Source: TNA, PROB 11/373
If you came to this page directly, then you might want to know that I have additional family history information on my website.
John Durell Dr of Divinities and Deane of the Kings Free Chapell within his Maties castle of Windsor sound both of body and minde at this present by Gods blessing but knowing and considering that death is a Debt incumbent upon every man indispensibly owe to pay and that the time of that payment is uncertaine and may come every moment being knowned of God alone I therefore does thinke it fitt being thus disposed while God gives mee time and oppertunity lest some unexpected accident hinder mee to dispose of my body and estate in manner following For as for my soule I trust to God who has created it and redeemed it through the blood of Christ my Saviour that hee will take it to himselfe and make it eternally happy in heaven above for his deare sonne Jesus his sake our Lord and that I through his grace I shall die as I have lived in the beleefe and profession of the Protestant Religion by Law established in the Church of England the best constituted in my indg?? of all the reformed churches next I desire my Executrix to allw mee decent and christian buriall according to the rights of the said Church of England if I dye within this realme or according to the rights of any Protestant Church where God shall please to call mee to bee interr'd there without Pompe or vanity laying upon my grave a flat tombestone with this inscription Johannes Durell S.Th:D Rgij Windsoriensis ????? Decanus hi???aret bea??m ex?ectaris resurectionem And as for the estate wch God has been pleased to bestow upon mee I have already long agoe given among my sisters that wch did belong to mee of my fathers Inheritance in Jersey And now I give to the Quire men of Windsor Chappell as also to the other Colledge servants ???? Sexton and ???? the sume of Twenty nobles and to the Poore of both the Castle and Town of Windsor of Five pounds Item Five pounds to the Quire men of the Cathedrall Church of Durham and the like summe to the poore people of the Towne there which foure summes I will that my Executrix within convenient time the soonest shee can pay to the respective Deanes and Chapters of each place to bee by them distributed according to their discretion And I give also the sum of five pounds to the poore people of Woolvenhampton in Staffordsheire to bee paid as above said to All??ree the now Preacher there or to the preacher for the time being to bee distributed by his discretion Also to the poore people of Overton parish in Hampsheire the summe of Fifty shillings to bee paid to the Vicar for the time being to bee distributed by him and the church wardens there among the Poore of the said parish I give them noe more because I have given them yearly the same sume all along since I had Overton but first of all I appoint all my just and lawfull debts to bee paid (if I have any) Item I give to my only deare sonne Henry Durell all my Studdy of books and one hundred pounds in money wch I desire my deare wife his mother to keepe for him till hee bee of Age or bee married with her consent and by her advice And I leave him noe more because I will have him to depend wholly upon his Mother to whom I give all the remainder of my estate whatever it is, not doubting but shee will leave all to him, if as a dutyfull child hee bee advised by her in all things and not venture upon any businesse without her counsell and approbacon which I charge him to doe upon my blessing specially in marrying when hee is fitt for that the reason why I leave and give and bequeath her the remainder of my estate as I doe by this my last Will and Testament is because shee has as much right to it in equity as my selfe in as much as by her thrift and discreet management of my yearely Incombe and what shee brought to mee she has helpt to save and put up the small estate I leave only I recommend to her my good mother to releive her according to her want shee may bee in and her owne discretion if shee bee liveing after my death and in case which God forbid our only deere sonne Henry should depart this life before her and without lawfull Issue I desire my said deare wife to settle all our saidestate upon mine and her kindred on every side equally but yet according to her owne discretion as to the PARticular PERsons and as shee shall see cause Provided that underthe name of Kindred bee only understood mine and her brothers sisters nephews and neeces and no others And I desire Mr Joh: Brisbon my ????nt and true freind at Secretary of the Admiraltie to bee Assistant in all hee can to my said deare wife and also my wifes brother Mr Joh: Maximilian del'Anay Prebundary of the Cathedrall Church of Canterbury both whom I desire to bee Overseers of this my last will and Testament whereof I appoint my said deare wife Mary sole Executrix And I desire her to give her brother of Ja??? if hee outlives mee and to those two gentlemn last named if they outlive mee likewise twenty nobles a peece to buy them rings to weare for my sake And the Lords will bee done of mee and ???e Amen at?????y in Oxfordsheire Aprill the first one thousand six hundred eighty in the one and thirtieth yeare of the reigne of our Sovreigne Lord King Charles the second of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c I does revoke all former wills if any I have made John Durell I give and bequeath also to all and every one of theose that shall bee actually in my Service at the time of my decease one whole year of their wages John Durel Signed Sealed and published in the prsence of A Durel ?? D? L angle Isaac Lion Bee it remembered that this day August the twentieth eight one stylo now being at Paris in the way to Bourbon whether I am sent for my health I doe confirm my above written will which in the leafe joyned with this in all and every thing therein contained express't in this that instead of my brother John Maximilion De Lough I put in his room and stead Mr Anthony Guidet my specially good Freind And in case my wife should die before mee or appoint noe others I doe appoint both Mr John Brisbon above named and the said Mr Anthony Guidot the Executors of this my last Will and Testament and doe ent??ate them to take care of my sonns Educacon to have him brought up in the feare of God and in some honest way of liveing These words interlined or appoint noe others were inserted before the ensealing hereof John Durell sealed in the prsence of Richard Bell Susanna King George Evans witnesse Probatum fuit [this paragraph continues in latin and appears to grant admon at London to] Maria Durel vidua Relicta et Executris [on 2 July 1683] secundo die mensis July Anno Dni millimo sexcesimo octogenis tertio
Last Modified: Saturday, 03-Aug-2013 14:04:00 NDT