Peter Preston's will

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1. In the name of God Amen; the tenth day of March Anno dom. 1631[/2] (being ?? year of Charles' reign) I Peter Preston of Mickfeild in the County of Suffolk gent. being sick and weak in body yet of good and perfect rememberance thanks be given to Almighty God I do ordaine and make this my last will and testament in manner & forme following first and principally I commit my soule... buried in a Christian buriall at the discretion of my Executor ...

2. Imprimis, I give and bequeath unto Arthur Preston my loving brother when he shall have accomplished his age of xxi (21) years all that my capitall messuage or tenement in Mickfield with all and singular the freehold an coppyhold land tenement, and hereditament whatsoever to the same messuage or tenement belonging now in the tenure or occupation of Richard [Whoyse?] or his assignes to have and to hold to him the said Arthur my brother in [lieu?] and satisfaction of that legacy which I [became?] chargeable to pay him by the last will and testament of my late deceassed father the summe of twenty pound per annum of current English money to be payed him by my Executor at [the usuall?] feast or [remmet?] in the yeare (that is to say) at the feast of the Annunciation of our blessed Virgin Mary and St. Michaell the arch angell which shall happen to be yearly from and after my decease untill the said Arthur shall have accomplished his said age of xxi (21) yeares the first payment to begin at the Michaelmas next after my decease all which payment to be made at the (Parish?) Church of Mickfeild aforesaid.

3. Item I give and bequeath unto him more 3 silver spoones to be delivered by my exexutor

4. Item I give and bequeath unto Richard Preston my brother one silver salter to be delivered by my executor

5. Item My will and meaning is that if the freehold land at Framlingham that be recovered by law, that then my Executor to make sale of them and the monyet that shall arrise thereof to be equally devided between my two sisters Elizabeth Preston and Ann Preston for and in [xxxx?] and satisfaction of those legacies which I [became?] chargeable to pay them by the last will and testament of my late deceased father. And if it shall happen that the freehold land at Framlingham be not recovered then I will that Arthur Preston my brother shall pay unto my said two sisters the summe of a hundred pound apeece within four years next after his said age of one and twenty years att four entire payments by fifty pounds a year and Elizabeth to receive the first payment, the payments to be made at the feast of St. Michaell in every of the said years at the Parish Church of Mickfeild aforesaid which said two hundred pound so as afforesaid [xaren?] shall be for and in lend of these legacies which I am chargeable to pay them by the last will of my said father

6. Item I give and bequeath unto my sister Elizabeth Preston that bedd and bedstead whereon I now lye

7. Item I give unto my sister Anne Preston one silver [Tume? Tunne?] to be delivered unto them by my executor

8. Item I give and bequeath unto Susan Thurban the summe of three pound of currant English mony to be paid her by my Executor within six weekes after my decease which payment to be made att the (Parish?) Church of Mickfeild aforesaid

9. Item my will and xxx meaning is that my tenant Richard [Whoyse?] shall continue my farme where he now dwelleth for and during thxx xxx 4 years att the yearly rent and xxxx of three xxxx pound per annum under such civebabtt as shall be agreed unto by my executor otherwise this my wish to be void

10. Item I give and bequeath unto the poor people of Mickfeild aforesaid the summe of three pound of current English money to be delivered unto the Church wardens and xxx xxxx by my executor within two months after my decease and so to be distributed among the poor according to their discxxtions

11. Item I give and bequeath that peece of land or pasture called [Bullockes?] lying in Earle Stoneham to my executor and his [heirs?] to be sold by my executor and the money so used coming to be for and forward the payment of my debts and legacies

12. Item I give and bequeath unto Thomas Turner my loving cosen the summe of tenn pounds of currant english money to be paid him by my executor within one year next after my decease

13. Item I do make nominate and appoint my trusty and well beloved friend James *ythe the younger of Fraunston? gent. as executor

Death / Burial

Mickfield parish church gravestone: "Petrus Preston Filius Petri Preston et Thomasinæ obit 14 March 1631 etatis svæ 25". Photo of memorial stone on Flickr