Will of Sir John Wildman of Beckett, Berkshire, England (1670-1712)

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: England
Surnames/tags: Wildman England

Last Will and Testament of John Wildman of Beckett, Berkshire

Testator: John Wildman of Beckett, Berkshire, England.

Date of the will: 14 October 1670

Proved 30 May 1712

Persons Mentioned:

Lucy Wildman, his wife

John Wildman, his son

Henry Pemberton

Edward Rose

John Farre

James May, Esquire

Robert Clayton of London, Esquire, possibly Robert Clayton

W, Clayton, possibly William Clayton MP

Jeffery Wildman of Wreningham, Yeoman, his father

Edmond Whitefoot, his brother

Elizabeth Sadler, late of Beckett, Spinster, his niece

Jane Gardner, widow

Thomas Vane of Fayrlawne of Kent, Esquire

Richmond Smith, Son of Robert Smith of Wherwell, Hampshire

Margaret Gardner, Jane Gardner's daughter

Edward John Gardner, Jane Gardner's son

Thomas Gardner, Jane Gardner's son

William Barker of Covent Garden, Westminster, ancient servant

Elizabeth Phillips of London, his wife's sister

Elizabeth Shutford, Daughter of Elizabeth Phillips

Leonard Buckner, son of his wife's sister

William Buckner, son of his wife's sister

Laurence Ambrose of Bancroft

William Parker, former servant

Sarah Parker, former servant and wife of William Parker

Lucy Parker, daughter of William and Sarah Parker

Henry Marten, late of Beckett, Esquire

John Jackson, witness

Chris: Vane, possibly Christopher Vane, witness

James Eyres, witness

Wm. Cogges, witness

The solid lines indicate page separation

In the name of God I John Wildman of Beckett in the County of Berks Esquire

do hereby make and ordain this my last Will and

Testament in manner and forme following First

having humbly endeavoured to have a thone apprehension

that my life is not in my own power one moment and

that I ought always to looks upon every moment of life

added to me to be an act of the Almighty creating

power equall to his first forming me in the womb and

considering that it is my Duty so to watch unto all that

God requires of me as not to defer a moment being

unable to assure my self of any such moment I do therefore

in an humble Expectation of my Dissolution whensoever

and in what manner soever it shall please my God

while he shall preserve me in all my Dutys hoping

also humbly for a ressurection from the dead unto an

eternal life according to the doctrine revealed by the

Lord Jesus Christ I do will that the Estate reall and

personal wherewith God hath blessed me may be

disposed as followeth First I do give and bequeath

unto my most Dearly loved and worthy wife Lucy

Wildman all those my Several Tenements and Lands

with all and every of their appurtenances whitch at

the time of the Date hereof are lett by me and are in

the occupacon of Henry Pemberton Edward Rose and

John Farre of Beckett in the said County of Berks

Yeomen or either or any of them to hold unto my said

Dearest Wife with all Priviledges and advantages as then

same are now lett for and during her naturall life

for and in her of all Power whatsoever Item I do

further Will and bequeath unto my said Dearest

Wife such Lodgings for her Self and her servants in

that Small house of beckett aforesaid as she shall in her

own discrecion thus with all necessary rooms for the

greatest convenience of her life that those Small

Buildings will afford Together with one Moiety of the

Court Yards Gardens and orchards belonging to the

said House of Beckett To hold the same and every of

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them during her natural life and my will and

