Will of John Thruston

TRANSCRIPTION 

Source: Will of John Thruston, Chamberlain of Bristol; The William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, vol. 8, no. 2, 1899, pp. 115–19. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1915914, https://www.jstor.org/stable/1915914. Accessed 23 May 2024.

(Please excuse any errors. This is a computer-generated transcription from a .pdf file. Will try to correct errors as I spot them.)

March 25th, 1675

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN, I John Thruston, of the Citty of Bristoll, sopemaker, being sicke and weake in body, but of sound and perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to almighty God, therefore Doe make my last will and testament in manner and forme following (that is to say), First and Principally, I commend my soule into the hands of Almighty God, my most mercifull Father and Creator hopcing to be saved by the onely meritts, death and passion of Jesus Christ my alone Saviour and Redeemer, And my body I comitt to the earth, whence it came To be laid in Christian buriall in the Churchyard of the Parish Church of St. Thomas in Bristoll, as neare on the Southside of the Graue of my late Wife there buried as 'conveniently may be, And it is my desire to Mary my now deare and loueing wife That when it shall please Almighty God to take her away by death her body may be buried there on the South Side of my graue And as touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to lend me in this life I dispose thereof as followeth (to witt) Imprimis I do giue, devise and bequeath vnto my honoured and good friends John Knight Esquire (one of the Aldermen of the Citty of Bristoll) and Robert Aldworth of the same Citty Esquire And to their heires and assignes All those my messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments with all and singular their and every of their appurtenances scituate lying and being att Rudgeway in the Parish of Staplcton or elsewhere in the county of Glouc. To be had and holden vnto them the said John Knight and Robert Aldworth theire heirs and assigns for ever To the onely use and behoofe of them the said John Knight and Robert Aldworth and of their heires and assignes forevermore Vpon this hope trust and confidence in them the said John Knight and Robert Aldworth by mee reposed That they the said John Knight and Robert Aldworth and the survivor of them and his heires shall and will with all the convenient speed after my decease grannt alien sell away dispose and convey to any person or persons who shall be Willing to buy or purchase the same or any part thereof to his or their heires and assigns for ever All or any the same messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments and every or any part or parcell thereof att and for the most money fine or consideracon they can gett for same And it is my will and meaning that all person and persons who is or are any way intrusted with any terme or termes of years interest or interests of or upon the same lands or any part thereof for the use of me my heires, executors, administrators or assigns or otherwise shall from time to time make such grants, assignements and conveyances of such their terme or termes interest or interests T0 or to the use of such person or persons who shall buy or purchase the same lands or any part or parcel thereof And my will and meaning further is that all person and persons who is or are now intrusted with any such terine, termes or interest or interests shall untill such purchase made stand possessed and interessed or and in the same premises to and for the only use benefit and behoofe of the said John Knight and Robert Aldworth their heires and assignes To the uses and upon the trusts aforesaid And that the same term or termes interest or interests shall not be nor be taken deemed or construed to be assetts of my estate Item I doc will devise and bequeath That after the said lands in Stapleton shalbe soc sold The moneys arisen by the sale thereof shall be by the said John Knight and Robert  ldworth and the survivor of them and his heircs pay over to such person and persons by such parts and parcclls and in such manner and forme as is herein after menconed and sett downe (That is to say) my will and meaning is That after all my debts and sums and sumes of money by me owcing for or with the payment whereof the said messuages, lands and tenements or any part thereof are or do stand charged chargeable or lyable shall be fully satisfied and paid there shall. be out of the same purchase money to And I see hereby give and bequeath ynto the said Mary my dcare and loueing wife to her owne use the sum of one hundred pounds of lawfull money of England Item out of the same purchase money I doe giue and bequeath vnto my eldest sonne Malachy Thruston the sume of fifty pounds of