Will of Sir William Courtenay of Forde

Dated 19 Aug 1696, Codicil 28 July 1702, Died 1 Aug 1702

Reference: D1508M/F/W26

D1508M Collection (Courtenay of Powderham), Devon Heritage Centre

Transcribed by Kathleen Noye

In the name of God amen I Sir William Courtenay of fford in the County of Devon Barronett being weake of body but of good minde thanks be giuen to Almighty God doe now make my last will and Testament in manner and fforme following ffirst I comend my soul to Almighty God my Creator beleiveing that through the Meritts of Jesus Christ my alone Saviour I shall receive ffree pardon and forgivenesse of all my sins and Inheritt everlasting Life and I committ my body ot the Earth to be decently and privately interr'd without pomp as my Executor shall thinke ffitt Item I give and devise vnto the poore of the parish of Powderham twenty pounds and to the poore of the parish of Wolborough ffifty pounds and to the poore of the parish of Tavistocke in the said County of Devon ffifty pounds all which said sum[m]s to be paid within one yeare after my decease and to be distributed amongst the poore or kept or added to the stocke of the respective parishes aforesd and lent out or imployed for the vse and benefitt of the poore as my Executor with the Churchwardens and overseeres of the poore of the said parishes respecti[ve]ly shall thinke ffit for the best advantage of the poore Item I give and devise the sume of Eight poundes yearly forever to be paid and equally devided by quarterly payments and porcon[n]s [portions] vnto and amongst the ffower poore persons which shall from tyme to tyme dwell and reside in the Almhouse by me now lately erected in the said parish of Tavistocke And I doe give and devise the further yearely sume of fforty shillings to be for ever imployed for and towards the reparacon of the said Almehouse Item I give and devise vnto my Grandson William Courtenay the sonn of my eldest son ffrancis Courtenay Esqr the sume of one hundred poundes in Broade Gould Item I give and devise vnto my sonne James Courtenay the sume of Twenty pounds to be by him bestowed in a Ring which with the severall messuages Lands and Tenements I have heretofore settled and conveyed vnto and for the vse and benefitt of my said sonn James I doe hereby declare to be in full barr recompence satisfaccon [satisfaction] and discharge of all and every sume and sums of money provision and provisions whatsoever which my said Sonn may or might clayme or demand or was or is intituled [entitled] vnto or interessed in by fforce meanes or virtue of all or any of the settlements writings or deeds trusts or provisions heretofore made Limitted declared or provided for or to the end intent or purpose to rayse pay provide or settle [?] porcons [portions] or money for the benefitt or advancement of all or any of my younger Children Item I give and devise vnto my sonns in Law John Clobery and Hugh Stafford Esqrs and vnto Mary the wife of my sonn ffrancis Courtenay and vnto Elizabeth the wife of my sonn James Courtenay and vnto every and each of them the sume of Twenty pounds to be by them respectively bestowed in a Ring all those said severall Legacyes and sums of money to be paid to my said sonns in Law and Daughters in Law severally and respectively within one yeare next after my decease and whereas by the Conveyance or Conveyances settlement or settlements made concerning the marryage betweene my sonn ffrancis Courtenay and Mary Bovey or otherwise the Mannor of Thurlestone Moreton Hamsteed [Hampstead], North Poole, Boltbury Allen[,] Boltbury Be[a]uchamp [both in Malborough], or some of them and severall other mannors Lands and Tenements in England therein particularly menconed and described are settled and conveyed or were or are menconed or intended to be conveyed and settled vnto the vse of Sir James Smith and others his Coetrustees for the terme of fforty yeares or otherwise in Trust and to the intent to rayse porcons and mayntenance for my daughters and younger sonns or to some such or the like Effect end intent or purpose as by the same conveyance or Conveyances and settlemts relacon being therevnto had may appeare and Whereas I have now onely one Daughter yet by me Vnpreferred in Marryage called Anne Now I do hereby according to and by fforce and virtue of the said Conveyances and settlements and pursuant thereto and of all and every power and authority to me in this behalfe belonging or enabling me therevnto Declare and signify that my will and Intentes and I doe hereby declare direct order Limitt and appointe that there shall be raysed for and payd to my said Daughter Anne and that she shall have for her porcon the sume of Two Thowsand pounds to be raysed and payd to and for her by the Trustees to that purpose in the said Conveyance or Conveyances and Settlements named and appointed and the Survivors and Survivor of them his and their Executors and Administrators by and out of the Mannors Lands Tenements and Hereditaments rents ffynes and proffitts by the said Conveyance or Conveyances and Settlements and for that End settled allotted charged Limitted or appointed according to the Vse Trust and powers for that purpose created and declared in and by such Conveyance