond of fifty pounds unto the said Treasurer and governors and their successors governors of the said hospital with a condition on the same obligation endorsed to pay unto the said John Hawthorne the sum of fifty shillings yearly during the space of twenty years next ensuing from them of one half year after my decease that is to say twenty and five shillings one half year at the now [ ] [ ] of the said William Stile in London if the said John Hawthorne shall live during the said twenty years the first half year’s payment thereof to begin at the end of one whole year after my decease in which time there shall be no sureties exacted by the said governors either of the said William Stile or of his executors or administrators. And if the said John Hawthorne fortune to die before the said twenty years be expired then I will his said yearly payment to cease and determine forever and the overplus of the said hundred pounds to remain unto the said William Stile and to his executors to his and their own use for ever.  ITEM; I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of England to be paid and delivered into the hands and custody of my son in law THOMAS ROWLANDS for the which hundred pounds I will that the said Thomas Rowland his executors or administrators in like manner only within six months after my decease shall enter into a bond of fifty pounds unto the said Treasurer and governors and to their successors with condition endorsed for the payment of twenty and five pounds of lawful money of England to be paid unto the Treasurer of Christ’s Hospital in London for the time being that is to say fifty shillings thereof yearly at two equal half yearly payments until the said twenty and five pounds be fully paid every one of the same payments to be made at the said hospital upon a Court Day held there.  The first half year’s payment to begin at the end of one whole year after my decease and so to continue until the said twenty and five pounds be fully paid And the overplus of the said hundred pounds over and above the said twenty and five pounds to be paid to the Treasurer of the hospital as aforesaid I will shall remain unto the said Thomas Rowland and to his executors to his and their own use for ever.  ITEM; I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of England to be paid and delivered into the hands and custody of my son in law Thomas Paradyne for the which hundred pounds I will that the said Thomas Parradyne his executors or administrators in like manner only within six months after my decease shall enter into a bond of fifty pounds unto the said Treasurer and Governors and to their successors with condition endorsed for the payment of twenty and five pounds of lawful money of England to be paid unto the Treasurer of Christ’s Hospital in London for the time being that is to say fifty shillings thereof yearly at two equal half yearly payments until the said twenty and five pounds be fully paid. Every of the same payments to be made at the said hospital upon a court day held there; the first half year’s payment to begin at the end of one whole year after my decease and so to continue until the said twenty and five pounds be fully paid; and the overplus of the said hundred pounds over and above the said twenty and five pounds to be paid to the Treasurer of the hospital as aforesaid I will shall remain unto the said Thomas Parradyne and to his executors to his and their own use for ever.  And also I will and bequeath unto the said governors of Christ’s Hospital the sum of thirty pounds of lawful English money to be paid by my executor at one entire payment within three years after my decease which several sums of twenty and five pounds apiece and thirty pounds by me to them bequeathed I will shall be employed and bestowed by the said governors and their successors in such manner and form and to such uses and intents as are by me in this my present testament hereafter limited and declared.  ITEM; I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of England to be paid and delivered into the hands and custody of my son in law ROBERT DOVE for the which hundred pounds I will that the said Robert Dove his executors or administrators in like manner only within six months after my decease shall enter into a bond of fifty pounds unto the said Treasurer and governors and their successors with condition endorsed to pay unto the said Alice Daylight of London, widow, fifty shillings yearly during the term of twenty years next ensuing from the end of one half year after my decease at the now dwelling house of the said Robert Dove in London that is to say twenty and five shillings every half year if the said Alice shall live during the said twenty years; the first half year’s payment thereof to begin at the end of one half year after my decease; and if the said Alice do fortune to die before the end of the said twenty years the I will her said yearly payment to cease and determine for ever.  And the remainder of the said hundred pounds to remain unto the said Robert Dove and to his executors to his and their own use for ever.  