11-0377-353_ChristopherPitt_1684
In the name of God Amen, the thirteenth day of June in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand six hundred eighty and three, I Christopher PITT, Citizen and Merchant Taylor of London, being in perfect health of body and of sound memory and good understanding, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following; FIRST; I do commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God as into the hands of a faithful creator and most merciful redeemer, and my body I commit to the ground to be decently buried at the discretion of my executor hereinafter named in sure and certain hope of a joyful resurrection to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord; and as touching the temporal estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me, I dispose thereof as follows: first I give unto my brother Edward PITT the yearly sum of ten pounds of lawful money of England and to be paid him yearly out of my estate during his natural life by my executor hereinafter named at the four most usual feast days or times of payment in the year (that is to say) the feast of St Michael the Archangel, the Birth of our Lord Christ, the annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Nativity of St. john the Baptist by equal proportions, the first payment to commence and be made at the first of the feast days which shall happen next after my deceased also I give unto my Godson Christopher PITT, son of my brother Robert PITT the sum of five hundred pounds lawful money of England to be paid him at his age of one and twenty years, and in case my said Godson should happen to die before he attain his said age of one and twenty years then and in such case I do give the said five hundred pounds as follows (that is to say): to my nephews Robert PITT and John PITT brothers of my said Godson one hundred pounds apiece, and to my nephews Thomas CRADOCKE, John THORNE, and Richard THORNE, and my niece WILLIS to each of them fifty pounds, and the sum of one hundred pounds of the said five hundred pounds I give to the Master and Wardens of the Company of Merchant Taylors London in trust that they and their successors for the time being do lend the same to four such young men of the said Company beginning to trade as the said Master and a Wardens shall think fit and that stand in need of the same (viz.) twenty five pounds to each of them gratis without interest for five years, nevertheless on good security to be given to repay the principal sum at the end of five years to the master and wardens for the time being, and the said principal sum is from time to time every five years by them to be lent out to four other young beginners in like manner. Also I give to my niece Willis one hundred and fifty pounds of lawful money of England, and in case she dies before the same is paid then I give the said one hundred and fifty pounds to her children equally to be divided. Also, I give unto my nephew George PITT, son of my brother John PITT one hundred pounds, and I also forgive him fifty pounds that he owes me. Also, I forgive unto my nephew Thomas PITT his brother all such sums of money as he now also owes me. Also I give unto his son Robert PITT the sum of one hundred (pounds) when he shall come of age. Also I give to Robert Pitt and John Pitt, sons of my brother Robert Pitt to each of them one hundred pounds of lawful money. Also I give to my niece Margaret PITT their sister one hundred pounds of like money. Also I give to my three nieces, the daughters of my brother a William, to each of them one hundred pounds apiece of like lawful money. I also do give to my nephews John Thorne and Richard Thorne one hundred pounds apiece of like lawful money, and I do forgive my said nephew John Thorne fifty pounds that he owes me. I also give to my niece their sister of the half blood the sum of fifty pounds of like lawful money. I also give to my said nephew Thomas Cradocke the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds lawful money. I also give unto my nephew Edward WAKE the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds of lawful money. I also give to my loving kinsman Mr Roger Payne the sum of two hundred pounds of lawful money. I also acquit and release him the said Roger Payne of the further sum of two hundred pounds for which he stands indebted by bond bearing date the thirtieth of June one thousand six hundred seventy and seven with all interest thereof due. And I do direct that my executor do deliver the said bond to him to he cancelled. I also give to my nephew John JENNETT the sum of two hundred pounds, and my meaning and will is that if any of my nephews and nieces herein named shall happen to die before the respective legacies hereby bequeathed shall be paid, leaving any child or children, that then the legacy hereby given to the persons so dying shall be paid to the child or children of him her or them that shall so happen to