The Will of Richard Richardson

of Canvey Island, Yeoman 1688

This is the will of Richard Richardson a Yeoman of Canvey Island drawn up in 1688. Richardson was then the owner of Kitcatt’s and Southwick Marshes/Farms.

In the name of God Amen the twelfth Day of May Anno Domini 1688, and in the fourth year of the reigne of our Sovereigne Lord James the Second, by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith [   ] , I Richard Richardson of Canvey Island in the County of Essex, yeoman, being in perfect health and of sound disposing mind memory and understanding, praised be God, doe make and ordaine this my last will and testament, in manner and form following, first I commit my soule into the hands of Allmighty God who gave it, and my body to the earth from whence it was taken, to be decently buryed at the discretion of my Executrix, hereafter named, and as touching Such worldly estate, as God of his goodnesse hath made me owner of, I give and devise and dispose of the same as followeth (that is to say) Imp es  I give, dispose of and bequeath unto my Grand daughter Mary Prym, the Daughter of Moses Prym late of Conningham in the said County of Essex yeoman deceased , All that my freehold land, lyeing and being in the parish of Raleigh in the said County of Essex now in the occupacon of John Rayson [Virmaler/Vicmaler] or his Assignes, with the tenement, Barne, Stables, lands, yards, gardens, and all other the appurtenantes thereunto belonging, Also I give and devise unto my said Grandaughter Mary Prym All these my meados or meadow lands lyeing and being in the said parish of Raleigh, now in the occupacon of Mr Peters or his Assignes called or known by the name of Sweet Downe meadows, or by whatsoever other name or names the same be called or known by. Also I give and devise unto my said Granddaughter Mary Prim, one other parcell of land with the house or tenement thereunto belonging, called or knowne by the name of Spratt[e] Greene or by what other name or names the same is known by [    ] lyeing and being in Raleigh aforesaid, now in the occupacon of one [  blank space   ] Loveley or his Assignes with all the outhouses buildings, barnes, lands, yards, gardens and all other appurtenantes whatsoever to the same in any wise appurtaining, also I give and devise unto my said Grand Daughter Mary Prym All that my [Messuage/Messnage] house or tenement known by the Signe of the White Horse, with all those my meads, or meadow lands, thereunto belonging, known by the name of Linsford Meados

Or by what ever name or names the said be knowne by [scituate] lyeing and being in the parish of Raleigh aforesaid with the Stables, outhouses, yards, gardens and all and singular other the appurtenantes whatsoever, to the same belonging, now in the occupacion of Richard [Glaston/Glasford] or his Assigned, to have and to hold all the aforesaid [Messuages/Messnages] lands, tenements, [heredit ….ments] and [pr..isses] before devised, unto my said grand daughter Mary Prym and the heirs of her body lawfully to be begotten, immediately from and after the marrying againe of my loving wife {Hester] Richardson, of the Day of her Death, which shall first happen. And if it shall happen that my said grand daughter shall dye before my said wifes marrying againe or the day of her death, without heirs of her body, then my mind and will is, that I give and devise All the sayd Messuages lands and tenements herin before devised to my sayd grand daughter unto my sonne John Richardson, and his heires for ever, upon condition, that he pay unto my daughter Katherine Richardson, the sume of two hundred pounds, within six months next after he shall be so possest therof. With the payment of which I do hereby charge the said [pr…misses]. Also I give and devise unto my said daughter Katherine Richardson All that my Marsh or Farme called South Church = Wic[  ] or by whatsoever name or names the same is known by, with the lands, houses, barnes, stables, outhouses and all other the appurtenantes thereunto belonging as the same are now lyeing and being in Canvey Island as aforesaid, but belonging unto the parish of South Church, now in the occupacon of Robert Banbury or his Assignes, to have and to hold the said Marsh or Farme with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging, unto my said daughter Katherine Richardson and the heires of her body lawfully begotten or to be begotten, immediately from and after the marrying againe of my said wife Hester or the day of her death which shall first happen. Also I give and devise unto my said sonne John Richardson all that my Marsh or Farme called or known by the name of [Kitcott] Marsh, or by what other name or names the same be called or known by, with all the land, houses, outhouses, barnes, stables, yardens, gardens and appurtenances whatsoever to the same belonging, lyeing and being in Canvey Island aforesaid