mind is that my only Son John Wildman and his

Heirs if he or they shall happen to enjoy the Mannor of

Beckett aforesaid (deletion) that he and his Heirs after him

do pay the same respect Honour and Service unto my

said Wife as if he the said John Wildman had been born

of her Body she having merited the same from him

in all things from his Infancy And my further

Will and mind is that my said Dearest Wife shall have

and enjoy unto her Self that Furniture of what kind

soever that doth now belong to the Lodgings aforesaid

that shall be chosen by her as aforesaid Item I do give

and bequeath unto my only Child John Wildman All

those my Mannors or Lordships of Shriveham at

Shrivham Salop Shrivham Claycourt and Shrivham

Stallpitts together with the Hundred of Shrivham and also

all that my Mannor or reputed Mannor of Beckett and

the Capitall Messuage of the same and all other my Lands

Tenements Tythes and Hereditaments whatsoever Together

with all and every of the rights members and

Appurtenunces of all and every the said Mannors Hundred

Lands and Tenements Excepting Such Estate and Estates

in parcels of the premisses as are herein and hereby

divided and given unto my said and most Dear Wife

situate and being within the Parish of Shrivham

aforesaid or within any of the Parishes or hamletts in the

Hundred of Shrivham aforesaid To hold unto him the

Said John Wildman and his Heirs for their Subject

nevertheless to such Conditions Burdens and Payments

as Shall be specifyed in this my last Will and Testament

or in any Schedule that may at any time before my

death be annexed hereunto Item I do give and bequeath

unto my said John Wildman and his Executors and

Assignes all that my Tenement in Idston called Idston

halfe Farme which I hold of James May Esquire for

Lives Together with all my Term and Interest therein

as also all my right title interest and claim of in or unto

the Parsonage of Ashbury whereof Idston is a Hamlett both

Scituate and being in the said Country of Berks and also

all that my Lease and Term of years in those Meadows

called Great Weekshill and Weekshill closes in Ashbury

aforesaid and all other my Lands Tenements and

Hereditaments whatsoever in the said County of Berks

To hold to him the said John Wildman and his Heirs

for their subject nevertheless to be Charged by me John

Wildman as is expressed in the bequest of the Mannor

of Shrivham aforesaid Item whereas I am lawfully

interested of and in our Lease from the Dean and

Chapter of Winchester in Hampshire of all those Two

Parsonages or Rectorys of Preston Candover and Nutly in

the Said County of Southhampton Robert Clayton of London

Esquire being my partner and Joint purchaser therein

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and having laid down the money for the same And

Whereas the said Robert Calyton is Joint Leaser with me in

the Farme of Nutly and another Tenement called Lane(?)

his Tenement in Nutly in Hampshire aforesaid and that

he the said Robert Clayton hath laid out a great sum of

money for stocking and improving the said Farm and

Tenement for which an Account must be given by me to the

said Robert Clayton my Will and mind is that my Executors

hereafter named of this my Will shall forthwith account with

the said Robert Clayton and even all accounts according to

some notes of my Disbursments that may be found

amongst my papers and I hope my Dear Friend W. Clayton

will be Just and favourable also to my Executors in the

account of Interest in regard of my Expences and great

payes in Journeys and all kind of Industry for the

improvement of the said Farme however the same may

prove as also in many Journeys upon supposed hopefull

purchases to have been jointly made between us wherein he

ought to have borne his share and he promised that report

should be had to the same I say my Will is that all accounts

being stated then my Interest in the said Parsonages and

Farme to be conveyed and sold to the Said W. Clayton the

said parsonages being of greater value by my means then

when the Lands were purchased Item my Will and mind

is and I do will and bequeath unto my Honoured and

aged father Jeffery Wildham of Wreningham in the

County of Norfolk Yeoman all that my Freehold lands

in Paxton or Fordon in the said County of Norfolke

which I bought of my Brother Edmond Whitefoot to

hold for and during his natural life and i do

further declare it to be my Will that my son John

Wildman aforesaid as my Heir shall by any new

Surrender of all those my Copyhold Lands in Warmingham

wherein my said Father now liveth if the same shall

revert to him he having as Heir to his deceased

Mother surrendered the said Copyhold Lands and

Tenements to the use of me and my Heirs as may

appear by a small parchment in my study at Beckett

I say my Will is that he shall do every such act and

acts in his power as may secure unto my said

Father the said Copyhold Lands to hold for and During

his natural life And I do further will and bequeath

unto my said Father the profitts of all and every of

my Lands and Tenements aforesaid in Paxton aforesaid

for the Term of three years after his decease for the

payment of any Debts which be be still owing by

him or to dispose in Legacies as he shall think fitt

and from and after the decease of my Said Father

and the end of the aforesaid Three years after his

Decease I do will and bequeath the said Lands and

Tenements in and about Paxton aforesaid unto such

Children of my said Father as shall be living at the

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time of his Decease to hold unto the said Children Jointly