ITEM; I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of England to be paid and delivered to my son in law HENRY BATE for the which hundred pounds the said Henry Bate his executors or administrators in like manner themselves only within six months after my decease shall enter into a bond of one hundred pounds unto the said Treasurer and governors and their successors with condition endorsed; that then the said Henry his executors or assigns shall procure four godly sermons upon his charges out of the said hundred pounds to be preached for the instruction and edifying of the people every year yearly during the term of twenty years after my decease within the Parish Church of St Bennett aforesaid near Paul’s Wharf in the ward of Castle Baynard London that is to say, the first Sunday of January next after the decease of me the said David Smith and the first day of April then next ensuing and the first day of July then next ensuing and the first Sunday of October the next ensuing and so yearly the said sermons to be continued during the term of the said twenty years every year on the said several Sundays at the appointment and charges of the said Henry Bate his executors or assigns; and the overplus of the said hundred pounds I will shall wholly remain unto the said Henry Bate and to his executors to his and their own use for ever.  ITEM; I give and bequeath to the governors of the Hospital of Bridewell the sum of four pounds whereof forty shillings to be for the governors of that house for recreation amongst them; and the other forty shillings to be for the use of the poor youths of the same house.  ITEM; I give and bequeath to my son WILLIAM SMITH the sum of two hundred pounds of lawful money of England to be paid in form following that is to say one hundred pounds within one year after my decease; and the other hundred pounds within two years next after the day of my decease.  ITEM; I will and bequeath unto my said son William Smith my stock of fifty pounds being in adventure with Mr Adryan Gilbert and all the commodity and profit which shall grow of the adventure of the same.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my son JORDEYN SMITH the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of England to remain in the hands and custody of his mother or at her appointment towards the funding of him at school or at some other good exercise until he be of the age of one and twenty years; and then to be paid unto his own hands and custody; and if he fortune to die and depart this life before he attain the said age of one and twenty years then I will that he shall give and dispose the same sum of one hundred pounds or as much as shall remain due thereof at his own will and pleasure for ever.  ITEM; I do give and bequeath to my son in law Thomas Rowland and my daughter ANNE his wife and unto my son in law John Bate and MARGARET my daughter his wife and unto my son in law William Style and my daughter JANE his wife and to my son in law Thomas Paradyne and my daughter MARY his wife and to my son in law Robert Dove and my daughter LUCE his wife and to my son in law Henry Bate and my daughter EDITH his wife to every of them a ring of gold for a remembrance of my good will unto my power; the men’s rings to be of the value of forty shillings the piece; and the women’s of the value of twenty shillings the piece or so much to be given unto them instead of the said rings as they came unto to make them at their own pleasure.  ITEM; I do give and bequeath unto my said son William Smith my own seal ring with a blue stone therein.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my said son Jordayn Smith my seal ring of gold which turneth about in the seal; and for as much as my mind and will is not to have any black used at my funeral I will and bequeath the sum of six pounds to be employed in gloves to be given by my wife at her discretion to my children and friends that shall [resect] to my burial.  ITEM; I do moreover give and bequeath to every one of my own eight natural sons and daughters the sum of one hundred pounds a piece of lawful money of England to be paid to every of them or to such others as they shall bequeath or give the same unto before the day of the marriage of Katherine now my wife if she shall fortune to marry again after my decease; provided always and I do hereby will and ordain that if the same Katherine shall not marry again after my decease that then all the same several legacies of one hundred pounds apiece shall be void and shall never be due nor payable anything whatsoever aforementioned to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding; the residue of all and singular my goods and chattels whatsoever and all debts and sums of money to me owing or to be owing or payable by virtue of certain covenants specified in a pair of indentures made between me and John Parre embroiderer to be due after my decease and all other debts whatsoever belonging unto me after my debts paid my funerals discharged and my legacies performed I wholly give and bequeath unto the said Katherine my wife and I do choose make ordain and appoint the said Katherine my wife to be the full and only executrix of this my last will and testament praying her in the name of God to have a care to see the same truly performed as my trust is in her. And overseers thereof to see the same truly executed I name and appoint my two sons William Smith and Jordayn Smith charging and requiring them and either of them to be aiding unto my said wife in the due execution of this my last will and testament.