die; also I give to my Godson Christopher Tilson fifty pounds lawful money to be paid at his age of fifteen years to bind him out an Apprentice, and I give him the sum of one hundred pounds more like lawful money to be paid when he attains his age of one and twenty years, and if the said Christopher Tilson should happen to die before the said respective legacies shall become payable and paid, then I give the said several sums of fifty pounds and one hundred pounds to Nathan Tilson, father of the said Christopher Tilson and to his other children to be disposed to such of them and in such proportions as he the said Nathan shall think fit. Also I give to my maid Elianor Hancock thirty pounds of lawful money and if she lives with me at my death then I give her all my wearing apparel both linen and wooden. I also give to Nathaniel Bullock to be paid him when he has served his Apprenticeship and is made free ten pounds. Also I give to the poor of the Parish of St Gregory the sum of five pounds. Also I will and appoint my executor hereafter named shall pay after my decease to the Bailiff of the town of Blandford and his brethren the sum of one hundred pounds to be disposed of as follows, that is to say: my will and meaning is and I do direct and appoint that the said one hundred pounds shall be by them, the Bailiff and his brethren for the time being, laid out in a purchase of land and until a convenient purchase may be had, shall be lent out at interest and the interest thereof till land shall be purchased and afterwards the yearly profits of the said land shall be by them the said Bailiff and his brethren for the time being distributed yearly for ever on St Thomas Day to and amongst four such poor persons of the town of Blandford who duly frequent the church and hear divine service and prayers according to the Church of England as the Bailiff and his brethren for the time being shall think fit. Also I give unto the Master and Wardens of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors the sum of three hundred pounds of lawful money to the intent that the said Master and Wardens and their successors forever shall pay and give to six poor members of the said Company which duly frequent the church and hear divine service and prayers according to the use of the Church of England the sum of twenty shillings apiece half yearly for ever. (marginal note: this £300 I have deposited in the hands of the Master and Warden already as appears by a deed under the seal of the Company – Chris: Pitt ). Also I acquit and discharge the said Master and a Wardens and Company of Merchant Taylors of five pounds due to me for corn money. I also give give to my loving friends Nathan Tilson and a Richard Newbery twenty pounds apiece as a testimony of my respects to them and I do forgive Samuel Hurton ten pounds that he owes me, and I give him ten pounds of lawful money. I also give to Edmond Seymore, Peter Blackwell, Francis Colly, Samuel Hurton and Nathan Tilson and Roger Payne forty shillings apiece to buy them rings. I also give unto my boy Peter Clarke the sum of five pounds to bind him out an Apprentice and ten pounds to be paid him when he has served his Apprenticeship and is made free. Also I give unto Jane Humby alias Bastable five pounds. Also I give unto the three younger children of my Nephew WAKE deceased that is to say to William WAKE, Mary WAKE, and Katherine WAKE the sum of fifty pounds apiece lawful money when they shall attain the age of one and twenty years or marry which shall first happen, and when the said William Wake shall have given and the said Mary and Katherine shall themselves severally if sole, or their husbands severally if married, have given my executor a release of all demands or good and sufficient security that he shall not be disturbed or questioned by either of them respectively in law or equity for anything that I have done or shall do in executing the trust reposed in me as executor to the will of their father Edward Wake deceased in the performance of which I have not nor will not wrong them of one farthing. And I make and constitute my nephew Thomas Pitt of the Middle Temple, London, son of my brother Robert Pitt executor of this my last will and testament, and I do give unto him after all my debts and funeral charges be paid and legacies before bequeathed be satisfied, all the rest and residue of all my goods and chattels whatsoever and I make void all former wills by me made by word of mouth or writing, and this to be taken for my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have to every sheet of this my will containing in the whole three sheets subscribed my name and to this last sheet not only subscribed my name but set my seal the day and year first mentioned – Chr. Pitt – signed sealed and published by me the said Christopher Pitt to be my last will and testament in the presence of us Edward Becker, Edward Alston, William Lugg
Proved 10th October 1684