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Will detail

Will of George Bishop of Northiam

Date signed: 20 Oct 1656, Probate date: 21 Apr 1657

In the name of God Amen this twentieth day of October in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fifty and six I George Bishopp of the parish of Northiham in the County of Sussex the elder being in health and memory thanks be to Almighty God calling to mind the uncertain state of this transitory life and that it is appointed for all men once to die when it shall please Almighty God do make constitute ordain and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following revoking all former wills heretofore by me made and do declare And this to be taken to be my last Will and Testament and none other And first being penitent and sorry from the bottom of my heart for all my sins past most humbly so finding forgiveness of the same I give and commit my soul to Almighty God my saviour and redeemer in whom and by the merits of Jesus Christ I trust and believe assuredly to be saved and to have full remission and forgiveness of all my sins And that my soul with my body at the general day of resurrection shall arise again with joy and through the merits of Christ’s death and passion possess and inherit the kingdom of heaven prepared for his ….. and Christ and my body to be buried in Christian burial in the parish Church or Churchyard of Northiham aforesaid And now for the settling of my temporal estate both real and personal with which it hath pleased God to bless me withal I order give and dispose of the same in manner and form following First I will that all those debts and duties as I owe in right to any manner of person or persons whatsoever shall be well and truly contented and paid by my Executor hereafter named Item I give and bequeath to Elizabeth my well beloved wife by whom through Gods blessing I have now living four sons and five daughters William George Edward & Nicholas Elizabeth the wife of Thomas Baker Mary the wife of Richard Coachman Mercy Clements and Martha spinsters and albeit I doubt not but that God after my departure will be unto them a patron a father and a defender and will not suffer them to lack if they trust fear and serve him diligently calling upon his holy name yet for as much as God hath declared in his holy words that who so provided not for his own hath denied the faith and is worse than an Infidel I do therefore give and bequeath unto my said wife my two red heifers and my bay mare formerly given to her in the presence of my son George and daughter Mercy two bedsteads one high bedstead and one trundle bedstead with bed to the same and other furniture which are in the parlour chamber two great chairs and two small chairs and one wicker chair one small table in the parlour chamber one pair of sheets and two pair of pillow coats twelve pieces of pewter great and small one warming pan And also one pair of Tongs fire shovel and brandirons with a pair of bellows which are in the parlour And also one box in the kitchen chamber Item I give and bequeath to George Bishopp my second son (whom I make sole executor of this my last Will & Testament) the house and lands wherein I now live lately called and known by the name of Hayes with the barns stables malt house and all other outbuildings together with all meadows pastures arable and woodlands and wood whatsoever & with all the orchards belonging to the same all which are situate lying and being in Northiham and Beckley or in one or both of them in the said County of Sussex To have and to hold the tenements aforesaid and all other the premises with the appurtenances belonging to the same to him the said George Bishopp my second son and his heirs forever to the only proper use and be house of him the said George Bishopp and his heirs forever upon the conditions hereafter mentioned First that he pay or give security to Edward my third son the sum of one hundred pounds given unto him the said Edward by the last Will and Testament of one John Tookey late of Northiham deceased now remaining in my hands with all such interest as shall be behind and unpaid from the time that the said Edward did attain to the age of one and twenty years at which time the said money was payable to him Secondly that he pay or give security to Mercy my third daughter the like sum of one hundred pounds given to her by the said John Tookey and in like manner remaining in my hands but put to the use of one Thomas Daby late of Beckley in the said County of Sussex with three score pounds more coming in the whole one hundred and three score pounds for which I have a deed of mortgage and a bond for security with all such interest as shall be due to pay the same Thirdly that he the said George executor of this my last Will and Testament pay or cause to be paid to Clements and Martha Bishopp my two youngest daughters the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds a piece when they shall attain to the age of one and twenty years or days of marriage which shall first happen which shall be a full discharge of all such legacies as have been given to them by the last will and testament of the said John Tookey as also by John Bishopp my son lately deceased and during their minorities the said children to be brought up in a decent education by Elizabeth my wife he the said George Bishopp allowing her sufficient maintenance for the bringing up of the said Clements & Martha my two youngest daughters Fourthly that he the said George Bishopp my executor pay or cause to be paid unto my three eldest daughters the sum of fifty pounds a piece at the end of three years next after my decease they and heirs of them and their husbands giving him a full discharge of all legacies and demands whatsoever And upon refusal that person so refusing to have but five pounds only And lastly that George Bishopp my executor shall suffer my wife to die all in my house wherein I now inhabit during her widowhood if she think fit Provided nevertheless that if any of my said children die and depart this natural life before any of their legacies become payable as aforesaid that then such legacy shall be & remain in the hands of the said George Bishopp my executor Item I give and bequeath to Edward Bishopp my third son the windmill with all the appurtenances belonging to the same with one close of land called the Windmill Close with all the same …. to the same close situate & being in Northiham aforesaid to have and to hold the said windmill & close with all and every their appurtenances to him the said Edward Bishopp and his heirs forever Item I give & bequeath to William Bishopp my eldest son my house called the Well House with all the barns stables and other outhouses together with all the meadows pastures arable and wood lands belonging to the said farm situate and being in Northiham aforesaid in the said County of Sussex To have & to hold the Tenements aforesaid to him the said William & his heirs forever under the conditions provisos and limitations hereafter mentioned First that he pay Nicholas Bishopp my youngest son the sum of two hundred pounds within three years after my decease or when he the said Nicholas shall attain the age of one and twenty years which shall first happen one hundred of which the said two hundred pounds was given to him the said Nicholas by the last Will and Testament of the aforesaid John Tookey Secondly that he the said William Bishopp shall within ten days after my decease if demanded give security by judgment of four hundred pounds to be confessed and entered of record in the Court of ..pp.. bench at Westminster next term immediately ensuing after my decease for the true payment of the said sum of two hundred pounds to Nicholas Bishopp my youngest son in manner aforesaid …. shall release all …. upon the said judgment And likewise within the same time enter into … bond of one thousand pounds conditioned for the true performance of all such conditions limitations & provisos herein and hereafter mentioned & expressed which on the part and on