lawfull money of England if he shall be lieuing att the time of my decease the same to be paid unto him Within six moneths next after his return from Virginia (where he is now resident) into England which sum of fifty pounds I doe declare shalbe and is in full of What he must or may expect to haue out of my estate for that I haue before this time given him two hundred pounds at least And besides he hath proved Vrndutifull vnto me in refuseing to returne home according to my severall commands And I doe declare my will to be that the same legacie of fifty pounds to my said sonne Malachy shall cease and be not paid him unlcs he first giue release of such right as he may clayme to my said lands in Stapleton To my said trustees and their heires or to such person or persons Who shall purchase the same or any part thereof as by Councel learned in the Lawe shalbe thought reasonable and necessary Item out of the same purchase money I doe giue and bequeath vnto my sonne Edward Thruston the sume of one hundred and fifty pounds of lawfull money of England Item I doe declare my will and meaning to be That the same some of one hundred and fifty pounds by me given to my sonnc Edward as aforesaid shalbe together with his wives portion ariseing and going out of her lands on Bourton in the county of Berks and Great Marlow in the county of Bucks layed out in the buying and purchasing of messuages, lands or tenements to be settled and assured to and for the benefitt of my said sonnc Edward and his said wife and children in such manner as by certaine articles made before their intermarriage is directed lymitted and appointed And I doe declare my Will to be that vntill such buying or purchasing the same one hundred and fifty pounds shalbe secured for the same purpose by the said John Knight and Robert Aldworth or the survivor of them his executors or administrators letting out the same att interest as to them shall seeme meete And the interest thereof onely to be paid to the said Edward and his Wife Item I doe declare that the same one hundred and fifty pounds shalbe and is in full satisfaction of all that he the said Edward shall or may expect to haue out of my estate for that I haue before this time given him the some of one hundred and fifty pounds shalbe and is in full satisfaction of all that he the said Edward shall or may expect to haue out of my estate for that I haue before this time given him the some of one hundred and fifty pounds att least Item I doe out of the same purchase money of Stapleton giue and bequeath vnto my grandsonne John Thruston (sonne of my said sonne Edward Thruston) the some of fifty pounds of lawfull money of England To be putt into the Chamber of Bristoll for the use of the said John And there to remain att interest vntill he shall attaine to his age of one and twenty yeares And then both Principall and interest to be paid to him And I doe declare my Will to be that if the said John shall dye before he shall attaine to the age of one and twenty yeares that then the same fifty pounds and interest shall remaine to my five daughters and the survivor of them Item I doe give and devise and bequeath vnto my five daughters Anne Justine Grace Rachell and Sara all the rest and residue of the purchase money aforesaid equally to be devided between them my said five daughters share and share like Item I doe giue and bequeath vnto my wife all that my messuage and tenement with the appurtennoes wherein I now dwell soituate in Redolifi‘fe Streete in the parish of St. Thomas within the said Citty of 'Bristoll To hold to my said wife for her naturall life And from and after her deoease I doe giue and bequeath the same messuage and tenement with the appurtenances vnto my said three daughters Grace Raohell and Sara. (my daughters by the said Mary my now wife) for their naturall lives sueeessiuely one after the other as they are herein named To be had and holden vnto my said three daughters for and during the terme of their naturall lives successiuely one after the other And "it is my will and meaning That if my said daughter Grace after the decease of my said Wife shall come to the possession and actual enjoyment of the said messuage tenement and premisses That then she the said Grace shall out of the rents issues and proffitts of the same premisses pay and satisfi'y vnto my said two daughters Rachell and Sara during,their natural] lines The yearly some of flue pounds of lawfull money of England a peece att fower feasts or termes in the yeare: (To Wit) The Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary The nativity of St John Baptist St Michael the Archangel] And the birth of our Lord God by even and equall porcons or Within twenty and eight dayes next after every of the same feasts respectively The first payment to be made at that of the said feast dayes which shall come and be