The Will of Frances Adams

 

Whereas it is appointed to all once to dye and after Death to come to Judgement I ffrances Adams of St Albans in the County of Hertford widow Considering the Certainty of death and how uncertaine the day and houre of death is an being willing that when I come to dye I may have little else to doe but to dye Doe in order thereunto (being of sound and perfect mind and memory for which I praise Allmighty God) make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following (that is to say) ffirst I commend my Soule into the hands of Allmighty God my Creator stedfastly believing through his Holy Spirit by the bitter death and bloody passion of his Son and my ever blessed Saviour Jesus Christ to receive full pardon and free remission of all my Sins and to inherit eternall life. My Body I commit to the Earth to be buried in such decent and Christian manner as my Executor hereafter named shall think fitt And as for my worldly Estate which it hath pleased Allmighty God I give devise and dispose thereof as followeth Vizt whereas I have lately surrendered into the hands of the Lord of the Mannor of Debden in the County of Essex all those my customary pieces or parcels of pasture and meadow ground containing by Estimation twelve acres and a halfe more or less with the appurtenances called Long Willes and all other my Copyhold lands holden of the said Mannor to the use and behoofe of my last Will and Testament in writing and to such person and persons and for such estate and Estates as I shall therein declare limitt and appoint Now I doe hereby give devise limmitt and appoint all my said Coppyhold lands holden of the said Mannor unto my God Son ffrancis Skegg his heires and Assignes forever Provided allways and upon Condition That if the said ffrancis Skegg his heires Executors Administrators or Assignes doe not or shall not pay or cause to be paid unto his Mother Mary Skegg Ten pounds and unto his Sister five pounds and unto my Cozen George Gilbert ten pounds and unto my Cozen William Skegg son of my Cozen William Skegg ten pounds and unto my Cozen ffrances brand Daughter of ffrances Brand five pounds and unto my Cozen Anthony Brand thirty pounds within twelve month after my decease That then this Gift and devise of my said Copyhold Lands with the appurtenances to my said Cozen ffrances Skegg and his heires shall be void. And I doe then give and devise the same unto my Cozen Daniel Parsons and his heires he and they paying thereout the said legacies before by me given and bequeathed Nevertheless my mind and will is that if my said Cozen Anthony Brand shall happen to dye before the said Summe of Thirty pounds be due and paid unto him as aforesaid that the said Summe of thirty pounds shall be paid to his Son Richard Brand if he be then Living And if he be then dead That then the said Summe of Thirty pounds be shall be paid to such other Son or Sons of my said Cozen Anthony Brand as shall be then living equally to be divided amongst them. Alsoe I give and bequeath unto my said Cozen Daneil Parsons fifty pounds. Alsoe I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth the Daughter of my Cozen Quarterman Twenty pounds. Alsoe I give and bequeath unto unto my Cozen John Quarterman twenty pounds. Alsoe I give and bequeath unto my Cozen William Parsons Ten Pounds. Alsoe I give and bequeath unto Hannah and Jone two Daughters of my Cozen Edward Parsons ten pounds a piece Alsoe I give and bequeath unto my Cozen George Brooker and to his Sister Elizabeth ten pounds a piece. All the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Goods and Chattells Reall and Personall Estate whatsoever my Debts being paid and legacies and funeral charges discharged I give and bequeath unto my said Cozen Daniel Parons whome I make constitute and ordaine full and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament. And my mind and will is that the six last legacies by me hereby given shall be paid unto the severall and respective Legatees within Twelve months after my decease And lastly I doe revoke all former Wills by me made and declare this to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have sett my hand and Seale the Seaventh day of August in the Sixth yeare of the Reigne of Our Soveraigne Lady Anne by the Grace of God Queene of Great Britain ffrance and Ireland Defender of the ffaith Annoq Domini One thousand Seaven hundred and Seaven// ffrances Adams

(Attestation Clause)
John Leigh
Jos Leigh Jun.
Hannah Hurst

Codicil varying period for payment of legacies from six months to two years dated 12 December 1707

witnessed by Nicholas Bradwin, John Bradwin, Mary Parsons

Proved at London 9 March 1707/8
PCC
Prob11/500