11-0168-255_HerculesHastings_1635
In the name of God, Amen; I Hercules HASTINGS of Abingdon in the County of Berks (Clerk) being sick in body but perfect in mind and memory (thanks be given unto a God) on this present twenty seventh day of October in the year of our Sovereign Lord Charles by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith etc., AD 1634, do make my last will and testament in writing in manner and form following (viz.) Inprimis I do bequeath my soul into the hands of my maker God Almighty and my Saviour Jesus Christ my Redeemer, and my body to the earth to be buried in the Parish Churchyard of Dailsford in the County of (Wigorne) near unto my father. ITEM; I do give and bequeath unto William GARDNER of Dailsford in the County of (Wigorne) Esquire his majesty’s ward all statutes (judgements) and recognisances heretofore acknowledged by one Sir Nicholas Saunders, Knight, to divers several persons and afterwards assigned to one Sir William Gardner, Knight, deceased, he the said Sir William Gardner Esq his majesty’s ward, suffering one George JOHNSON, Citizen and Dyer of London and one George HASTINGS of Dailsford in the County of Wigorne, gent, trustees in a certain lease of certain lands in Ewell in the County of Surrey giveth to every the said lease and the lands therein contained during the term therein expressed according to the truth and to such uses as is therein expressed, which lease bears date on the first day of September last past and made between me the said Hercules Hastings of the one part and the said George Johnson and George Hastings of the other part as by the said lease relation being had thereunto more at large it does appear. ITEM; I do give and bequeath unto the said William Gardner two great gilt bowls with ewers, one down bed, one feather bed, two bolsters, a canopy and furniture being trimmed with watched silk and gold lace and fringe, and all other the implements of household stuff being reputed to belong to the said bed; and if Dame Mary my wife shall think fit that the said William Gardner shall not have the said bowls, bedding, canopy and furniture, then I do will and bequeath to the said William Gardner in lieu thereof these parcels of silver plate following (viz.) one basin and ewer of silver, two silver tankards, two wine bowls of silver, six trencher plates of silver and one long silver spoon, all which said two great gilt bowls, bedding and furniture or the said several parcels of plate which the said Dame Mary shall like best the said William Gardner to have shall immediately after my decease be appraised and valued to the true value and worth and after such appraisal and valuation the said Dame Mary shall use and enjoy during her natural life, she putting in good security to the master of his majesty’s court of wards and liveries for the time being in a competent sum of money for the delivery of such goods so given as aforesaid to the said William Gardner or the value thereof within six months after the decease of the said Dame Mary. ITEM; I do give and bequeath to Sir Thomas Whord, Knight, my biggest gun or fowling piece and five marks money to buy him a ring to wear in remembrance of me. ITEM; I do make the said Sir Thomas Whord and the said Dame Mary my executors and do entreat the said Dame Mary forthwith to pay all such debts as I shall owe at the time of my decease and from and after such payment of such debt my will and meaning is that all the rest and residue of my goods movable and not movable and all the rest of my personal estate not before given I do give and bequeath to the said Dame Mary, revoking all other wills, bequests made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal on the day and in the year first above written – by me Hercules Hastings – sealed and signed in the presence of John Bewory, Leon Chamberlain, Charles Hastings
Proved 13th June 1635 by Dame Mary Gardiner