Will of Roger Adams of Little Horwood, gentleman, 1678 (proved 1679)

National Archives PROB 11/359/465

In the name of God Amen the thirtieth day of November in the yeare of our Lord God according to the computation used in the Church of England, One thousand six hundred seaventy and eight I Roger Adams of Little Horwood in the County of Bucks gent being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory, I give god Almighty humble thankes for the same and calling to mind the certainty of Death but the uncertainty of the time when doe make this my last will and testament in manner and forme following, first and principally I bequeath my Soule into the hands of Almighty God that gave it me trusting to be Saved by the alone merritts of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and my body to the earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executors hereafter \originale sic/, And I make constitute and appoint my dearly beloved wife Elizabeth my Brothers in Law Robert Adams and Mathew Adams my own Brothers Robert Adams and Philip Adams and my Cozen Nicholas Godwin Executors of this my last will and testament And my will is that my personall estate shalbe disposed of for the payment of those moneys which I am to pay unto my Brother Philipp Adams and my will is that concerning all my Lands and tenements in Little Horwood aforesaid in the County of Bucks which are noe part of my wives joynture shalbe and remaine to the intents uses and purposes following that is to say if in case my dearly beloved wife be now with Child if it \be/ a daughter then my will is she shall have five hundred pounds of lawfull english money at her age of one and twenty years and if two daughters then one thousand ~~~ \originale sic/ betweene them equally at the same age and if a sonn then Six hundred pounds to him at the said age and if two sonns a thousand pounds between them equally And my mind and will is that the said money \shall/ be raised out of the proffitts of my said Lands which are noe part of my said wives joynture which proffitts of my said Lands shalbe received by my said Executors and the Survivour of them to raise the said moneys as aforesaid and my will is that my Executor shall not be dampnified by this trust Item I give and devise to ye Widdow Weston ten shillings to Michael Wilkes ten shillings to Widow Woodward ten shillings Ralph Cooke ten shillings John Ells twenty shillings John Willis twenty Shillings Henry Gascoine ten Shillings John Gascoine ten Shillings William Richardson ten Shillings Widow Dorsett ten Shillings William Woolman junior ten Shillings William Meade ten Shillings Thomas Wilkes ten Shillings William Jeffe ten Shillings Thomas Stridwick the elder twenty Shillings Thomas Stridwick the younger twenty Shillings Thomas Marriott ten Shillings William Collins ten Shillings William Woolman Senior ten Shillings Charles Inwards ten Shillings Thomas Inwards ten Shillings Widdow Willis ten Shillings John Jorden ten shillings Humphry Bearce ten Shillings William Viccars ten Shillings Thomas Toplyn ten Shillings Robert Inwards William Jordan ten Shillings a piece, All which my will is shalbe paid within six weekes after my decease and five shillings a piece to my foure household Servants Item I give and devise to the Widdow Philips thirty shillings, and I give my Executors five Shillings a peice to buy them gloves for theire paines provided And I give and devise unto my deerly beloved wife & my sonn Rob(er)t Adams my household goods Item I give unto my Brother Philip ten Sheepe which are marked In Witnesse whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & Seale ye day and yeare first above written.

Roger Adams his mark

Sealed published & declared in the presence of Thomas Croft Elizabeth Markeham Oliver Lawrence

Proved at London on 11th April 1679 by the oath of Elizabeth Adams one of the executors to whom administration was granted, sworn by power of a commission, power reserved for the other executors Robert Adams, Matthew Adams, Robert Adams, Philip Adams and Nicholas Goodwin when they come.

Proved at London on 26th May 1679 by the oath of Robert Adams another of the executors to whom administration was granted, power reserved for the other executors Matthew Adams, Robert Adams, Philip Adams and Nicholas Goodwin when they come.