The Will of Simon Bibb

Summary:
 

Testator: Simon Bibb (1), ironmonger, of Walsall, Staffordshire

Wife: Jone

Sons: Simon (executor) and Thomas (2)

Tenants: Sheldon Burrows, John Lea

Daughters: Hollis, Deykin, Waddam, Walker (3)

Grandchildren: Simon Waddam, Richard Waddam, Anna Waddam, Mary Waddam, Simon Burrows, Joan Burrows (4), William Walker

Signed: 24th day of June 1723

Witnesses: Richard Sanders, Edward Freeman, John Cox

Probate: granted in London 1 April 1725 to Simon Bibb

Notes:
 

1. Testator (d 1724) was mayor of Walsall in 1693, 1706 and 1721; he was married twice, his first wife Anna being the mother of his children

2. Simon (b 1680) married Mary Nickins and had children; Thomas was born in 1690

3. The daughters and their husbands were: Joane and Samuel Deykin; Mary (b 1687) and Sheldon Waddam; Elizabeth (b 1692)and Samuel Walker; Alice (b 1683) may have married of Richard Hollis, mayor of Walsall in 1734, and thus be “daughter Hollis”

4. The Burrows grandchildren were children of Anna Bibb and Thomas Burrows; presumably Anna was dead by the time her father made his will

Source:

UK National Archives, Prob 11/602, Image 251

Text:

In the name of God, Amen. I, Simon Bibb of Walsall in the county of Stafford, Ironmonger, being not well in body but of good and perfect memory praised be to God, do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following
First, I commend myself into the hands of God my maker, hoping assuredly in and through the alone merits of Jesus Christ my saviour to be made partaker or everlasting life and as for that worldly estate which God hath in mercy bestowed upon me, I dispose thereof in manner and form following,
First, I give unto my dear and loving wife Jone Bibb twenty pounds to buy her mourning and the rest for present use until the rents are received and likewise the household goods that she brought with her and are now in the best chamber
Item, I give unto my son Thomas Bibb all those debts that are due me at my decease from all those persons that live in London, and if they should not amount unto three hundred pounds my will is that my executor makes it up so much, and likewise fifty pounds more to be paid to him by my executor within fourteen days after my decease, moreover I give my son Thomas Bibb that house with all appurtenances belonging to it which is in Rushall Street called the Bull-head, now in the tenure of Sheldon Burrows
Item, I give unto my daughter Hollis ten pounds and to my daughter Deykin ten pounds and to my daughter Waddam the profits of that house or houses and land lying in West Bromwich which I brought of her husband to be paid her weekly by my executor, his assigns, and after her decease I give the said houses and lands to my grandson Simon Waddam, he the said Simon paying to his brother Richard and his two sisters Anna and Mary twenty pounds apiece
Item, I give to my daughter Walker five pounds yearly to be paid her by two shillings a week by my executor or his assigns for her life and if not duly paid my will is that she shall have power to enter and receive the rent of that house and land lying at Burchills now in the tenure of John Lea
Item, I give unto my grandson Simon Burrows fifty pounds and to my granddaughter Joan Burrows ten pounds if they live to come at age twenty and one years
I give likewise five pounds to put out my grandson Richard Waddam’s apprentice and five pounds to put out my grandson William Walker apprentice
And after my just debts and funeral charges and legacies paid, I give the rest of my personal estate unto my executor and likewise the rest of my real estate that is not already settled I give to him and to his heir male and for such to my son Thomas Bibb and his heirs male and for want of such to return to the right heirs of my son Simon Bibb
And lastly I make my son Simon Bibb my executor of this my last will and testament
In witness whereof I have put my hand and seal this 24th day of June 1723 Simon Bibb, senior

Sealed and signed in the presence of Richard Sanders, Edward Freeman, John Cox

Probate (in Latin) was granted in London 1 April 1725 to Simon Bibb, son of the deceased and executor named in the will