1631 Sibbill Wynch

11-0160-499_SibbillWynch-widow_1631

In the name of God Amen.  I Sibbell Wynch of London widow, being at this present of good and perfect mind and memorie praised be to Almighty God, doe make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following; that is to say ffirst and principally I commend my soule into the hands of Almighty God my Maker Redeemer and Sanctifier hopeing and assuredly believing by the alone merritts of the Second Person in Trinity Jesus Christ to be saved; My body I commit to the earth from whence it has come and of which it was first formed to be decentlie buried in the Parish Church of St Mildreds in the Poultrys soe neare thereupon to the place where my late husband Daniell Winch was buried as conveniently may be hoping that at the last day both souls  and bodys being again reunited that be taken up into heaven there to enjoy everlasting happiness with the rest of the children of God Amen.  And as concerning the ordering and disposing of such earthly substance and estate whereof it hath pleased God to make me a steward for this life I give will and bequeath the same as followeth.  Item; I doe give and bequeath unto the Parson and Churchwardens for the tyme being of the said Parish Church of St Mildreds the summe of twentie pounds of lawfull money of England to be added to the Stocke or money of the said Parish church for the use of the said Parish and to be paid unto them within four months next after my decease provided notwithstandinge and my will and meaning is that at any tyme or tymes hereafter before my decease I shall happen to be assessed to pay any summe or summes of money amongst the rest of the Parishioners towards the further [repairs] or beautifying of the said Church  and shall have paid the same accordingly that the the same accompted as parte of the same twentie pounds by me given as aforesaid for they the said Parson and Churchwardens to have soe much less  thereof paid unto them for the use aforesaid. Item; I doe likewise give unto the said Parson and Churchwardens for the tyme being the summe of eight pounds of like money to be paid unto them within one month next after my decease to the use of the poorest people of the said Parish; and to that end therefore I doe will and appointe that therewith all yearly for five yeares next expiring sfter my decease they the said Parson and Churchwardens may and doe buy and provide so much wood and cole as one of them  for fiering to them the said Parson and Churchwardens best likeing when the same may be bought atvthe cheapest rate in London as shall be truly worth the value of two and thirty shillings in money; and that the same Parson and Churchwardens may and doe yearly distribute and deliver the same with the consent of three or more of the belfry men of the said Parish to and amongst the poorest people of the same Parish on every ffeast day of St Michaell the Archangel happening within every of the same yeares.  The first distribution and delivery of the same fiering to be made accordingly on the ffeast day of St Michaell the Archangel that shall happen next after that they the said Parson and Churchwardens have received the same summe of eight pounds to them bequeathed as is last aforesaid.   Item; I further give and bequeath unto the poore Almesmen of the Grocers Company dwelling within Grocer’s Hall Yard in the Almehouses there to every one of them tenn shillings a piece to be paid unto them within fourteen days next after my decease.  Item; I give and bequeath unto Mr Rowland Holing Alderman of London Richard Gibbs William Gouge Doctors in Divinity John Davenport Bachelor in Divinity Charles Offspring of London Clerke Robert Lymm Christopher Sherborne John White and Samuel Browne counsellors in law John Gearing Richard Downes George Harwood and Ffrancys Bridges citizens of London their heires and assigns the summe of twentye pounds in money to be paid unto them upon demande thereof within three months next after my deceasefor and towards the buying of impropriations and parsonages and factories inappropriate to be disposed by them to the maintenance of the preaching of the Gospell as they in their discretion shall think best.  Item; I give and bequeath unto my Sonne Daniell Winch the summe of one hundred poundes in money to be payed unto him within one yeare next after my decease.  Item; I also give unto him all my parte right and interest in the house at East Streete and lease thereof with mee tooke together and of all my costs and charges by mee any ways expended and laid out in and about the beautifying amendment of the said house.  Item; I give and bequeath unto my Daughter the Wife of the said Danyell my great quilt sett and the rounde [trensher sette] that belongeth thereunto and also my suite of Damaske being a table cloth one long towel two dozen of napkins and a cupboard cloth the same guilt salt, trencher salt and Damaske aforesaid to be delivered to her within one month next after my decease her said husband with her selfe making and delivering unto my executor a sufficient discharge for the same.  Item; I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Sibbell Leader and her husband one hundred pounds in money to be paid unto them within one year next after my deceases; And I doe give unto her my said daughter Sibbell the one equall halfe parte of my gold chaine to be delivered unto her within one month alsoe next after my decease her husband and her selfe making and delivering unto my Executors a sufficient acquittance for the same.  Item; I also give and bequeath unto my Daughter Ann Sheppard[1] and her husband one hundred pounds in money to be paid unto them within one year next after my deceases; And I doe give unto her my said daughter Ann the other equall halfe parte of my gold chaine to be delivered unto her within one month alsoe next after my decease her husband and her selfe making and delivering unto my Executors a sufficient acquittance for the same.  Item; I give and bequeath unto my lovinge daughter Elizabeth Winch my paire of gold bracelets to be delivered her with all convenient speed next after my decease.  Item; I alsoe give unto her ffiftie pounds in money to be payde unto her at her age of of one and twentie yeares or daye of marriage wch shall first happen and that towards the charges of her wedding apparel when it shall happen.  