28 February 1697 Will of Benjamin Skutt senior of Barbados, esquire (proved 15 July 1699)

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	Barbados

In the name of God Amen
This Eight and Twentieth day of February in the yeare of our 
Lord Christ One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety and Seaven I 
Benjamin Skutt Senr of the Island of Barbadoes Esqr being sicke and
weake of body but of sound perfect and disposing mind and memory 
priased be God Doe and considering the incertaine time of life Comitting
my Soule into the hands of Almight God and trusting in Jesus Christ my
Saviour for remission of my sinns and salvation of my Soule and comitting
my body to the Earth to be decently buried by my Sonns Thomas Skutt one
of my Executors herein after named and appointed for this my worldly estate


wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I doe make this my last Will
and Testament in writing hereby in manner and forme following vizt 
Imprimis Whereas my eldest Sonn William Skutt hath bin very unkinde to
me and hath very unjustly dealt with me I therefore doe hereby give and
bequeath unto my said Sonn William Skutt only the sume of Tenn pounds
Sterling to be paid unto him out of my Estate by my Executor hereafter
named Item I give and bequeath unto my two daughters 
Mary Skutt and Anne Skutt all my Gold and rings and all my plate 
which I now have by me and in my possession all the said gold rings
and plate equally to be divided between my said two daughters 
Item all the rest of my Estate whatsoever both reall and personall
in this Island or elswhere I give devise and bequeath equally unto
and amongst those my five Children following namely Joseph Skutt,
Thomas Skutt, Benjamine Skutt junr and the said Mary and Anne Skutt
to be divided amongst my said Five Children and to be & remaine unto and amongst
them and theire Heyres and Assignes for ever And I doe hereby 
make ordaine nominate and appointe my said Five Children vizt
the said Joseph Skutt Thomas Skutt Benjamine Skutt junr Mary and
Anne Skutt Executors of this my last Will and Testament And in
regard only of my said Five Children my said Sonn Thomas Skutt
is now living here in Barbados I doe name constitute and make my
said Sonn Thomas Skutt Executor of this my said last Will and
Testament of and concerning my estate here in Barbados or in the
absence of my said other Executors before named hereby requiring
my said Sonn Thomas Skutt to see and cause all my abovesaid 
gold ring and plate to be faithfully and justly paid and delivered 
to and between my said two daughters as abovesaid hereby given and
bequeathed unto them And lastly I doe hereby revoke and make
null and voyd all former and other Wills and Testaments whatsoever
heretofore at any time by me made willing that this my present last
Will and Testament only shall stand and be in force In Witness
whereof I the said Benjamin Skutt senr have to this my last Will
and Testament sett and putt my hand and seale the day and yeare 
first above written The marke of Benjamin Skutt Signed sealed
published and declared by the above named Benjamin Skutt
Senr to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us 
Samuell Stoker Mathias Childs Henry Pike Robt Gibbs Mary
Newton

	Decimo quinto July Anno Domini 1699

Which day appeared personally John Hart of
the parish of St Peter Cheape of London Cittizen and Mercer of
London aged 38 yeares and upwards and being sworne upon the
Holy Evangelists of God to say and depose the truth did say
and depose that Mr William Hart the Deponents brother was on
the Twenty Fourth of Aprill 1699 Secretary to his Excellency the
honble Ralph Grey Esqr Governour of his Maties Island of
Barbadoes and was then also deputy Secratary of the Government 
of the said Islands and that he this Deponent hath severall times
seen the said William Hart write and hath received severall Letters
from him and is thereby well acquainted with his manner and
Character of handwriting and that he the Deponent having seen


an Instrument or writeing purporting a Will of Benjamine Skutt
Senr of the said Island of Barbadoes Esqr which writing begins thus
vizt In the name of God Amen This Eight and Twentieth day of
February and ends thus (vizt) the day and yeare first above written
and having also seen and perused these words vizt A true Coppy attested 
this 24th of Aprill 1699 per me William Hart D Secratary wrote on
the other side of the sheet of paper of the said writing importing the
Will of the said Benjamine Skutt does for the reasons aforesaid beleive
the words or name Wm Hart D Secry to be wrote and subscribed by
and with the proper handwriting of the aforesaid Mr William Hart the
Deponents brother who now is (as the Deponent very believes) Secry
to the aforesaid Governour of the said Island of Barbadoes John
Hart

	Die ??? Jurat Coram ?? W Clements Surr

Probatum fuit ... apud London
[this paragraph continues in Latin to grant probate on 15 July 1699]
Decimo quinto die mensis July Anno Domini
Millimo Sexcemmo Nonagemo Nono
[to]
Joseph Skutt
[and]
Joseph Fabian

Last Modified: Thursday, 21-Jul-2022 16:39:57 NDT