 

And further this is the last will and testament of me the said David Smith for and touching the good disposition of all and singular my lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever whereof I am seized of an estate of inheritance set lying and being as well in Thames Street in the said parish of St Bennetts near Paul’s Wharfe in the city of London as also at Paul’s Wharfe Hill and Saint Peters Hill and elsewhere within the said city of London that is to say.  First I will that Katherine my loving wife shall have and enjoy the same and every of them and all the whole profits and commodities of them during the natural life unto her only use and profit. And from and after her decease the I will and bequeath unto the same Jordeyn Smith and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten of to be begotten the remainder of all and singular these my messuages or tenements with all yards void grounds easements or other profits and commodities to them and every of them belonging late in the several tenures or occupations of Henry Brynneman deceased, Humfrye White and Richard Frithe situate lying and being in Thames Street against Baynards Castell in the said parish of Saint Bennetts in London to have and to hold the same to the said Jordayn Smith and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten; and for default of such issue the remainder thereof to the said William Smith my son and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten; and also from and after the decease of my said wife I will and bequeath unto the said William Smith my son and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten the remainder of all and singular those my four messuages or tenements with their appurtenances late parcel of a late capital messuage or mansion place sometime of Sir Adrian Poyning knight deceased situate in Paul’s Wharf Hill in London as the same ten tenements are now divided from the back part of the said late capital house which half part opens to Saint Peter’s Hill in London and which said four tenements do open towards Paul’s Wharf Hill aforesaid and now are or late were in the several tenures or occupations of Francis Bowne Trumpeter, Richard Bletheun MarchantTaylor, William Watson Embroiderer and Roger Locke Joiner together with the little yard on the back part of the yards of Blethen and Watson late in the tenure or occupation of one Smith a Baker and now in my own hands and occupying and which opens to the hill called St Peter’s Hill to have and to hold the same four tenements with the appurtenances and the said yard together with the use of the well unto the said William Smith and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten; and for default of such issue the remainder thereof to the said Jordayne Smith and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten; and if my said sons shall both fortune to decease without issue of their bodies lawfully begotten or when and so soon as the issues of the said entails shall be extinct the said estates tail discontinued defeated barred or determined then I do hereby grant remit appoint and transfer to the said Katherine my wife if she be then living or if she be then deceased then to the Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London governors of the possessions revenues and goods of the hospitals of Edward King of England the Sixth called Christs Bridewell and Saint Thomas the Apostle and to their successors full power right title and authority to bargain sell alienate convey and assign to any person or person and their heirs in fee simple all and singular the said lands tenements and hereditaments to the most profit that she or they most conveniently can or may; and all the money coming and growing of the sale thereof I will shall be equally divided and paid between my six daughters or among so many of them as shall then be living part and part like or if they be all deceased then to the issues of their bodies portion and portion like only ten pounds to be reserved out of the said sum to the only uses of the Treasurer and governors of Christs Hospital to be spent among them for their pains; and if the said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London governors of the possessions revenues and goods of the hospital of Edward King of England called Christ’s Bridewell and Sdaint Thomas the Apostle will purchase it to the use of the said Christs Hospital then I will that they shall have it at twenty pounds better cheap than any others shall have it provided always and my full meaning is that if either of my sons William Smith or Jordayne Smith or the heirs of their or either of their bodies shall by any way or means attempt or go about to knowledge any fine or fines or suffer any recovery or recoveries of the premises or any part thereof or to do or suffer any act or acts thing or things whereby the said estates tail or any of them may be discontinued and the issue of either of the bodies of the said William or Jordayn or any of them to whom the remainder of the premises or any part thereof is limited or the heirs of their bodies be barred and the said estates tail or any of them thereby extinguished or determined; that then it shall be lawful to and for such person and persons to whom the next remainder or disposition thereof shall belong or ought to come by force of this my last will to enter into use and dispose the same according to the intent of this my last will in as ample manner as if the person or persons that shall attempt or go about such act or thing as aforesaid had been dead and no such act or thing had been done or committed anything whatsoever to the contrary thereof notwithstanding.  ITEM; I will and devise unto the Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London governors of the possessions revenues and goods of the hospitals of Edward King of England the Sixth called Christ’s Bridewell and Saint Thomas the Apostle my six new built tenements by me built for six poor widows to dwell in rent free which said six new tenements are built upon the back part of the said late house late in the tenure of the said Sir Adrian Poyning towards the hill commonly called Saint Peter’s Hill aforesaid and do stand within the ward of Castel Baynard and now be and from hence forward I will them to be called the poor widows alley or poor widows Inn; and also I do will and devise unto the said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of the said city of London governors of the said hospitals as well all that my capital house or houses called Woodmongers Hall which I late purchased to me and my heirs of Edmund Hill of London Woodmonger being directly at the west end of the aforesaid alley or poor widows Inn and standeth between the College of the Heralds on the North side and the four tenements by me given unto my son William Smith on the South side and openeth unto Paul’s Wharf Hill aforesaid on the West side.  