National Archives, Kew, Surrey, England PROB 11/248/222

transcribed by Helen Ford. There are no paragraphs in the original, these have been added for convenience.

In the name of God Amen the eighteenth of Aprill 1655 I Robert Jollife of Shaston St James in the Countie of Dorset yoman being sicke and weake in bodie but of sound and perfect memorie praise be given to God for the same And knowig the uncertaintie of this life on earth and being desirous to settle things in order doe make this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following That is to say

First and principally I commend my soule to Allightie God my Creator assuredlie beleeving that I shall receave full pardon and free Remission of all my sinnnes and be saved by the precious Death and Meritts of my Blessed saviour and Redeemer Christ Jesus And my bodie to the earth from when it was taken to be buried in such decent and christian manner as to my Executor hereafter named shalbe thought meete and convenient And as touching such worldly estate the Lord in mercie hath lent mee my Will and meaning is the same shalbe imploied and bestowed as hereafter by this last will is expressed And first I doe revoke renounce frustrate and make voyd all wills by mee formerlie made and declare and appoynt this my last Will and Testament

Item I give and bequeathe unto the poore of St James parishe fortie shillings

Item I give and bequeath unto my eldest sonne Robert Jollife one parcell of Land within the libertie of Alcester in the parishe of St James formerlie in the tenure of Deriphe How and one hundred pounds in money

Item I give unto John Joliffe my youngest sonne one parcell of Land called Harkson in the parishe of Can which was in the tenure of my Lord of Pembrocke

Item I give unto John Jollife my youngest sonne one Mortgage of one Close of pasture land ioyning to the Land of Tarris Thorne and the other Close of pasture ioining to it which was the Land of Richard Jeanes

And Item I give unto Robert Jollife John Jollife Mary Jollife and Annever Jollife my sonns and daughters the Rest of my money equally devided

Item if either of my sonns die without Child the Land must remaine from the one to the other And if both of my two sonnes die without Child then the Land must be devided betweene the two sisters And if either of my two daughters should die before they be married then there portion must equally be devided between the rest

Item I make my wife Jone Jollife whole executor of all my goods and Chattles within dors and without And for the household stuffe after her decease to have it equally devided betweene my children

And I doe entreate and appoint my brother John Polden and my brother John Vincent to be my Overseers Robert Jollife his mark Mary Jollife Annever Jollife

This will was proved att London the one and twentieth Daie of June the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fiftie five before the judges for probate of Wills and granting of Administrations laefully authorized by the Oathe of Joane Jollife the Relict of the said deceased and sole Executrix named in the said Will to whome the Administration was Committed of all and singular the Goods Chattles and Debts of the said deceased shee the sayd Joane Jollife benig frirst sworn by Commmission well and truly to administer the same