or Conveyances and further that there shall be raysed and payd by the same ways and meanes unto and for my said Daughter Anne for her maintenance the yearely sume of one hundred pounds vntill she shall have her porcon of Two thousand pounds actually raysed for and payd vnto her Item I give and devise vnto my said Daughter Anne fforty pounds in broade Gold Item I give vnto my Daughter Isabella now the wife of Sir Thomas Leere Barronett the sume of Twenty pounds to buy her a Ring which with the two thowsand pounds already paid or secured to be paid to the said Sir Thomas Leere for the porcon of my said Daughter Isabella I doe hereby declare to be in full barr recompence satisfaccon and discharge of all and every sume and sums of money porcon and provision whatsoer which my said Daughter may or might clayme or demand or was or is intituled vnto or interessed in by fforce meanes or virtue of all or any of the settlements writings deeds trusts or provisions heretofore made Limitted declared created or provided for or to the End intent or purpose to rayse pay provide or secure porcons or moneys for the benefitt or advancement of all or any of my younger Children in any meanes whatsoever Item I give and devise to my Daughter Margarett now the wife of Edmond Reynell of Malston in the County of Devon Esqr the sume of twenty pounds which said sume of Twenty pounds I doe hereby declare to be in ffull barr recompence satisfaccon and discharge of all and every sume and sumes of money porcon and porcons provision and provisions whatsoever which my said Daughter may or might clayme or demand or was or is intituled unto or interessed in by fforce meanes or Virtue of all or any of the settlements writings deeds trusts or provisions heretofore made Limitted declared or provided for or to the end Intent or purpose to rayse pay provide or secure porcons or moneys for the benefitt or advancement of all or any of my younger Children the said sume of twenty pounds to be payd within one yeare after my death and whereas I have made a reasonable provision in and by Lands by me heretofore conveyed and settled for the use and benefitt of my sonns James George, Henery and William severally and respectively I doe hereby ffurther declare order direct Limitt and appointe and there shall be by the wayes and meanes aforesaid raysed for and payd to my said sonn James the sume of twenty pounds by me hereinbefore given and bequeathed to him and noe more and vnto and for each and every of my said sonns George, Henry, and William, the sume of Twenty pounds apeece and noe more to be payable and paid vnto my said ffower sonns respectively att the End of one yeare next after my decease which said sseverall sums of twenty pounds apeece and the said severall messuages lands and Tenements which I have heretofore settled and conveyed vnto and for the Vse and benefitt of my said sonns severally I doe hereby Limitt declare and appointe to be soe Limitted and Settled for and in Lawefull barr satisfaccon and discharge of all and every Sume and Sumes of money porcon and porcons provision and provisions whatsoever which my said sonns James, George, Henery, and William or either of them may or cann sue for clayme or demand or are intituled vnto or interessed in by meanes fforce or Virtue of all or any of the Conveyances settlements trusts or estates which before the marryage of my said sonn ffrancis Courtenay were made Limitted declared created or provided to the End or intent for the raysing paying or provideing or securing porcons Moneys or maintenances for all or any of my younger Children in any manner [?] whatsoever and alsoe in full barr recompence satisfaccon and discharge of all and every provision and provisions estate and estates whatsoever which my said sonns James, George Henry and William or any or either of them may or might clayme or demand or was or are or is intituled unto or interessed in by force meanes or Virtue of all or any of the settlement[es] writings deeds trusts or provisions heretofore by me made Limitted declared created or provided in by with for or out of all or any of my Mannors Messuages Lands Tenements or Hereditament[es] in the Kingdome of Ireland And I doe alsoe give devise Limitt and appoint that each and every of my said sonns George Henry and William shall have for his mayntenance the yearely sume of ffifty pounds vntill all and every my debts and other sume and sumes of money menconed and expressed in the severall schedules annexed vnto three severall deeds each of them bearing date the tenth day of ffebruary in the ffifth yeare of the reign of his present Majesty and the late Queene Mary and made or menconed to be made betweene me the said Sr William Courtenay of the one parte my said eldest sonn ffrancis Courtenay by the name of ffrancis Courtenay of Powderham Castle in the County of Devon Esqr Samuell Tanner of Crealy in the said County Esqr and Robert Manley of Powderham in the said County Clerke of the other parte shall be ffully paid and satisfyed the same severall yearely sums or maintenances of ffifty pounds to be raysed and paid in such manner and by such wayes and meanes as is herein before directed to be raysed for the Maintenance of my daughter