The Will of William Fry 1698 Sutton Benger

Date: 1695 to 1698
Location: Sutton Benger, Wiltshire, England
Surname/tag: Fry

William Fry's Will was written on 18 November 1695 and passed probate on 20 October 1698 at Devizes, Wiltshire, England.^[1]

Spelling, punctuation and line breaks are as per the register copy. ff is rendered as F. Abbreviations are expanded and additions noted in [square brackets]. Paragraph breaks (where added) and bold text for names are my own for ease of reading.

People in the will in the order that they appear:

• Jane Jeffs (Daughter)
• Margarett (Daughter)
• Mary (Wife)
• Zephaniah (Grandson)
• William (Grandson)
• Zephaniah Fry (Son)
• Alexander Fry (Son)
• Debora[h] Bradbury (Daughter)
• Ruth (Daughter, executrix)
• Isaac Ferris, Abel Ferris, John Ranger (Witnesses)

---

In the Name of God Amen the
eighteenth day of November in the seaventh year of
the Reign of our Sovereign Lord William the third by
the Grace of God of England, Scotland, France & Ireland
King defender of the Faith &c Annoq[ue] D[omi]ni one thousand
six hundred ninety & five I William Fry of Sutton Beng[er]
in the County of Wiltes Cloth-worker being sicke & weak
in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory
do make, prdaine and declare this my last Will & Testam[en]t,
in manner and forme following viz^t, Imprimis I bequeath
my Soule into the hands of Allmighty God my maker -
hopeing throug the meritorious Death & Passion of Jesus
Christ my Redeemer to recieve free remission of all
my sins: My body I bequeath to be buried at the discretion
of my Executrix hereinafter nominated And as for my
worldly Estate I dispose of the Same as followeth Item
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Jane Jeffs the sum
of five shillings. Item I give unto my daughter Margarett
the sum of five pounds. Item I give & bequeath unto
Mary my Loving Wife the sum of five pounds. Item
I give & bequeath unto my Grandson Zephaniah my
best Sheares. Item I give and bequeath unto my Grandson
William my second best Sheares. Item all the rest of my
Tooles belonging to my trade I give & bequeath unto
my Son Zephaniah Fry on this Condic[i]on, That if my Son
Alexander Fry doth return again unto Sutton Benger
at any time within the space of seaven yeares next ensuing,
That then in such Case my Will is, That my said Son Zepha-
niah shall deliver unto my Son Alexander one half of
my

[page 2]
my said working Tooles to the proper use & behoofe
of my son Alexander. Item I give & bequeath unto
my said Sin Alexander & unto my daughter Debora
Bradbury one shilling apeice. Item I give & bequeath
all the rest of my houshold Goods unto my three
daughters Margarett, Ruth & Deborah to be equally divided
between them part and share alike But upon this Condic[i]on
nevertheless, That they the said Margarett, Ruth & Deborah
shall peacably & quietly permitt & suffer my said
wife Mary to have, hold & enjoy my s[ai]d houshold Goods
to her own proper use & behoof dureing the terme of
her naturall life. Item all the rest, residue & remainder
of my p[er]sonall Estate, Goods and Chattles whatsoever I give
and bequeath unto my said daughter Ruth whom I
hereby constitute, ordaine and appoint to be Sole
Executrix of this my last Will & Testam[en]t, hereby revoke-
-ing all my former Wills, In Witness whereof I the said
William Fry have published & declar'd this to be my
last Will & Testam[en]t, and have hereunto set my hand
and seale the day & yeare first above-written . . William
Fry . . Signed, Sealed & delivered (this word five being
first interlined) in the p[re]sence of Us (the paper being
Stampt) the marke of Isaac Ferris, Abel Ferris, John
Ranger

Probate in Latin granted at Devizes 20 October 1698 to Ruth the daughter, sole Executrix.

Sources

1. ↑ Probate: "Wiltshire, England, Wills and Probate, 1530-1858"
   Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre; Chippenham, Wiltshire, England; Wiltshire Wills and Probates; Reference Number: P1/3Reg/172; Reference Number: P1/3Reg/172
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 61333 #125243 (accessed 24 February 2023)
   William Fry probate in 1698. Occupation: Clothworker.