and unto their Heirs for ever intending the Same may be

sold after the said Children shall be of age and the moneys

arising by the Sale thereof to be equally divided amongst them

and that the profitts and Rents of the said Lands Tenements

should before they attain unto their full age be employed for

their better Education Item I so will and bequeath unto my

Niece Elizabeth Sadler late of Beckett aforesaid Spinster the same

of Five Hundred Pounds of good English money for a portion

to be paid within two years after my decease out of such leases

Mannors Lands and Tenements as are herein bequeathed

unto my said Son John Wildman and my Will and mind is

that thirty Pounds by the year be paid by equall half year

payments unto the said Elizabeth Sadler out of my Said

Leases Mannors and Lands given unto my son as aforesaid

untill the said Five Hundred Pounds be paid unto her that

is to Say the First payment thereof to begin upon the First

day of such Month as shall be four Months after my

decease But my Mind and Will is that if it shall happen

that the said Elizabeth Sadler shall depart this life before the

Expiration of the said Two years after my decease that then

the Bequest aforesaid unto her of Five Hundred Pounds

shall cease and be void unless she shall happen to be married

at the time of her decease or to dye in her Widowhood

leaving behind her sons Issue of her body and in either of

those cases my Will is that the Said Five Hundred Pounds

be payable to her Husband or child or children Item I do give

and bequeath unto Jane Gardner of Backett aforesaid

Widow One Annuity of Twenty Pounds by the year out of

my Said Mannors Lands and Leases given to my Son as

aforesaid to be paid unto her by fewer equall payments at the

four most usual Feasts and days of payment that is to Say

the Twenty Fifth day of March the Twenty fourth day of

June the Twenty Ninth day of September and the Twenty

Fifth Day of December to hold the Said Annuity unto the

Said Jane Gardner for and during her natural life Item I do

give and bequeath unto Margarett Gardner Daughter of the

aforesaid Jane Gardner the Sume of One Hundred Pounds to

be paid out of my Said Mannors Lands and Leases given unto

my Son aforesaid within three years after my death - and -

also Five Pounds by the year untill the same be paid and my

Will and mind is that imediately after my decease all and

every my goods and Chattles whatsoever (Excepting such as

are herein before devised unto my said Dearest Wife and

all Leases and Cjattles reall / shallbe Justly and duly

appraised not routhlesly or fraudulently but as neer as may be

to their true and just value according to a marketable price

and that all and every of them be sold if it can be to their

bare value or at least as soon as may be and that all and

every of the sumes of money that shall be raised thereby be

imployed and used for the payment of all my just debts

of what nature soever my mind and will being that if

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my Debts shall exceed the value of all my Goods and Chattles

(Except as before Excepted) that the same remain charged

upon my Mannors Lands and Leases given unto my Son

aforesaid to be paid by him and as to my Body my Will is

that no Pomp or vain Ceremony be used about it or the

interrement thereof wheresoever it shall please God that I shall

depart this life yet if my Executors of this my Will shall think

fitt let there be some stone of Small price sett neer my Ashes

that may without foolish Flattery signify to posterity that

in this Age a man lived that spent the best of his age in

Prisons, without cause, being conscious to himself of no

offenses towards man Save that he so loved his God that he

could serve no mans will and wished the liberty and

happiness of his Country and all mankind but I Will

not this for any other and then that occasionally some good

refleccons (reflections?) upon it may be Excited in some Excellent minds

by their reading Such an inscription Item I do give and

bequeath unto each of the Sisters of my dearest Wife that

Shall be living at the time of my decease a Gold Ring of the

value of Twenty Shillings as a small remembrance of me

but I should give farr greaterLegacies to the Said Sisters and

many others if my oppressors had not brought my Estate

to be much incumbered with Debts which if it please God to

enable me to pay then I shall make such additions to my

Will as I shall see reason and I do hereby constitute and

appoint my most Dear wife and my Son aforesaid to be my

Executors of this my last Will and Testament beseeching them

to proceed to fulfill this my Will with all mutuals maternal

and filial Love without the least contention each Striving

to exceed the other in Love and my futher Will and mind is

that if it shall please God that my only Son aforesaid shall

depart this life witout any issue of his body during my

natural life and that my Dearest Wife aforesaid shall him

Survive in such Case my Will and mind is that my most Dear

Wife aforesaid shall hold and enjoy all and every my Mannors

Lands Tenements Tyths Hereditaments and Leases given herein

unto my Son aforesaid for and during her natural life

hoping that she will use and improve the same for the most

excellent ends according to the best of her Judgment and that she

will give incouragment to true virtue and practicall holinesse

to her utmost power and from and after the decease of my

said Dearest Wife I do will and bequeath all and every my

Mannors Lands Hundred Tenements Hereditaments and

Leases whatsoever in the County of Berks heretofore in this

my Will devised unto my only Son aforesaid unto Thomas

Vane of Fayrlawne the County of Kent Esquire and his

Heirs for ever Subject nevertheless unto such Charges and

payments as I Shall appoint and declare by this my Will or

any schedule to be hereunto annexed or by any other deed

or Instrument whatsoever under my hand and Seal or by

word of Mouth unttered with a disposing mind before two

witnesses and also subject to an absolute revocation by all

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or any of the ways and means aforesaid If therefore my

