21 February 1625 Will of John Guy of Bristol, merchant (proved 6 May 1629)

Source: TNA, PROB 11/155

A transcription of the will of John's son Robert is also available here.

If you came to this page directly, then you might want to know that I have additional family history information on my website.

In the name of God Amen I John Guy
of the City of Bristoll Merchant doe make and ordeyne this my last will and testament revoking
hereby all former wills First I recomend myselfe both body and soule into the handes of allmighty god
beseeching his divine matie through the merritts of his only sonne or lord and savior Jesus Christ to have
mercie uppon mee and to forgive mee all my sines as for my worldly busines I doe dispose as followeth
First I does give and bequeath unto the poore the sume of fiftie shillinges of lawfull money of England
Item I doe give and bequest to my sisterlaw Elizabeth Guy tenn pounds of lawfull money and to her
two daughters Anne Guy and Phillipp Guy tenn pounds a peece to be paid unto them when they
shall respectively accomplish the age of eighteen yeares Item I doe give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Guy the
whole profitts of my farme Sittuate in Gauntesearthcott in the parish of Almondsburie county of
Glouc now in the occupacon of Thomas Sturge for the terme of foure yeares to commence at the feast of
the Annuntiation of or blessed ladie the virgin Marie next insuinge the departure of mee the said John Guy
out of this life Moreover I doe give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Guy the whole profitts of
my farme aforesaid Sittuate in Gauntsearthcot for the terme of other foure yeares to commence at the
expiration of the terme of foure yeares fully to be compleate and ended & after the feast of the Annuntiation
of or blessed ladie the virgin Mary next ensuing the departure of mee the said John Guy out of this life  Furthermore
I doe give and bequeath unto my sonne Robert Guy the whole profitts of my said farme sittuate in Gauntsearthcot
for the terme of two yeares to commence at the expiration of the terme of eight yeares fully to be compleate
and ended after the feast of the Annuntiation of or blessed ladie the virgin Mary next ensewing the dePARture
of mee John Guy out of this life Item I doe give and bequeath unto my sonne William Guy the whole
profitts of my said farme sittuate in Gauntsearthcot for the terme of other two yeares to commence at
the expiration of the terme of tenn yeares fully to be compleate and ended after the feast of the annuntiation
of or blessed ladie the virgin Mary next ensuing the departure of mee the said John Guy out of this life The
residue of the terme and interest which I have in the said farme of Gauntearthcot as well by the lease
granted to one John ?arge which was assigned unto mee by my brother in law Mr Matthew Buck as
also by a new grant made unto mee thereof in revercon for fourescore and nineteene yeares yf John Guy
Thomas Guy and Mary Guy the children of mee John Guy or either or any of them shall so long live
with all my whole interest and right therein or thereunto after the expiration of the said terme of twelve
yeares after the feast of the Annuntiation of or blessed Ladie the virgin Mary next ensueing the
departure of mee the said John Guy out of ths life together with the said leases and assignements thereof
I doe give devise and bequeath unto my said sonne Thomas Guy his executors and assignes Provided
alwaies that if my said sonne Thomas Guy shall depart this life before that he shall attaine the age of
twenty and foure yeares That then my will is that all my interest and right of and into the said farme of
Gauntsearthcot so devised unto him after such his decease shall remayne unto my sonne Robert Guy
his executors & assignes And in case both my sayd sonnes shall depart this life before that any one of
them the said Thomas Guy and Robert Guy shall attaine the age of twenty and foure yeares That then my
will is that all my said interest and right of and unto the said farme of Gauntsearthcot so devised unto


them the said Thomas Guy and Robert Guy after such their deceases shall remaine unto my sayd sonne
William Guy his executors and assignes And in case my said three sonnes Thomas Guy Robert Guy
and William Guy shall depart this life before that anie one of them shall attaine the age of twenty and
foure yeares That then my will is that all my said interest and right of and unto the said farme of
Gauntsearthcott so devised unto them after such their deceases shall remaine unto my daughters Margaret
Petre Mary Guy and Elizabeth Guy their executors and assignes equally to be devided amongst
