This is the will of Sir Henry Pratt, 1st Baronet Coleshill, Berkshire and member of the Company of Merchant Taylors London.
The will was written on 2 July 1645, Henry died on 6 April 1647. The will was proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC) on 16 April 1649. [1]
Spelling as given in the probate copy, except for capital F instead of ff. Abbreviated words expanded in [square brackets].
Line breaks and names in bold introduced for ease of reading.
In the Name of God Amen
The second daie of July Anno Domini one thousand six hundred fortie five And in the one and twentieth yeare of the raigne of our Soveraingne Lord Charles by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland kinge, defender of the Faith &c
I Sir Henrie Pratt of Colcell in the countie of Berks[2] knt and Barronett being of perfecte health and memorie (praised by to God therefore) doe make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and forme followeinge that is to saie
First and principallie I commend my soule into the handes of Almightie God my maker and creator and of Jesus Christe my onlie Saviour and redeemer by whose death and all sufficient merritts I hope and stedfastlie believe to be saved and to inheritt eternall life with the other electe children of God And my bodie I committ to the earth whereof it was made in stedfaste hope of a glorious resurrec[t]ion and to be decently buried at the discretion of my executor hereafter names in the chancell of the parish Church of Colcell aforesaid and there to erecte a Monument or Tombe in the memoriall of mee the manner whereof I leave to the descretion of my executors
And as concerning my worldlie estate aswell reall as personall wherewith God hath blessed mee I will and dospose thereof in manner and forme following vizt
First I give and bequeath unto my loveinge wife Dame Marie Pratt The Third [3] of all and singular my Mannors, messuages, landes, tenements & hereditam[en]ts whatsoever within the realme of England which I hold in Fee or Fee Tayle for & during the terme of her naturall life desiringe her that as she loved mee in my life time, soe she will after my death remember mee in keepeing herself sole unmarried considering that shee is alreadie well stricken in yeares And that in case shee should marrie againe shee cannot doe soe well for her children as being sole and unmarried she maie doe
Item I give and devise unto George Pratt my eldest Sonne & heire apparent all those my Mannors, messuages, landes and tenements of Colcell als Colshill [4] with th'appurtem[en]ces in the countie of Berks aforesaid And all that the parosnage and Rectorie impropriate of Colcell aforesaid And all that my Mannors, messuages, landes and tenements in greate Coxwell and little Coxwell in the saide countie of Berks with their and everie of their appurtunances And all other my Mannors, messuages, landes, tenements and hereditaments, meadowes feedinge, Pastures, woods, underwoods, coppices, Rentsreversions and services in Colcell, Coxwell magna and Coxwell parva with all the rights members and appurtunances whatsoeverto the said Mannors parsonage and premisses belonginge or in anie wise appurtaining which said Mannors and and singular other the premisses I latelie had and purchased of Sir Thomas Freake knight Sir William Pitt knight Richard Swayne Esqr Thomas Morris Esqr Thomas Morris the younger his sonne and of Sir Charles Blunt knight and Lister Blunt Esqr by Indenture of bargaine and sale demised or grants for yeares or other assurances in my owne name or in the name or names of some others trusted by mee and for the use of mee my lienes executors or administrators.
