Will of John Moore Clothworker of Kentwell Hall

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Suffolk, England
Surname/tag: Moore

Will of John Moore Clothworker of London ( and Kentwell Hall )

Transcribed by Lyn Boothman.

National Archive (UK) Prob 11/538


Will of John Moore Esq, Citizen And Clothworker Of London


Will written 26th December 1713 and proved 26th January 1713/14




In the name of God Amen

I John Moore, Esq. citizen and clothworker of London and now of Kentwell Hall in the county of Suffolk, being of sound and perfect memory and understanding (thanks be to God), doe make and ordain this to be my last will and testament

Imprimis, my soul I return to the great God who gave it me hoping by the mercies he has promised to repenting sinners to have it saved by the Meritte of his blessed son Jesus Christ My body I desire may be buried privately by my executor in my vault in St Dunstans in the East, London and as touching my worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me, I give and dispose thereof as followeth (that is to say) I doe hereby give and devise all and every my freehold houses and estate in Mincing Lane in the parish of St Dunstan in the East, London, with the appurtenances and all deeds and writings concerning the same unto my niece Sarah Wright her heirs and assigns for ever

And all my messuages lands tenements and hereditaments situate lying and being at or near Southgate and in the Parish of Edmonton in the county of Middlesex and all deeds and writings concerning the same I give and devise unto my kinsman John Moore son of Thomas Moore of Appleby in the county of Leicester and to his heirs and assigns for ever, paying thereout unto my niece Mrs Sarah Townley the sum of one thousand pounds within two years after my decease. And I doe hereby charge the said last mentioned estate and premises with the payment of the said one thousand pounds accordingly and the better to enable him to pay the same I doe hereby also give unto my said kinsman John Moore all such stock, household goods, plate, utensils and furniture as I shall have in the said houses and upon the said Estate att Southgate at the time of my decease (except my coach and horses) and the furniture thereto belonging which I would have sold.

And I also give and devise unto my said kinsman John Moore son of the said Thomas Moore my freehold house and estate at or near ? Pole [? Cole] Harbour in London and my leasehold house or warehouse containing six rooms and a sellar and all other my leasehold estate att or near Gally Key in Thames Street London, and my leasehold houses in Racquett Court in Fleet Street, and all my interest in two leasehold messuages in or near Stocks Markett in London and all my leasehold estate whatsoever att or near ? [?Cuckolds] Puckolds Point in Rotherhithe in Surrey and my four freehold houses or tenements scituate standing and being in or near Five Foot Lane in or near Breadstreet, London late Sir John Moores, and also my Ground rent of four pounds per annum in or near Five Foot Lane aforesaid which was late Mr John Woodwards deceased and my revertionary estate and interest in or near Goodmans Fields and the artillery ground and all deeds and writings concerning the said several last mentioned estates and premises. To hold all the said freehold and leasehold estates and premises last mentioned unto m y said kinsman John Moore, his heirs, executors and administrators respectively during the whole estate terms and interest which I shall have therein or in or to any part or parts thereof at the time of my decease, upon trust nevertheless and to the intent and purpose that my said kinsman John Moore, his heirs, executors and administrators doe or shall as soon as conveniently may be after my decease absolutely sell and dispose of all and every of the said last mentioned estates and premises and every part thereof to the best bidder and for the most money that can be had, or got for the same and shall pay all the moneys raised by such sale or sales and the rents and profits until such sale for and towards satisfaction of my just debts due upon mortgage or otherwise, and the interest thereof and all such legacies as I shall leave or give by this my will not particularly charged upon any other of my estates, and my mind and will is that the rents and profits of my said last mentioned estates hereby directed to be sold, shall as the same shall be received and gotten bee paid and applied to the satisfaction of all such interest as I shall owe at the time of my decease or which shall accrue or grow due after my decease for or on account of my said debts, until my said estates shall be sold in pursuance of this my will; and in case the monies arising by sale of my last mentioned estates hereby directed to be sold and the rents and profits thereof until such sale shall happen to fall short of discharging my said debts and the interest thereof as aforesaid, and of my said legacies, then my mind and will is and I do hereby charge my estate in the county of Suffolk by me hereinafter devised to my nephew John Mould (with remainders over) with and for the payment and discharge of all the residue of my said debts and legacies and of the interest of my said debts other than and except the several legacies by me herein particularly charged upon and made payable out of my estates in or near Suffolk Street and in the counties of Lancaster and Essex as hereinafter mentioned.