Whereas the said Woodmongers and Sir William Herbert Knight have their way and passages into the street as also all those my nether rooms lying within the stone walls under the said house or houses called Woodmongers Hall and now in the occupation of one Samuel Pratt embroiderer which I purchased to me and my heirs of George Moore Esquire and his wife or of one of them; and also a little yard or backside leading unto a well on the southside of the same containing in breadth from east to west … foot of a size little more or less containing in length from north to south … foot of a size little more or less with the use of the said well with the rest of the tenants and poor widows there together with free ingress egress and regress to and from the same through the said poor widows alley to and from Saint Peter’s Hill aforesaid; to have and to hold all the said six new tenements with the use of the said well to the said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens and their successors from and immediately after the decease of the said Katherine my wife unto the end and tenure of one thousand years from thence next following and fully to be complete and to have and to hold the said great capital house and all the said nether rooms within the said stone walls and the said little yard and other the premises with the appurtenances last before devised to the said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens and their successors from and immediately after the decease of the said Katherine my wife to the only use of the governors of Christ’s Hospital for ever. And my special trust will and confidence is and I do hereby provide will and ordain that the six new tenements during the life of the said Katherine my wife and during the said term of one thousand years after her decease shall be employed and bestowed by the said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens and their successors for the intent and purpose hereafter following and for none other intent and purpose; that is to say that there shall dwell in the same six tenements six poor widows rent free during all the said term that is to say in every of the same tenements one poor widow and no more the which poor widows I will to be such as have dwelt in the parish of Saint Benetts near Paul’s Wharf in London in good name and fame by the space of twenty years at the least and shall be of the age of three score years or fifty six years at the least before she or they shall be admitted to dwell in any of the same six tenements; and for the admitting and placing of any such widows into any of the said six tenements when any shall be void I will that Katherine my wife shall have the only and alone placing of them all during her natural life and the notwithstanding any thing aforewritten shall have full power and authority during her life to choose them out of what parish or place soever she will and shall pay to every of the said poor widows twenty shillings a year during her said natural life which twenty shillings shall be paid to every of the said poor widows quarterly; and after her decease I will that when any of the said six new houses shall fortune to be void by any means ways or means that then the parson and churchwarden of the said parish of Saint Bennetts calling a vestry of the most honest and discrete parishioners of the same parish shall nominate and choose a poor widow dwelling or that hath dwelt within the parish such time as is aforesaid and being of such age and conversation as is afore expressed and shall cause such poor widow to be presented before the Treasurer and governors at Christ’s Hospital for the time being at a court held within the same hospital and thereupon the said governors shall admit and allow every such widow so presented to dwell in one of the said houses so being made void so long as she or they shall live in the state of widowhood and fulfil these ordinances herein set down concerning the said poor widows in this my last will and testament that is to say; first I will and ordain that the said poor widows to be admitted to dwell in the said new tenements as aforesaid shall be such as shall love to serve God  above all other things; also they shall be no swearers nor blasphemers of the name of God nor no drunkards nor scolders nor disquieters of other people but shall be of good and godly conversation to the better example of others; and if any of them shall fortune to marry she or they shall depart out of the same houses before the time of their marriage and never be admitted into any of them again; also they nor any of them shall not lodge in her or their house or houses nor suffer to be lodged therein any manner of person either man woman or child of what degree or consanguinity soever they shall be unto them either father mother sister brother son or daughter kin or not kin; and if any of them shall offend therein then upon knowledge given by any manner of person unto the said Treasurer or governors or some of them for the time being the said Treasurer and governors shall expel put out such and so many of them as shall so offend within three months next after such offence be committed and proof thereof made; and she or they shall never be admitted into any of the said six houses after.  