Will of Beniamyn Streeton of London, 1662

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

This is a transcription of the register copy of the will of Beniamyn (Benjamin) Streeton of London, a leatherseller. Benjamin had his will drawn up on 12 March 1661/2 when he was "sicke of body" and the will was proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 17 April 1662. ^[1]
The surname is spelled STREETON in the margin, and STRETON or STRETTON in the text.

Transcription conventions used in this text:

• Spelling, punctuation and line breaks are as per the original document.
• The text was originally in one block of text. Paragraph breaks at change of bequest ("Item"), and bold text for names have been added for ease of reading.
• 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.
• The image quality was satisfactory, and the handwriting legible.

Persons mentioned:

• Beniamyn Streeton Benjamin Streeton / Stretton / Streton, the Testator
• my loving brother Mr William Stretton £1 to buy a ring. Overseer of will
• my loving brother Mr Bartholomew Streton Bartholomew was living in the Massachusetts Colony at this time
• Mr Henery Christian a fellow leather seller to whom the testator owes money
• Mr Thomas Ellis no relationship given. Receives 50 shillings
• my Loving Aunt Hughes receives £1 to buy a ring
• my Loving brother Mr Phillip Harris a brother in law - perhaps testator's wife's brother. Overseer of will. Receives £2 for a ring
• my loving wife Elizabeth Streton Executrix and residuary legatee
• Hen: Bigge witness
• Ralph Sergant witness
• Samuell Barnard witness

London this 12th of March 1661
In the name of God Amen I Beniamyn
Streton of London leather seller being sicke of body but of good and p[er]fect
memory doe constitute and make this my last will and testament And
of my temporall estate which god hath graciously given me I dispose in manner
and forme following Imprimis I bequeath my soule into the hands of my Sa=
viour Christ And my body to decent and Christian buriall

Item I give and
bequeath to my loving brother Mr William Stretton two pounds to buy him
a ring Item to my loving brother Mr Bartholomew Streton my Seale ringe
in case he doe come home to require it

Item I give to Mr Henery Christian Leather=
seller in Panneyer Alley ^[2], one pound which is due to him uppon account Item
I give to Mr Thomas Ellis fiftie shillings

Item I give to my Loving Aunt
Hughes one pound to buy her a ring Item I give to my Lo:[ving] brother Mr
Phillip Harris two pounds to buy him a ring

All the rest of my temporall
estate my debts being paid and funerall discharged I give and bequeath to my
loving wife Elizabeth Streton whome I constitute and ordaine my Sole Ex=
ecutrix And I desire my loving brothers Mr William Streton and Mr Phil=
lip Harris to be assistant and overseers of this my last will and testament
Beniamin Streton Sealed in the presence of us Hen: Bigge Ralph
Sergant Samuell Barnard

[Probate in Latin] The will written above was proved at London before the venerable William Lewin Doctor of Laws surrogate for the venerable Sir William Merricke knight Doctor of Laws presiding at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury constituted 17 day of April AD 1662. Judgment given to Elizabeth Streton widow of the deceased and the executrix named in the will.

Sources

1. ↑ Will of Beniamin Streton 1662: "England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858"
   The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 308
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 5111 #720355 (accessed 3 October 2023)
   Will of Beniamyn Streeton, granted probate on 17 Apr 1662.
2. ↑ Probably Panyer Alley in Cheapside https://knowyourlondon.wordpress.com/2021/11/17/panyer-alley/