Wills (ERO D/ACW9/139 Edw Prentis the elder of Colne Engaine 1624 1626)

7.9.1624 (Tuesday 7 September 1624)

document 3700859

in the name of god amen the 7.9.1624 I Edw Prentis the elder of Colne Engaine in the county of Essex yeoman being sick in body but yet in good and perfect remembrance I do thank god therefore do declare and make this my last will and testament in manner and form following first and principally I surrender and bequeath my soul into the hands of almighty god and his blessed son jesus christ my only saviour and redeemer by whose precious bloodshedding upon the cross I do steadfastly hope to have remission of all my sins my body to the earth from whence it was taken to be decently buried according to my degree item I do give and bequeath unto Joan my wife all my goods and chattels whatsoever upon condition that she shall not claim any third or dower out of any my freehold lands except all such timber boards rails pales which I have and are provided for repairing my houses which she may only take for that use and likewise upon condition that she shall maintain and keep my houses and buildings where I now dwell with meet and convenient tiling thatching and daubing during her natural life item I do give and bequeath unto the said Joan my wife during her natural life one croft of free land called Lutbies Land near adjoining to my now dwelling house upon condition that she shall not claim any third or dower out of any other my freehold lands nor commit or do any strip or waste item I do give and bequeath unto Jn Allen of Wormingford alias Withermondford in the said county yeoman and to his heirs forever all those my two crofts of free land with appurtenances called Baulye alias Goldherds and Chalkpightell lying and being in Colne Engaine and White Colne in the said county or either of them and the said freehold land called Lutbies Land after my said wife's decease and also my copyhold land holden of the manor of Barwick Hall called Cotecroft alias Lowefielde but my will and meaning is that the said Jn Allen his heirs and assigns shall pay or causes to be paid out of my said freehold lands called Baulye alias Goldherds and Chalkpightell to the said Joan my wife the yearly sum of 40s of lawful money of England during her natural life and to Agnes Brewer now wife of Thos Brewer of Kalvedon the yearly sum of 30s of like money during her natural life at the four feasts or terms of the year by equal portions that is to say the feast of michaelmas xmas annunciation and stjn at or in the south porch of the parish church of Colne Engaine aforesaid the first payment thereof to begin at whichsoever of the of the said feasts shall first happen or chance next after the end of one quarter of a year next after my decease and if the said Jn Allen his heirs or assigns shall make default of payment of the said yearly sum of 40s to the said Joan my wife to be paid to her in manner and form aforesaid then my will and meaning is that the said Joan my wife shall or may enter upon my said freehold land called Baulye and shall or may have and enjoy the same during her natural life and if the said Jn Allen his heirs or assigns shall make default of payment of the said yearly sum of 30s to the said Agnes my sister to be paid unto her in manner and form aforesaid then my will and Edw Prentis(inserted) meaning is that the said Agnes my sister shall or may enter upon my said freehold land called Chalkpightell and shall or may have and enjoy the same during her natural life item I do give and bequeath unto the said Jn Allen and his heirs forever my customary messuage or tenement and all my houses lands and tenements whatsoever holden of the manor of Bramptons with appurtenances and the reversion and reversions of the same and all my right title and interest in the same but my will and meaning is that the said Jn Allen his heirs and assigns shall pay or cause to be paid the several sums of money hereafter mentioned to be paid in manner and form following at or in the south porch of the parish church of Colne Engaine aforesaid that is to say to Hen Prentis son of Hen Prentis late of White Colne aforesaid deceased my kinsman 20li of lawful money of England when he shall attain the age of 21yr and to Hen Prentis of Melbrooke my kinsman 40s of like money within one year next after the decease of the said Joan my wife and to my kinswoman Agnes Biatt 6li of like money within two years next after the decease of the said Joan my wife and to my kinswoman Susan Hughes 10li of like money within four year next after the decease of the said Joan my wife and to my kinsman Wm Brewer 6li of like money within six years next after the decease of the said Joan my wife and to Thos Brewer his brother my kinsman 6li of like money within eight years next after the decease of the said Joan my wife and to Mary Walker my kinswoman 40s of like money ten years next after the decease of the said Joan my wife and unto Mary Prentis daughter of my said kinsman Hen Prentis deceased 40s of like money within twelve years next after the decease of the said Joan my wife and to Edw Prentis her brother 4li of like money within fourteen years next after the decease of the said Joan my wife and to Susan Prentis daughter of the said Hen Prentis of Melbroke 40s within fifteen years next after the decease of the said Joan my wife and to Mary Prentis now my servant 20s of like money within one year next after the decease of the said Joan my wife and if the said Jn Allen his heirs or assigns shall make default of payment of any of the said several sums of money to any of the persons before mentioned contrary to the true intent and meaning of this my last will and testament then my will and meaning is that every or any such person to whom any such default of payment shall be made shall or may enter into and upon all and every my said messuage lands and tenements as well freehold as copyhold before mentioned and shall or may have and enjoy the same until their said several legacies shall be fully satisfied and paid out of the issues and profits of the same to any such person to whom any such default of payment shall be made item I do give to the poor people of Colne Engaine aforesaid 10s to be distributed upon the day of my burial by my executor and further my will and meaning is that the said Joan my wife shall at her charges out of my goods see my body decently buried and I ordain and make the said Jn Allen sole executor of this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal in the presence of the witnesses hereunder written read sealed subscribed and published as his last will and testament in the presence of Simon Ive scriptor Jn Finches Hen Mullens Jn Nicoll Edw Prentis