In the name of God Amen I Edward Vye of Arne within the Isle of Purbeck and County of Dorsett Gent being of perfect health of body and of sound and perfect memory (thanks be given to God therefore) calling to mind that irrevokeable statute and decree of God that it is appointed for all men once to dye Doe therefore make this my last Will and Testament in writing in manner and forme as followeth And first I comit my soule into the hands of Allmighty God my heavenly ffather trusting only to be saved by the precious merits of Christ Jesus my saviour and Redeemer and my body to the earth from whence it was taken to be decently (but not costly) buryed in the Chappell of Arne aforesaid or close to the grave of my sonne John lately buryed in the Chappell there (if it may be) or else under my owne seate and the seate of my late ffather in Law Thomas Baker And as concerning my Worldly Estate which the Lord in mercy hath lent me I doe thus dispose and distribute the same (Vizt) I give unto Mary my loving Wife my Tenement at Lytchet called by the name of Gatches Tenement for the terme of her naturall life if my Daughters Ann Baker and Margaret Vye or either of them shall happen to live so long moreover I give unto her the said Mary during her naturall life if my Daughter Mary shall happen to live so long the Reversion when it falleth which I have in the Widow Bakers Tenement in Knowle during the life of her my said Daughter Mary ffurthermore I give unto her the said Mary my Wife the use of all my moneys Plate stock of Cattle of all sorts and the use of all my Household Stuffe and impliments of Household whatsoever now being and remaining in my dwelling House at Arne aforesaid and upon my Tenement there during the naturall life of her the said Mary my wife as well as for her owne better lively hood as to help her alsoe the better to educate and bring up my Daughters Elizabeth Mary and Margaret Vye until they and every of them shall happen to be marryed if shee my said Wife shall happen to live so long Item after the decease of my said Wife I give unto my Daughter Anne Baker the said Tenement at Lytchet aforesaid called Gatches Tenement for and during the whole time and terme of her naturall life of her the said Anne And after the decease of her my said Daughter Anne I give the same Tenement unto my said Daughter Margaret Vye for the terme of her natural life Item I give unto my said Daughter Mary after the death of the aforesaid Widow Baker and death of my said Wife the Reversion which I now have in the said Widow Baker’s Tenement in Knowle aforesaid together with the same Tenement for and during the whole time and terme of the naturall life of her the said Mary my Daughter Item I give unto the said Anne Baker my said Daughter Three score pounds of lawfull English money to be paid unto her within three monthes next after such time as shee the said Anne shall depart out of my dwelling house at Arne aforesaid and dwell in some other place or Howse of her owne and not depend upon me or my said Wife her Mother for dyet either for her selfe or her child Item I give unto Thomas Baker my Grandchild the sonne of my said Daughter Anne Baker and to his Heires that parcel of Land which I have within the Burrough of Corffe Castle and which is now leased out unto Knowles of Corfe Castle aforesaid Blacksmith for ninety nine yeares if hee and the now wife of Matthew Moss of Corfe Castle aforesaid or either of them shall happen to live so long But if it shall happen that the said Thomas Baker my Grandchild shall depart this life before hee shall attaine unto his full age of one and twenty yeares or without issue of his body lawfully begotten to survive him Then after his death I give the said parcel of Land unto my said Daughter Margaret Vye and her Heires for ever Item I give unto my said Daughters Mary Vye and Elizabeth Vye one hundred pounds apiece to each of them and unto my said Daughter Margaret Vye I give the sume of one hundred pounds alsoe which said severall Legacies and sumes of money shall be paid by my Executrix in manner following that is to say The one halfendeale of each of my said Daughters Legacies on each of my said daughters severall dayes of marriage or within six monthes next after And the other halfendeale within six monthes next after the decease of the said Mary my Wife their Mother And in case that any or either of my said Daughters shall happen to dye before they or either of them be marryed my Will is that the Legacie or portion by me herein and hereby given unto such or soe many of my said Daughters soe happening to dye before marriage shall be equally divided amongst all the others of my Daughters that shall survive her or them soe happening to dye before marriage as aforesaid Item my Will further is That if it shall soe happen that any or either of my said Daughters Mary Elizabeth and Margaret shall happen to be marryed in my lifetime and that I doe make noe other Will but this before I leave this world That the said Mary my Wife their Mother shall not be charged by this my Will to pay any more of the portions or Legacies than what I shall not pay in my life time but leave to be paid after her decease Item I give unto Thomas ffrankling my sonne in Law five pounds my old silver Beer bowle and my fowling peice to be paid and delivered within three monthes next after my Decease I give alsoe unto Thomas Baker my sonne in Law Tenne shillings and to Elinor Chasye my Daughter in Law Tenne shillings to buy each of them a Ring Alsoe I give to the Poore of Arne aforesaid tenne shillings to be distributed amongst them by my Executrix within one Month next after my decease where most need requires All the rest of my Goods and Chattells whatsoever after my said Legacies & Debts and funeral charges are defrayed and paid I give and leave unto the said Mary my loving wife to be by her at or before the time of her decease distributed amongst all my Daughters which shall be then living as shee shall think fit and I doe nominate and appoint her the said Mary my loving wife to be the sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament But if it shall soe happen that shee my said Wife shall depart this life before my said Legacies be paid or secured to be paid by her or my goods chattels plate and Household Stuffe be not by her in her life time distributed amongst all my said Daughters nor by her last Will and Testament appointed soe to be Then after the decease of her my said Wife I doe hereby nominate and appoint my loving Kinsmen William Collins and Giles Collins his Brother to be my Executors in truth and to see such Legacies paid unto my said Daughters as shall not be paid by my said Wife before the time of her decease As alsoe to cause such Goods and Chattells of mine Plate and Household stuffe which my said Wife in her lifetime or by her last Will & Testament shall not givre unto or distribute amongst my said Daughters to be distributed amongst them according to my Will hereinbefore expressed And I doe give unto them the said William Collins and Giles Collins Tenne shillings apeice as token of my love not doubting of their fidelity and care to see this my Will performed In Witness whereof I the said Edward Vye have hereunto set my hand and seale the last Day of November in the three and thirtieth yeare of the Reigne of our Sovereign Lord King Charles the second over England Annoq Dm One thousand six hundred eighty one And have published and declared this to be my last Will and Testament in the presence of Thomas ffrankling John ffisher John Jones

Memorandum That the Legacie or sume of Three score pounds to be given by me unto my Daughter Anne Baker in and by this my last Will and appointed to be paid unto her within three monthes next after her departure out of my dwellinghouse to dwell elsewhere was since the making of this my said Will paid by me unto Henry Tubber of….. for the Redemption of the Lands of Thomas Baker her Husband lying at Grange and Poole being mortgaged before for soe much moneys unto the said Tubber and not knowne unto me when I made this my Will therefore my Executrix is not to be charged wit the payment thereof or any part thereof See the mortgage taken up by me from the said Tubber witnessing under his hand the receipt of soe much moneys paid unto him by me Edward Vye

Proved 12 May 1683
PCC
Prob11/373