Now in the occupacon of the said Robert Banbury or his Assignes to have and to hold the said Marsh or Farme called Kitcott Marsh with all and singular the lands and appurtenances whatsoever to the same belonging, unto my said sonne John Richardson and his heires forever, immediately from and after the marrying againe of my said wife, or the day of her death, which shall first happen,
And my Will is that in case my said sonne John, my daughter Katherine, and grand daughter Mary Prym happen to dye without Issue of their bodys lawfully begotten, that then I doe give and devise all such lands as aforesaid given unto such child or grand child so deceasing, unto the survivours or survivour of them, equally to be enjoyed by such survivours or survivour, and their heires forever, Item I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Katherine, one hundred and tenne pounds of lawfull money of England, to be paid unto her when shee shall attaine her full age of one and twenty yeares, or att her day of marriage, which shall first happen, Also I give and bequeath unto my said sonne John the full summe of two hundred pounds of lawfull money of England, to be paid unto him when he shall reach the full age of one and twenty years. Also I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Hester all my houshold goods which shall be within my dwelling house at the time of my decease, to be wholly at her owne dispose. Also the rest and residue of my Goods, Chattels, Cattles, Stock and ready money whatsoever or wheresoever, after my funeral charges shall be paid, and all my debts and legacies being fully satisfied and discharged, I give and bequeath unto my said sonne, my daughter Katherine and grand daughter Mary Prym to be equally shared, and parted amongst them, share and share alike, the same to be delivered and paid unto them severally, at their severall and respective ages of one and twenty years, or their severall and respective marriages, which shall first happen as aforesaid. And if any of my sonne, Daughter Katherine and grand daughter shall happen to dye before they accomplish and attaine unto their severall and respective ages and time before limited, then I give all and singular Such legacies, money and share of such of them so deceasing, unto the Survivours or Survivour of them, to be paid and delivered unto such survivours or survivour, at their respective ages and times before [limited] and appointed, Item my will and [     ] is, and I doe hereby order and appoint that my said loveing wife Hester Richardson shall and may during her naturall life (in case she remaines so long my widow but no longer) have, receive and take the rents, issues and profitt of all my estate before and in this my last will and testament given, devised and bequeathed [ Vizt] of all my lands, tenants, [hereditaments], and [promisses] with their appurtenances (the Goods, Chattels, Cattle, the one hundred and tenne pounds given to my said daughter Katherine, the two hundred pounds given to my said sonne John, and such residue of my Estate, Goods, Chattels, Cattle, and money afore given to my said sonne John, daughter Katherine and Grand Daughter, to be equally divided amongst them only and always excepted for and forwards the education, and bringing up of my said children, and for and forwards her owne maintenance during the time of her naturall life, provided my loveing wife shall so long remaine my widow, And my said wifes receipts and aquittances given for the same, shall be a sufficient and good discharge for all such rents, issues and profits unto the severall and respective tenants and Farmers of the said Lands and tenements. But in case my said wife happen to dye, or that my said wife shall doe and marry againe, then I [    ] Su..visors or Overseers hereafter shall receive and save the rents, issues, and profits of all my estate [Vizt] lands, tenements, and Chattells (except as before is excepted) in such manner until my said sonne, daughter Katherine and Grand Daughter shall attaine unto their severall and respective ages or marriages afore limited, and to such intents and purposes my said wife should, or ought to have done in case shee had continued my widow, or had lived, and their or any of their my said survisors or overseers receipts or acquittances to be as effectual to all intents and purposes as my wifes receipts and acquittances should have been as aforesaid. Also I doe, make, ordaine and appoint my said loving wife Hester Curatrix, or Guardian for my said Sonne and Daughter Katherine until they shall attaine unto their said severall ages of one and twenty years, and Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament , desiring her utmost care and endeavour in the due performance and execution hereof , and I doe appoint my loving friends Peter Porter and Peter Lodwick[e] both of Foulnesse in the said County of Essex, yeoman, survivors or overseers of this my last will, requesting their care and assistance , in directing and adviseing my said wife and children, and I doe give unto them my said survivors two Guinneys a peice, as a gratuity for their care and assistance herein, to be payd within one month next after my decease, And I doe hereby revoke, disannul, and make voyd all other and former wills by me heretofore made or pretended to be made, And I doe declare this to be my last will and testament, contained in  five sheets of paper, having set my hand and seale unto every one of them, the day and yeare in the top sheete written.

Lastly I give unto my daughter Mary Swan one shilling in full as what shee shall have or expect out of my reall and personal estate whatsoever.

Richard Richardson

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Richard Richardson [    ] and Testato to be his last will and Testament in presence of us
John Rogers
Peter Sworder
John Johnson

 

No Comments

Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this page!

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.