next after the decease of my said Wife or Within twenty and eight dayes after the same Feast day And I doe also declare my will to be that if the said Grace my daughter shall dye in the life time of my said daughters Rachell and Sara whereby my said daughter Rachell shall come to the possession and actual] enjoyment of the said messuage and tenement That then she the  aid Rachell shall pay vnto my said daughter Sara one yearly some of term pounds 'of lawful money of England at the Feast dayes aforesaid by even 'and equall porcons or within twenty and eight dayes next after every of the same feast dayes ResPectiuely the first of the same payments To be made att that of the said feast dayes which shall come and be next after my said daughter Rachell shall come to the possession and actual] enjoyment of the same premisses or Within twenty and eight dayes next after the same feast day And I do further declare my will to be That if two of my said three daughters shall dye whereby the survivor of them shall come to the possession and actuall enjoyment of the same premisses That then the survivor of them the said three daughters shall pay vnto my said two other daughters Anne and Justine (my daughters by my former Wife) The yearly some of tenn pounds of lawfull money of England equally betweene them att the foure feast dayes which shall come and be after the survivor of my said three daughters shall come to the possession and actual enjoyment of the same premisses or Within twenty and eight dayes next after the same feast day And if but one of my said daughters Ann and Justine shalbe then liueing Then the same yearly sume of tenn pounds shalbe paid vnto the survivor of them the said Anne and Justine and I doe hereby giue vnto my said daughters respectively who are to receiue any yearly sume out of the said messuage and tenement my full and free povver licence and authority to enter into the premisses respectively When and often any some or somes of money shalbe behind and vnpaid And then and there to distreine for the same and the arrearages thereof if any shalbe And I doe further declare my will and meaning to be That my said Wife and three daughters as they shall come to the possession and actuall enjoyment of the premisses shall pay beare and discharge all Lords Rents reparacons and services for and in respect of the same premises to be paid done and performed And I doe hereby desire will and enjoyne my said Wife that she Will after my decease seale and execute all such release or releases or other deed or deeds as shalbe by the said John Knight and Robert Aldworth or the survivor of them or his heires thought fitt and necessary for the releasing and extinguishing of all dower and right and title of dower Which she may any way clayme or demaund to haue of in or to my said lands in Stapleton Item whereas John Hunt deceased (late husband of my daughter Thomazine Hunt) dyed indebted vnto mee in divers somes of money for the payment whereof I haue severall mortgages bonds and securities from him the said John Hunt which are all of them long since forfeited and in force And whereas alsoe my said daughter Thomazine Hunt oweth me a considerable sume of money for arrears of rent of the messuage and tenement wherein she now dwelleth scituate and being in Tuckerstreete in the parish of St Thomas within the said Citty of Bristol] Now I doe hereby remise release and forgiue And the heires executors and administrators of the said John Hunt the same some and somes of money rents arrearages of rents debt and demaunds whatsoever And doe order and will that my Executrix do deliuer up vnto her the said Thomazine Hunt all the same mortgages bonds and securities And doe desire my said executrix To doe all acts and things whatsoever expedient and necessary to be done therein for the best benefitt and advantage of my said daughter Thomazine Hunt and her children Provided alwayes and I doe hereby, declare my will and meaning to be That I haue released and forgiven my said daughter Thomazine in forme aforesaid vpon this ‘condicon That she the said Thomazine shall imediately from and after my decease receiue into her care and tuition my said Grandsonne 'John Thruston and shall giue and allow him competent and sufficient meat drinke lodging cloathing schooling and other necessaries vntill he shall attaine t0'his age of one and twenty yeares And I do charge my said daughter Thomazine That she will be very carcfull (as I doubt not but she will) That the said John may be vertuously bred upp And I doe desire my Wife to contribute her assistance therein And for my daughters better incouragement therein I doe Giue and bequeath vnto my said daughter Thomazine Hunt the said messuage and tenement in Tucker Streete aforesaid wherein she now dwelleth (except the Backer Chamber of the same house one house one story high