And also all those my messuages, landes, tenements and hereditaments with the appurtenances in Metheridge in the countie of Glocester And also all those my messuages, landes and tenements with the appurtenances scituate lieing and being in the parish of St Martins on the Fields in the countie of Middlesex which I latelie purchased of Sir David Conningham knight
And also all that the Mannor Farme or Capitall messuage of Newington alias Newnton in the parish of Buckland in the said countie of Berks
And two other messuages or Tenements within the said parrish of Buckland called by their severall names of Berts and Jacksons with the appurtunances and all hereditaments to the same belonging
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And all other my landes, tenements, hereditaments,rents and Reversions whatsoever in the parrish of Paisie and Buckland or either of them or elsewhere in the countie of Berks
And all that messauge with th'appurtenances purchased by me scituate in the parrish of St Clements Danes with Temple Barr in the Countie of Midd[lesex] late in the holding of James Voltrelcir watchmaker
And also all those messuages and Tenements with the appurtenances in Swann Court neare Newgate in the p[ar]ish of Christ Church with the Cittie of London latelie by me purchased of [ ----- ] Hewytt D[oc]tor in Physicke
And also all that messuage and six acres of land with th'appurtenances in old Brainford in the parishe of Selinge [5] in the countie of Midd[lesex] late purchased of Sir William Essex Barronett [6]
To have and to hold all and singular the said Mannors messuages landes tenements and hereditaments with all and everie of their appurtennces unto the said George Pratt my said eldest Sonne and heire apparent for the terme onelie of his naturall life,
And after his decease, then to the first begotten sonne of the bodie of the said George Pratt and to the heires males of the bodie of the said first begotten sonne
And for want of such issue, then to the second sonne of the bodie of the said George Pratt and to the heires males of the bodie of the said second sonne,
And for want of such issue then to the third sonne of the bodie of the said George Pratt and the heires males of the bodie of the said third sonne
And for want of such issue then to the fourth Sonne of the bodie of the said George Pratt and to the heires males of the bodie of the said fourth sonne
And for want of such issue then to the fifth sonne of the bodie of the said George Pratt and to the heires males of the bodie of the said fifth son
And for defaulte of such issue Then to the sixth sonne of the bodie of the said George Pratt, and to the heires males of the bodie of the said sixth sonne,
And for defaulte of such issue, Then to the seaventh sonne of the bodie of the said George Pratt, and to the heires males of the bodie of the said seaventh sonne,
And for wante of such issue Then I give and devise, all and singular the said Mannors, messuages, landes, tenements and herediaments, and all and singular their and everie of their appurtennances unto my daughter Elizabeth Pratt, widdow late wife of Henry Pratt deceased for and dureing the terme onelie of her naturall life,
And after her decease Then to Henrie Pratt my grandchild sonne of the said Elizabeth, for and dureing the terme of his naturall life,
And after his decease, Then to the first begotten sonne of the bodie of the said Henrie Pratt, and to the heires males of the bodie of the said first begotten sonne
And for wante of such issue, Then to the second sonne of the bodie of the said Henrie Pratt, and to the heires males of the bodie of the said second sonne,
And for wante of such issue, Then to the third sonne of the bodie of the saide Henrie Pratt, and to the heires males of the bodie of the said third sonne
And for wante of such issue, Then to the fourth sonne of the bodie of the said Henrie Pratt and to the heires males of the bodie of the said fourth sonne
And for wante of such issue, Then to the fifth sonne of the bodie of the said Henrie Pratt, and to the heires males of the bodie of the said fifth sonne,
And for defaulte of such issue Then to the sixth sonne of the bodie of the said Henrie Pratte, and to the heires males of the bodie of the said sixth sonne
And for detaulte of such issue, Then to the seaventh sonne of the bodie of the said Henrie Pratt, and to the heires males of the bodie of the said seaventh sonne
And for wante of such issue Then I doe further give and devise unto Henrie Baber my grandchilde sonne of my said daughter Elizabeth, all and singular the said Mannors, messuages landes, tenements and hereditaments with all and everie their appurtennces To have & to hould the same under the said Henrie Baber for and dureing the terme onelie of his naturall life, And after his decease,
Then to the first begotten sonne of the bodie of the said Henrie Baber and to the heires males of the bodie of the said first sonne
And for wante of such issue Then to the second sonne of
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bodie of the said Henrie Baber, and to the heires males of the bodie of the second sonne
And for wante of such issue, Then to the third sonne of the bodie of the said Henrie Baber, and to the heires males of the bodie of the said third sonne
And for wante of such issue Then to the fourth sonne of the bodie of the said Henrie Baber; and to the heires males of the bodie of the said fourth sonne
And for wante of such issue Then to the fifth sonne of the bodie of the said Henrie Baber, and to the heires males of the bodie of the said fifth sonne
