Last Will and Testament of John Marsham MP

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Will

John Marsham MP (1602-1685)

Introduction

The will was written without date, it would appear that the date was added after when the will was discovered and proved. The will was discovered in the pocket of the deceased's breeches after his death, and the three named witnesses were required to swear an oath that they were well acquainted, and that the writing was in his hand.

Persons named in will

Sir John Marsham - the testator
John Marsham - joint executor, son of the testator
Sir Robert Marsham - joint executor, son of the testator
Ferdinando Penkhurst - witness
William Masemort - witness
Richard Darbyshire - witness
Dame Elizabeth Marsham - the relict

The Will

My age exceeding four score yeares -
adviseth me to sett my house in order for I must dye I doe - -
therefore make this my last Will and Testament, here revoking all former and
ratifying Settlements made upon marryage And I do constitute and -
make both my sonns John Marsham and Sir Robert to be joynt Executors
of the will written with my hand signed with my seale and subscribed
by me./

30 May 1685

Which day appeared personally Ferdinando Penkhurst -
of Buxted In the County of Sussex, Esq. aged about twenty eight yeares
and William Masemort of the Middle Temple London Gent. aged about
forty years and Richard Darbyshire of the Parish of St Andrew -
Holborn, London Gent. aged about forty years and being severally -
sworne upon the holy Evangelists to depose the truth did depose as -
followeth Vizt. That they and every of them did know and were well - -
acquainted with Sir John Marsham late of Cuxton in the County of Kent
Knight and Baronett deceased and have often seen the said deceased
write and thereby became acquainted with his manner and character of
writing and having severally viewed and perused the paper writing
hereunto annexed purporting the tenor and effect of the Last Will and
Testament of the said Deceased do believe the same to be totally wrote
by and with the proper hand writing of the said Deceased And the -
said Ferdinando Penkhurst further deposeth that soon after the death
of the said Sir John Marsham deceased the said paper writing or Quill

was found in one of the Pocketts of the said Deceaseds Breeches which hee -
usually wore and was taken out of his said Pockett In the presence of Dame
Elizabeth Marsham the Relict of the said Deceased and severall of his -
children. / Ferdo Penkherst Willm Masemort Richd Darbyshire./

30 May 1685
Names of executors LATIN paragraph

Probatum LATIN paragraph