The Will of William Greene

 

In the Name of God Amen I William Greene of the Burrough of Stafford in the County of Stafford Gentleman being of sound mind and memory Praised be Almighty God but considering that I must Ere long departe this life do make this my Last Will and Testament in manner following ffirst I bequeath my precious and immortal Soul into the hands of Almighty God that made it and hoping thro his infinite mercy and the meritts of my Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ I shall have forgivenesse and pardon for all my Sins and inheritt immortall life when this mortall one shall end And I desire my body may be decently interred at the discretion and direction of my Executors herein after named And as to the Temporall Estate of which God in his mercy hath made me his Steward I dispose thereof as followeth Imprimis I give and devise unto my daughter Anne Greene the Sume of seven hundred pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain to be paid unto her at the end of twelve Months next after my decease Item I give and devise to my daughter Margarett Greene the like sume of seven hundred pounds to be paid unto her likewise at the End of twelve Months next after my decease Item I give and devise unto my loving wife my paire of Coach Mares and the Charriott and my Will is that so long as she my said wife shall please to live in the house wherein I now live in Stafford that she shall during such time have liberty of keeping the said Mares or any two in case of the death of those in my Lands and Grounds upon condition neverthelesse that She my said wife do give a pfect Inventory of those Goods and such ffurniture that I had with her at the time of our intermarriage and that the same be secured that they may come to and amongst all our Children that are now unmarried in Equall proportions and shares upon the decease of my said wife And my will is that my said unmarried Children shall upon the decease of my said wife have all the rest of the furniture of my said House in Stafford and my plate there each of them one fourth parte or Share Item I will and devise that all such debts that I owe to any person or persons whatsoever shall be well and truely paid and discharged by my Eldest Son William Greene and the better to enable him to pay the saidn Legacys devised to my said daughters and for the payment of my debts I give unto my said Son All my Lands Tenements and Hereditaments whatsoever within the Realme of Great Britaine (other than such as I have already Settled upon my son Edward Greene) To hold all and every the said Lands Tenements and Hereditaments unto my said Son William Greene his Heires and Assignes All my Personall Estate of what nature or kind soever the same may be Item I give unto my said four unmarried children five pounds apeice to buy them severally mourning Item I give to my loving son in law Thomas Whitbey Esq and his wife to each of them five pounds to buy them mourning Item I give and devise unto my loving Brother in law Humphrey Perye Esq the like sum of five pounds to buy him mourning Item I give unto my loving Sister Mrs Walter five pounds to buy her mourning and to my loving ffreind Mr George Gatacre five pounds to buy him mourning Item I make constitute and appoint my said Brother in Lawe Mr Perys my Son in Law Mr Whitbey and my said Sister Mrs Walter Executors of this my Will desireing them to see the same in all things fulfilled and duely performed In witnesse whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this ninth day of ffebruary Anno Domini 1715 Willm Greene

(Attestation Clause)

Walter Yonge
Tho: Dickenson
Sarah Watwood
Geo: Gatacre

Proved 18 February at London 1716/7
PCC
Prob11/556