Will of William Norman of Steeple Claydon, grocer, 1700 (proved 1701)

Centre for Bucks Studies, D/A/Wf/60/46

In the Name of God Amen the fourth day of September in the twelfth year of the Reigne of our Soveraigne Lord King William the third over England &c And in the yeare of our Lord God 1700  I William Norman of Steeple Claydon in the County of Bucks Grocer being weak in body but of sound & perfect minde and memory (rayse be given to God for the same) and knowing the incertainty of this life on earth and being desierous to settle things in order Doe make this my last will and Testament in manner and form following That is to say First and principally I com(m)end my soule to Almighty God my creator assuredly beleiveing that I shall receive full pardon and relief  free remission of all my sins and to be saved by the precious death and merits of my blessed saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ And my body to the Earth from whence it was taken To be buryed in Wynslow Church yard in the County of Bucks aforesaid in such decent and Christian manner as to my Executrix hereafter named shall be thought meet and convenient And as touching such worldly estate as the Lord in mercy hath lent me my will and meaneing is the same shall be imployed and bestowed as hereafter by this my last will & Testament is expressed And first I revoke renounce frustrate and make voyd all wills by me formerly made And declare and appoint this only to be my last will & Testament  Item I give and bequeath unto my Loveing Sone Samuell Norman of Wynslow aforesaid Two shillings & six pence and to his wife Marthah Two shillings and six pence and to his four Chilldren Samuell Norman William Susannah & Martha one shilling a peice Item I give and bequeath unto my Son in Law Richard Veerey of Cudington in the said County of Bucks Two shillings & six pence and to his Wife Deborah Two Shillings & six pence and to his four Chilldren Mary Veerey Deborah Elizabeth and Jane one shilling a peice Item I give and bequeath unto my Son in Law Edward Hicks of London Two shillings and six pence Item I give and bequeath unto my Grand daughter Mary Hicks daughter of the aforesaid Edward Hicks the sum(m)e of Twenty pounds of good and Lawfull money of England To be payd her by my Deare and Loveing wife Jane Norman whome I make and apoint the sole Executrix of this my Last will and Testament To be payd my said Grand daughter Mary Hicks at the pleasuer and discreation of \my/ said Executrix And I desier and appoint my Loveing Son Samuell Norman aforesaid and my loving friend Joseph Churchill the eld(e)r of Steeple Claydon aforesaid Gentl' overseers of this my last will  and Testament desiering them see the same performed and for their trouble theirin I give them Two shillings and six pence apeice To be payd with all the rest of my Legaceys by my said Executrix In Wittness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day & yeare above said

[signed] William Norman

Signed sealed published pronounced
and declared by the said William
Norman as his last will & Testament
in the presence of us all 
Johnathan Woottoen
Edward Wellford
Edw: Hassell

[Probate 24 May 1701 before Isaac Lodington clerk, surrogate of the Archdeacon of Bucks to Jane Norman, widow, not infringing anyone's right]

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Notes

William Norman was a Baptist and signed the Orthodox Creed in 1679 (read more about him). He was the father of Samuel Norman (1659-1735) who married Martha Gyles (see Gyles family). He was not buried in Winslow churchyard as requested (not surprising in view of Rev. John Croft's hostility to the Baptists) but perhaps he was buried in the burial ground of the Meeting House. He married Jane Hunt at Winslow in 1656. Neither of them seems to have been baptised at Winslow, and it's not clear how (or if) he was related to the other Norman families in Winslow.

Deborah Norman married Richard Veerey or Very at Quainton in 1679.