To haue and to hold the- same house with the appurtennces (except the same Chamber) vnto my said daughter Thomazine for all my, terme of yeares and interest therein to come and vnexpired at the time of my decease she the said Thomazine  paying and discharging all cheife rents reparaco-ns and agreements for and in respect of the same to be paid done and performed And I doe declare my will and meanings to be That my said daughters Anne and Justine shall as they shall have occasion from time to time enjoy either joyntly or severally the said Backer Chamber of the said house And shall haue full and free liberty of ingress egresse and regresse in to and from the same att all times Item I doe giue and bequeathe vnto my said daughters Anne and Justine my Stable and garden in St. Thomas Street in the Citty of Bristoll which I hold by lease from the feoffees of the lands of and belonging to the parish church of St Thomas aforesaid To be had and holden' vnto them my said daughters Anne and Justine their executors, administrators and assignes for all my terme and interest therein to come and unexpired att the time of my decease They the said Anne and Justine their executors administrators and assignes. paying and discharging all rents reparacons and services for and in respect of the same premisses to be paid done and performed Item I doe giue and bequeath vnto my said sonne Edward Thruston my best black cloth suite and ooate and silke coate and silke dublett Item I doe giue and bequeath vnto John Curtis my late servant and apprentice the sume of forty shillings of lawfull money of England Item I doe giue and bequeath vnto my good friends Mr Robert Amberson the sume of term shillings of Iawfull money of England to buy him a ring to weare as a token of my loue Item I doe giue and bequeath vnto Mr. Humfrey B‘rent (minister of the Gospell) the sume of forty shillings of lawfull money of England to preach my funerall sermon Item I doe giue and bequeath vnto my friend Mr Thomas Yeomans the sume of forty shillings of lawfull money of England to buy him a ring to Weare as a token of my loue Item I doe giue and bequeath vnto Johane servant vnto my daughter Hunt the sum of term shillings of lawfull money of England Item I do giue and bequeath vnto my servant maid the sume of term shillings of lawfull money of England And last of all I doe hereby giue and beqeath vnto my said deare and loueing Wife Mary The one moity or halfe part (the Whole into two equall parts to be divided) of all and singular my goods chattells lynnen woollen plate brasse pewter rings jewells househould stufie and of all other my estate whatsoever not herein before by mee giuen and bequeathed My debts and legacies being paid and funerall expenses discharged To haue and to hold the same moiety or half parte vnto my said Wife for and during the terme of her naturall life and from and after her deeease I doe giue and bequeath all the same moiety or half parte of the same goods and otherestate vnto my said three daughters; Grace Sara and Rachell equally to be devided betweene them part and part alike Item all the other moiety or half parts (the whole into two equal parts to be divided as aforesaid) of all my said goods ohattells lynnen woollen plate brasse pewter househould stuffe rings jewells and of all other my estate whatsoever not herein before by me giuen and bequeathed (my debts and legacies being paid and funerall expences discharged) I doe giue and bequeath vnto my said two daughters Anne and Justine equally to be divided betweene them part and part like Item I doe' make constitute and appoint the said Mary my wife full and sole Executrix of this my last will and testament And I doe desire and intreate the said John Knight and Robert Aldworth to be overseers of this my last will and testament And to be ayding and assisting To my said wife and children in the managing of their affaires And I doe giue them forty shillings to buy  them each of them a ring as tokens of my loue And I doe declare my will and desire to be That all charges whatsoever relating to the“ execution of the trust hereby by mee reposed in my said friends or either of them shalbe paid and reimbursed them out of the purchase money to be raised by the sale of my lands lying in Stapleton aforesaid Item I doe remitt and forgiue vnto my sonne‘ Edward all debts which he owcth me And doe order That all his bills of debt and writings shalbe deliuered up vnto him and finally I do revoke and make void all former wills by me made” And doe publish this to be my last will and testament this five" and twentieth day of March. Anno Dni 1675 Annoq RR Caroli Secundi Angliae &c vicesimo Septimo ? mee John Thruston ./ Signed sealed published and acknowledged by the said John Thruston the day of the date hereof in the presence of Mioha: Hunt 1675 Sam: Bertram Joseph Eiles 1674./