Wills (ERO D/ACW11/3 Jn Potter sen yeoman 1628)

12.6.1628 (Thursday 12 June 1628)

document 3900802

in the name of god amen the 12.6.1628 I Jn Potter the elder of Earls Colne 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 unto my brother Wm Potter 20li of lawful money of England to be paid within one year after my decease and to Wm Potter his son 10li of like money to be paid within two years after my decease and to Mary his daughter 20li of like money to be paid within a year and a half after my decease and to Robt Potter one other of my brother Wm his son 20li of like money to be paid within a year and half after my decease and to Eliz daughter of my said brother Wm 15li of like money to be paid within a year and half after my decease and to Joan daughter of my said brother Wm 10li of like money to be paid within a year after my decease and to Susan daughter of my said brother Wm 10li of like money to be paid within one year after my decease and to Sarah daughter of my said brother Wm 15li of like money to be paid within three years after my decease item I do give unto my brother Jeff and Ann his wife my freehold croft which I lately purchased of Sam Brewer lying on the backside of my copyhold messuage in Earls Colne aforesaid to have and to hold to them and their assigns for and du ring their natural lives and the life of the longer liver of them and after their deceases then I do give the said croft to the said Robt Potter my brother Wm his son and to his heirs forever item I do give unto my sister Joan mark Jn Potter wife of Sam Brewer 10li of lawful money of England to be paid within one year after my decease and I do give unto my brother Robt 10li of like money to be paid within a year after my decease and I do give unto Dorothy Wenden daughter of my cousin Joan 10li of like money to be paid within three years after my decease item I do give unto my said brother Jeff and Ann his wife my copyhold land called Dovehouse Feld and Pondfelde which I lately purchased of mr Jn Church for term of their lives and the longer liver of them and after their decease I do give the said lands unto the said Robt Potter my said brother Wm his son and to his heirs forever item I do give unto my said brother Jeff all that my messuage or tenement in Colne Engaine and all the lands thereto belonging now in the tenure of Sam Brewer and all that fen or meadow ground called Padmer or Padman Fen in Colne Engaine abovesaid to have and to hold to the said Jeff and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten and to default of such issue to the said Wm Potter my said brother Wm his son and to his heirs forever item I do give to the poor of Earls Colne and Colne Engaine aforesaid to either of them 6s8d to be distributed amongst them upon the day of my burial or within one month after item all the rest and residue of my goods and chattels whatsoever not before by me given or bequeathed I do give and bequeath unto my said brother Jeff requiring and charging him to see my body decently buried and this my will truly performed and I do ordain and make him sole executor of this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal the day and year first above written read sealed subscribed and acknowledged to be his last will and testament in the presence of Simon Ive Edw Potter Dan Lea mark Jn Potter