Last Will and Testament of Robert Wildman of Wymondham, Norfolk, 1653-1655

Date: 1653 to 1655
Location: Norfolk, England
Surname/tag: Wildman

This is a transcription of the register copy of the Will of Robert Wildman of Wymondham. He wrote his will on 28 January 1653, He died in Scotland while fighting the Royalist Rising of Glencairn and was probably buried nearby. His will was proved at the Archdeaconry of Norwich on 4 February 1655/6.^[1]

Transcription conventions used in this text:

• Spelling, punctuation and line breaks are as per the original document.
• Where present, ff has been rendered as F, and the old letter Thorn has been rendered as th.
• Abbreviations and breviographs have been expanded in [square brackets].
• Additions and margin notes, where they occur, have been added where indicated in the text.
• Crossings through, where they occur, have been included Struck out.
• Amendments added between the lines, when present, have been formated as ^superscript.
• The image quality was moderate. The handwriting was legible.

Persons mentioned:

Elizabeth Wildman, his wife

John, his son

Stephen, his son

Debora, his daughter

Richard More, witness

Anne Freeman, witness

Susan Upperstall, witness

Ric: Bale: witness

[folio 177 recto]

In the name of God Amen; The eight and

twentieth Day of January in the year of our Lord one Thousand

six hundred Fifty and three I Robert Wildman of

Wymondham in the County of Norffs^[2] Turner, knowing that

am naturally ordained of Gods creation to Dye & to Depart

from this transitory life, minding(?) to set an order of my

goods & cattells to the intent there should be noe variance

nor strife for the same after my decease, Therefore to avoid

all manner of actions strifes & controversyes whatsoever

revoake & utterly renounce all wills & Testaments heretofore

by me made either by word, writing or otherwise, and doe make

& ordaine this to be my very last will & Testament now signed

with my owne hand, confirming thereby my goods & Cattells

in manner & forme following viz: Suprimis & commend my

Soule unto Allmighty God, & to his onely Sonne Jesus Christ,

unto the holy Ghost, thre persons & one God, most humbly beseech=

=ing the most holy & blessed Trinity to have worry upon my

Soule & to pardon & forgive me all my sinnes soe that

(after

[folio 177 verso]

after this transitory & mortall life ended I may through

the meritts of Christ his passion rise with the elect having the

eternall life & fruition of the God head according to my true

faith in that behalfe; And I will my body to be buried in that

place where it shall please God to call me: Item I give and

bequeathe all my goods & catlls movable and immovable

of what nature kinde or condicon soever they be unto Elizabeth

my wife During the terme of her naturall life, if she shall

continue & kepe her selfe a widdow, But if the said Elizabeth

my shall marry That then & at the time of such marriage

my will ^{mind &} & minde is that my three Children John Stephen

and Debora shall take & Divide my said goods & Cattells in -

manner & forme as if the said Elizabeth my wife were

Deceased, as hereafter is expressed more at large. Item

after the decease of marriage of Elizabeth my wife I give

& bequeathe all my said goods & Cattells to be Divided betwene

my three children as followeth, viz John and Stephen my

sonnes & Debora my daughter shall choose every one for them=

=selves a man whome they shall trust & confide in to Divide my

goods and Cattells in three sure parts as two of them which

my two sonnes shall have shall be equall, and the third w[i]ch

I give unto Debora my Daughter shall be made better

to the full value of five pounds then either of my three

Children John Stephen or Debora shall Dye & Depart this

life before the aforesaid time of Division and parting of my

said goods & Cattells, that then the other Surviving shall divide

my said goods Cattells betwene them in forme aforesaid : In

wittnes whereof I have the day and yeare fui stabene written

set to my hand and Seale

Robart Wildman

Signed and Sealed in the pr[e]sence of us Richard More his marke

Anne Freeman her marke, Susan Upperstall her marke

& me Ric: Bale:

The Testification of Nicholas Spillman Corporalle & William

Whittaker private soldier both of Major Swallowes troope

in Commissary Geerall Whalleys Regiment, concerning the last

will & Testament of Robert Wildman late of the same troope a

private soldier Declared by him to them the 5^th Day of

April in the yeare 1655 when being sicke in body but well

in minde & since Deceased at Rushon Castle in Bagganoth^[3]

Scotland.

Did will and bequeath unto his two Sonnes & one daughter

all the moneys that he then had, or was due to him or might

become Due to the day of his Death for his late service done

in Scotland, together with what moneys should arise for the

sale of his mare pistolls, saddle & bridle with either necessaryes,

The money to be put into the hand of one Mr Stark a tanner

in Windham in the County of Norffs as Trustee for his three

Children, & soe to be paid to them an equall proportion as

they should come of age, And for the rest of his goods and

(chattells

[folio 178 recto]

Chattells to be disposed of according to a former will and

Testament: In wittnes whereof wee have sett our hands

Nicholas Spillman; Will: Whiteaker

The fourt day of February in the yeare of our Lord, according to

Publish(?) Accompts 1655 Administracon w[i]^th the will & Codicell

(...) of the goods & Chattells of Robt Wildman deceased was

granted to Elizabeth Wildman relict of the said deceased, generall

legatary named in the s[ai]d will, being in due forme of law sworne & well

& truly(?) to administer &/

Sources

1. ↑ England, Norfolk Record Office.Will of Robert Wildman of Wymondham, 1655.: "Archdeaconry of Norwich Will Register", 1653-1660, fo. 177, no. 176
   digital copy on Family Search
   
2. ↑ Norfolk.
3. ↑ Baggonoye.