Will of Christopher Pearse, Husbandman of Ermington, Devon

9 February 1656

© Crown Copyright

PROB 11/253, File Reference: 295, Image Reference: 279, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Berkeley Quire Numbers: 53 - 104

Transcribed by Kathryn Barnett

Note - Where a word is difficult to read, I have placed my best guess in square brackets, thus [ ]. Where a letter or letters within a word cannot be deciphered, I have placed a dash, thus -. The ff is transcribed as the modern uppercase F.

In the name of God Amen the Sixth and Twentieth day of January Anno Domini One Thousand and six hundred fiftie fower I Christopher Pearse of the Parish of Ermington in the Countie of Devon Husbandman being Sicke of bodie but perfect of memorie praised be God Doe ordaine make this my last will and Testament in manner and forme and following (viz) First I give and bequeath my Soule unto Almightie God through Jesus Christ my onlie Saviour and Redeemer and my body to Decent buriall when it shall please God to ende this my pilgrimage Item I give unto the poore People of the Parish of Ermington Three Shillings and fower pence to be distributed att the discretion of my Overseere Item I give unto my wife Joane five pounds a yeare to be paid her Quarterlie out of Tenemt I live in for the Terme of her life if my Sonne Andrew or my Daughter Agnes soe long Live Item I give unto my Daughter Agnes Three Shillings and fower pence and Twelve pence to each of her Children that shall be living att the time of my decease Item I give unto Joane the Daughter of my Sonne Andrewe forty Shillings and that little Quillt the which I tooke of Master Thomas Rich of Worthell and now in Converted to an Orchard withall [--iden--] thereunto belonging withall my Right and Interest in the same the which is unexpired and to Come in the same Item I give unto Agnes the Daughter of my Sonne Andrewe Three Shillings and fower pence and each of her Children Twelve pence a peece each of them And I doe give and bequeath unto my Sonne Andrewe all my goods and Chattells not formerly given and bequeathed whome I make my whole and Sole Executor of of this my last Will and Testament And I doe intreate Henerie Light and Henery Edgcombe to be my Overseers to this my Last Will and Testament The marke of Christopher Pearse Signed and published in the presence of Hen Edgcombe The marke of Henry Light The marke of Mathew Brooke

This Will was proved att London the nynth Day of February In the yeare of our Lorde God (according to the [Accompt] and Computation of the Church of England) one thousand Six hundred fyftie and five before the Judges for probate of Wills and Granting Administrations lawfully authorized by the oath of Andrew Pearse the Sole and onlie Executor named in the above written Will To whom Administration of all and Singular the goods Chattells and debts of the said deceased was Committed he being first Legallie sworn trulie and faythfully to administer the same.