1673 Stephen Charlton

11-0343-394_StephenCharlton_1673

In the name of God Amen, I Stephen CHARLTON of Grays Inn in the County of Middlesex Esquire, being sick in body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to God, do this fourteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred seventy and three make this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say: first I bequeath my soul and spirit into the hands of Almighty God my Heavenly Father by whom of his mere grace I trust to be saved and received into eternal happiness through the death of my Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ in whose precious blood and merits I put the whole and only hope of my salvation; my body I commit to the dust in hope of a joyful resurrection unto eternal life, to be decently buried at the charges of my executor hereafter named; and as to the worldly estate which it has pleased God to bestow upon me and which is not already settled by deed, I dispose thereof as follows:  Imprimis, whereas I am seized in fee in fee of the rectory or parsonage of Sandiacre in the County of Derby after the death of my mother Mrs Anne CHARLTON, I do hereby give and bequeath the said rectory or parsonage and the reversion and remainder of the same and all my right and title therein to my loving brother Mr Nicholas CHARLTON and to his heirs and assigns forever.  ITEM; whereas upon my marriage with my dear wife Susanna CHARLTON I did, by deed bearing date the seven and twentieth day of March last past, settle all my lands and tenements in Sandiacre in the said County of Derby and in Stapleford Rayford and Lenton in the County of Nottingham and my two houses or tenements with the gardens and lands thereto belonging in the town of Nottingham to the use of myself and my said wife for our lives and the life of the longer liver of us, and from and after our deceases to the use of the heirs of the body of my said wife by me begotten and for want of such issue to the use of my right heirs, now in case my said wife shall not have issue by me or if such issue shall happen to die without issue or that there shall be any failure of the said entail, I do hereby give and bequeath all my said lands in Sandiacre, Stapleford, Radford, Lenton and Nottingham and all other my lands and tenements mentioned in the said deed and all my right, title, estate, interest, reversion and remainder therein and to every part thereof to my loving brother Mr John CHARLTON and to his heirs and assigns forever.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my said dear wife Mrs Susanna Charlton one hundred pounds to be paid her by my executor hereafter named within convenient time next after my decease besides her wearing apparel, rings and jewels.  ITEM; as to the rest and residue of my estate both real and personal (my debts being paid and funeral charges defrayed) I do give and bequeath the same and every part thereof to my aforesaid brother Mr John Charlton, his heirs, executors and administrators, which said brother John I make sole executor of this my last will and testament, not doubting his faithful performance thereof, and I do hereby revoke all former wills. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the aforesaid fourteenth day of October 1673 – Stephen Charlton – signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Stephen Charlton to be his last will and testament the fourteenth of October 1673 in the presence of Francis Hill, (Joseph) Tucker

Proved 29th December 1673