And for wante of such issue, then to the sixth sonne of the bodie of the said Henrie Baber, and to the heires males of the bodie of the said sixth sonne,
And for wante of such issue Then to the seaventh sonne of the bodie of the said Henrie Baber, and to the heires males of the bodie of the said seaventh sonne,
And for defaulte of such issue, then doe give and devise all the said Mannors messuages, landes and premisses unto the said George Pratt and the heires of his bodie
And for wante of such issue Then to the said Henrie Pratt my grandchilde and the heires of his bodie lawfullie begotten
And for wante of such issue Then to the said Henrie Baber, and the heires of his bodie lawfully begotten
And for wante of such issue, then to the said Elizabeth Pratt, and the heires of her bodie lawfully begotten
And for want of such issue, then to the right heires of the said Henrie Baber for ever
And if itt shall happen, that my said sonne George Pratt shall decease leaveing onelie one or more daughters Then I doe will and devise unto everie of the said daughters the sume of one thousand poundes a peece, to be paid them at their severall ages or eighteene yeares or daies of their severall marriages which shall first happen
And in the meane time everie of the said daughters shall have paid them yearelie the summe of fortie poundes for their severall maintenances and educations The severall sumes of one Thousand pounds and yearlie maintenence to be raised and taken out of the rents and profitts of the said landes and premisses and be paid by the owners of the said landes and premisses who shallbe in and have the possession of the premisses devised and limitted as aforesaid
And if itt shall happen that default shalbe made in paiement of the said somes on money or anie of them That then it shall and maie be lawfull to and for such and soe many of the daughters of the said George Pratt as shalbe unpaid to enter in and upon the said lands and premisses and to have the peaceable posse[ss]ion and to take and receave the rents and profitts thereof untill shee or they shalbe fully satisfied of and for the moneyes porc[i]ons and maintenance to them given and devised as aforesaid
And if it shall happen that my said Sonne George Pratt and the said Henrie Pratt shall decease without heires males And that the said Henrie Pratt shall leave onlie one or more daughters whereby the said landes and premisses shall remaine and come to the said Henrie Baber after the death of the said Elizabeth Pratt Then I doe will and devise unto the two eldest daughters of the said Henrie Pratt the some of one thousand poundes a peece, and to everie of the rest of the daughters of the said Henrie Pratt five hundred pounds a peece to be paid them at their severall ages or eighteene yeares or daies of their severall marriages which shall first happen
And in the meane time everie of the said daughters shall have paid them yearelie the summe of thirtie poundes for their severall maintenances and educations the said severall sumes for porc[i]ons and yearlie maintenence to be raised and taken out of the rents and profitts of the said landes and premisses and be paid by such of the owners of the said landes Except the said Elizabeth Pratt who shalbe in and have poss[e]cion of the premisses devised and limitted as aforesaid.
And if it shall happen that default shalbe made of and in paiement of the said somes of money or anie of them Then itt shall and maie be lawfull to and for such and soe many of the said daughters of the said Henrie Pratt as shalbe unpaid to enter into and upon the said lands and premisses and to have the peaceable posse[ss]ion and
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to take and receave the rents and profitts thereof untill they shalbe fully satisfied of and for the money porc[i]ons and maintenance to them given and devised as aforesaid according to the intent of this my will
My will and meaning is That neither shee the said Marie my wife or my said soone George Pratt shall att anie time hereafter cutt downe, sell or doe away the timber trees growing in or upon any the premisses but such and soe much onelie as shalbe for the necessarie building and repairinge of the messuages, landes and tenements belonginge to the premisses Provided alwaies and my intente and meaninge is and I doe hereby will and devise that the said George Pratt my sonne Henrie Pratt my Grandchilde and the said Henrie Baber my grandchilde to whome I have respectivelie limitted estates in the said Lanes and premisses onlie for terme of their severall and respective lives w[i]th remainders as aforesaid shall neverthelesse have full and free libertie power and authoritie after the landes shall come to them by this my will to settle and assure the saide landes and premisses, or anie parte thereof to and for the ioyneture [7] or Joynetures of anie wife or wifes that they or anie of them shall severallie and respectivelie happen to marrie for and during the naturall life onelie of such wife or wifes
And whereas I am by a release from my said Sonne Richard Pratt lawfullie and solely seized in fee of the Reversion of the said Mannor of Newington and other the said landes in the said parishe of Buckland after the expiration of a Lease dated the twentieth of June in the second year of his Ma[jestie]s raigne heretofore made by Arthur Vizer and John Lee to William Smithier for the terme of Fowerscore and nineteene yeares which lease was made in trust for mee, and to be at my disposence as by the said Lease appeareth I doe devise directe and appointe that the said lease and interest thereof during the said terme be attendante and follow the landes and profitts to be taken by such persons to whome I have appointed and devized the Inheritance of the said landes as aforesaid