Anne and that all the yearely payments of maintenance to my said three sonns George, Henry, and William, and my daughter Anne shall be made att the ffower most vsuall ffeasts in the yeare by equall payments and porcons the ffirst payment thereof to be made and beginne att such of the said ffeasts as shall first and next happen after my decease provided always and I doe hereby further direct Limitt declare and appointe that in case my said sonns George, Henry, and William, shall not accept of the Maintenance and provision by me hereby provided and appointed but shall sue for clayme or demand any ffurther or other maintenance or provision by fforce or Virtue of any Settlement made for or concerning the marryage of my said sonn ffrancis that then and in such Case such sume and sums of money as my said three sonns George, Henry, and William, or either of them shall receive by meanes fforce or virtue of any Settlement made vpon the marryage of my said sonn ffrancis over and beyound the maintenance and provision for them respectively by this my will shall be satisfyed and repayd to my said sonn ffrancis Courtenay and his Heires by and out of the rents Issues and proffitts of the Lands and Tenements heretofore settled or belonging to such of my said three sonns George, Henry, and William, as shall sue for Clayme or demand such or other maintenance or provision by any settlement or Conveyance by me heretofore made vnto and for the Use and benefitt of my said three sonns George Henry and William Severally and whereas in and by severall Indentures or conveyances I have heretofore conveyed or settled the Mannors of Mayne and Bewley with many other messuages Lands tenements and Hereditaments lyeing in the Barony of Conelough and County of Limerick in the Kingdome of Ireland to the Vses therein menconed I doe hereby by Virtue of all and every the [?] powers and authorityes to me given and reserved in and by any such deeds or writings repeale revoke annull and make void all and singular the leses Estates termes and remainders in and by the same deeds or Conveyances menconed Limitted expressed and declared raysed or created or in or by any other deed or deeds writing or writings heretofore made ?ealed and de???ted by me of for and concerning the aforesaid Mannors of Meane and Bewly with all other my Mannors Messuages Lands tenements and Hereditaments in the Kingdome of Ireland (Except such Mannors Messuages Lands tenements and Hereditaments as I have heretofore settled on or in Trust for my Sonns ffrancis Courtenay and Richard Courtenay since deceased on their respective Marryages Item I give & devise unto my Grandson Hugh Stafford ffifty pounds in Gold and to my Grandchildren Elizabeth Johane and Margarett Clobery the sume of one hundred pounds apeece and to every other of my Grandchildren tenne pounds apeece to buy them a Ring Item I give and devise to my servt Luce Basill tenne pounds yearely during her life to be payd vnto her by halfe yearely paymts to witt) att Lady day [25 March] and Michaelmas [29 Sep] by equall porcons the ffirst paymt to be made and beginne att such of the sd tymes as shall first and next happen after my decease Item I give and devise unto such Maidservt as shall wayte vpon my daughter Anne att the tyme of my death fforty shillings Item I give and devise vnto John Bawden my Groome James Bareblock my Cooke Samuell fferris my Butler and James Codnor and vnto every of them ffive pounds if liveing with me att the tyme of my death Item I give and devise vnto every one of the Rest of my Mennservts who shall be liveing with me att the tyme of my death fforty shillings except those that are beforenamed Item I Give and devise vnto every one of my Maideservants which shall be liveing with me att the tyme of my death twenty shillings Item I Give and devise to every one of the day Labourers that are Vsually imployed on my Barton of fford twenty shillings Item I Give and devise vnto Mr Robert Manley and vnto my neece Elizabeth Eldest daughter of my Brother ffrancis Courtenay the sume of one hundred pounds apeece Item I give and devise vnto my Cozen Mr Joliane Soreton ffifty pounds And I doe hereby Give and devise unto my said sonn ffrancis Courtenay all my personall Estate Goods and Chattles not herein before Given and devised and I doe make and appointe my said sonne ffrancis Courtenay whole and sole Executor of this my last will and Testament provided always that if my said sonn ffrancis Courtenay shall happen to dye in nighte tyme then and in such Case onely I doe order and appointe my aforesaid Grandson William Courtenay whole and sole Executor of this my will in the roome and stead of my said sonn ffrancis Courtenay desiring my good ffriends Hugh Stafford John Clobery and Robert Manley to be assisting to my said Grandson for the better performance of this my will In witnesse whereof I the said Sr William Courtenay have hereunto sett my hand and seale this Nineteenth day of August in the Eighth yeare of the reigne of our soveraigne Lord William the third King over Englande & Annoq D[omi]ni 1696./
Sealed and published to be the last will and Testamt of the said Sr William Courtenay in the p[res]ence of
Ph: Waughanil [?]
Willim Yeo
Chris: Baker

