Will of Thomas Butter, Bookseller of Exeter, Devon

Proved 13 August 1717

© Crown Copyright

PROB 11/559, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Whitfield Quire Numbers: 136 - 174

Transcribed by Deborah O'Brien

In the Name of God, Amen. I, Thomas Butter of the City of Exon, Bookseller, being sick of body but of perfect mind and memory, doo hereby --- revoking all former wills, make and ordain this my last will and testament impiris. I commit my soul to Almighty God and my body to the Earth to be interred. ITEM I give, will and order to and for every of my Children born and to be born the sum of one hundred pounds a paire, to and for each of them respectively, in case they respectively attain their respective ages of one and twenty years. And if any or either of them shall dye under that age, then my will and order is that the respective sum or sums for him, her or them so dying assigns or shall go to be paid and be equally divided betwixt and among the survivors and survivor of them at the same time that the above particular proposed Legacy, intended for such survivors or survivor shall become payable, and not before. And my will and order is that my Executrix, her Executors, Assigns and Administrators if my Cousin Robert DAWE of Exon, Pewteror, or his Executors, Administrators or Assigns for that purpose think fit, shall and doo from time to time give Bond or Bonds to him or his Executors, Assigns or Administrators for to pay every, the said summs accordingly. ITEM I give to Jane my dearest wife, my two houses with the appurtenances in Cullison in one of which --- Benjamin SLADE lives with a garden (guardian) known by the name of Obadiah COLFAXE. ITEM I give to my said wife all my leasehold estates and leasehold forms and all rest and residue of my goods, chattels, rights and -iss after my gifts, legacies and ffuneral charges be paid and satisfied. And I make out and ordain my said wife whole and sole Executrix of this my will in witness whereof I have hereunnto set my hand and seal the thirtieth day of May, Anno Dmi 1717. Thos. Butter

Signed, sealed, published and ordered by the Testator to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunnto subscribed our names in the presence of the said Testator: J. Alamis [?] CHUFE, John WILLS, L. LEE

Probatum fuit huiusmodi testamentum apud London coram venerabili oglogio viro Johanne BETTESWORTH, legum Doctore Juris Prarogative Cantuaricusio Magristo custodesivo comissarii legitime constitute decimo tertio die mensis Augusti Anno Domini Millisimo Septingommino [?] decimo septimo. Subamente Janae BUTTER uxor ----defunti executoris unita in ditto testamente nominata cui comissa fuit administratio omnium et singulorum bonorum Juriam et creditorum dictie defunctae de bene et fideliter administrando eadem ad Sancta Dei Evangelia ( Ligore comissionis) Jurat.

[Rough translation: Probate, at London his will in this manner in the presence of the venerable legal man John Bettesworth, surrogate ... legally constituted 13th day of the month August in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred seventeen. Jane BUTTER, wife and executor in this will named with commission? The adminstration of all and singular legal goods and creditors of the said deceased of good and faithful administration, etc.]