them if they shall then bee all livinge and in default thereof to the survivors or survivor of them Item I
doe give and bequeat unto my daughter Mary Guy the whole profitts of my sixteenth part of the Prisage
wines of Bristoll for the terme of foure yeares to commence at the feast of St Michaell th'archangell next
ensueinge the departure of mee the said John Guy out of this mortall life, Moreover I doe give and bequeath
unto my daughter Elizabeth Guy the whole profitts of my said sixteenth part of the prysage wine of Bristoll
for the terme of other foure yeares to comence at the expiration of the terme of foure yeares fully to bee
compleate and ended after the feast of St Michaell th'archangell next ensewing the departure of mee the
said John Guy out of this mortall life Furthermore I doe give and bequeath unto my sonne Robert
Guy the whole profitts of my said sixteenth part of prisage wynes of Bristoll for the terme of
two yeares to commence at the expiration of the terme of eight yeares fully to be compleate and ended after
the feast of St Michaell th'archangell next ensuing the departure of mee the said John Guy out of
this mortall life Item I doe give and bequeath unto my sonne William Guy the wholl profitts of my said
sixteenth part of prisage wines of Bristoll for the terme of other two yeares to commence next at the expiracon
of the terme of tenn yeares fully to be compleate and ended after the feast of St Michaell the Archangell
next ensuinge the departure of mee the said John out of this life Item I doe give and bequeath unto my
daughter Mary Guy the whole profitts of the tenement sittuate in Broadstreete within the citty of
Bristoll aforesaid in the the occupacon of Edmond Belsire for the terme of foure yeares to comence at the
feast of the Annuntiation of or blessed ladie the virgin Mary next insuing the departure of mee the said
John Guy out of this life Moreover I doe give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Guy the whole
profitts of the said tenement sittuate in Broadstreete within the said citty of Bristoll in the occupacon of
Edmond Belsire for the terme of other foure yeares to commence at the expiration of the terme of foure
yeares fully to bee compleate and ended after the feast of the annuntiation of the blessed ladie the
Virgin Mary next insuinge the departure of mee the said John Guy out of this life Furthermore
I doe give and bequeath unto my sonne Robert Guy the whole profitts of the said tenement in
Broadstreete for the terme of two yeares to commence at the expiration of the terme of eight yeres
fully to be compleate and ended after the feast of the annuntiation of our blessed ladie the virgin
Mary next ensueing the departure of mee the said John Guy out of this life Item I doe give and
bequeath unto my sonne William Guy the whole profitts of the said tenement in Broadstreete
for the terme of other two yeares to commence at the expiration of the terme of tenn yeares fully to
be compleate and ended and after the feast of our blessed ladie the virgin Mary next insueing the
departure of mee the said John Guy out of this life Item my will is that my executrix shall
mainetaine my children Thomas Guy Robert Guy William Guy Mary Guy and Elizabeth
Guy with apparrell, meate, drinke, and educacon untill their said severall porcons given them by
this my will shalbe come respectively due unto them Item I doe give and devise unto my sonne Thomas
Guy one part of my lands in Newfoundland called the Seaforrest in foure equall parts to be
devided To have and to hold to him the said Thomas Guy and to his heires and assignes forever
Item I doe give and devise unto my sonne Robert Guy one other part of my said landes in New
foundland called the Seaforrest in foure equall parts to be devided To have and to hold to him the
said Robert Guy and to his heires and assignes forever Item I doe give and devise unto my sonne
William Guy one other part of my said lands in Newfoundland called the Seaforrest in foure
equall parts to be devided to have and to hold to him the said William and to his heires and
assignes forever Item I doe give devise and bequeath unto my sonne John Guy his executors and
assignes all the landes tenements meadowe pasture arrable woodland woodgrounds and whatsoevr
el?? I hold or ought to hold by lease or leases for terme or termes of yeares yet to come and unexpired
sittuate within the parrish of Doniton als Donithon als Dinton in the county of Glouc To
have and to hold the said John Guy my sonne his executors and assignes for and duringe the


whole terme and termes of the said lease and leases Item I doe give and bequeath unto my sonne John Guy the