Item I give and devise all my leasehold estate messuages tenements and hereditaments in or near Great Suffolk Streete, Little Suffolk Streete, Hedge Lane and the Haymaett in or near St James within the Liberty of Westminster, with their and every of their appurtenances unto my kinsmen John Moore and Thomas Moore, sons of my kinsman the Reverend Mr Charles Moore rector of Worplesdon in the county of Surrey and to their executors, administrators and assigns, to hold as joint tenants and not as tenants in common, provided that they or the survivor of them, his executors or administrators, doe and shall pay thereout the several summes of money unto the several persons herein after named within four years next after the nine and twentieth day of September which shall be in the year of our lord 1720 (that is to say) to my said niece Sarah Wright the summe of two thousand pounds, unto such of the children of my said late uncle Mr John Hartill deceased and of my aunt Mrs Ruth Sharp as shall be living at the time of my decease the summe of five hundred pounds equally to be divided between them, unto Henry Moore youngest son of the said Mr Charles Moore the summe of two thousand pounds, unto all and every the daughters of the said Mr Charles Moore the summe of one thousand five hundred pounds equally to be divided betwixt them, and in case the said Mr Charles Moore shall have but one daughter living at the end of the said four years herein before by me appointed for payment of the said one thousand five hundred pounds, then I give and bequeath unto such one daughter the summe of one thousand pounds part of the said summe of one thousand five hundred pounds and noe more and the remaining five hundred pounds I give and bequeath as follows (that is to say) unto the Hospital called Christs Hospitall in London two hundred pounds and to the Hospital of Bridgewell and Bethlem one hundred pounds and to St Bartholomew's Hospital in London one hundred pounds and to St Thomas Hospital in Southwark one hundred pounds towards the support of their respective charities, and for that end and purpose my mind and will is that the same be paid unto the respective Treasurers of the same hospitals.

Item I give and bequeath unto Mr George Moore of Lambeth the summe of five hundred pounds to be paid him out of my said last mentioned estate if he shall be living at the end of the said four years.

Item I give and bequeath unto my kinsman and kinswoman Mr Samuel Short and Mrs Mary Short his now wife and unto such of them as shall be living at the end of the aforesaid four years the summe of five hundred pounds to be paid them out of the said last mentioned estate. Item I give and bequeath unto my said kinsman John Moore son of the said Thomas Moore and my executor herein after named the summe of three thousand pounds to be paid unto him out of the said last mentioned estate and I do hereby charge my said estate in or near Great Suffolk Street, Little Suffolk Street, Hedge Lane and the Haymarket hereby devised to the said John Moore and Thomas Moore in manner as aforesaid with the payment of the said several last mentioned summes amounting in the whole to the summe of ten thousand pounds.

Item I doe hereby give and devise all and singular the Manor or Manors Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments late of Sir Cleave Moore Bart. situate lying and being in the County of Lancaster and which are in mortgage to me or were in mortgage to Sir John Moore Knight late alderman of the City of London deceased, or his trustees, and all my estate right title interest and demand whatsoever of in and to the same and all deeds evidences and writings touching or concerning the same unto my kinsman George Moore of Little Appleby in the said county of Leicester, eldest son of the said Thomas Moore, and to his heirs, executors administrators and assigns for ever provided that he the said George Moore his heirs executors or administrators doe pay the summe of six thousand five hundred pounds unto the several persons hereinafter named within three years next after he shall be or might have been without his own wilful default in quiet and peaceable possession thereof or shall or might have received the mortgage money owing thereon or the greatest part thereof (that is to say) unto my brother Mr George Moore of Little Appleby aforesaid the summe of two thousand pounds under the condition hereinafter mentioned and to Thomas Moore son of the said Thomas Moore the elder of Little Appleby aforesaid, two thousand pounds, and to all and every the daughters of the said Thomas Moore of Appleby aforesaid then living, two thousand five hundred pounds equally to be divided between them and I also charge and order my said kinsman George Moore out of the said estate or mortgage moneys to pay to Edward Longuevile of the Temple, Esq his debt and interest charged on the said mortgaged premises and to Mrs Matilda Moore sister of the said Sir Cleave Moore her debt of five hundred pounds and interest charged also on the said mortgage and I doe hereby also give and bequeath unto my said brother George Moore all such debts dues and duties and summes of money as he shall owe and be indebted unto me at the time of my decease upon any account whatsoever. And I doe hereby will and ordain that my executor hereinafter named do and shall within one year release unto my said brother George Moore all such actions and suites claims and demands as my said executor can or may have, claim or make as my executor against the said George Moore (my brother) upon any account whatsoever.

