Will of John More of Tenby, Pembrokeshire and Morehayes, Cullompton

Proved 2 December 1639

© Crown Copyright

National Archives Catalogue Reference PROB 11/181/601,
Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury

Transcribed by Pam Simons

Although this will is made by a John More in Tenby, he is the owner of the ancient Morehayes estate near Cullompton in Devon, and the will concerns his family, most of whom are living in Devon, and including his heir who inherits Morehayes. John More seems to have moved to Tenby for reasons of his own -  his tombstone in Tenby church says ‘He that from home for love was hither brought’.

In the Name of God Amen on the twenty eighth day of March in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred thirty and nine the fifteenth year of our Sovereign Lord Charles by the Grace of God of Great Britain & France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith, I JOHN MORE of Tenby in the county of Pembroke in the principality of Wales Esquire being of indifferent health in body and of very good health and perfect memory (thanks be unto God) do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following. Imprimis I bequeath my soul unto God being well assured of the salvation thereof and by the only merits of my Lord and alone Saviour Jesus Christ and my body to be decently buried by my executrix hereafter named. Item I give to the poor of the parish of Cullompton in the county of Devon the sum of five(?) pounds of lawful English money. Item I give to the parish church of Tenby ten shillings. Item whereas there is a provision of two hundred pounds made for my son AMYIAS MORE to be paid him within one year after my decease by my son RICHARD MORE of Okehampton in Devon as appears (?) by Bond. I do moreover give him forty shillings to be paid unto the said AMYIAS MORE within one half year after my decease. Item I give unto my eldest daughter MARY the wife of RICHARD TOMSON of Haverford West Clarke a piece of plate of twenty shillings withen one full year after my decease.  Item whereas there are certain sums of money lent out and Bonds taken by John WHINNELL (?) Doctor in Physicke of Exeter in the name of some of my daughters the which (?) sums I know not: and their names I know not Therefore my will is that if my four daughters FRANCES, SARA, WILMOTT and REBECCA MORE shall marry with the consent of my executrix and my overseers or any of them that then they shall have the equal portions of two hundred pounds apiece arising out of these Bonds made unto them in their names And the rest to be paid out of my estate And that they shall severally and responsibly have the benefit and profit of the said two hundred pounds a piece for their livelihood and maintenance until their age of twenty and one years or their marriage and then to have their portions or els. (?)  the daughter or daughters   which (?) shall marry without the consent of my after named executrix and three of my overseers to have but the sum of two hundred pounds a piece and their former legacies to be utterly void.  Item I do give unto ELIZABETH BERRY the wife of JOHN BERRY Clarke the sum of five shillings. Item I do give unto GEORGE MORE my son all my Timber Stuff at Morehayes in case he hath issue male otherwise only the use and occupation thereof giving unto my executrix a note of the particulars thereof  when and in such manner as my overseers or any two of them shall think fit. Item I give unto my daughter ANNE WHINNELL(?) the wife of JOHN WHINNELL aforesaid a good poster bed performed. Item I give unto my son RICHARD MORE aforesaid the sum of five shillings. Item I give unto MARY MORE my beloved wife the use of all my household stuff and plate during her life and widowhood. She giving bond within three months after my decease to my daughters or any two of them in a reasonable sum as they shall think fit the sum should come to my children according to her discretion or before her marriage if she happen to marry. And I make her my whole and sole executrix desiring her love and care over all my children. And I do notate JOHN BAMPFEILD of Poltimore Esquire and PETER SAINTELL of Bradninch Esquire both in the County of Devon and JOHN GUNTER of Lampy  in Pembrookeshire and HUMPHREY GUNTER of the Parke in Kifficke [see Cyffig] parish in Carmarthenshire Gentleman and Mrs ELIZABETH COFFIN of Portledge in Devon aforesaid the overseers of this my last will & testament desiring their pains and assistance to my wife and children. And for Mr BAMPFEILD’s and Mr SAINTELL’s as for Mrs COFFIN’s above named pains and love herein, I give unto each of them a Ring of twenty shillings a piece In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal JOHN MORE signed and sealed in the presence the word (my) in the twentieth line; the words (or my) two of them) in the six and twentieth line, and the same words in the thirtieth line, and also the word (and plate ) in the one and thirtieth line word all inter----- before the signing and sealing thereof in the presence of us JOHN GUNTER  HUMPHREY GUNTER NATHANIAL CRADOCK  ABRAHAM BULL