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Will of Andrew Cranch, the Elder of Malborough

Dated 1623, Proved 1624

© Crown Copyright

PROB 11/143, File Reference: 406, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Byrde Quire Numbers: 1 - 65

Transcribed by Kathryn Barnett

[Note by K. Barnett - 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 - .]

In Dei Nomine Amen: I Andrew Cranch the elder of Batston within the parish of Malborough in the Countye of Devon Merchant beinge sicke of bodie but of a good and perfect minde thanks be to god Doe make and ordaine this my last will and testament in manner and forme as followeth viz First I bequeath my soule into the hands of god who is my most merciful Creator and Redeemer and my bodye to the grave I give unto the poore of Malbrough three shillings and fower pence I give to all my apprentices tenn shillings a peece I bequeath unto the poore of Salcombe two shillings a yeare for one and twenty yeares after my decease to be distributed and bestowed amonge them I give and bequeath to my wife for her [--oy---ture] and dower my dwellinge house with the ground to the same belonging for tearme of her naturall life and also my Messuage and Tenement with--- app'tences called by the name of Torhill for tearme of her sayd life togeather with the goods and chattles upon both Messuages now being and after the decease of my wife I doe assigne and by this present testament make over the sayd Messuage and Tenem't called Torhill and Batston aforesayd unto Andrew Cranch the sonne of William Cranch my sonne deceased Instead and in lieu of the porcion given him by his Father Provided that if the sayd Andrew Cranch shall dye before he Come to the age of One and twentie yeares or else shall dye without issue by him lawfully begotten then my will and pleasure is that my sayd Messuages and Tenem'ts called Batston and Torhill shall be and remayne to Roger Cranch brother of the sayd Andrew Cranch And if it happen that the sayd Andrew Cranch and Roger Cranch shall dye without issue then my pleasure that both the sayd Messuages and Tenem'ts shall remain to Andrew Cranch my sonne and his assignes I give and bequeath unto Roger Cranch aforesaid sonne of William Cranch aforesaid deceased my house at Knowle with the ground thereunto belonging instead of the porcion given him by his Father pvided that yf he shall dye without issue than the sayd house and grounds to remain unto my sonne Andrew Cranch I bequeath unto Anne Lange my daughter the house wherein shee dwelleth for terme of her naturall life and Fourty Shillings a yeare to be payd her quarterly during her sayd life I give unto Johan her daughter three pounds and to the rest of her children tenn shillings a peece I give unto Joyce Knowlinge Fourty shillings a yeare to be payd her out of Torhill aforesaid during the naturall life of her husband I give and bequeath unto the rest of my Children twentye shillings a peece, and to theyr Children ten shillings a peece I give unto my wife the one moytie or halfendeal of my household stuff the other moytie to remaine to my sonne, the rest of my goods and Chattalls not given and bequeathed I bequeath unto my sonne Andrew Cranch whom I appoint and by this my testament ordayne my Executor to fulfill this my Will and Testament as aforesaid In witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal Even the eight day of February in the yeare of the rayne of our Sovereigne Lord James by the grace of God of England France and Ireland Kinge defender of the faith the one and twentieth and of Scotland the Fiftie seventh 1623 [KB note: Year written numerically] my will and pleasure is that after the decease of my wife my sonne Andrew Cranch shall be [gardener] unto Andrew Cranch and Roger Cranch children of Wm Cranch deceased and shall employ both them [p- - ] and to their best advantage until they shall accomplish the age of one and twentye yeares their mayntenence to be [allowed] out of their porcions Also my will and pleasure that the bed wherein I now lye shall after the decease of my wife shall remaine as [formed] unto Andrew Cranch sonne of William Cranch deceased Signe of Andrew Cranch sealed and delivered in the presence of those subscribed
Edmond Adam witnesse
John Knowlinge witnesse
John Gooddinge

Probate in Latin dated 19th May 1624 granted to Andrew Cranch son of the deceased.
"...... Decimonone die mensio May Anno Domini Millesimo Sexcentesimo vicesimo quarto Furamento Andrew Cranch filii..."