Item I will and ordain that my said brother Mr George Moore (who is my heir at law) doe and shall when he shall be thereunto required by my executor hereafter named concur and join with my said executor in the sale and disposition of all and every of the freehold estates messuages lands and hereditaments herin before by me devised and bequeathed for the payment and satisfaction of my debts and legacies and in case my said brother shall refuse so to do then my mind and will is that the said two thousand pounds herein before given unto him shall lapse into my personal estate and that my said brother shall have no benefit thereby.

Item I give and bequeath unto my brother Mr Henry Mould all such debts and summes of money as he shall owe me at my decease upon any account whatsoever provided my said brother doe and shall when thereunto required by my nieces Sarah Townlye, Sarah Wright and Elizabeth Wright or their assigns release unto them all such actions and suites claims and demands as he can or may have therein or make against them or any of them for or by reason of his boarding or maintaining them at his house during the time I had the care and guardianship of them or at any other time whatsoever.

Item I give and bequeath the pearl necklace which was my Lady Moores unto my said three nieces Sarah Townley, Sarah Wright and Elizabeth Wright.

Item I give and bequeath unto my said neice Elizabeth Wright the summe of two thousand pounds to be paid her by my said nephew John Mould within one year after my decease out of my estate in the county of Suffolk herein after devised to him which I charge with the payment thereof accordingly in case the moneys arising by sale of my other estates herein before me given in trust to be sold shall prove deficient to answer the same.

Item I give and bequeath unto my sister Mrs Sarah Mould, wife of my brother Mr Henry Mould, and mother to the said John Mould, one annuity or annual summe of fifty pounds to be paid unto her or her assigns att or in the Middle Temple Hall London free from all manner of taxes charges and reprises whatsoever during her natural life at two of the most usual feast days in the year (that is to say) on the feast days of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Michael the Arch Angell by even and equal portions the first payment thereof to begin and to be made att or upon such of the said feast days as shall first and next happen after my decease. And I also give and bequeath unto my maid servant Mary Woosley one annuity or annual summe of thirty pounds during her natural life to be paid unto her or her assigns att the times and place before mentioned, free from all taxes whatsoever, and my mind and will is that the said annuities be issuing and payable out of my farm or estate called Stanfield Hall in the county of Suffolk, now in the possession of my tenant Thomas Darby, and I doe hereby charge the said farm with the payment of the said annuities accordingly [and if they are late, the women can enter the said farm ...]

Item I give and bequeath unto Mr John Wylde of Burton near Loughborough in the county of Leicester all such debts, dues, duties and summes of money as he shall owe or stand indebted unto me upon any account whatsoever at the time of my decease.

Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Stanton wife of Hugh Stanton of Appleby aforesaid one hundred pounds and to Rebecca Lee wife of Ambrose Lee of London, apothecary, one hundred pounds, to be paid unto them respectively within two years next after my decease.

Item I give and bequeath unto Mr Oliver Martin of the Temple fifty pounds to be paid unto him within one year after my decease.

Item I give and bequeath unto Mr Robert Huntman of Warwick Court London fifty pounds to be paid unto him within one year after my decease.

