Wills (ERO D/ACW10/187 Rich Byrd of Salcot Virley 1626)

8.1.1627 (Monday 8 January 1627)

document 3900235

8.1.1627 etc. in the name of god amen I Rich Byrd of Salcott Virley in the county of Essex yeoman being sick in body but in good and perfect memory make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form as followeth first I give and bequeath my soul into the hands of almighty god by whose mercy alone through the merit of jesus christ my saviour I steadfastly hope to be saved and my body to be buried at the discretion of my executrix hereafter named item I give unto Jn Lucas of Salcott Wigborrow and to Mary his wife my youngest sister and to the longer liver of them both all my customary lands and tenements lying in the parish of Earls Colne and now in the occupation of Wm Cosin Rich Kempe and Jn Bredge during the time of their natural lives and after their decease to Mary Lucas the elder daughter of the said Jn and Mary Lucas my sister and to her heirs forever item I give unto Wm Clark the son of Reynold and Marge Clark my elder sister all my lands and tenements lying and being in Salcott Virley as well those lands which are commonly known by the name of the Holt and also that my tenement now in the occupation of Roger Aylward blacksmith to him the said Wm and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten and for want of such issue to his two sisters Ann and Mary Clark and to their heirs forever by equal portions only my tenement now in the occupation of Roger Aylward for want of heirs of the body of the said Wm lawfully begotten I give wholly and entirely to Ann Clark alone and to her heirs forever provided also that if he the said Wm Clark shall make any claim or title to my lands and tenements situate in Earls Colne aforesaid and bequeathed to Jn Lucas and Mary Lucas my sister or any way question my former gift that then he the said Wm shall pay unto the said Jn Lucas and Mary Lucas his wife my younger sister the sum of 400li of lawful money of England (inserted) item I give unto Ann Clark 80li of lawful money of England to be paid to her by my executrix within six months after my decease item I give unto Mary Clark the like sum of 80li of lawful money of England to be paid her by my executrix at her age of 21yr item I give to Eliz Lucas the younger daughter of Jn and Mary Lucas my sister the sum of 10li of lawful money of England to be paid her at the age of 21yr item I give unto Wm Sweno the son of Wm Sweno of Salcott Virley clerk the sum of 40s to be paid him within six months after my death item I give to the poor of Earls Colne 40s to be distributed at the discretion of my executrix to mr Haukesbie the minister item I give to the poor of Salcott Virley 10s and to the poor of Salcott Wigborrow 20s all to be distributed at the discretion of my executrix and Wm Sweno clerk all the rest of my goods and movables whatsoever unbequeathed I give unto Agnes Byrd my loving and lawful mother whom I make and appoint sole executrix of this my last will and testament and in witness thereof I have subscribed and sealed these presents the day and year above written in the presence of Wm Sweno sen Roger Aylward Thos Tomlinson Rich Byrd