Gartharet SAYER of Preston upon Tees

PCC ref. 11/299

Will of Gartharet SAYER written 15 Sep 1658, with codicil dated October 11th 1659.

Will proved 17 July 1660

In the name of God Amen I Gartharet Sayer

of Preston uppon Tease in the Countie of Durham Widdow being sicke in body but perfect in mind all Laud and praise bee to God therefore doe make and ordaine in manner and ffollowing  First I doe give and bequeath my soule into the handes of Almighty God my maker hopeing through the merrits of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer to bee an inheriter of the Kingdome of Heaven there to remaine with his blessed Saints and Angells forever And my body to the Earth ffrom whence it came  And concerneing that smal porcon of monies which God hath given mee in this world I doe give and bequeath as ffoloweth ~ First I doe give and bequeath unto such godly uses as I shall acquainte my Executors with ffive poundes  And likewise I doe give and bequeath unto my Executors who I shall here after name ffive poundes for and towards my funerall expenses  Item I doe give and bequeath unto my grandchild ffrancis Sayer ffive poundes  Item I doe give and bequeath unto my

sonne Thomas Sayer for a Legacie twentie shillings and likewise unto my sonne James Sayer for a Legacie twentie shillings  Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne Richard Sayer my plough and plough geere waine and waine geere and implements of husbandrie  Item I doe give and bequeath unto my daughter ffrancess Sawyer all mu houshold stuffe whatsoever  Item I doe give and bequeath unto my two sonnes Thomas Sayer and James Sayer after Legacies debts and funerall expences bee deducted one third part of all my goods and Chattells to bee equallie divided betwenne them in full of their filiall childs part and porcons  Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne Richard Sawyer and my daughter Frances Sawyer ~ my good will and title of the house wherein I (now) live and the ffarme thereunto belonging formerlie held under Mr Lawrence Sawyer  all the Remainder of my goods and chattell and Chattells and personall estate whatsoever I doe give and bequeath unto my sonne Richard Sawyer and my daughter Frances Sayer whom I doe make sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament  In witnesse whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the ffifteenth day of September in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred ffifty eight  Gartharett Sawyer her marke

 Wittnesse whereof Elizabeth Hutton her marke John Burdon cler/

October 11o 59  It. my will is that my sonne Thomas Sayer shall hynder or goe aboute to frustrateing intencons herein in what nature soever that hee relinquish his interest in my goods and Chattells and bee debarred of anie beneffitt thereof being one sixth part  Witnesse hereof ~

John Burden

This Will was proved Att London/\ Before the right Worpll William ~  Mericke doctor of Lawes Master Keeper or Comissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury ~ Lawfully Constituted by the oathes of Richard Sayer and ffrances Sayer Joynt Executors named in the said Will To whome Administracon of all and singuler the goods chattells and debts of the said deceased was granted They being ffirst by comon sworne well and truely to Adm’ster.

(NOTE: This is a verbatim transcript, spelling has not been corrected and abbreviations are as written.

Worpll, for example is abbreviated Worshipfull, comon  is commission.  The letter “c” was commonly used for “ti” in words such as Administracon [Administration] and satisfaccon [satisfaction].

Interesting how the surname is written as both SAYER and SAWYER within this single document.   )