Will of Elizeus Clarke of Adstock, yeoman, 1715

Centre for Bucks Studies D/A/Wf/68/9

In the name of God Amen I Elizeus Clarke of Adstocke in the County of Bucks Yeoman being Weake of body but of sound and perfect minde & memory Praised be Almighty God therefore and calling to minde the certainety of death and the uncertaine tyme thereof doe this Seaven and Twentyeth day of Aprill Anno D(om)ini 1715 make and Ordeyne this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme followeing (that is to say) First and Principally I Com(m)end my Soule into the hands of Almighty God my Maker hopeing through the Merritts death and Passion of Jesus Christ my Saviour to be made Pertaker of Everlasting life and my Body I com(m)itt to the Earth to be decently Buryed att the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named And as for my Temporall Estate as itt hath pleased Almighty God to Bestowe upon me I give and dispose thereof as followeth Imprimis I Give Will devise and Bequeath unto Elizeus Clarke my Sonn and his heires Forever All that my Yard land and a halfe which I Purchassed of Mr Egerton lyeing dispersedly in the Com(m)on Feilds of Adstocke aforesaid And alsoe all that my Quarterne of a Yard land which I Purchased of Richard Everett lyeing alsoe dispersedly in the Com(m)on Feildes of Adstocke aforesaid Item I Give Will Devise and Bequeath unto John Clarke my Sonn (in regard that he hath had his Portion alreadie) but the Sum(m)e of One and Twentie Shillings and Six pence lawfull mony of Greate Brittaine to be paid unto him by my Executors hereinafter named within Six moneths next after my decease Item I Give Will Devise and Bequeath unto the said I Elizeus Clarke my Sonn my Three Platters which were my Christening Peeces to be delivered unto him by my Executors hereinafter named within Six moneths next after my decease Item I Give Will Devise and Bequeath unto William Clarke my Eldest Sonn (in Regard that I have alreadie given him my mony which I had att Interest to help him pay for the Estate which he lately Purchased of Mr Attwood) but my Cofer and what will be comeing \to him/ from the Executorshipp  Item I Give Will Devise and Bequeath unto Mary my loveing Wife the Forty Pounds which is in my sonn Johns hands and the Twenty Pounds and Interest and the Five Pounds p(er) annum which is (or is Intended to be) secured to her by Bond from my sonn William and alsoe all my Cowes as I shall have att the tyme of my decease and alsoe all my household goods not hereinbefore Bequeathed (Except the Furnice which I would have remaine as a Standard to my house wherein I doe now dwell and to goe with the same to such Person & Persons who will enjoy the same) Item I Give Will Devise and Bequeath unto Richard Lake and his Wife Charity Shepperd and his Wife and Mathew Watts and his Wife One Shilling and Six Pence a peece of lawfull mony of Greate Brittaine to be paid to them by my Executors hereinafter named within One moneth next after my decease Item all the rest of my Chattells and Personall Effects whatsoever and wheresoever not hereinbefore Bequeathed I Give Will Devise and Bequeath unto the said William Clarke & Elizeus Clarke my sonns (Paying my debts legacyes and Funerall Expences) And I doe hereby make and Ordeyne the said William Clarke and Elizeus Clarke my sonns full and Sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament And Lastly I doe hereby Revoake and make Voide all former Wills by me heretofore made and doe declare this to be my last Will and Testament In Wittnesse whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seal the day the day and yeare first above written
Signed Sealed Published and Declared in the Presence of us who have hereunto Subscribed our Names as Wittnesses in the presence of the Testator
William Seare Jun [signature]
Thomas Hogge [signature]
Peter Goldsworth [signature]
The mark of Elizeus Clarke
[Probate 22 Nov 1715 to William and Elizaeus Clarke the sons and executors]

Notes

Elizeus (or Elisha) Clarke the son appears in later documents as the mortgagee of property in Winslow.