1613 Thomas Pitt of Bristol

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In the name of God Almighty, I THOMAS PITT of the City of Bristol merchant being in good health and of perfect memory I do humbly thank God for it do now this first day of May in the eleventh year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James of England etc and in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and thirteen [1/5/1613] do make this my last will and testament in manner hereafter following; first I bequeath and commend my soul to Almighty God my creator, to Jesus Christ my redeemer, and to the Holy Ghost the sanctifier of me and of all mankind being bold upon his promise,  that in his mercy he will accept of me and all those which his son Christ Jesu shall present unto him unto whose protection I humbly commend myself both body and soul and after my decease my body to the earth and for my temporal goods and lands which God has lent me my will is I do give grant and bequeath unto my son WILLIAM PITT one lease for the term of his natural life of my tenement without Temple Gate within the liberty of the City of Bristol which is now in the possession of George Tyce innholder which tenement is called by the name of the Saracens Head with all stables backside and whatsoever is now in the possession of the said George Tyce and also I do give unto my said son William Pitt one lease for the term of his natural life of the tenement which I lately built without Temple Gate within the liberty of the said City of Bristol which is now in the occupation of Thomas Arthur Esquire together with all orchards gardens fish pool and all the grounds there with appurtenances to me the said Thomas Pitthe the said William Pitt yielding and paying unto ROBERT PITT the son of my said son William Pitt the sum of ten pounds yearly after the said Robert Pitt shall accomplish the age of twenty and two years and from thence forwards the said rent of ten pounds of lawful money of England to be paid to the said Robert Pitt by my said son William Pitt every year during the natural life of my said son William Pitt and after my said son William’s decease my will is and I do give grant and bequeath my said two tenements viz. the tenement called the Saracens Head now in the possession of George Tyce and the new tenement now in the possession of Thomas ArthurEsquire with all their appurtenances to them belonging as orchards gardens fish pool and grounds belonging to me the said Thomas Pitt unto Robert Pitt the son of my said son William Pitt and to the heirs of his body lawfully for ever in fee simple and for want of such heirs then my will is that the said two tenements with the orchards gardens grounds fish pool and whatsoever unto them belongeth shall remain and be to the heirs of my said son William Pitt for ever in fee simple my desire is that my said son William Pitt shall give unto his said sons WILLIAM PITT and Robert Pitt the sum of ten pounds apiece when they shall accomplish the age of sixteen years apiece to dispose thereof at the will and pleasure of the said William and Robert, my said son William Pitt giving unto his said sons William and Robert good counsel for the belonging thereof which if they or any of them will not be ruled by his counsel then he shall detain that his said gifts until they have more wit.  ITEM; I give and bequeath to my daughter ALICE NORTHEN one silver gilt ale cup and to her the said Alice Northen the sum of forty pounds of lawful money of England to be paid to her or her assigns within two years after my decease and in the mean time my will is that my executor shall pay unto her or to her assigns the sum of four pounds every year for the use thereof which forty pounds when she has received to bestow upon her children at her will and pleasure.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my daughter ANNE MERRICK one silver gilt ale cup and my desire is that my son William Pitt will within eight months after my decease pay unto my son in law JOHN MERRICK the sum of twenty pounds of lawful money of England which said sum of twenty pounds my desire is to have it to be equally divided between my daughter Anne Merrick’s three children viz. to ANN WATERS MARY WATERS and ROBERT MERRICK and to the survovors of them.  ITEM; I give unto my daughter MARY OWEN a silver gilt ale cup and my desire is that my son William Pitt will within eight months after my decease pay unto my son in law ROBERT OWEN the sum of twenty pounds of lawful money of England which said sum of twenty pounds my desire is to have it to be equally divided between my daughter Mary Owen’s three children viz. ROBERT OWEN MARY OWEN and JOANE OWEN and to the survivors of them.  ITEM; I give unto my cousin Mr MATHEW HAVYLAND Alderman a ring of gold to the value of twenty shillings.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my kinsman WILLIAM PITT draper a ring of gold to the value of twenty shillings.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my kinsman EDWARD BATTEN a ring of gold to the value of twenty shillings.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my friend Mr Samuell Davies the sum of twenty shillings to preach my funeral sermon.  ITEM; I give unto Mr George Baldwin my good friend a ring of gold to the value of twenty shillings.  ITEM; I give and bequeath to my son in law John Merrick a ring of gold to the value of twenty shillings.  ITEM; I give and bequeath to my son in law Robert Owen a ring of gold to the value of twenty shillings.  ITEM; I give and bequeath to Mistress Mary Slye widow the sum of ten shillings for a token.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto Charitie White the sum of ten shillings for a token.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my daughter in law MARY MARLOWE the sum of ten shillings for a token.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my daughter in law CICELY GUNNING the sum of ten shillings for a token.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my daughter in law ELIZABETH BATTERTON the sum of ten shillings for a token.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my kinswoman MARY ROBINSON the sum of ten shillings for a token.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto the poor on this side Avon the sum of twenty shillings.  ITEM; I do forgive my son THOMAS PITT all the debts he owes me by account or bonds upon condition that he does not charge my executor with any account of and for his demand and not otherwise; and whereas I have a grant of the [Surveys] of the City’s lands under their hands of the tenements upon the back now in the tenure of my son in law John Merrick in fee farm for which I and my heirs is to pay twenty shillings the year to the Mayor and Commonalty of the City of Bristol my will is that the fee farm shall be made over unto my said son William Pitt and to his heirs for ever at the rent of twenty shillings the year which is the old rent of the said tenements.  All other my lands and goods unbequeathed I give unto my said son William Pitt and to his heirs for ever. And I do make him the said William Pitt the executor of this my last will and testament and I do make my trusty friend and neighbour Thomas Callowhill the overseer of this my last will and testament and desire him to give counsel unto my said executor and I do give him twenty shillings to make him a ring of gold.  ITEM; I give and bequeath to my servant Fortune Pentygrace the sum of twenty shillings.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto John Fyne the sum of five shillings. In witness whereof I have set to my hand and seal the aforesaid day being the first day of May AD 1613 – by me Thomas Pitt – witness to this will: William Pitt – Thomas Callowhill

 

Proved 5th August 1613 by William Pitt, natural son and executor

 

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