Counter or neast of Boxes wherein the evidence of my landes are placed Item I doe give and bequeath unto my said
sone John Guy all the wainscott and glasse belonging to my howse sittuate in small streete within the Citty of
Bristoll which house is part in the occupation of mee the said John Guy and in other part in the occupation of
Mrs Charity White Item my will is that if any one or more of my children that is to saie Mary Guy
Elizabeth Guy Robert Guy and William Guy shall decase before that the said daughters or either of
them respectively doe attaine to the age of eighteene yeares and the said sonnes or either of them respectively
doe attaine to the age of twenty and foure yeares That then the said profitts of the farme of Gauntsearthcot
the prisage wines of Bristoll and of the tenement of Broadstreete in the Citty of Bristoll so bequeathed unto
them and everie of them so deceasing shall remaine to the survivors or survivor of them the said Mary Guy
Elizabeth Guy Robert Guy and William Guy together with my said sonne Thomas Guy to be equally devided
between them five and the survivors or survivor of them Item my will is that the executrix of this my will
shall grant bargaine and sell to any person or persons their heirs and assignes in fee for such sumes of
money as shee shall think fitt as well all my mannor lands tenements and hereditaments with th'apPARtences
situate in Kingston Seymor in the county of Somrset together with the patronage of the PARsonage of the Church
of Kingston Seymor aforesaid as also all such lands tenements and hereditaments with th'apPARtenances
situate in the parish of Doniton als Donithon als Dinton aforesaid which I have conveyed unto Mrs
Mary Butcher for her securitie for the payment of foure hundred pounds of lawfull money of England
due unto her the foure and twentith day of June which shalle in the yeare of or lord god after the computation
of the church of England one thousand six hundred thirtie and one together with all such other landes
tenements and hereditaments with the appertennce situate in the parishe of Doniton als Donithon als
Dinton aforesaid which I have conveyed unto Mr Abell Kitchen for his security for the payment of
foure hundred and eight poundes of lawfull money of England due unto him the five and twentith day of March which shalbe in the
yeare of or lord god after the computaiton of the church of England one thousand six hundred thirtie & two
the said sumes of money to be imploied not only towards the satisfaction of the said severall sumes of
foure hundred pounds unto the said Mrs Mary Butcher and of foure hundred and eight pounds unto the
said Mr Abell Kitchen but towards the satisfaction of other my debtts Itm the moietie or halfendeale
of what shalbe in surplusage of all my goodes and Chattells together with the sumes of money to be made
of the sale of all the said lands after my debts legacies and funerall expences shalbe satisfied I bequeath
to my sonne John Guy And the other halfe I bequeath to my loving wife Ann Guy Item I doe make
and ordeyne my lovinge wife Anne Guy my full and whole executrix of this my last will and testament
Item I doe make and ordaine my wellbeloved brother in lawe Izraell Gleson gent and my sonne in lawe
Edward Petre Merchant overseers of this my last will and testament unto whom I doe give fortie shillings
a peece In witnes whereof I have written this my last will and testament with mine owne hand and
have hereunto putt my hand and seale the one and twentith day of Februarie in the forth yeare of ye raigne
of or Soveraigne lord Charles by the grace of god king of England Scotland France and Ireland
defender of the faith &c anno?? Domini 1625 John Guy M?? that this twentith and first day of February
anno dni 1625 This last will of mee John Guy the father withinmenconed conteyned in three sheetes of
paper and subscribed with my name and sealed with my seale was recognized and acknowledged to bee
the last will of mee the said John Guy before and in the presencee of the witnesses hereunto required
by me the said John Guy William Atwood Edward Strange William Read

Probatum fuit
[this paragraph continues in latin and appears to grant admon to "Anne Guy relicte et executrix"
on "sexto die mensis Maii Anoo Domini millesimo sexcentesimo vicesimo nono"]

A transcript made from the copy found in PROB 10/470 follows. Clearly this is not the original will (although may of the wills in PROB 10 are originals) because of statement that the original is on three sheets of paper (and yet the document found in PROB 10/470 is on one piece of parchment).

