Will detail

Will of Leonard Bishopp of Battle

Date signed: 20 Nov 1617, Probate date: Not given

In the name of God amen the three and twentieth day of November in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred and eighteen, I Leonard Bishopp of Battell in the county of Sussex, forever being sick in body but of good and perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto Almighty God therefore. I do ordain and make this my last will and testament in manner and form following. And first and principally as Christian duty bindeth me I give and commend my soul into the hands of my most blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, my only maker and redeemer, and my body to the Earth to be reverently and Christianly buried in the Churchyard of Battell aforesaid near unto my kinfolk and allies.

Item I give and bequeath unto the poor of the parish of Battell twenty shillings to be distributed unto them upon the day of my funeral. Item I give and bequeath unto Agnes Greene, my sister’s daughter, five pounds of lawful English money to be paid unto her within two months next after my decease by my executor hereunder named.

Item I give and bequeath unto my sister Sarah Avyes my little gold ring to be delivered unto her immediately after my decease.

Item I give and bequeath unto my servant William Person forty shillings to be paid unto him within two months next after my decease.

Item I give and bequeath unto Debora, one of my daughters, five pounds of lawful money of England provided always that if my said daughter Debora shall and do marry with the consent and good liking of Edmond Haye, gentleman, my brother in law, and Goddard Foster, gentleman, then my will and meaning is and then I do hereby give and bequeath unto her my said daughter Debora forty and five pounds more to be paid unto her the said Debora within two months next after the said Edmond Haye and Goddard Foster shall give their consent unto the marriage of my said daughter Debora.

Item my will and meaning is that my executor hereunder named shall give and allow unto my said daughter Debora the use benefit and profit of the said forty and five pounds so long as she shall keep herself sole and unmarried by fewer pounds per annum to be paid unto her the said Debora by my Executor hereunder named at the four usual feasts or terms in the year, that is to say at the feasts of the Assumption of our blessed Lady St. Mary the Virgin and St. Michael the Archangel by equal portions the first payment thereof to begin at the first of the said feasts which shall first happen next after my decease.

Item I give and bequeath unto Priscilla, one other of my daughters, fifty pounds to be paid unto her within three months next after my decease by my executor hereunder named.

Item my will and meaning is that my Executor hereunder named shall be home at the day of my burial to be spent towards the entertainment of such of my neighbors as shall go to church with me at my funeral the sum of ten pounds to be dispersed in manner and form following that is to say at the house of Edward Welshe of Battell aforesaid forty shillings. At the house of David Jefferie thirty shillings. At the house of John Langley thirty shillings. At the house of William Hull thirty shillings, at the house of Richard Eldridge thirty shillings. At the house of Edmond Pullen thirty shillings. At the house of Alice Maynard, widow, ten shillings.

Item I give and bequeath unto Richard Bryant, my brother in law, and William Miller, my servant, all my wearing apparel equally to be divided between them.

The residue of all my goods and chattels not before bequeathed my legacies being paid and my funeral expenses discharged, I give and bequeath unto my three daughters Mary, Elizabeth, and Priscilla equally to be divided between them.

Item I ordain and make Henry Theather, my son in law, sole executor of this my last will and testament.

Item I ordain and make the said Edmond Haye and Goddard Foster overseers of this my last will and testament confidently hoping that they will see through my will performed in every part thereof. And I do hereby give unto each of them for their pains therein to be bestowed a piece of gold of twenty five shillings over and above their charges and expenses which they or either of them shall expend in traveling about the same business.

Item I do hereby revoke all other wills by me at any time heretofore made. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal and have caused this my last will to be read and published in presence of William Harden, Thomas Dyne, and Arnold Edwards test. Leonard Bishopp.

This is the last will and testament of me the said Leonard Bishopp made the day and year aforesaid concerning the disposing of my lands tenements and hereditaments in Battell aforesaid. Which lands tenements and hereditaments I do hereby give and bequeath unto my said three daughters Mary, Elizabeth, and Priscilla equally to be divided between them. Leonard Bishop William Harden Thomas Dyne and Arnold Edwards.

Transcribed by:

Susan Bishop Hearn.

Notes about this will:

Transcribed by Susan Bishop Hearn 14 September 2007 from a scanned copy from the National Archives using modern spelling and incorporating punctuation to facilitate comprehension.

Source:

Unknown.

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