11-0186-516_GeorgeJohnson-Dyer_1641

In the name of God, Amen, the nineteenth day of June Anno Domini one thousand six hundred forty and one, in the seventeenth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord King Charles, I GEORGE JOHNSON, Citizen and Dyer of London, being at the present sick in body but yet of good and perfect memory (praised therefore be Almighty God) do make, declare and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say:

First I commend and commit my soul to God hoping and most assuredly believing through the precious death and merits of Jesus Christ my most merciful Saviour to have full pardon and remission of all my sins and to be saved.  My body I bequeath to the earth decently to be buried in Christian burial at and by the discretion of my loving wife and executrix hereunder named, not doubting of joyful resurrection to the everlasting life of glory; and as touching such temporal estate and means as it hath pleased God to endue me with in this vale of misery, I bequeath and dispose the same as follows, viz. I do will and appoint that with all convenient speed that may be after my decease my estate shall be truly, fully and plainly accounted, reduced and cast up and my debts and funeral and expenses first allowed and paid, the same according to the laudable customs of the city of London and all be divided into three equal parts, the which I dispose as follows, viz. One full third part of my said estate and means personal whatsoever and where so ever I do give and bequeath to my loving wife KATHERINE to and for her own property and behoof.  One other full third part of my said estate and means I give and bequeath unto and amongst my children, being three daughters, viz, SUSANN, MARIE and MARTHA, part and part alike.  And the other third part of my said estate and means I reserve to myself therewith to perform such legacies and bequests as hereinafter by this my will I do give bequeath or appoint.

ITEM; I do give bequeath will and appoint to my loving aged mother, ELIZABETH JOHNSON, widow, yearly every year during her natural life thirteen pounds, six shillings and eight pence of lawful English money, the which I will shall be by my executrix and her assigns truly paid to her my said mother at or in my now dwelling house situate and being in Worcester Place in the parish of Saint James at Garlick Hithe in London, quarterly in every year during her natural life at the four most usual quarter feast days of the year, that is to say, at the feast days of Saint Michael the Archangel, the Birth of our Lord God, the Annunciation of Saint Marie the Virgin, and the Nativity of Saint John Baptist or within four days at the furthest next after every of the said feast days by even and equal portions, the first quarter’s payment thereof to be made on such of the said quarter feast days as shall first happen and be next after my decease or within four then next after And I do will and appoint that my executrix shall within forty days at the furthest next after my decease give her sufficient bonds or obligations of and in the penalty or sum of one and hundred and three score pounds of lawful money of England in due form of law to be had and made to my said mother Elizabeth Johnson, widow, and to be conditioned for true payment of the said thirteen pounds, six shillings and eight pence yearly to her the said Elizabeth and her

assigns during her natural life in manner and form aforesaid; And I will, bequeath and appoint that my executrix and her assigns shall (for the payment thereof according to this my will) have allowance and provision thereof and therefore by and out of my said third part of my estate and means  to myself reserved.  ITEM; I give and bequeath to my brother and sisters, viz, JOSEPH JOHNSON, ELIZABETH DUNNE, widow, ISABEL BADGER, ELIZABETH JACKSON, PHILLIS YOUNG and SUSANNA PACK, to every of them forty shillings apiece of lawful English money to make them rings with to wear in remembrance of me Item, I give and bequeath to my servant and kinsman JOHN JACKSON who hath been to me a good and painful servant twenty pounds sterling.  The rest and residue of my said reserved third part of my estate and means not before herein given bequeathed committed or appointed, I do give and bequeath unto amongst my said loving wife Katherine and my said three daughters, equally to be shared amongst them part and part alike and I do ordain and make my said loving wife Katherine sole executrix of this my last will and testament, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal dated the day and year herein first before written – George Johnson – Signed, sealed, published and declared by the testator as and for his last will and testament (the day of the date these words, viz, my debts and funeral expenses first allowed and paid over the third line of the second leaf being first interlined; in

the presence of  John Peers Scr., Thomas Page, servant to the said scr.

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