In the name of god Amen I John Guy of the Citty of Bristoll mrchant doe make and ordeyne this my last will and Testamt revoakinge here by all formr wills First I recomend my selfe both body &
Soule into the hands of almightie god beseechinge his divine Ma:tie through the merritts of his onlie sonne or Lord & savior Jesus Christ to have mrcie uppon mee and and to forgive mee all my sins As for my worldlie
basines I doe dispose as followeth First I doe give & bequeath unto the poore the sume of Fiftie shillings of lawfull money of England Itm I doe give & bequeath unto my sister lawe Elizabeth Guy tenne pounds of 
lawfull money of England and to her two daughters Anne Guy & Phillippe Guy tenne pounds a peece to be pd unto them when they shall respectivelie accomplishe the age of eighteene yeares Itm I doe give & bequeath
unto my daughter Marie Guy the wholl PROffits of my Farme scituate in Ganntesearthcot in the PARishe of Almondsburie & Countie of Glouc now in the occupacon of Thomas Sturge for the terme of foure yeares to comence
at the Feast of the Annunciacon of or blessed Ladie the virgin Marie next ensewinge the dePARture of mee the said John Guy out of this life Moreovr I doe give & bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Guy the wholl PROffitts of 
my farme aforesaid scituate in Ganntssearthcot for the terme of other foure yeares to comence at the expiracon of the terme of foure yeares fullie to be compleat & ended after the Feast of the Annunciacon of or blessed Ladie the virgin Marie next
ensewing the dePARture of mee the said John Guy out of this life Furthermore I doe give & unto my sonne Robte Guy the wholl PROffitts of my said farme scituate in Ganntsearthcot for the terme of two yeares
to comence at the expiracon of the terme of eight yeares fullie to be compleat & ended after the Feast of the Annunciacon of or blessed Ladie the virgin Marie next ensewing the dePARture of mee John Guy out of this life 
Itm I doe give & bequeath unto my sonne William Guy the wholl PROffitts of my said farme scituate in Ganntsearthcot for the terme of other two yeares to comence at thexpiracon of the terme of tenne yeares fully to be compleat
and ended after the Feast of the Annunciacon of or blessed Ladie the virgin Marie next ensewinge the dePARture of mee the said John Guy out of this life The residue of the terme & interest wch I have in the said farme
of Ganntsearthcot aswell by the lease granted thereof to one John Large wch was assigned unto mee by my brother in lawe Mr Matthew Buck as alsoe by a new grant made unto mee thereof in revrcon for fourescore
& nynteene yeares yf John Guy Thomas Guy & Marie Guy the Children of mee John Guy or either or any of them shall soe longe live wth all my wholl interest & right therein or thereunto after thexpiracon of the
said terme of twelve yeares after the Feast of the Annunciacon of or blessed Ladie the virgin Marie next ensewinge the dePARture of mee the said John Guy out of this life Together wth the said leases & assignemts thereof
I doe give devise & bequeath unto my said sonne Thomas Guy his executors & assignes Provided allwaies that yf my said sonne Thomas Guy shall dePARte this life before that he shall attaine the age of twentie & foure
yeares that then my will is that all my said interest & right of & unto the said farme of Ganntsearthcot soe devised unto him after such his decease shall remayne unto my sonne Robert Guy his executors & assignes and
in case both my said sonnes shall dePARte this life before that any one of them the said Thomas Guy & Robert Guy shall attaine the age of twentie & foure yeares that then my will is that all my said interest & right 
of & unto the said Farme of Ganntsearthcot soe devised unto them the said Thomas Guy & Robert Guy after such their deceases shall remayne unto my said sonne William Guy his executors & assignes And in case
my said three sonnes Thomas Guy Robert Guy & William Guy shall dePARte this life before that any one of them shall attaine the age of twentie & foure yeares That then my will is that all my said interest 
& right of and unto the said Farme of Ganntsearthcott soe devised unto them after such their deceases shall remayne unto my daughters Margaret Petre Marie Guy & Elizabeth Guy their executors & 
