1688 Robert Pitt

11-0394-812_RobertPitt_1688

In the name of God. Amen. The one and thirtieth day of October in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand six hundred eighty eight, I Robert PITT of Blandford Forum in the County of Dorset, Gent., being weak and infirm, but of sound and perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto Almighty God for the same yet minding my mortality do make my last will in manner following: my soul I commend to Almighty God assuredly hoping his acceptance through the merits of Christ my Saviour; and I direct that my body be buried in the parish church of Blandford Forum aforesaid as near my father as may be; the order and charges I leave to the discretion of my executor hereafter named; and as to the lands, houses and personal estate which it has pleased God to bless me with all, I dispose of in manner following: whereas I have lately given and settled to my son Robert PITT, Doctor of Physick and to his heirs forever the Inn called the Crown in the warnership of Pimperne and my lands called Broadmead and Bell grounds with all its members and appurtenances, as also all my messuage tenement and lands which I purchased of George Pitt Esquire, I now moreover give and devise unto him all the estate and term of years that I have yet to come in the common shore of Blandford Forum aforesaid called Gallers Ditch.  ITEM; I give unto my said son Robert the higher (ham) next to the March in Blandford Forum aforesaid to hold to him and his heirs forever.  ITEM; I give unto my Granddaughter Martha PITT daughter of my said son  Robert PITT the sum of two hundred pounds of lawful money of England to be paid to my said son Robert for the use of his said daughter by my executor hereinafter named within half a year after my decease, and whereas I have lately given and settled upon my son Thomas PITT, Counsellor of Law the farm of Hemsworth and the house wherein Richard Lisle of Blandford Forum aforesaid, Goldsmith, now lives and the orchard thereunto belonging, I do now give and bequeath unto Robert PITT, son of my said son Thomas PITT the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of England, also I give and bequeath to Christopher PITT, son of my said son Thomas PITT the sum of one hundred pounds of like lawful money to be paid to my said son Thomas for the use and benefit of his said sons Robert and Christopher by my executor hereinafter named within half a year after my decease.  ITEM; I give and devise unto my loving friends George Rives of Rauston in the said county of Dorset Esquire and Robert Seymour of Hanford in the said county Esquire and their heirs forever, my house that I now dwell in and the gardens, orchards and appurtenances thereunto belonging in trust and for the use of my son John PITT during his life and from and after his decease to and for the use of my grandson John PITT son of my said son John Pitt and to the heirs of my said grandson John Pitt forever.  ITEM; I give and devise unto my said loving friends George Rives and Robert Seymour and their heirs forever my three messuages and tenements with the appurtenances now in the several possessions of William Bartlett, John Welsh and Robert Shelby, and situate in Blandford Forum aforesaid in trust and to and for the use of my said son John Pitt for and during the term of his life, and from and after his decease to and for the use and behoof of my grandson Robert PITT son of my said son John Pitt and to the heirs of my said grandson Robert Pitt forever.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Priscilla PITT, daughter of my said son John Pitt the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of England to be let out for her and with the profits thereof to be paid unto her when she shall attain the age of one and twenty years or on her day of marriage which shall first happen.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my son Christopher PITT the sum of one thousand pounds of lawful money of England.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my loving brother-in-law Mathew PAGE of Whatcombe in the County of Dorset, Gent., and his heirs the messuage or tenement now in the possession of Christopher Bernard and the messuage or tenement next adjoining, now in the possession of John Buffett and the moulting house or tenement now in the possession of John Elmes and the other two tenements lately built, wherein William Winter and George Gerard now live, and all outhouses, yards, gardens and appurtenances therewith or with any of them enjoyed or thereunto belonging, and also the two lower hams or islands opposite to the said messuages or tenements last mentioned and all situate in the parish of Blandford Forum aforesaid, to hold the same unto the said Mathew Page and his heirs in trust nevertheless and in confidence that he and his heirs shall and will suffer my said son a Christopher Pitt and his heirs to receive the rents issues and profits of the said tenements houses and hams hereby devised unto my said brother Mathew Page and his heirs, and upon further trust and confidence that my said brother Mathew Page and his heirs shall upon request unto him or them made by my said son Christopher or his heirs convey or assure the estate to them devised of and in the premises to my son Christopher and his heirs or upon default thereof on his death to his heir or heirs upon the like request made by the said heir or heirs.  ITEM; I give unto my daughter Margaret PITT the sum of one thousand pounds of lawful money of England.  ITEM; I give and bequeath unto my daughter Priscilla DENNETT the sum of three hundred pounds of lawful money of England to be paid to her within one year next after my decease or to such other person as she shall appoint.  ITEM; I give and bequeath to her son John DENNETT my grandson the sum of two hundred pounds of lawful money of England to be let out for him as soon as conveniently may be and the principal and all interest thereof to be paid unto him my said grandson at his age of one and twenty years, and my will further is that in case my said grandson John Dennett shall die before the age of one and twenty years that then the said two hundred pounds and all interest raised by the loan thereof before the death of the said John Dennett shall be paid to his mother my daughter Priscilla Dennett or to such other person or persons as she whether she be sole or married shall nominate and appoint to my executor hereinafter named to receive  the same.  ITEM; I give to the poor of the parish of Blandford aforesaid the sum of five pounds to be distributed within one month after my decease.  ITEM; whereas I lately purchased in the name of my son John Pitt certain lands in Winterborne Kingston in the said County of Dorset, my will is and I do hereby give and devise the third part of the clear yearly profits arising out of the said lands to the bailiff and burgesses of Blandford Forum aforesaid for and towards the relief and maintenance of a poor person that the said bailiff and burgesses shall think fit to place and put in that room In the almshouse of Blandford Forum aforesaid for which no provision or allowance was before made.  ITEM; all my plate, linen, pewter and household goods whatsoever in my house in Blandford that I now live in I bequeath unto my said sons and daughters to be equally divided amongst them.  ITEM; I give unto my servant Elizabeth Hancock if she shall be living with me at the time of my death one year’s wages, and to the rest of my servants that shall be in my service at Blandford at the time of my death, to each of them one half year’s wages according to what that have covenanted for to be paid to them when they are to receive their next quarter’s wages.  ITEM; I do order and direct that my executor shall sell the lands conveyed to me by James South towards the payment of my legacies, and I do strictly charge and command all my children that if any difference do arise between them in relation to this my will that they refer themselves and do stand to and abide the judgement and determination of George Rives of Ranston Esquire and Robert Seymour of Hanford Esquire.  ITEM; all the rest of my goods chattels and personal estate whatsoever I give and devise unto my said son John Pitt whom I hereby constitute make and ordain sole executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former or other will or wills by me made.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written – Robt. Pitt – signed sealed published and declared in the presence of Thomas CRADOCK, Robert Ridout, Isaac Horlock , Edward Lawrence

Proved 11th March 1688/9