Wills (ERO D/ACW18/254 D/ACR9/101v Geo Potter 1672 1673)
7.11.1672
(Thursday 7 November 1672)
document 4700765
in the name of god amen the
7.11.1672
etc.
Geo Potter
of Earls Colne in the county of Essex yeoman being sick in body but of good and perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto god therefore and calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say first and principally I give and bequeath my soul into the hands of the almighty who gave it me and for my body I commend it to the earth to be buried in christian and decent manner in the parish churchyard of Earls Colne aforesaid nothing doubting but at the general day of resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of god and as touching all such worldly estate as it hath pleased god to bless me with in this life I give devise bequeath and dispose the same in manner and form following first I give and bequeath to my brother
Edw Potter
all and singular my freehold land with the mill and all the edifices buildings barns stables outhouses
orchards gardens waterings backsides commonly called and known by the several names of
Bare Croft
and
Rooks
or by whatsoever other name or names the same or any part thereof hath heretofore been called consisting by estimation 7a more or less now in tenure or occupation of
Robt Harris
and
Geo Potter
aforesaid abutting and adjoining upon
Wm Harlakenden
esq on the east and butting and adjoining upon the road leading to the
Hayhouse
on the west situate lying and being in Earls Colne aforesaid to be to the proper use and behoof of the said
Edw Potter
and to his heirs forever and also I give and bequeath unto my brother
Edw Potter
all and singular my two copyhold messuages or tenements with the appurtenances thereunto belonging butting upon
Rich Tyler
on the west and upon the street leading to the church on the north now in the tenure or occupation of
Geo Payertree
and
Thos Androws
and the part of the meadow commonly called and known by the name of
Burows Meadow
containing by estimation 3r more or less now in the tenure or occupation of the said
Geo Potter
to be to the proper use and behoof of the said
Edw Potter
and to his heirs and assigns forever the said
Edw Potter
yielding and paying yearly and every year unto his mother
Mary Potter
the sum of 16li of lawful money of England at two equal portions that is to say 8li within six months next after my decease and also 8li every half year during all the term of the natural life of the said
Mary Potter
and further it is my will that the said
Edw Potter
my brother shall pay unto my sister
Mary Read's
two children
Wm
and
Mary
the sum of 40li apiece to be paid to the said
Wm
and
Mary
or their heirs within four years next after the decease of my mother and if either of the said
Wm
or
Mary
shalt depart this life before the said legacy of 40li shall be due and payable then the said legacy of 40li to be to the survivor of them and if both of them shalt depart this life before the said legacy or legacies shalt be due and payable then it is my will that the said legacies shalt be void
Jn Bagshaw
Geo Potter
(inserted)
item it is my will that if the said
Edw Potter
shalt refuse or neglect to pay the aforesaid 16li a year or any part thereof at the several times aforesaid unto the said
Mary Potter
his mother or to her assigns or refuse or neglect to pay the said legacies of 40li apiece to the aforesaid
Wm Read
and
Mary Read
or to their heirs or assigns at the time aforesaid that then it is my will that the aforesaid freehold land shalt be by the said
Mary Potter
my mother and the said
Wm
and
Mary Read
or their heirs or assigns sold for the payment of the said 16li a year and the said two legacies of 40li apiece and the overplus or remaining part of the money to be returned to the said
Edw Potter
or his heirs or assigns and of this my last will and testament I do make constitute and ordain my well beloved brother
Edw Potter
my free and sole executor and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and annul all and every other former will or wills testaments legacies bequests and executors by me in anywise before this time named willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and testament in witness I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day month and year first above written signed sealed published and declared by the said
Geo Potter
in the presence of
Jn Bagshawe
Wm Androws
Mary Appleton
Geo Potter