assignes equallie to be divided amongst --them--, yf they shall then bee all livinge and in default thereof to the survivors or survivor of them Itm I doe give & bequeath unto my daughter Marie Guy the wholl
PROffitts of my sixteenth PARte of the prisage wynes of Bristoll for the terme of foure yeares to Comence at the Feast of St Michaell Tharchangell next ensewinge the dePARture of mee the said John Guy out of this life 
Moreovr I doe give & bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Guy the wholl proffitts of my said sixteenth PARte of the prisage wynes of Bristoll for the terme of other foure yeares to comence at thexpiracon of
the terme of foure yeares fullie to be compleat & ended after the Feast of St Michaell Tharchangell next ensewinge the dePARture of mee the said John Guy out of this life Furthermore I doe give & bequeath
unto my sonne Robert Guy the wholl PROffitts of my said sixteenth PARte of prisage wynes of Bristoll for the terme of Two yeares to Comence at the expiracon of the terme of eight yeares fully to be compleat &
ended after the Feast of St Michaell Tharchangell next ensewinge the dePARture of mee the said John Guy out of this life Itm I doe give & bequeath unto my sonne William Guy the wholl PROffitts of my
said sixteenth PARte of prisage wynes of Bristoll for the terme of other two yeares to Comence at the expiracon of the terme of tenne yeares fullie to be compleat & ended after the Feast of St Michaell
the Archangell next ensewinge the dePARture of mee the said John Guy out of this life Itm I doe give & bequeath unto my daughter Marie Guy the wholl PROffitts of the Tenemt scituate in Br---d street
wthin the Citty of Bristoll aforesaid in the occupacon of Edmond Belsire for the terme of foure yeares to Comence at the Feast of the Annunciacon of or blessed Ladie the virgin Marie next ensewinge the dePARture
of mee the said John Guy out of this life Moreover I doe give & bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Guy the wholl proffitts of the said Tenement scituat in Broad street wthin the said Citty of Bristoll in the
occupacon of Edmond Belsire for the terme of other foure yeares to Comence at the expiracon of the terme of foure yeares fullie to be compleat & ended after the feast of the Annunciacon of or blessed Ladie the
virgin Marie next ensewinge the dePARture of mee the said John Guy out of this life Furthermore I doe give & bequeath unto my sonne Robert Guy the wholl PROffitts of the said Tenemt in Broad street
for the terme of Two yeares to Comence at the expiracon of the terme of eight yeares fullie to be compleat & ended after the Feast of the Annunciacon of or blessed Ladie the virgin Marie next ensewing the
dePARture of mee the said John Guy out of this life Itm I doe give & bequeath unto my sonne William Guy the wholl PROffitts of the said Tenemt in Broad street for the terme of other Two yeares to comence at the
xpiracon of the terme of tenne yeares fully to be compleat & ended after the feast of the Annunciacon of or blessed Ladie the virgin Marie next ensewing the dePARture of mee the said John Guy out of this life Itm my will is
that my Executrix shall mainteyne my Children Thomas Guy Robert Guy William Guy Marie Guy & Elizabeth Guy wth apPARell meat drinke and educacon untill their sevrall porcons given them by this my will
shall become respectivelie due unto them Itm I doe give & devise unto my sonne Thomas Guy one PARte of my lands in Newfoundland called the Sea forrest in foure equall PARts to be divided To have & to hold to
him the said Thomas Guy and to his heires & assignes forevr Itm I doe give & devise unto my sonne Robte Guy one other PARte of my said lands in Newfoundland called the Seaforrest in foure equall PARts to be divided
To have and to hold to him the said Robert Guy and to his heires & assignes forevr Itm I doe give & devise unto my sonne William Guy one other PARte of my said lands in Newfoundland called the Seaforrest in four
equall PARts to be divided To have & to hold to him the said William Guy and to his heires and assignes for evr Itm I doe give devise & bequeath unto my sonne John Guy his executors & assignes all the lands Tenemts
meadowe pasture arrable wood & woodgrounds & whatsoevr else I hold or ought to hold by lease or leases for terme or termes of yeares yet to come & unexpired scituat wthin the PARishe of Doniton als Donithon 
