1 May 1654 Will of John Harsfeild of Bedminster, Somerset (proved 18 January 1655)

Source: TNA, PROB 11/252

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In the Name of God Amen I John Harsfeild of
Bedminster in the Countie of Somersett Gent doe make publish and ordaine this my
last will and testament in writting Comitting my soule to God whoe gave it and my bodie to
the earth whereof it was And as for that small estate it hath pleased god to blesse me with 
I thus dispose First I give to my two daughters Hester and Sarah two hundred and fiftie
pounds which is to be paid them within six monethes afte the decease of theire grand
mother Claxton and for which the messuage or tenement with thappurtenances 
wherein shee nowe dwells as alsoe the windmill watermilles and grounds to them adioning
and belonginge scituate and beinge in Bedminster aforesaid are tied by writings for the
true paiement thereof And whereas Mrs Hester Claxton my mother in law is indebted to
me uppon inst Consideracons as moneyes lent and contract in Marriage about the some
of seaven score pounds Considering her condicon in case shee shall breed upp my said two
daughters dureinge her life in the feare of God and to such learneinge as becomes theire
serts I doe freely Remtt                          one hundred pounds thereof Item I give
and bequeath unto my daughter Hester All that my Burgage Messuage or tenement garden
and backside thereunto belonginge with theappurtenancs and all my estate and terme
therein to come scituat lyeinge and beinge in Somrton in the County of Somrsett now in my
dispossage with this Caution or provisoe that if my Overseers or trustees hereundernamed
shall thincke it expedient to sell the same I doe hereby impower them soe to doe giveing my
said daughter some Considerable satisfaction in lew thereof out of my PERsonall estate and
Item I give unto my Brother Richard Harsfeild and to Bridgett his wife and to the heires
of theire bodie and for want of such issue to the heires of the said Bridgett for ever my lands
in Wix Oldbury in the Countie of Gloucester Item I give unto my father in remembrance
of my dutie twentie shilings and to each of my naturall sisters tenn shillings apeece
in token of my love to be paid within six weeks next after my decease Item I give to the
poore of the parish of Winterborne in the Countie of Gloucester tenn shillings And as
to my personall estate of what condicon soever my will is that the same might bee
indifferrently appraised and disposed of to the best advantage and the proffitts there
										by to


thereby to be raysed to pay all such debt or debts as shall appeare to be iustly due to any PERson
or PERsons whatsoever And the remaynder therof to contenue in the hands of my trustees
to Reimburse them of any charges and trouble they shalbee put unto Concerneinge the
getting in of my debts or disposall of any other my estate and to be accountable to my
said two daughters for the overplus equally to be shared betweene them And I doe
hereby Constitute and appoynt my daughter Hester Clapton to be my sole Executrix of this
my last will and my trustee freinds Walter Pykes of the Cittie of Bristoll gent and Thomas
Langford of Stoke Gifford in the Countie of Glocester gent to be trustees and overseers 
of this my last will and testament and in token of my love besides the charges to be borne
as is above menconed I doe give unto each of them Twentie shillings to buy them
mourninge Ringes And that that meony the Burgage Messuage or tenement and
PREmisses with thappurtenancs beforenamed shalbe sould for to goe with the rest
of my PERsonall estate to pay my debts and the overplus to be equally divided betweene
my said to Children after my Legacies and funarall charges thereout defraied In
witnes whereof to thie my last will and testament hereby Revoakinge all former wills
heretofore by me made I have put my hand and seale the first day of May in the yeare
of or Lord God accordinge to the Computacon of the Church of England One thowsand
six hundred Fiftie and fower John Harsfeild signed sealed delivered Published
and declared to be the last will and testament in the presence of Hugh Dunsterbill
Clearke John Watkis Robert Jones John Herbrough

The Eighteenth day of January One thowsand six hundred
fiftie and five Issued forth ??? of Administracon with this will annexed To
Nicholas Archbold Es?? the Principall Creditor of John Harsfeild deceased To
Administer all and singuler the goods Chattles Rights and creditts of the said
deceased in this will named dureinge the minoritie and nonage and to the sole
use and benefitt of Hester Harsfeild the daughter and sole Executrix named in the
said will he the said Nicholas Archbold Es?? being first sworne truely to Admister
dureing the minoritie of the said minor and Executrix

Last Modified: Saturday, 26-May-2018 14:31:13 NDT