behalf of the said William are truly performed fulfilled and kept to George Bishopp my executor And lastly my mind & will is that William Bishopp my eldest son shall immediately after my decease release all his right title interest claim and demand whatsoever to George Bishopp my executor in the house and land having hereby given to him as aforesaid Provided always & for preservation of my said house and land called the Well House in this my last Will and Testament given to William Bishopp my eldest son And for preservation of the said house and land given to him as aforesaid in my name & family forever that my son William by ill management thereof and through ill husbandry should be forced to sell the same I do therefore hereby will & declare that if the said William my eldest son do attempt or go about to do any act or acts thing or things to alien and discontinue the said house and land called the Well House or any part or parts thereof to some other person or persons or for any other sum of money than is herein mentioned & expressed that is to say to Edward my third son and upon his refusal to George my second son and that he the said William not to demand of either of my said sons not above the said sum of two hundred pounds which shall be paid to Nicholas my youngest son in full discharge of all legacies due to him ….. same ….. at the time of the sale of the said house and land to Edward my third son and upon his refusal to George my second son (he behind and unpaid) to Nicholas my youngest son and further my mind and will is that the said William shall not at any time mortgage the said house and land hereby to him given to any person or persons whatsoever nor make any lease of the same to any person or persons whatsoever over and above the term of seven years taking for the said land the accustomed rent and that he shall not by any other way or means alien or discontinue the said house or land hereby to him given and bequeathed in manner and form aforesaid other by feoffment fine recovery or otherwise to any other person or persons than to Edward my third son And upon his refusal to George my second son to the end that the said house and land herein mentioned to be given to William my eldest son may be remain & continue in my name & family in manner & form in this my last Will and Testament limited and declared And according to the term intent and meaning of the same provided also if the said William shall at any time after my decease declare to any person or persons whatsoever other than to my aforesaid two sons of his intentions to mortgage lease alien and discontinue my said estate herein to him given that then and from thenceforth immediately the estate interest and title of him the said William to the land hereby to him given so attempting doing or going about to do and attempt any such act thing or things as is aforesaid in this my last will mentioned and declared shall cease determine and be utterly void and that then and immediately from thenceforth it shall & may be lawful to and for Edward my third son to enter into the said house and land called the Well House Farm forever and in his default for George my second son to have and to hold the said Well House Farm to him and his heirs forever that shall make his entry upon the same The priority of title being first in my son Edward after forfeiture committed so as aforesaid by my son William and further my mind and will is that Edward shall immediately after his entry into the Tenements aforesaid shall give the like security aforesaid for the payment of the said sum of two hundred pounds to Nicholas my youngest son As also security for the true performance of all such limitations conditions and provisos which are herein mentioned & declared wish this also that he shall pay yearly to my son William for & during the term of his natural life the sum of six pounds of lawful money of England at two entire payments half yearly the which if it be unpaid at the time when it shall become due it shall and may be lawful to and for him the said William to enter upon the said land & to distrain for the same And if the said Edward my third son shall refuse to enter offer such forfeiture committed as aforesaid then it shall and may be lawful to and for George Bishopp my second son to enter into the said Well House Farm and the same to have & enjoy to him and his heirs forever upon the like conditions Provided moreover if he Nicholas my youngest son to happen to die and depart this natural life before the said two hundred pounds shall be paid to him or become due that then one moiety of the said sum shall rest in the hands of my son William and that the other moiety shall be equally divided between my two other sons George and Edward Provided further that my son William if in case he forfeit his said legacy hereby to him given as aforesaid may have a competent maintenance my mind and will is that George my executor shall pay to him the like sum of six pounds in like manner as my son Edward is herein limited & required Item I do give and bequeath to Elizabeth Glover my niece the sum of ten shillings Item I do further give to Elizabeth my well beloved wife reasonable provision as wheat malt butter cheese as is now in my house for her present supply Provided lastly and for preservation of love and amity amongst all my said children that all legacies herein given to them or any or either of them may be justly and duly paid according to the true intent and meaning of this my last Will and Testament my mind and will is that George Bishopp my executor shall enter into bond of one thousand pounds to Edward Bishopp my third son and if he die to Nicholas my youngest son conditioned for the true performance of all such things as he is herein limited and required And my mind and will is that William Bishopp my eldest son shall fully release all his right title interest claim and demand whatsoever to George Bishopp my executor of and unto the house and land hereby given to him as aforesaid And that he shall not at any time molest or any way disturb him the said George in the quiet possession and enjoyment of the same And that he shall not do or consent to be done to any person whatsoever anything by valour whereof he the said George Bishopp may be in the least disturbed And that all the rest of my said children at the time when they receive their legacies to them herein given give unto my executor a full discharge under their hands and seals immediately before the receipt of their several legacies of all demands whatsoever And finally my mind and will is and I do hereby further declare that William my eldest son shall within three weeks next after my decease declare unto my executor if demanded his mind & intentions whether he will accept of the Well House Farm hereby and herein to him given according to the provisos conditions limitations intentions and true meaning of this my last Will and Testament and that if he then shall declare his mind of the refusal of the said farm to him given upon the conditions aforesaid that then it may be lawful for Edward my third son to enter into the same and to have and enjoy the same to him and his heirs forever under the same conditions as is aforesaid expressed in case of forfeiture And that if my son Edward shall refuse to accept the same upon the conditions afore specified that then and from thenceforth it shall and may be lawful to and for my son George to enter into the same and to have and to hold the said Well House and land before mentioned to him and his heirs for and under the same limitations provisos & conditions as is aforesaid expressed to my son Edward in case of forfeiture In witness whereof I the said George Bishopp have to every sheet of this my last Will and Testament being seven in number have set my hand and to the last of these have set my hand and seal the day and year first above written George Bishopp signed sealed published & declared by the said George Bishopp to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of Joseph Glidd John Sharpe