als Dinton in the Countie of Glouc To have & to hold to the said John Guy my sonne his executors & assignes for & duringe the wholl terme & termes of the said lease & leases Itm I doe give & bequeath 
unto my  sonne John Guy the Counter or neast of boxes wherein the evidence of my lands are placed Itm I doe give & bequeath unto my said sonne John Guy all the wainscot & glasse belonginge
to my house scituat in Small street wthin the Citty of Bristoll Wch house is PARte in the occupacon of mee the said John Guy & in other PARte in the occupacon of Mrs Charitie White Itm my will is that 
yf any one or more of my children (that is to say) Marie Guy Elizabeth Guy Robert Guy & William Guy shall decease before that the said daughters or either of them respectivelie doe attaine to the age 
of eighteene yeares and the said sonnes of either of them respectively doe attayne to the age of Twentie and foure yeares that then the said PROffitts of the farme of Ganntsearthcot the prisage wynes of Bristoll
and of the Tenemt in Broad street in the Citty of Bristoll soe bequeathed unto them and evrie of them soe deceasing shall remayne to the survivors or survivor of them the said Marie Guy Elizabeth Guy
Robert Guy & William Guy together wth my said sonne Thomas Guy to be equallie divided betweene them Five & the survivors or survivor of them Itm my will is that the Executrix of this my will
shall grant bargaine and sell to any PERson or PERsons their heires & assignes in Fee for such sumes of money as shee shall thinke fitt aswell all my Mannor lands Tenemts & hereditamts wth the apPURtenncs 
scituate in Kingston Seymor in the Countie of Somrset Together wth the Patronage of the PARsonage of the Church of Kingston Seymor aforesaid As alsoe all such lands Tenemts & hereditamts wth thapPURtencs
scituat in the PARishe of Doniton als Donithon als Dinton aforesaid wch I have conveyed unto Mrs Marie Butcher for her securitie for the paymt of foure hundred pounds of lawfull money of England
due unto her the Fower & Twentith day of June wch shalbe in the yeare of or Lord god after the Computacon of the Church of England One Thousand six hundred Thirtie and one Together with all such
other lands Tenemts & hereditamts wth the apPURtenncs scituate in the PARishe of Dointon als Doynthon als Dinton aforesaid which I have conveyed unto Mr Abell Kitchen for his securitie for the
paymt of Fower hundred & eight pounds of lawfull money of England due unto him the Five & twentith day of March wch shalbe in the yeare of or Lord god after the computacon of the church of 
England One Thousand six hundred Thirtie and Two the said sumes of money to be ymploied not onlie towards the satisfaccon of the said sevrall sumes of Fower hundred pounds unto the said
Mrs Marie Butcher and of Fower hundred and eight pounds unto the said Mr Abell Kitchen but towards the satisfaccon of other my debts Itm the moietie or halfendeale of what
shalbe in surplusage of all my goods & Chattles Together wth the sumes of money to be made of the sale of all the said lands after my debts legacies & funerall expences shalbe satisfied I bequeath to my
sonne John Guy and the other halfe I bequeath to my lovinge wife Anne Guy Itm I doe make and ordeyne my lovinge wife Anne Guy my full and wholl executrix of this my last will & testament
Itm I doe make and ordeyne my welbeloved brother in lawe Izraell Gleson Gent & my sonne in lawe Edward Petre mrchant overseers of this my last will & testamt unto whom I doe give Fortie shillings
a peece In witnes whereof I have written this my last will & testamt wth myne owne hand & have hereunto put my hand and seale the one and Twentith day of Februarie in the first yeare of the
raigne of or sovraigne Lord Charles by the grace of god kinge of England Scotland France and Ireland defendor of the faith &c Annoq Dni 1625 John Guy Md that this twentith and first 
day of Februarie Anno dni ---- This last will of mee John Guy the father within menconed conteyned in three sheets of paper & subscribed with my name & sealed wth my seale was recognized 
& acknowledged to be the last will of mee the said John Guy before & in the ----- of the witnesses under written hereunto required by mee the said John Guy     William Atwood 
Edward Strange  William Read

Last Modified: Friday, 05-Feb-2021 15:11:51 NST