Also they shall most usually use the parish of St Bennetts near Pauls Wharf and especially upon the Sabbath except they go to a sermon in some other place; Also I would have them be of good and sound religion, lovers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and for lack of such poor widows as aforesaid to be found in the said parish of Saint Bennetts it shall be lawful for the said parishioners to choose such and so many poor widows to supply the place or rooms aforesaid within any parish within  the circuit of the said ward of Baynards Castle having dwelled so long therein as aforesaid and being of such age and behaviour as are above mentioned; provided always notwithstanding that if it shall so fortune that God shall lay his cross of poverty upon any of my own children or upon any of their children or their children’s children and being widows as aforesaid and doth mean so to continue although they have not dwelled in the said parish or ward aforesaid nor shall be the age aforesaid, yet it shall be lawful for my said wife or for the said governors after her decease to admit any such widow into the same houses before any other there to remain and to have such benefit and commodity as any of the other widows she or they using themselves according to the good meaning of this my last will and craving it at the said governors hands and bringing true and just testimony that they were either my own children or the children or the children’s children of any of my children and born in wedlock.  And further it shall be lawful for the said governors to admit and allow to dwell in the said tenements any of my near kindred or the kindred of Katherine my wife being widows; and which so will remain according to this my will; although they have not dwelled in the parish or ward aforesaid nor be of the age aforesaid; so that they be of good name and fame and be within the fourth degree of sanguinity unto me or unto Katherine my wife and shall and will observe the ordinances as aforesaid; and as touching my devise legacy and bequest by me devised unto the said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of the said city of London governors of the said hospitals before mentioned as the several sums of twenty and five pounds apiece and thirty pounds by me to them bequeathed my intent meaning and purpose is in that behalf that the said governors shall in respect of this my devise yearly from time and after the decease of the said Katherine my wife satisfy and pay unto every of the said six poor widows which shall from time to time be dwelling in the said six houses or tenements the several sums or payments of twenty shillings apiece and shall suffer the said six poor widows to inhabit and dwell in the said poor houses or tenements rent free which pensions limited to the said poor widows amounting to the sum of six pounds.  My meaning is shall be answered and paid by the yearly rent reserved and hereafter to be reserved out of the said great messuage called the Woodmongers Hall; and further augmented of some further yearly revenue to be purchased and procured as well for the repairing and amending of the said great messuage or tenement and of the said six poor widows houses or tenements; as for the sustenance of the poor children to be harboured in Christ’s Hospital my intent and meaning is that as soon as the said several sums of twenty and five pounds apiece and thirty pounds shall be answered and paid to the said governors according to this my present will that they the said governors do find out some convenient purchase of lands or tenements that may yield a further increase of some yearly revenue that this my devise may have continuance according to my true meaning and to the end that such poor widows as shall be placed in the said tenements hereafter from time to time shall the better govern and behave themselves and the better avoid such disorder as may disable them to continue in the said houses; my desire is that the clerk of Christ’s Hospital for the time being every year once in the year shall openly in the yard where the said houses are situate read unto them so much of this my present will as doth concern the gift of the said houses and the manners and behaviours of such poor widows as shall or ought to be received and contained therein for which trouble taken by the said Clerk I will that he shall have out of the yearly rent of the said great messuage called Woodmongers Hall and the land hereafter to be purchased the yearly sum of ten shillings; and I do require everyone that shall have anything to do or perform by virtue of this my last will and testament that they will do it faithfully and truly according to their powers as they and every of them will answer before God at the Dreadful Day of Judgement and as they would that other men should do for them in like cases. And finally I will ordain and provide that if any person or persons specified and nominated in this my last will and testament or any others shall not content themselves with everything contained in this my will but will either go to law or otherwise infringe this my last will and testament or any part thereof or trouble or cause to be troubled the executrix or overseers or any of them or their or any of their heirs executors or administrators for any further benefit profit or advantages or for any other part or portion of my goods and chattels or any of them then I have limited and appointed by this my last will and testament that then all such person and persons that shall so break my said will and testament or any part thereof or begin any such suit or trouble shall loose and be utterly barred of all such legacies benefits profits and advantages as they or any of them should might or ought to have had by virtue of this my last will and testament or otherwise by reason of my death of or in any of my lands hereditaments goods chattels whatsoever and all such their pensions commodities and profits to remain wholly to the residue of my said children for ever which shall not contend with their said mother nor with my overseers anything to the contrary thereof notwithstanding; And I do utterly repeal revoke and disannul all former wills legacies and bequests by me before the date hereof in any wise devised or bequeathed and do make limit ordain and appoint this to be my only last will and testament; In witness whereof hereunto I the said David Smith have set my hand and seal the day and year abovesaid to every leaf of the presents my name being subscribed with mine own hand and seal annexed to the head of this book going through every leaf in the presence of us whose names are subscribed; Richard Collins Scrivenor, John servant to the same notary, Christopher Boulton

 

Proved 2nd September 1587 by Catherine Smith (relict and executrix)

 

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