Item I give and bequeath unto my said niece Sarah Wright all such Goods, household stuff and furniture as I shall have in and about my dwelling house in Minceing Lane at the time of my decease (except my plate) and also except two of the beds and furniture I give to my servant Mary Woosley and the other bed and furniture I give to my servant Abigail Yate and whereas I have three beds and furniture thereto belonging in my said house it is my will that my said niece Sarah Wright doe and shall make choice which of the three she will have and keep, and then my servant Mary Woosley shall make choice which of the remaining two she will have and the other shall be delivered unto my said servant Abigail.

Item I give and bequeath unto Charles Townley son of my niece Sarah Townley one hundred pounds to be paid unto his father Mr Charles Townley to his use within three years next after my decease.

Item I give and bequeath unto my servant Richard Senior one hundred pounds to be paid unto him within one year next after my decease, and I also give unto the said Richard Senior all such moneys and gratification as I deserve from the relations of Mr Bullock deceased for my pains and trouble as I was executor to the said Mr Bullock.

Item I give and bequeath to Mrs Scofield five shillings a week to be paid unto her by my executor hereafter named during her life out of my estate at Southgate which I charge with the payment thereof.

Item I give and bequeath unto my servant Charles Barrett and unto John my gardener at Southgate and unto John my coachman ten pounds apiece to be paid unto them within a month next after my decease.

Item I give and bequeath unto my gardener at Kentwell Hall and unto John my groom and unto my said servant maid Abigail Yate and unto my servant Elizabeth Sparkes and unto my servant Jane, and unto my servant Susan ? Bickley five pounds a piece to be paid unto them within one month next after my decease.

Item I give and bequeath unto the Minister and Churchwardens of Long Melford in the county of Suffolk for the time being the summe of one hundred pounds upon trust for them therewith with all convenient speed to purchase lands or tenements of inheritance and to pay and dispose of the rents issues and profits thereof annually unto and among twenty such poor old men or widows being above the age of sixty years and doe not take alms of the Parish of Melford and are duly settled there as they shall think proper objects of charity and so as such old men and widows shall frequent the Church of England and shall attend the divine service there at least forty days in the year unless hindered by sickness or by some other misfortune, and my mind and will is that the same be paid and given them between the last day of October and the five and twentieth day of March in every year in such proportions as the said Minister and Churchwardens shall think fit but so as no one of them shall have or receive more than ten shillings in any one year, and my further mind and will is that the said Minister and Churchwardens for the time being doe and shall until such purchase can be met with or had and made, put the said one hundred pounds att interest with the approbation of the Vestry of the said parish which frequent the church, and are not dissenters from itt or the major part of them, on long security, and pay and dispose of the interest thereof in such manner and for such purposes as I have herein before appointed the rents and profits of the land when purchased to be paid and disposed.

Item I give and bequeath the said Minister and Churchwardens of Melford aforesaid for the time being three hundred pounds to be paid within one year next after my decease upon trust therewith with all convenient speed to purchase an estate of inheritance and to pay employ and dispose of the rents issues and profits thereof and of the interest of the said three hundred pounds until such purchase can be made for the payment of a school mistress for ever to teach and instruct ten poor boys of the said parish to read English and ten poor girls of the same parish to read and sew and knit and to buy necessaries to sew and knit with untillsuch boys and girls shall respectively be of the age of fourteen years and no longer or until they can be sooner put out and provided for, and such school to be under the government and direction of the Govenor for the time being of the Hospital at Melford called the Trinity Hospital and of the said minister and churchwardens there for the time being.

Item I give and bequeath unto my brothers Mr Simon Morse and Mr William Morse and to my sister Lee ten pounds apiece to buy them mourning.

Item I give and bequeath unto such of my kindred, relations and friends whose names I shall mention on a piece of paper of my own hand writing and which I intend to leave behind me, a ring of twenty shillings value a piece, and to such others as names I shall mention for that purpose in such paper ten pounds each for mourning. Item I give and bequeath unto my said nephew John Mould all such stock, household goods, plate, utensils and furniture as I shall have in and about my house called Kentwell Hall in the county of Suffolk att the time of my decease except my Charriott and the furniture thereto belonging which I would have sold.