Item; whereas my said daughter Elizabeth is to receive at her age or marriage as aforesaid her sponsors out of the estate of her late ffather by power of his last Will and testament and being as yuet uncertaine what then it will come or arise unto I doe give and bequeath unto her my said daughter Elizabeth soe much lawfull money of England as shall and will make up the same her sponsor one thousand pounds in case out of her said ffather’s estate her said portion happen not to arise  to such a summe; And I will the same be paid unto her at her age or marriage as aforesaid.  Item; my will and meaning is that if shee my said daughter Elizabeth happen to dye or departe this life before such age or marriage then the severall legacies in money by me to her reserved aforesaid be equally divided and paid to and amongst the rest of my said children her brothers and sisters as shall be then living at the said tyme of her decease.  Item; I doe further will and appoint that as well all and every my plateof what sorte and kind forever (except my said two golde bracelets and golde chaine bequeathed as aforesaid) as all and every my brass pewter lynnen bedding wooleen and wearing apparel of what nature or kinde forever (except my said Damaske bequeathed as aforesaid) be truly and indifferently valued and appraised by two or more indifferent sponsors; And I doe give and bequeath the same unto my said children Sibbell Ann Elizabeth and Robert Winch[2] to be decided amongst them and every of them to choose and take his and her severall parte thereof and from the same as followeth my said daughter Sibbell first to choose and take of what shee liketh of the same to the value of twenty pounds by such appraisement as aforesaid, my said daughter Ann then to choose and take of what shee liketh of the same remaining to the valewe alsoe of twenty pounds according to the appraisement aforesaid and the my said daughter Elizabeth to choose and take of what then remaineth of the same of what shee liketh to the like value of twenty pounds by the appraisement aforesaid and then my said sonne Robert to choose and take out of the same that then remaineth the like value of twenty pounds of what he liketh according to the same appraisement; And as concerning the residue of them that shall remaine I will the same shall be divided to and amongst them the said Sibell Ann Elizabeth and Robert parte and parte like wherein I require and charge my said children so to bee and behave them selves the one to the other of them that there be no variance or strife amongst them touching the same.  Item; I give and bequeath unto my Grandchild Sarah Winch the eldest daughter of my said sonne Daniell Winch ffiftie pounds in money to be paide unto her at her age of one and twenty yeares or daye of marriage wch shall first happen after my ecease; And if shee happen to dye or depart this life before such age or marriage then I give the same ffiftie pounds to the next or eldest child of my said sonne Danyell wch shall be then living at the tyme of my decease to be paid himn if a sonne at his age of one and twentie yeares and to be paid to her if a daughter at her like age of one and twentie yeares or day of marriage wch shall first happen; And if such other childe last mentioned shall happen likewise to depart thus before such age or marriage respectively happening as aforesaid then I give the said ffiftie pounds unto my said sonne Robert Winch.  Item; I further give and bequeath unto either of my grandchildren Danyell Leader and Sibbell Leader the two eldest children of my said daughter Sibbell Leader the summe of fforty and five pounds in money apiece for the making use of their severall legacies of ffyve pounds apiece given by my late husband Danyell Winch unto the fiftie pounds apiece to be paid unto him my said grandchild at his age of one and twentie yeares and to be paid unto her my said grandchild Sibbell at her like age of one and twentie yeares or daye of marriage first happening after my decease; And my further will and meaning is and I doe will and appoint that if either of them my said grandchildren dye or depart this life before such his or her age or marriage as aforesaid then the survivor of the shall have five pounds of the legacy of him or her soe first deceasing to be paid as aforesaid and the residue thereof remaining being fourtie pounds I give unto my said sonne Robert Winch; And if that grandchild soe surviving shall happen to dye or depart this life before such his or her age or marriage as aforesaid then I give the same his legacies of fourtye pounds and five pounds unto the next or or other eldest childe of my said daughter Sibbell Leader that shall happen to be living at the tyme of my decease to be paid unto him if a sonne at his age of one and twenty yeares and if a daughter at her age of one and twentye yeares or daye of marriage first happening; And if that same next or other eldest child last mentioned happen alsoe to dye or depart this life before such his or her age or marriage as aforesaid; Then I give the same his or her legacies being ffiftie pounds in the whole unto my said sonne Robert Winch.  Item; I give and bequeath unto my grandchild Matthew Sheppard the eldest childe of my daughter Ann Sheppard the sume of ffiftie pounds to be paid unto him also at his age of one and twentye yeares and if he happen to dye or depart this life before such age then I give the sum of ffiftie poundes to the next or other eldest childe of my said daughter Ann Sheppard that shall be living at the tyme of my decease to be paid him if a sonne at his age of one and twenty yeares and if a daughter at her age of one and twentye yeares or daye of marriage first happening; And if that same next or other eldest child last mentioned happen alsoe to dye or depart this life before such his or her age or marriage as aforesaid; Then I give the same his or her legacies being ffiftie pounds in the whole unto my said sonne Robert Winch.  Item; I give and bequeath unto everie one other of my grandchildren that shall happen to be living at the tyme of my decease (unto whom I have not formerly given a legacy as aforesaid) the sum of five pounds severally apiece to be paid to every male child of them severally at the age of one and twentie years and to every female child of them at her like several age of one and twenty years or day of marriage which shall first happen and as every or any of them shall happen to die or depart this life before such his or her age or marriage as aforesaid then I will and appoint the legacy of every such one so deceasing be paid to the survivors and survivor of them part and part like at his and her several age or marriage as aforesaid; and if all of them die or depart this life before such his or her age or marriage as aforesaid then I do give all their said several legacies of five pounds apiece to my said son Robert Winch.