And so also I doe devise that all leases of the said landes of inheritance by me devised as aforesaid shall be attendant and follow the inheritance
And as concerning my second Sonne Richard Pratt I doe by this my will devise that hee the said Richard Pratt shall have paid him as a legacie the some of Five poundes onelie And shalbe uttelie excluded and debarred for ever of or from the havinge or clayminge of anie other or greater parte of proporc[i]on of my estate either reall or personall
And that the Release statue, and bond made and entered into by him my said Sonne Richard Pratt shall stand and be in force against him for the good and benefit of my executors
And I doe further will and command that my said sonne Richard Pratt shall presentlie after my decease release to my said sonne George Pratt his heirs executors and administrators all the estate, right title and interest claine and demand whatsoever which he now hath or after my death maie or ought or pretend to have clayme or challenge in or to anie of my Mannors, messauges, landes, Tenements, goods or chattells or reall or peronall estate whatsoever
Item I will and devise unto Henrie Pratt sonne of my said daughter Elizabeth Pratt the some of one thousand poundes to be paid him by my executors at his age of one and twentie years
Item I give to Sir Nathaniel Brent knight my kinsman ten poundes
To the Reverend Father in God Doctor Skinner now Bishopp of Oxford [8] tenn poundes desiring him to release all such interest as hee hath in trust in any of my landes and Tenements to such person and persons as I have bequeathed the same to in and by this my will
Item I give and bequeath to my sister in law Susanna Faldo tenn poundes
To her son William five poundes
To my servant William Chandler tenn poundes
To George [---], sometimes servante to James Valtrolier if hee be livinge twentie nobles
To [Jane?] Morris my kinswoman wife of Edward Morris Draper ten poundes
To my loveinge friend Mr Edward Reynolds, before named twentie poundes
To my good
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Friendes John Whistler of Grayes Inn Esqr tenn poundes
To Edward Read Esqr ten poundes
And to my good friend Hammond Claxton of Horsington in Lincolnshire Esqr ten poundes
desiring them the said Edward Reynolds John Whistler Edward Read and Hammond Claxton out of their old loves and friendshipps to me they wilbe aiding and assistinge to my executors and children in their busines if occasion shall require
All which said last memo[rialis]ed Legacies so by mee given as aforesaid I will that my executors hereafter named shall paie the same Legatees being ten in number and amounting together to the some of Fowerscore and one poundes thirteene shillings and fower pence respectively within one yeare next after my decease
Item I give to the Company of Merchantaylors of London fiftie poundes to buy them some plate such as they shall think fitt
Item I give to Robert Marsh Clerke of the said Companie six poundes ten shllinges which is owing to mee by the said Company for Corne [?] and three poundes tenn shillinges more in all tenn poundes
Item I give to the Parson and Churchwardens of the Church of Cicester [9] in the countie of Glocester for the time being one hundred poundes to bee employed by them from time to time as a Stock for the good and benefitt of the poore of the said Towne of Cicester for ever
They the said churchwardens giving such securitie for the employment thereof as my executors hereafter named shall like and approve of
Item I give to the poore of the parish of Cocell aforesaid Thirtie poundes to be employed by the Churchwardens and parishioners there as a stock for the good and benefitt of the said poore for ever Soe as the said Churchwardens for the time being doe give good securite to my executors for the imploying thereof according to this my last will
Item I give to the poore of the parishe of Buckland aforesaid five markes And to the poore of the parishe of Saint Olaves Silverstreete London five poundes and to the poore of the parishe of Saint Gregorie London five markes, which said three last menconed legacies to be paid and distributed by my executors to and amongst the poore of the saide three severall parishes at the discretion of the severall Parcons and Churchwardens there
Item I give to Henrie Baber my grandchild and godson twenties poundes to be paid unto him when hee shall attaine to the age of one and twentie yeares And if hee shall happen to dye before his said age of one and Twentie yeares Then I give the same twentie poundes unto his mother my daughter Elizabeth Pratt
Item I give and bequeath unto the said Dame Marie my wife All that my dwellinge house in Saint Olaves Silverstreete London houlden by lease of the Deane and Chapter of the Cittie of Westminster for soe many yeares as shee shall happen to live, and the residue of the terme remayninge after he decease I give unto the said George Pratt my eldest sonne and his assignes he takeinge care to renewe the lease thereof from time to time as in the said Lease from the said Deane and Chapter to mee as mentioned
Item I give and bequeath unto my said wife All those my houses and Tenements in Pauls Church yard London in the severall parishes of Saint Faiths and Saint Gregories dureinge her life And after her decease unto my said sonne George Pratt and his assignes for and dureing all the rest and remainder of the severall termes of yeares, which shalbe then remayning and unexpired in them, and eveire of them respectively
Item I give and bequeath unto Alderman Atkins nowe Lord Maior of the Cittie of London my worthie friend sixtie poundes
