9th October 1657
In the name of God Amen; the ninth day of October in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fifty and seven [1657] and in the three and twentieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith etc. I John Phillips of Brockton in the County of Salop yeoman being weak in body but of sound mind and memory (laud and praise be to almighty God therefore) considering with myself the frailty of man’s life and the time of death uncertain for the [settlement] of my estate and peace and quietest amongst my wife and children do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say) first and principally I give commend and bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God my creator and his Son Jesus Christ my Redeemer, trusting and verily believing through the merits death and passion of Jesus Christ my Redeemer to be saved and by none other ways means or merits whatsoever and my body to be buried at the discretion of my wide and executor hereafter named. And for my worldly estate I give and bequeath the same in manner and form following:
Inprimis I give grant and bequeath unto Richard Phillips my eldest son all my estate of inheritance to have and to hold to him and his heirs for ever.
Item I give unto my said son Richard all the messuages tenements and lands situate belonging with all by lease under Sir Humphrey Brigge or any other to have and to hold to him and his assigns for and during the term that I have herein for and toward the payment of legacies.
Item I give unto my said son Richard all my cattles chattels and bedsteads in my dwelling house [where] cupboards or [grasse] and one new chest in the parlour and one […] for and towards the performance of this my will.
Item my will is that my brother Andrew shall have the use of the chamber that has lodged him so long as he shall keep himself unmarried.
Item I give unto my daughter Anne the sum of twenty pounds if she will [ ] by my wife and my son Richard at her day of marriage and in case she cannot obtain the estate that I have assigned unto her or the greater part thereof then my will is that she shall have ten pounds more in augmentation of her portion to be paid unto her by my executor at her day of marriage.
Item I give and bequeath unto my son William the sum of thirty pounds to be paid unto him by my executor when he shall accomplish the age of two and twenty years and my will is that he shall have yearly during his apprenticeship a hide of the best beast that shall be killed for the use of my wife and children.
Item I give and bequeath unto my two younger sons John and Francis the sum of thirty pounds apiece to be paid unto them severally by my executor when they shall severally accomplish the age of one and twenty years and in the meantime my will is that they shall be maintained by my executor and kept to school or bound apprentices at the charges of my executor and disposed of as my wife and my brothers shall think fit and convenient.
Item my will is that my wife Elizabeth shall have the use of all my goods undisposed of and not bequeathed during her widowhood and shall have power to bestow the same amongst my children according to their deserts.
Item my will is that if any of my children shall die before their portions be due to be paid unto them then that portion shall be equally divided amongst my children then living.
Item I will the rest of my goods cattles chattels and debts whatsoever (my debts and legacies paid and my funeral expenses discharged I give and bequeath to my son Richard and hereby do make and ordain him my executor of this my last will and testament to perform the same according to the trust and confidence I have in him reposed.
In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal this day and year first above written.
Signed sealed published by John Phillips in the presence of William Vermalds John Stringer Francis Rosen