1673 William Pitt

11-0344-515_WilliamPitt_1673

In the name of God Amen, the third day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred seventy and three, I William PITT of the parish of Hartley Waspell in the County of Southampton, Esquire, being aged and weak of body but of sound and perfect memory (blessed be God) but considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time and for the prevention of any differences which may at any time hereafter happen between any of my children and relations concerning that estate which God of his mercy has bestowed upon me, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following; and first and above all I give and bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God trusting in and through the merits of Jesus Christ my Redeemer to receive it again glorified; my body to the earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my executor hereafter named; and for that estate in lands and goods which I now possess and am by God’s mercy owner of, I give and bequeath the same as follows and first I give and bequeath unto my eldest son William PITT and to his heirs all my lands lying in the parish of Hartley Waspell aforesaid or in any other parish adjacent within the County of Southampton with all my right and pretence of any right unto the lease of the Manor of Hartley Waspell held of the Dean and Canons of Windsor and each renewed in the name of my said son William Pitt; also I give unto my son Baldwin PITT my parsonage in the Bishopric of Durham, to hold the same for term of his natural life with this further power that in case he shall happen to marry to settle the same by way of jointure upon such person as he shall marry with, and after the decease of my said son Baldwin and of such wife as he shall marry with, in case there shall be any settlement made thereof, my will is that my said parsonage in the Bishopric of Durham shall come unto my said son William Pitt and his heirs.  Also, I give unto my daughter STOWELL whose portion is fully paid a parcel of gold called healing pieces to the value of fifteen pounds; also I give unto my old servant John Bristow the sum of ten pounds to buy him a piece of plate besides the copyhold which I formerly settled upon him; also I give unto my servant Ann Mallenger the sum of five pounds, and to all the rest of my servants who shall serve with me at the time of my decease the sum of forty shillings apiece.  Also I give unto the parish of Hartley Waspell the sum of three pounds and to Mr Barnard whom I desire may preach my funeral sermon the sum of forty shillings. And for the rest of my estate, my debts, legacies and funeral expenses being paid, I give the same to my eldest son William Pitt whom I make the executor of this my last will and testament, and I desire my loving friends Francis Tylney of Rothewick in the County of Southampton Esquire and John Worlderidge of Odiam Esquireto be overseers of this my last will and testament and to each of them I give a ring for their pains, and I do hereby renounce and revoke all former wills, and in token that this is my last will I have to each of these sheets subscribed my name and put my seal the day and year first above written – William Pitt – signed sealed delivered and published and declared to be the last will and testament of the above named William Pitt with the word ten and these words viz. to each of them I give a ring for their pains first interlinked in the presence of John Tutt, William Pitt, John Barnard

Proved 5th March 1673

14th November 1679 Abigail Stowell Pitt wife of Ralph Stowell appointed – John Pitt having died