Will of Mary Gilman, Widow, of East Harling, 1680

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surname/tag: Gilman

This is a transcription of the register copy will of Mary Gilman a widow of East Harling, Norfolk. It was written on 26 August 1680 and proved at the Archdeaconry of Norfolk Court sitting at East Harling on 18 November 1680?

Spelling, punctuation and line breaks are as per the original document. Paragraph breaks at change of bequest, and bold text are my own for ease of reading. Abbreviations and breviographs have been expanded in [square brackets] The image quality was good, and the handwriting also good.

Names mentioned:

• Mary Gilman Testatrix
• Sarah Dawson daughter of testatrix
• Elizabeth Dawson grandchild of testatrix
• Anne Dawson grandchild of testatrix
• Sarah Dawson grandchild of testatrix?
• William Dawson husband of Sarah Dawson daughter of testatrix
• Lidia Gilman daughter of testatrix
• John Baker son in law of testatrix
• Tho[mas] Williams Will[iam] Ralph Martha Salter Witnesses to will

In the name of God Amen I
Mary Gilman of East Harling
in the County of Norff Widdow being sicke &
weake in body but praised be to God of perfect
memory and understanding Doe constitute this
my last Will & testament in manner & forme
following

Imprimus I bequeath my
Soule into the hands of my most gracious
Redeemer trusting to be saved onely by his
meritts And my body to be decently interred
in the church yard where it shall please God
I shall end my dayes

Item I give and
bequeath unto my loving daughter Sarah
Dawson the sume of tenne pounds of lawfull
money of England to be paid within the space

[page 2]

of three months after my decease.

Item I
give & bequeath unto my Loving Grandchild
Elizabeth Dawson the sume of tenne pounds of
Lawfull money of England to be paid at such time
as it shall please God she shall arrive at the
age of fifteene And if she not attaine
to the said age I then bequeath one moyety
^through my loving Grandchild Anne Dawson & the other
moyety to Sarah Dawson to each of which I give
& bequeath five pounds of lawful money of
England to b paid them at such time as they
shall have arrived at the age of eighteen years
And if one should dye before the other arrive at
the full Age my Will is that the Legacye bequeathed
to her be equally divided between the two
survivors And if two of the three should dye my
will is that the (script struck out and illegible..........
...................... whole twenty pounds devolve
on the Survivor and if they all three dye
before they arrive at the respective yeares
above named I will that the twenty pounds
above bequeated to the said children devolve
on the next heire or heires of my son & daughter
William & Sarah Dawson. Always provided
that the use of the said twenty pounds before
bequeathed be justly paid to my loving daughter
Lydia Gilman for the space of foure yeares to
comence imediately after my death to be paid
to her or her order at the place of her now
dwelling And after the said foure yeares
are expired I will that the use of the said
twenty pounds be payd unto my son Dawson
for the hole & proper use of ny Grandchildren
towards their education

Item I give and
bequeath unto my daughter Lidia a bed with
all the furniture as it now stands in the p[ar]lor
chamber in my son Sam. Gilmans house in
Hingham & a chest of linnen standing in the
Kitching chamber in the said house

Item I
give and bequeath unto my loving son in law
John Baker (whom I constitute sole executor
of this my last will and testament) the sume of
five shillings of lawfull money of England to
buy him a paire of gloves desiring him to take
care that this my last will and testament bee
performed according to the true intent and
meaning hereof In witnes whereof I
have hereunto sett my marke & seale this
26th of August 1680 The marke of Mary Gilman

[page 3]
w[it]h what interlinings and blottings out there
are I doe owne them as if performed by my
owne pen published & declared to be the last
will & testament of Mary GIlman Widdow In
the presence of Tho[mas] Williams Will[iam] Ralph
The marke of Martha Salter

Sources

Mary Gilman of East Harling 1680 will. ANF will register 1680 fo. 177 no. 161 Archdeaconry of Norfolk Norfolk Record Office Norfolk Record Office Online Catalogue Archdeaconry of Norfolk Probate Records: