in the name of god amen I Geo Cressener of Earls Colne in the county of Essex gent being about the full age of 59yr and of a decaying nature but of good and perfect mind and memory thanks be to god and being desirous to settle my outward estate which god of his goodness hath given me amongst my dear wife and children which god hath left me desiring his blessing to go with every part and parcel thereof desiring also that they may live lovingly together I do hereby make and declare this to be my last will and testament revoking all former wills by me heretofore made and first I commit my soul into the hands of god that gave it my body to the earth from whence it came to be buried near to my dear father and children in Earls Colne church there to rest with them in hopes of a glorious resurrection through the merits of my lord and saviour jesus christ who is the resurrection and the life and first my mind and will is that the debts I truly owe be justly paid by my executors hereafter named and whereas by agreement with my d ear wife before marriage I was to make her a jointure of 100li per annum which was never settled in law and consideration whereof I give unto my dear wife Mary the house wherein I now dwell with the yards orchards gardens and appurtenances thereunto belonging and also my freehold croft by the pound for her life also I give unto her for term of life all that my meadow thereunto belonging called Hall Mead with the pightle hopground piece and little meadow thereunto belonging and joining to the same also I give unto my said wife for her life the freehold house and land now in the possession of mr Ludgater schoolmaster item I give unto my said loving wife my freehold houses lands and tenements with my overshot mill at Melbrooke in Colne Engaine and my other freehold lands and tenements woods and wood grounds lying and being in Colne Engaine and White Colne or either of them for her natural life keeping them in good and reasonable repair item I give unto my said wife all my household and plate not hereafter disposed of desiring her to dispose thereof according to my appointment by word of mouth also I give unto her all my stock of hay and corn in my house or growing upon my land at my decease item I give unto my son Jn Cressener who be god's providence is now my eldest son all my copyhold lands not hereafter disposed of lying in Earls Colne Colne Engaine and White Colne or either of them and to his heirs forever also I give unto my said son Jn Cressener all my aforesaid freehold houses lands and tenements given as aforesaid to my wife for life except such as is hereafter in this my will particularly disposed of provided my said son shall permit and suffer his mother during life to receive the rents issues and profits of all my copyhold lands which are so intermixed with my freehold that they cannot be divided without much prejudice my wife paying the several fines for my son to the several lords after my decease but if my said son shall refuse to permit and suffer his mother to receive and take the same accordingly then I give unto my said wife all my afore mentioned freehold houses given her for life I give the same to her and her heirs forever except such lands and tenements part thereof which is herein after disposed of to the contrary I give to my said son my lease of Gainshall to enjoy within one year after my decease item I give to my said son my silver and gilt goblet which hath been our ancestors for many generations I d esire him above all to serve and fear god whose service will teach him to be a dutiful son a good brother and respectful to all relations item I give to my son Sibley and daughter and her heirs my house and land upon the green in the occupation of Jn Smith which I have made over by a deed lately and which was purchased of Barth Church which is in full of what I promised in marriage item I give to my said son and daughter 10li for mourning item I give to my son Hickford and his wife 10li for mourning item I give unto my two daughters Mary the wife of Nath Sibley and Eliz the wife of Nathan Hickford each of them a piece of plate of about 9li or 10li price in the remembrance of their brother Geo my dear son lately departed with his coat of arms and name and also a deaths head engraven upon it item I give to my daughter Sibilla the farm I lately purchased called the New House to her and her heirs forever with all and every the appurtenances thereunto belonging to enter upon it the michaelmas after my decease together with the copyhold meadow purchased of mr Nightingale and mr Goodale item I give unto my said daughter Sibilla Cressener and her heirs my meadow called Ringers near to the said farm upon condition that she shall pay to my son or daughter Hickford 100li within one month after my said daughter Sibilla shall be of the age of 21yr or within one year after my decease to and for the use of to and for the use of his and her four daughters my grandchildren item I give to my son Edw Cressener and his heirs forever all those my messuages and tenements with all and every their appurtenances on the west side of Golding Lane beginning at Bell Alley end and so forward to Cupid Alley so far as the Fortune with the backsides belonging to the several houses backwards and forward item I give to my said son Edw my sealed gold ring which was my elder brother Edw's item I give to my said son Edw 500li to be paid out of my other estate at his age of 21yr his mother to receive the rents of the afore bequeathed houses and tenements to my son Edw until my said son attain to the age of 21yr if she please towards of my debts and legacies allowing him a fit maintenance item I give to my daughter Rosamund and her heirs forever all that messuage or tenement called the Ball Inn in Golding Lane aforesaid with the stables behind the same and also those tenements and rooms next adjoining being at present four dwellings also I give unto her and her heirs forever the brick messuage or tenement next adjoining the Ball one the street side with all and every the appurtenances also one little yard joining to one of the back rooms in Ball yard now in possession of mrs Blomer also the stillers yard and shed in possession of mrs Watson with the void ground in Ball yard and the tenements late in possession of mr Cooper item I give to my daughter Hester and her heirs the house and tenements now let out in lease and in possession of mrs Patman in Ball yard aforesaid also I give unto my said daughter and her heirs forever my house and lands called Peverills in Colne Engaine with the lands and woods thereunto adjoining and also my lands woods and springs called Crofts in Colne Engaine aforesaid upon condition my wife receive the rents of the said houses lands and woods till my said daughter be of the age of 21yr allowing her reasonable maintenance and upon condition that if my son Jn shall well and truly secure or pay to my said daughter Hester 400li at her age of 21yr or day of marriage then the said house and lands called Peverells and the lands and woods called Crofts aforesaid is to return from that time to my son Jn and his heirs forever and in the mean time or timber or stadles to be felled but for necessary use upon my own houses and lands item I give all my Edw money to and amongst all my children equally in remembrance of their brothers Edw and Humph deceased I give to my three youngest daughters and my son Jn and Edw each of them a piece of plate of 5li or 6li apiece in remembrance of their brother Geo my dear child and with his coat of arms and a deaths head and name upon it I give to my dear brother 10li and to my sister his good wife 5li item I give to my dear cousins their children and their husbands each of them a ring of 21s price with this motto I am gone before item to my sons in law the like sum of 20s apiece to buy them rings item I give to my brother Sibley a ring item I give to my cousin Webb and his wife a ring of 10s apiece to my cousin Rich Freebody and his wife the like to my cousin Mary Davis and her sister Eliz the like sum of 10s apiece for rings to my cousin Hen Woodward 20s to buy him a ring item I give unto my son Jn and his heirs all the rest and residue of my houses on the west side of Golding Lane beginning at the Fortune and so forward unto Ball yard which said houses are mortgaged for 500li my mind and will is that my said son pay the said mortgage money and interest or which if he refuse to do I give the said houses and tenements with the appurtenances unto my executors hereafter named and their heirs or the survivor of them for to sell and dispose of the said tenements and houses towards payment of my debts and legacies item I give unto my two grandchildren Mary and Geo Sibley 10li apiece to be paid them by my son Jn if he shall have those said tenements in Golding Lane aforesaid if my executors dispose of the said tenements then they to pay my said grandchildren the aforesaid 10li apiece at their day of marriage or age of 21yr with interest after the rate of 5li percent and lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my dear wife Mary Cressener and my loving brother Jn Cressener to be executors of this my last will and testament contained in four sheets of paper not doubting of their faithful performance of the trust reposed in them and I do also require my son Jn to be assisting to them and either of them and in case of their or either of their deaths for to see my will performed in all things according to my true intent item my mind and will is that my two youngest daughters may have and enjoy two chambers or rooms in my dwelling house which may be most convenient for them while single to live and to dwell in with liberty in the yards orchards and gardens to walk in and take some fruit in reason for their own uses and also two or three loads of wood in a year for their firing the like benefit of two chambers fruit and firing I give to my daughter Sibley if she shall live to be a widow I give to the poor of Earls Colne 4li and to Colne Engaine (poor) 20s in bread witness my hand and seal the 19.5.1677 G Cressener sealed signed published and declared in the presence of Jn Hulten Thos Lenton Jn Womack