The Will of William Spratley butcher 1697 Wokingham

Date: 1697 [unknown]
Location: Wokingham, Berkshire, England

The Will of William Spratly, butcher, of Wokingham, Berkshire, written on 1 June 1696 and proved on 10 May 1697 in Salisbury, Wiltshire.^[1]

Spelling, punctuation and line breaks are as per the register copy. Capital F is rendered as F rather than ff. 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 mentioned in the will

• William Spratly (son)
• John Spratly (son)
• James Spratly (son)
• Job Spratley (son)
• Peter Spratly (son)
• Thomas Spratley (son)
• William Spratley (son of son John)
• Francis Spratley (brother)
• Pearce Planner (friend, executor)
• Witnesses: Thomas Webb, John Wheatly, William Spooner

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In the name of God amen the first day of June in the eighth
year of the reigne of our Soveraigne Lord Will[ia]m by the grace of God King of England &c And in
the year of o[ur] Lord God one Thousand six hundred ninety six I William Spratley of Wokingham
in the County of Berks Butcher being Sicke & weake of Body but of Sound and perfect minde and memory
thanks be given to God for the same Doe make this my last Will & testament in manner & forme
following (that is to say) First & principally I recommend my Soule into the hands of Allmighty God that
gave it me trusting & relying onely on the merritts & intercession of my blessed Saviour & Redeemer Jesus
Christ for a free & absolute pardon & remistion of all my Sinns my Body I com[m]itt to the dust from
whence it was taken in hopes of a Joyfull Resureccon to Everlasting Life to be decently buryed according
to the discretion of my Executo^r herein after named And as touching that part & porcon of this World
=ly Goods with which God has blessed me I dispose thereof as followeth First I will that all such
debts as I shall owe at my decease shall be justly & truely paid Item I give & bequeath unto my Son
William Spratly one Shilling It[e]m I give & bequeath to my Son John Spratly one Shilling It[e]m I give
and bequeath unto my Son James Spratly a pair of Holland Sheets a pair of new Sheets a trunke marked
with M.S: with all things therein It[e]m I give & bequeath to my Son Job Spratley the bed beding
& all other my goods in the middle Chamber or Chamber over the Hall It[e]m I give & bequeath unto
my Son Peter Spratly a bed & the Seve^rall goods in the [west?] Chamber to the s[ai]d Hall Chamber four
pewter dishes one Iron pott & one of my Courses It[e]m I give & bequeath unto my Son James three
pewter dishes It[e]m I give & bequeath unto my Son Job three pewter dishes my brass pott a
pair of Ropes my other Course and five poinds in mony It[e]m my will is that the tables & settle
in my Hall be left there as belonging thereto It[e]m I give & bequeath to my Son Thomas
Spratley one bed and beding lying over my Shopp and Ten pounds in money It[e]m I give and
bequeath to my Grand Son William Spratley (Son of John Spratly) forty Shillings all which
Legacys to be paid by my Exeucto^r herein after named Item I give & bequeath unto my s[ai]d Sons
Thomas Job & Peter my Messuage or tenement wherein I now dwell Scituate in Peake Street in Woking
=ham afores[ai]d with all houses Gardens & apperten[an]ces thereto belonging To have and to hold the s[ai]d Messuage
or tenem[en]^ts with the app[ur]ten[an]ces unto the s[ai]d Thomas Job & Peter their heyres & Assignes for ever as tenants
in Com[m]on & not as Joynt Tenants desiring them to avoyd all contention & strife in the dividing the
same and if any difference arise between my Sons which God forbid I desire my Executo^r herein after
named as far as in him lyes to compose & reconsile the same It[e]m I give and bequeath unyo my Brother
Francis Spratley all my wearing apparrill except linen and one Coate which s[ai]d Coate I give to my
Son Job Item the residue of my goods & chattels not herein and hereby devised my Will and desire
is that my Executo^r dispose of the same to such Child or Children of me the s[ai]d William Spratly
in such proporcon & in such manner & time as my Executo^r shall thinke fitt Lastly I doe hereby
revoake all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made & doe declare this to be my last Will and
testament And hereof doe constitute nominate & appoint my trusty & well beloved friend Pearce
Planner of Wokingham afores[ai]d yeoman Sole Executo^r not doubting his care herein In wittness where
=of I the s[ai]d William Spratley have to this my last Will & testament sett my hand and seale
the day & year first above written
The mark of William Spratley
Signed sealed published & declared
by the above named Will[ia]m Spratly
for & as his last will & testam[en]^t in
the p[rese]nce of
Thomas Webb
John Wheatly
Will[iam] Spooner

[Proved in Salisbury on 10 May 1697]

Sources

1. ↑ Probate: "Wiltshire, England, Wills and Probate, 1530-1858"
   Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre; Chippenham, Wiltshire, England; Wiltshire Wills and Probates; Reference Number: P5/1697/35; Reference Number: P5/1697/35
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61333 #69987 (accessed 29 March 2023)
   William Spratley probate in 1697. Occupation: Butcher.