Item my will and minde is and I doe desire the said John Whistler Hammond Claxton Edward Reade m Francis Watson and all such others as have any interest in trust in any of my landes and Tenements That they and everie of them will [...] release and assigne over such their interest severally and respectively to such person or persons as I have given and bequeathed the same in and by this my last will and Testament whersoever they or anie of the said Trustees shalbe thereunto
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thereunto required after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto Phillipp Owen Cittizen and Haberdasher of London the sume of one hundred and thirtie poundes And to his sonne Thankfull Owen and his daughter Joane Owen twentie pounds a peece And to Roberte King Cloathworker and Edwyn Beale of London gent six poundes thirteene shillings and foure pence a peece the said legatees to be paid within one yeare after my decease
Item I give unto Henrie Herbert Esqr a member of the house of Commons and Knight for Monmouthshire (as I take itt) the some of tenn poundes
Item I give unto my said grandchild Henrie Pratt all that messauge or Brewhouse with the appurtennces in the Cittie of Glocester for all the Terme yet to come to dsipose att his will and pleasure And in case the Mannor of Hampton and other landes in the countie of Glocester to me mortgaged by the Lord Windsor shall happen to be redeemed I doe give and devise the money to come to be paid for the redemption thereof to my said Deare wife Dame Marie Pratt, my said sonne George Pratt and my said daughter Elizabeth Pratt to be equallie devided between them The residue of all my goods and chattells whatsoever not herein by mee given and bequeathed my funerall expences dischardged I freelie give and bequeath unto my said wellbeloved wife Dame Marie, my said son George Pratt [and my said daughter Elizabeth Pratt] [10]
And of this my last will and testament I make and ordaine my said wife Dame Marie Pratt, my said daughter Elizabeth Pratt and the said Phillipp Owen joynt executors desiring and chardging them to see this my last will iustlie [11] performed in all points according to my true intent and meaning And that noe forteiture, extremities or advantages be taken against any person or persons whatsoever contrarie to right equitie or good conscience And my will and minde is that my executors as speedilie as maie bee shall gett in all such monies and debts as shalbe oweing mee abroad att the time of my death, the better to enable them in the performance of this my last will and testam[en]t and finisheing my buildings in Colcell if I shall leave anie parte thereof unfinished at my decease
And as I doe desire my said wellbeloved wife to be loveinge to my saide sonne George Pratt soe I charge and command him upon my blessinge to be dutifull and loveinge to her And that shee keepeing herselfe a widdowe as I hope and desire shee will her mate be a Sonne and a husband comfortinge her in all thinges not contesting with her, remembering that a house devided cannot stand
And here againe I doe desire the said Mr Edward Reynoldes, my loveinge friend, whome before I have remembered this my will with a Legacie of twentie poundes that hee wilbe upon all occasions assistant unto my said Executors in the performance of this my last will and testament as my trust is in them
And soe renouncinge all former wills whatsoever be mee formerlie made I doe now declare and publish this to be my last will and testament being all conteyned in eleaven sheetes of paper and to everie of which said sheetes I have subscribed my name and to this last sheet I have put my hand and seale the daie and yeare first above written Per me Henry Pratt
Memorandum that this will was signed sealed published and declared by the said Sir Henrie Pratt to be his last will and testament the second daie of July one thousand six hundred fortie five In the presence of us
William Wise, Etheld Wise, Harcourt Greenaway, Susan Mesham, Edward Comnley, Edwyn Beale, the mark of Dame Marie Pratt, Geo: Pratt, Rich Pratt, Elizabeth Pratt, Phillipp Owen
Probatum (abstract) - at London before Sir Nathaniel Brent, sixteenth day April Annon Domini one thousand Six hundred and fourty nine, Lady Maria Pratt relict of the deceased and Elizabeth Pratt daughter of the deceased...
Sources
- ↑ Will of Sir Henry Pratt, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 207 Fairfax, Quire Numbers 1-57 (1649). (Number 41) The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England. Accessed on Ancestry 11 October 2020 permalink
- ↑ Alternative spelling of Coleshill, Berkshire, now in Oxfordshire
- ↑ The inheritance law of the City of London was for a wife to receive a third of her husband's estate
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Coleshill House," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coleshill_House&oldid=919879439 (accessed October 11, 2020).
- ↑ Probably Old Brentford in the parish of Ealing Wikipedia contributors, "Brentford," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brentford&oldid=982888772 (accessed October 11, 2020).
- ↑ No Wikitree profile yet. Wikipedia contributors, "Sir William Essex, 1st Baronet," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sir_William_Essex,_1st_Baronet&oldid=944081237 (accessed October 11, 2020).
- ↑ jointure - the widow's portion
- ↑ Robert Skinner had been a preacher at St Gregory by St Paul during the time that Henry Pratt lived in the parish
- ↑ Cirencester, Gloucestershire
- ↑ omitted and written in the margin.
- ↑ justly