Item I give devise and bequeath all and singular my manors messuages lands tenements hereditaments and estate whatsoever situate lying and being in the county of Suffolk, both freehold and copyhold (which copyhold I have surrendered to the use of my will) unto my said brothers Mr Simon Morse and Mr William Morse their executors administrators and assigns for and during the term of five hundred years to commence from the day of my death subject to and chargeable with the payment of the said annuities of fifty pounds and thirty pounds herein before given unto my sister Mould and to my said servant Mary Woosley in manner as herein before is mentioned upon Trust and to the intents and purposes herein after mentioned and from and after the end and expiration or other sooner determination of the same term I give and devise the said last mentioned manors and premises unto my said nephew John Mould, son of my sister Mrs Sarah Mould, wife of my brother Mr Henry Mould, for and during the term of his natural life provided he take upon him and bear the name of John Moore and not John Mould, and so write himself in all deeds and other writings during his life and do intitle himself and his descendants (if it may be done) to bear the Cognizance or Coat of Arms late of Sir John Moore Knight and Alderman of the City of London, deceased) and from and immediately after the determination of that estate then I give and devise the same manors lands and premises unto Mr Robert Huntman the elder of London gent and Robert Huntman the younger and their heirs during the natural life of the said John Mould upon trust to support the contingent estates herein after limited from being destroyed and for that purpose to make entries as occasion shall be and from and immediately after his decease I give and devise all the said manors lands and premises in Suffolk charged and chargeable as aforesaid unto the first son of the body of the said John Mould lawfully begotten or to be begotten and to the heirs males of the body of such first son lawfully issuing provided he and they do bear and write him and themselves by the surname of Moore and not Mould, and for default of such issue then to the second son of the body of the said John Moore and for default to heirs of third son ...fourth ...fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth son and to all and every other the son and sons of the body of the said John Mould lawfully begotten ... [all to call themselves Moore etc, repeated many times][ If John Mould has no such issue or refuses to call himself Moore or his heirs refuse to call themselves Moore, then the estate to go to ] my said kinsman John Moore [...and to his heirs male] [And as to the five hundred years, William and Simon Morse...in trust]
If my said nephew John Mould shall have one or more daughter or daughters living at the time when the said manors remain and come to the said John Moore my executor and his heirs male, then the Morses or their heirs shall ensure that five thousand pounds shall be divided between such daughters; and they should pay to 'my said niece Mrs Elizabeth Wright the said two thousand pounds herein before by me given unto her within one year next after my decease , and for paying the remainder of his debts if other estates will not cover it all ... [then lots of further detail about role of Morses and heirs re five hundred years] Item it is my will and desire that my said nephew John Mould do not keep house at Kentwell until he attaigne his age of four and twenty years.

Item I give and devise all my estate lands tenements and hereditaments called Ferriers situate lying and being in the Hamlett of Bewers St Mary in the county of Essex or in the places thereunto adjacent unto the said John Moore my executor hereinafter named and to his heirs and assigns for ever provided always that he or his heirs doe and shall within one year next after my decease pay unto my said nieces Sarah Wright and Elizabeth Wright one thousand pounds a piece and I doe hereby charge my said last mentioned estate with the payment of the same. Item I give and devise all my manors messuages and tenements and hereditaments situate lying and being in Shalford Wethersfield and Wyborrow or elsewhere in the county of Essex late the estate of Sir Samuel Husbands Knt (deceased) and all my estates lands and tenements in the county of Essex and all deeds and writings concerning my severall estates in Essex unto the said John Moore my executor ...and heirs

