Will of John Hall of Bradford on Avon
In the name of god amen, the nineteenth day of October Anno Dom One Thousand six hundred thirty. I John Hall of Bradford in the countie of Wilks and diocese of Sarum, Esquire, do make, ordaine and institute this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say after I command my soule unto the hand of Jesus Christ my savior and my bodie to be buried in the burial place of myne ancestors in the church of Bradford aforesaid.
ITEM - I give towards the maintenance and reparation of the Cathedral Church of Sarum the some of tenne shillings.
ITEM - I bequeath towards the like maintenance and reparation of the parish church of Bradford aforesaid the some of five pounds of lawful current money of England to be payd unto that end into the hands of the church warden of Bradford within three months next after my decease.
ITEM - I bequeath one other like some of five pounds of lawful money unto the poore people inhabiting in the said parish of Bradford aforesaid to bee paid unto and to bee anonymously distributed by the church overseers for the poore of the said parish within one month next after my decease.
ITEM - I bequeath unto every one of my servants in house the some of twenty shillings of like lawful money to be paid unto them and each of them within three months next after my decease.
ITEM - I bequeath unto Elizabeth Hall my wife, in addition to that furniture that remaineth unto her in retayne of my lands the Abbey house at Bath in the countie of Somerset and the use of my goods, chattel, implements, household stuff and furniture in the same household used therwith from the tyme of my decease for and during the tyme of her naturall life if shee shall soe long ranty nens a widowe but not otherwise and my will true intent and meaning is that at the tyme of her death or at the daye of her marriage if shall happen to bee marryed again the said goods, chattel, implements, household stuff and furniture shall from thenseforth bee and remayne unto the executor of this my last will and testament and to his heirs and his and theirs anone proper right by this my bequeath.
ITEM - I give unto my daughter Elizabeth Cottrell the some of one hundred pounds of lawful money of England to bee paid unto her within one yeare next after the day of my decease.
ITEM - Whereas there is one hundred pounds of the marriage portion of my daughter Mary yet behind and unpaid which I promised to bee paid upon my death. My will is that the said hundred pounds shall bee paid unto Christopher Baylie gentleman her husband her now husband his executors or assignees within one year after the day of my decease.
ITEM - I bequeath unto my grandson John Baylie the some of tenne pounds of lawful money of England and to every of the remaining other children of the said Christopher Baylie the severall sonied three pounds six shillings eight pense apeece.
ITEM - I bequeath the some of nynne hundred pounds of lawful money of England to be divided by and according to the direction of my executors of this my last will and testament hereinafter to be nominated and specified between my three daughters not yet married viz. Jane, Dorothie and Anne if theye and every or either of them (marryng) doe and shall marrye with the liking and approval of my said overseers Elizabeth their mother and of such of their naturall loving brother as shall at the tyme of and tymes of their and either of their several marriages inherit and possess my land or of the most part of them and my will true intend and meaning is that whosoever of my sonne or sonnes shall inherit and be possessed of my paid lands at the tyme or tymes of their and either of their of such their severall marriages shall have and bee charged to pay unto my said daughters Jane Dorothie and Anne every such part and portion of the paid ninne hundred pounds as shall be soe divided unto any of them by my said overseers as aforesaid within three months next after the day and dayes of the marriage or marriages of those my said three daughters according as they shall happen be marryed in their tyme and will further is that during the life type of El;izabeth my wife such and soe many of my said three daughters as shall be so married (and while the remaining unmarried) shall have further paid unto them by myne heirs and towards their better maintenance in their unmarryed tyme and tymes these annunities now for bee specifyed and in manner and forme following vizt: Unto my daughter Jane the some of six pounds thirteen shillings four pense, unto my daughter Dorothie five pounds and unto my daughter Anne other five pounds all good and lawful money of England to bee paid every half yeare during during the tyme of their remaining unmarryed and of their mothers being in life. But if the paid Elizabeth my wife and their mother shall happen to dye before they and every or any of them bee disposed of in marriage then my will is that the paid annuities and every of them shall cease to bee paid any longer from the death of the said Elizabeth. And that then and from thenseforth my heire shall at his own costs and charges allow and give unto every of those my said three daughters so then not disposed of in marriage such continuall sufficient meat drink and clothing and other maintenance as shall be necessary and convenient for such his sister and sisters until she or they shall have received her and they portion and portions according to said division of my aforesaid overseers.
ITEM - I bequeath unto the said Elizabeth my wife use of all the goods, chattel, implements, household stuff and furniture that I have within and belonging to my mansion house at Bradford and in or upon or belonging to domicide lands and mills there to bee imployed by her and to her behalf from the type of my decease during the terme of her naturall life. But my will and bequeath is that after her decease the some and every part of parcell thereof shall bee and remayne unto my sonne Thomas and to his heirs. And that at her said death shee shall leave the same unto the said Thomas and his heirs in a good full and ample manner in all respects as to as good a value and price as now they are or as shee shall find and take unto the same upon my decease.
ITEM - I bequeath unto my two sons John and William the yearly some and somes of fifteen pounds a piece to be paid by myne heirs at yearly annuities for their mayntenance during the life tyme of my wife their mother and after her decease that the life somes of fifteen pounds a piece more bee likewise added unto their said former annuities for their better mayntenance during their and everie of their severall life tymes. And my will is that the said severall annuities be paid unto them and everie of them at two several tymes in the yeare by even and equal portions and that the life payment and payments thereof shall begin at the end of the month next after my decease. And that from thenseforth these shall continye soe yearly to be paid unto the said John and William my sonnes att and upon the end of every six months for by and during the whole term and terms of their and either of their natural lives. And my will is also that myne executor for himself and his heirs shall within six months next after my decease make and give sufficient security and assurance in the law for the due payment and performance of all and every of my said bequeaths as well unto my said sonnes John and William as ponts those and every those my said three daughters Jane Dorothie and Anne according to my true intent and meaning in this my will and testament.
ITEM - I do make ordayne and constitute to bee the executor of this my last will and testament Thomas Hall my sonne and heir apparant who I will to satisfie discharge and pay all and every of myne owed proper debts and also all and every of those my legacies and bequeaths specified and expressed to be bequeathed in this my last will and testament. And if my said executor doth refuse to then execute this my last will and testament or doth deny or neglect to satisfie discharge and pay those my said debts legacies and bequeaths contrary to the expressive true intent and meaning of this my will then doe I likewise by this my present will and testament give and grant my whole rightfull power and authortie onto myne overseers to alienate sell and convey away from him my said executor and from his heir forever his parts of all and every of my Messuages, Lands, Tenements Closes Cottages, and other Hereditaments with their Appurtenances whatsoever situate lying and being in Bath Lincombe Widcombe and Coombe in the county of Somerset . To this my intent and purpose is that money may be procured promised and gotten by that such sale and conveyed for the due true and full discharge of all my said debt and all and every of the legacies and bequeaths expressed specified and declared in this my last will and testament. And I doe nominate my worthie good brother in law and loving friends John Brewin, Knight, William Eyre, Esquire, my kinsman, and John Awdry, Theophilus Clarke to be the overseers of this my last will and testament and whose best labor and care soe farre as in them it shall or may go and rest to have this my last will and testament duly executed and performed fullfulled and doe earne fey entreat and as a token of my love towards them I bequeath unto them approportionally to bee divided among to each and every one of them forty shillings.
I wittness whereof I the said John Hall have here unto set my hand and soule the daie and yeare first above written John Hall. Signed sealed acknowledged by John Hall Esquire and by him declared to bee his last will and testament in the presence of John Awdry, Senior, Christopher Bayly, Charles Taylor.