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto every of my loving and kind friends and neighbours Mrs Shute, Mrs Mary Besse widow and Mrs Winifred Bowyer forty shillings apiece to buy every of them a ring for remembrance of me.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto Mary Bracye my goddaughter the sum of forty shillings to buy her a ring for a remembrance of me.  ITEM; I also give and bequeath unto Mrs Wimberley that was sometime my servant my [jemmall] ring of gold for a remembrance of me.  ITEM; I give and bequeath likewise unto Elizabeth Holland widow three pounds in money.  ITEM; I further give and bequeath unto goodwife Broxton and goodwife Golde my washer women to either of them forty shillings apiece for their better maintenance to be paid unto either of them within one month next after my decease.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my servant Richard Garbrand if he happen to be in my service at the time of my decease ten pounds in money so as he be aiding and assisting to my executor hereafter in this my will named to the utmost of his power for the gathering in of my debts the same his legacy to be paid unto him within six months next after my decease.  ITEM; I do give and bequeath unto Maudlin Leader my servant in case she be in my service at the time of my decease the sum of five pounds in money; and I also give and bequeath unto every of my other maid servants that shall happen to be in my service at the time of my decease three pounds in money apiece to be paid unto them my said servants severally with all convenient speed next after my decease.  ITEM; I make and ordain my said son Robert Winch the sole and only executor of this my last will and testament and I do give him for his pains therein the sum of two hundred pounds in money and I do further give unto him all my right and interest which I have or ought to have in the business concerning the mineral tincture and I do will and appoint that out of and with the first profits that he shall make thereby he provide and give unto his sister Winch and every one other of his sisters and unto his own wife also which shall be then living so much of the best scarlet coloured cloth as therewith to make every of them a petticoat for her own wearing.  ITEM; I lastly give and bequeath to my said executor the sum of twenty pounds to be paid and disposed of within three months next after my decease unto four such poor ministers or preachers of God’s word as he shall best like of that is to say every of them five pounds apiece and in case Mr Roode Mr Knoles and Mr Greenhill the preachers of mine acquaintance or any of them be then living then I will and appoint unto every one of them five pounds apiece of the said twenty pounds and the residue thereof to be disposed of by my executor as aforesaid; the rest and residue of all and every my goods and chattels of what nature or kind so ever after my debts paid [top p6] and my funeral charges and legacies aforesaid discharged I wholly give and bequeath the same unto my said four children Sibbell, Ann, Elizabeth and Robert to be divided amongst them part and part like.  ITEM; I do make and ordain my said two sons in law Martin Leader and Mathew Sheppard the overseers of this my will entreating them to be aiding and assisting unto my executor in the execution of the same when and as need shall require provided always and my further intent will and meaning is that if my said son Danyell Winch and my sons in law Martin Leader and Mathew Sheppard or any of them shall at any time or times after the end of one whole year next after my decease be desirous to have in their several hands the several legacies of every of their said children severally which shall be then living and unto whom by particular name I have given the same as aforesaid and then shall in due form and order of law make seal and deliver unto my said executor one obligation or other writing to the good liking and contentment of my said executor not only to pay the same unto those of his said children severally upon such payment thereof a sufficient acquittance in writing under their hands and seals severally to be made and delivered unto him my said executor in case all those his said children shall happen to die or depart this life before they shall several attain to their several ages or marriages as aforesaid that then upon the delivery of every such obligation or other writing unto my said executor as aforesaid he my said executor do pay unto such of my said sons and every of them respectively from whom the same obligation or writing shall be so made and delivered as aforesaid his said several children’s legacies and every of them respectively so by particular name given unto every of them as aforesaid anything in this my will contained to the contrary thereof notwithstanding; and as touching my house and shop with the appurtenances situate in Louthbury in London I give and bequeath the same unto my said two daughters Sibbell Leader and Ann Sheppard to be held in common between them and the rents and yearly profits of the same to be equally divided between them during their several natural lives and as either of them die or depart this life my said son Robert from thenceforth to hold the same in common with the other of them surviving during such her natural life and I do give and bequeath the reversion of the same house and shop with the appurtenances after the decease of my said two daughters unto my said son Robert Winch and his heirs for ever.  In witness whereof to this my present last will and testament containing eleven sheets of paper having subscribed my name under the last line of every sheet thereof I have also thereto set my seal this thirtieth day of September AD 1631 and in the seventh year of the reign of our sovereign lord Charles by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland king defender of the faith etc per me Sibbell Winch – sealed delivered and published for and as the last will and testament of the said Sibbell Winch in the presence of George Besse Wm Hardwicke Richard Sarbrand Robin servant to the said George Besse

