William Saunders

Prerogative Court of Canterbury will made: 23rd August 1634
Probate Date: 31st October 1634
Proved by Richard Saunders and Edmund Saunders sons of the testator
National Archive Catalogue reference: PROB 11/166

The original document is in the custody of the National Archives

Transcript

In the name of God Amen The three and twentieth daie of August Anno D[o]m[ini] one thousand six hundred thirtie foure in the Tenth yeare of the rayne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King defender of the Faith &c I William Saunders of Leighton Bussard in the County of Bedford yeoman being sicke in bodie but of a sound and perfect remembrance Thankes bee given to God therefore And preparing my selfe against the tyme that it shall please God to call mee out of this world doe herein ordeyne and make this my present Testament and last will in manner and forme following That is to say First and principally I give and bequeath my soule into the handes of Almightie God my Creator and to his sonne my onelie Savyor Jesus Christ asoureing my selfe to bee saved through his onelie meritts and to have life everlasting among the Elect and chosen people of God in the Kingdome of heaven I bequeath my bodie to the Earth from whence it came desiring to bee buried as a Christian man ought for to bee And as concerning my worldly estate which it hath pleased God to bestow upon mee I will and dispose as hereafter followeth vizt. First my will and true meaning is That my Executors hereafter named in this my will doe pay such some or somes of money and performe such things as I and Richard Saunders my sonne (one of my Executors hereafter named) doe stand bound to pay and performe unto Thomazin now my welbeloved wife after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto her the said Thomazin my wife twelve pence. Item I give and bequeath unto William Saunders my sonne the some of tenne pounds of lawfull English money to bee paid to him his Executors or Assignes within one whole yeare next after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto John Saunders my sonne the some of tenne poundes of lawfull English money to be paid to him his Executors or assignes within one yeare next after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Man my daughter my best Coverlett for her onely use dureing her life tyme And after her decease I will and give the same Coverlett unto Elizabeth Saunders my Grandchild if shee bee liveing after the decease of my said daughter els to remayne to her my daughter Item I give and bequeath unto John Man my sonne in Lawe the some of five pounds of lawfull English money to bee paid to him his Ex[ecuto]rs or Assignes within one whole yeare after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto the said Elizabeth Saunders my Grandchild the some of Fortie poundes of lawfull English money to bee paid to her at her age of one and Twentie yeares if shee shall soe long live Item my will and mynd is that my Executors doe and shall maynteyne and keepe and bring up in good educac[i]on the said Elizabeth Saunders my Grandchild findeing her good sufficient and decent meate drinke apparrell house harbour Lodging and all other thinges fitting for her untill shee accomplish the age of one and Twentie yeares Item I give unto the said William Saunders my sonne my best suite of apparrell throughout from head to foote and my best Coate Item I give to Edward Bell of Leighton my working daies apparrell Item I give to the poore people of the Towne of Leighton aforesaid ten shillinges to bee distributed amongst them at the discrec[i]on of my Executors All the residue of my goods cattells and chattells moveable and imoveable reall and personall whatsoever herein unbequeathed my debts and Legacies being paid and my funerall expences discharged I give and bequeath unto the said Richard Saunders my sonne and Edmond Saunders my sonne whom I doe hereby ordeyne and make my whole and sole Executors of this my present and last will straightly chargeing them to performe the same in all things according to my true intent and meaning as I hope they will And I doe hereby appoynt my loving kinsman Richard Meade of Bragnam my overseer to this my present Testament and last will to see it performed accordinglie And I doe give him for his paynes Five shillings and to have his charges borne by my Executors if hee have occasion to travaile in or about the same And I doe hereby revoke all former wills by mee made In witnes hereof I have here unto this my present Testament and last will sett my hand and seale the day and yeare first abovewritten By mee William Saunders. Signed sealed and acknowledged these being wittnesses William Nashe And mee Tho[mas] Edge S[e]n[io]r