Robt Pierson
in the name of god amen the
19.3.1587
I
Robt Pyerson
of Earls Colne in the county of Essex and diocese of London gent being of good and perfect remembrance thanks be unto almighty god do ordain make and declare this present testament containing my last will in manner and form following that is to say first and principally I bequeath my soul unto the mercy of almighty god faithfully trusting that through the merit death and passion of my lord and saviour jesus christ to have free remission and forgiveness of all my sins and to be one of the number of his elect and my body I will shall be buried in the parish church or churchyard of Earls Colne aforesaid at the discretion of mine executor hereunder named item I give and bequeath to and amongst the poor people of Earls Colne aforesaid 6s8d and likewise towards the reparations of the parish church of Earls Colne aforesaid 6s8d item I do give devise and bequeath unto
Joan
my wife all my customary messuage wherein I now dwell with the tenement thereunto adjoining houses edifices buildings yards orchards and gardens to the same belonging or appertaining and all those my customary lands tenements meadows pastures and hereditaments whatsoever it now lying and being in Earls Colne aforesaid which I now hold by copy of court roll of the right honourable earl of Oxford lord great chamberlain of England as of his manor called Colne Priory in Colne aforesaid and also all that my customary tenement and garden to the same adjoining with the appurtenances in Colne aforesaid in which tenement one
Jn Sparrow
the younger now dwelleth which I likewise hold by copy of court roll of the said earl as of his said manor of the Priory to have and to hold all the said customary messuage tenement houses edifices buildings yards orchards and gardens lands tenements meadows pastures and all other the premises with all and singular the appurtenances unto the said
Joan
my wife during her natural life and after the decease of the said
Joan
my wife I will all the said customary messuage lands tenements and all other the premises with all and singular the appurtenances except the said tenement wherein the said
Jn Sparrow
now dwelleth with the garden adjoining shall remain unto
Robt
and
Edm
my sons and to their heirs and assigns forever according to the custom of the said manor equally between them to be divided and I will that the said tenement and garden with the appurtenances wherein the said
Jn Sparrow
now dwelleth shall after the decease of the said
Joan
my wife remain unto
Jn
the elder my son and to his heirs according to the custom of the same manor item I give and bequeath unto the said
Joan
my wife all my croft of customary land commonly called
Wallnut Croft
or otherwise containing by estimation 4a be it more or less lying in Earls Colne aforesaid which I now hold of
Roger Harlakenden
esq of his manor called the earldom in Earls Colne aforesaid by copy of court roll according to the custom of the same manor to have and to hold the said croft of land with the appurtenances unto the said
Joan
my wife during her natural life and after her decease I will all the said croft of customary land with the appurtenances shall remain unto the said
Robt
and
Edm
my sons and to their heirs and assigns forever according to the custom of the said manor equally between them to be divided item I give and bequeath unto the said
Joan
my wife all mine estate interest lease and term of years which I have and hold of the said Earl of and in one parcel of pasture ground with the appurtenances and all my said estate interest lease and term of years of and in the same unto the said
Joan
my wife during all the term of years therein yet to come in as ample and large manner as I now have and hold the same item I give and bequeath unto
Rose
my daughter the sum of 40li of lawful money of England to be paid unto her within two years next after my decease or at the day of her marriage if she doth marry before the said time item I give and bequeath unto
Jn
the elder my son 10li of lawful money of England to be paid unto him within one month after my decease item I give and bequeath unto
Jn
the younger my son 10li of lawful money of England to be paid unto him within one month next after my decease item all the rest of my goods debts chattels household stuff movables whatsoever in this my present testament not otherwise given or bequeathed I give my wife whom I do ordain and make my sole executrix of this my said testament to receive and pay my debts and to see this my present testament well and truly performed and my body decently brought on earth also I do ordain and make the said
Edm
my son supervisor of this my said testament to be aidable and assisting the unto the said
Joan
my wife in and about the execution of the same and to see this my said testament performed accordingly and I will all his expenses and charges that he shall expend in his trouble or expenses about the same shall from time to time be paid and allowed unto him by my said executrix item I do give and bequeath more unto the said
Jn
the elder and
Jn
the younger my sons that is to say to either of them 10li of lawful money of England to be paid unto them and either of them by the said
Joan
my wife her executors or administrators within one year next after my decease item I will that all such goods debts chattels household stuff and ready money whatsoever remaining in my hands or which have come to my hands or possession by reason of the execution or administration of the goods and chattels of
Thos Culverton
late of Earls Colne aforesaid deceased or by reason of any issues or rents which I have received out of or for any lands and tenements which were of the said
Thos Culverton
shall be paid and delivered unto
Thomasin
and
Joan
the daughters of the said
Thos Culverton
or the survivors of them by the said
Joan
my wife when they shall come to their several ages or times appointed in and by the testament and last will of the said
Thos Culverton
their father according as I should or ought to do by virtue of his said testament upon a true and faithful account thereupon to be made as well of such goods and rents by me received as also of all such charges and expenses as I have paid and levied out of the above sum or as shall grow due unto me or my said executrix by reason of charges about their education and the overplus which shall remain shall be paid unto them in form aforesaid and that my said executrix shall have the education and bringing up of them together with the custody of their lands and tenements during their several ages or times aforesaid in such manner as I ought to have the same item I will that my standing bedstead and the joined press or cupboard standing in my parlour at my said messuage where I now dwell together with the say hanging in the same parlour shall be left standing and remaining in the same parlour to the use of my said wife during her natural life and after her decease to the use of my said
sons
Robt
and
Edm
their heirs and assigns item I give and bequeath unto
Agnes Byrd
my daughter two pieces of gold of 10s apiece item I give unto every of my children's children one piece of gold of 10s item I give and bequeath unto every one of my children as well sons as daughters three silver spoons apiece which spoons shall be delivered to them and every of them immediately after the decease of the said
Joan
my wife and not before in witness whereof I have unto this my present last will and testament put my hand and seal in the presence of
Robt Reade
Thos Leffingwell
Wm Bunner
Hen Abbott
and
Wm Vigorus
sen writer with others
Robt Pierson