A codicil to be annexed to my last will and testament:

ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my cousin Elizabeth Pardage widow and her daughter Elizabeth unto either of them three pounds apiece and to my cousin John Pordage her son eight pounds in money to be paid unto every of them with all convenient speed next after my decease and to my good friend Bunbury my loving parishioner I likewise give the sum of forty shillings witness my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid per me Sibbell Winch witnesses hereunto George Besse Wm Hardwicke Richard Garbrand Robinson servant to the said George Besse

Proved 9th November 1631 by Robert Winch (natural son and executor)



[1] Ann Winch married Mathew Sheppard of London, son of Mathew Sheppard and Sara Howkins, and one of the ‘Leiftenants of the Cittye 1634’ according to the Visitation of London at Criplegate Without in June 1634.  They had issue as at June 1634: Mathew, John and Ann

[2] From Historical Gazeteer of London Before the Great Fire: Winch, Robert (fl. <1633 d. 1671) cit. & draper, silkman 95/18B-C (r) St Mary le Bow 7 –  appears to have been this Robert Winch.
The reference to 18 B-C relates to records of Robert Winch at blocks 18 B & C Cheapside, where 18B was a tenement formerly called the Pewter Pott and 18C was a corner shop and cellar formerly held by Thomas Daws, grocer.  “In 1633 Robert Winch, citizen and draper, occupied the property as tenant and in 1638 was probably dwelling in the house, which was valued at £23 rent.  In 1659 Winch took from Humphrey Thayer of Theydon Garnon Essex a repairing lease of the messuage for a term of 21 years at £60 rent.  A schedule of fixtures drawn up for the lease lists the following rooms in the house: the shop, the warehouse, the hall, the parlour, the kitchen, a chamber with a counting house, the upper chamber (with a carved chimney piece), the middle chamber, and two leads (one above the other), making nine or ten rooms in all.  In 1665 Thayer conveyed the property to Henry Traveis, gentleman, with the intent, executed in the same year, that Traveis should suffer a common recovery to the use of Thayer, thus cutting off all entails and remainders (presumably those laid down in Anthony Thayer’s father’s will).
Robert Winch still inhabited the property in 1666, when he was described as a silkman and occupied a house of 5 hearths (taken from the Hearth Tax Records of 1666).  At this time in another part of 18 B-C, probably on the Cheapside frontage, was a house of 3 hearths occupied by Samuel Pilkington, silkman, who may have been Winch’s undertenant.  Soon after the Fire Winch quitclaimed to Thayer.

 

Comments or questions are welcome.

* indicates required field