I William Courtenay of fford………in the County of Devon Barrtt, being weak and infirm of Body, but of Sound and perfect mind memory and vnderstanding do make and Constitute this Codicill annexed to my last Will & Testament as part of the same Impr[im]is I give and bequeath vnto my Daughter Elizabeth Courtenay Wife of my son James Courtenay of Walreddon in the County of Devon Esqr three hundred broad peeces of Gold Item I further give and bequeath vnto my said Daughter Elizabeth Courtenay the sume of two hundred pounds toward the building and erecting the house of Walreddon to bee paid within one Yeare after my Decease, by my Exec[utor] Willi[a]m Courtenay of Powderham Esqr my Grand Son Item I give and bequeath vnto my Daughter Anne Courtenay two hundred broad pieces of Gold, over and above what is given her by my said last Will and Testament. Item I give and bequeath vnto Robert Manley Clark now living with me att fford the ffairs and Marketts vsually held and kept within the Borough of Moreton=Hamstead in the County of Devon, together with all and singular the Appurten[an]ces Rents profitts and Advantages whatsoever therevnto belonging or in any wise appertayning, lately in the possession of one Robert Gillard, and now in the possession of me the said Sr William Courtenay, To have and to hold all and singular the aforesaid p[re]misses to him the said Robert Manley for and dureing the Term of ffourscore and nineteen Years if he the said Robert Manley shall so long happen to live, vnder the Rents, reservations, and Conditions, as the said p[re]misses have been formerly granted by Lease And in Case my said Exec[utor] William Courtenay shall not permitt the said Robert Manley qvietly and peaceably to enjoy the said p[re]misses herein before ment[i]oned and bequeathed, according to my true Intent and meaning Then my Will is, And I do hereby give and bequeath vnto him the said Robert Manley the sum[m]e of five hundred pounds to be paid him by my said Executor William Courtenay within twelve Moneths after my Decease Item I give and bequeath vnto my S[er]vant James Codner an Annuity or yearly Sum[m]e of ten pounds, to be paid him by qvarterly payments during his Life, to be secured vnto him the said James Codner by my said Executor out of an Estate late in the possession of John Jane, and situate within the Mannor of Woolborough in the County of Devon And in case my said Exec[utor] shall not secure the payment of the said Annuity of ten pounds to him the said James Codner, according to my true Intent and meaning, Then it is my Will and I do hereby beqveath vnto him the said James Codner the sum[m]e of one hundred pounds to be paid him by my said Exec[utor] within twelve Moneths after my Decease In witness whereof I have herevnto sett my hand and seale the eight and twentyeth Day of July in the first Year of the raign of o[ur] Soveraign Lady Anne by the grace of God of England Scotland ffrance and Ireland Queen Defend[er] of the faith &c Annoqz D[omi]ni 1702.//                  The marke of Sr William W Courtenay

Signed, sealed, published, and declared to be the Codicill or part of last Will and Testament of him the said Sr Will[ia]m Courtenay (after the Interlineacon of these words (vizt) Rents proffitts and advantages whatsoever) in the presence of vs who have herevnto sett our hands in Testimony thereof, by his Consent, and direccon.//
Edward Collins
Samuell Sampson
Hen[ry] Ford [Esqr?]