Item my will and mind is that my executor do expend the summe of two hundred pounds or thereabouts in and about my funeral over and above what I have herein before given for mourning and over and above such rings and mourning as I shall think fit to give to any friends or relations by any writing under my hand Item it is my will that my executor ...do pay and reimburse himself out of my personal estate of all such costs charges and expenses as he shall lay out, expend or be put unto in and about the probate and execution of this my will or the trust hereby in him reposed Item all the rest and residue of my estate whatsoever both real and personal I give devise and bequeath unto my said kinsman John Moore son of the said Thomas Moore, his heirs, execs and admins, to be by him disposed of towards the payment and satisfaction of my debts and legacies and the interest of my said debts except such debts as I have charged upon my estates at Southgate, in the counties of Lancaster and Essex and also upon my estate in Great Suffolk Street, Little Suffolk Street Hedge Lane and the Haymarkett and I doe hereby make and ordaine my said Kinsman John Moore son of my said kinsman Mr Thomas Moore full and sole executor ...I do hereby advise him to take the advise and assistance of Mr Simon Morse and Mr Robert Huntman the elder ...they to be overseers ...one hundred pounds apiece ... [more about if they don't do it] I have made this my last will and testament contained in two and twenty sheets of paper affixed my seal and to every one of the said sheets of paper subscribed my name this six and twentieth day of December 1713 John Moore. Witnesses Samuel Holcombe, Elizabeth Potter, Wm Ravenhill, Thomas Wright, Zachary Clarke

Codicill
Whereas Mr Robert Moore late of Thames Street London soap boiler did in and by his last will and testament whereof I was executor give and bequeath unto my nephew John Mould my nieces Sarah Townley, Sarah Wright and Elizabeth Wright, two hundred pounds a piece, now my mind and will is that I do hereby declare that the several summes of two hundred pounds given my said nephew and nieces ...shall be deemed and reckoned as part of the severall legacies and summes of money which I have given them in and by my last will and testament. 26th December 1713, same witnesses

Codicill

I give and bequeath unto John Drake and [blank] his now wife of Southstreet Ward in the parish of Edmonton in the county of Middx the weekly summe of five shillings for and during the term of their naturall lives and the life of the longer liver of them payable out of my estate at Southgate and I doe hereby charge my said estate with the payment of the same. Item I give devise and bequeath unto Francis Drake brother of the said John Drake the weekly summe of three shillings for and during the term of his naturall life ...
2nd January 1713, witnessed Samuel Holcombe, Simon Morse, Robert Huntman Jnr To Mr Justice Hockletter a ring of twenty shillings value To Mr Wallie a ring of like value
To Mr Jackson a ring of like value
To Mr Ravenhill a ring of like value To Mr Peter Houblon a ring of like value
To Mr Holcomb a ring of like value
To Mr Right a ring of like value
To Mr Clarke a ring of ten shillings value
To Mr Arnold a ring of twenty shillings value
To Sir John Williams a ring of twenty shillings value To Sir Samuel Clarke a ring of twenty shillings value To Mr Shingfellow a ring of like value To Mr Johnson Rector of Long Melford a ring of like value To Mr Charles Firebrace a ring of like value
To Mr Jennings of Acton in Suffolk a ring of like value
To Mr Turner a ring of like value, Mr Firebrasseses friend To Sir Thomas Robinson a ring of like value To Mr Richardson a ring of like value
To my brother and sister Mould ten pounds apiece for mourning 2nd Jan 1713, Mr Moore desires that the mourning and rings above mentioned should be given to the several persons above named, in the presence of us witnessed Simon Morse, Robert Huntman jnr, Minceing Lane, to niece Sarah Wright and hrs [??] 26th January Anno Dom 1713

Appeared personally Simon Morse of the Parish of St Brides London Gent and Robert Huntman of the Parish of Christ Church London gent who being sworn on the Holy Evangelists to depose the truth did depose and say as followeth viz. that they these deponents were very well acquainted with John Moore late of Kentwell Hall in co Suffolk but at Southgate in the county of Middx Esq, decd and have been so acquainted with him for several years and they these deponents being at the said deceased’s house at Southgate aforesaid on or about the second day of this instant month of January the said deceased being then of sound mind memory and having an intent and desire to make a codicil or add some legatees to his last will and testament, the said Robert Huntman did then by and with the approbation and consent of the said John Moore make or write the codicil hereunto annexed and when the same was so made or written the said Robert Huntman did read the same over to the said deceased and the said deceased did very well like and approve of the same, Simon Morse, Robert Huntman Probate 26th Jan 1713, John Moore sole exec

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Lyn Boothman for sharing her extensive research notes about the Moore and Newman families of Long Melford, and also for her transcription of the will from which the above copy derives.