This will was proved at London the first and twentieth day of April one thousand six hundred fifty seven before the judges for probate of wills and granting administrations lawfully authorized by the oath of George Bishopp the son and sole executor named in the said will to whom was committed administration of all and singular the goods chattels & debts of the said deceased he being first and legally sworn well and truly to administer the same

Transcribed by:

Bob Trease.

Precis supplied by transcriber:

To wife Elizabeth:-

2 red heifers, big mare, various furniture, beds and bedclothes

Reasonable provisions as now

To second son George:-

House and lands in Northiam & Beckley known as “Hayes” provided that:-

1. He pays third son Nicholas the £100 left him by the late John Tookey of Northiam

2. He pays third daughter Mercy the £100 left her by the late John Tookey of Northiam but used by Thomas Daby of Beckley plus £60

3. He pays the two youngest daughters Clements and Martha £150 each when they reach 21 in discharge of legacies from John Tookey and son John Bishop lately deceased and allows sufficient maintenance to wife Elizabeth to continue their education

4. He pays the three eldest daughters (Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Baker, Mary wife of Richard Coachman, & Mercy) £50 each within 3 years provided they give a full discharge otherwise £5

5. He allow wife Elizabeth to continue living in the house

6. If any die before legacies due, legacies to remain with him

To third son Edward:-

The Windmill and lands known as Windmill Close in Northiam

To eldest son William:-

The house and lands known as Well House Northiam, provided that

1. He pays youngest son Nicholas £200 within 3 years or when he is 21 including the £100 left him by John Tookey

2. He gives security of £400 within 10 days if demanded

3. He release all right and title to the house given to George

4. If through mismanagement he is forced to sell the property he must first offer it to Edward and George

5. Numerous other conditions dependent on various circumstances

To niece Elizabeth Glover:-

10 shillings

Executrix:-

Son George

Witnesses

Joseph Glidd, John Sharpe

Notes about this will:

The will was transcribed from a scanned PCC copy will by Bob Trease on 28 July 2006 using modern English spelling to aid comprehension. All names of villages and people retain the original spelling in the copy will.

Source:

Unknown.

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