onely Son aforesay shall happen to depart this life without

issue of his Body and the bequest of all my Mannors

Lands Hereditaments and Leases aforesaid unto the said

Thomas Vane to stand and remain in force then my

Will is and I do hereby will and bequeath unto my Father

aforesaid if he shall survive me the sume of One Thousand

Pounds to be paid out of my Estate aforesaid by the said

Thomas Vane within three years after my decease by

equall payments at the end of every year after my

decease And I do further Will and Bequeath unto

Elizabeth Sadler aforesaid the sume of Five Hundred

Pounds as an increase of portion to her to be paid

Likewise out of my said Mannors and Lands at the time

that the Five Hundred Pounds before named was made

payable to her and upon and under the same limitacons

and condicons Item I do further Will and Bequeath unto

Richmond Smith Son of Robert Smith of Wherwell in Hampshire

Clerke Two Hundred Pounds and unto Margaret Gardner

aforesaid one Hundred Pounds more and unto Edward John

and Thomas Gardner Sons of Jane Gardner aforesaid Widow

unto each of them One Hundred Pounds and unto William

Barker of Covent Garden Westminster my ancient servant

(his Wife also having been my Servant ) One Hundred Pounds

And unto Elizabeth Philips of London sister unto my Dearest

Wife Forty Pounds to be paid only unto her particular

hands for her single and separate use her husband not to

intermeddle with the same and I do give unto Elizabeth

Shutford Daughter of the said Elizabeth Philips Twenty

Pounds and I do give unto Leonard Buckner son of my

said wifes sister the sum of Five Hundred Pounds and

unto William Buckner his Brother One Hundred Pounds

All and every of which Legacies I do will and order to be

paid within four years after my decease and the decease

of my said Dear Wife if the Several partys and Legatees

shall be then living my intent being that the revenues

of the Lands Mannors and Leases together with my personall

Estate should pay all my Debts and Legacies and that my

adopted Heir should keep the Estate intire and I do make

it my request to him that if he happens to have more

Sons then one and that he lives to discern what

intellectuals and other worth they have or are like to

have that he then doth dispose and give all and every

part of the Estate hereby given him unto such of his

Sons without respect unto Age as he shall Judge will use

the said Estate most worthily for the advancement of his

virtue and reall practicall religion that is sincere

Obedient to all Gods Commands known or revealed and my

desire is that if my said adopted Heir should not without

partiality to his own Sons think that some one of them

will use the Estate unto such Excellent ends that he would

in such Case shew such a noble example to the - world

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as to adopt some perdon of undoubted worth and bequeath

the said Estate to him with a request to him to the same

purpose as is this my request And if it shall so happen that

my Debts at the time of my decease shall amount unto (deletion)

more then the sum of One Thousand Pounds and my Said

Dearest Wife shall me survive I do hereby will order and

appoint that the sume of One Thousand Pounds be paid by

my adopted Heir herein named unto my said Wife out of

the Reversion of the Premises devised to him towards

payment of my Debts that my Said Dear Wife may not be

incumbered but comfortably enjoy her quiet and attend unto

the most excellent things that shall be in her power and if she

shall happen to survive my said Son I do appoint her to be

my sole Executrix of this my Will V'nt (vacant?) if my Said only son

and my said Dear Wife shall Depart this life me Surviving

and that I do make in other Will hereafter my Will is then

that the said Thomas Vane whom I have hereby adopted to

be my Heir should also be my Sole Executor and forthwith

pay all my Debts and the Legacies according to the Several

times by this Will appointed willing also that Laurence

Ambrose of Bancroft shall assist him and have the Sum of One

Hundred Pounds as a Legacy from me and my Will is that if

my wife or Son aforesaid shall me survive that they do give

unto William Parker aforenamed and his Wife Sarah

Parker my antient Servants and unto Lucy Parker their

Daughter to each of them a Ring of the price of Twenty

Shillings as a remembrance of me and I do give unto

every of my menial Servants that shall be at the time of

my Executors to give what they please to the poor and

refusing herein to make any bequests unto them in regard

I have seen and observed so many Gifts unto the Poor

charitably intended by the Donors which have - been

wholly perverted from those good ends of the Donors and

most of such charitable Gifts either unto Almes Houses or

otherwise once become occacons (occasions?) of Joleness and Sloath and

by that means Annual pensions to the Poor of Several

Parishes and Almshouses do become burdens rather then

helps to the places where they have been given and settled

and it is so found by experience in the Parish of

Shrivham is berks aforesaid wherein my Mannors

aforesaid and Scituated and at the best such Gifts are only

used to ease the able Inhabitants of any Parish in their

purses which are bound to provide for the Poor and the

Poor have no reall benefitt by such bequests more then

they should receive if no such Bequests had been made

this I say only of Small Gifts my Estate not affording such

large bequests as might bear great charges in maintaining

persons purposely to convert them unto reall good of the

industrious Poor and might advance and incourage Industry

thereby Item my Further mind and will is that my aforesaid

Dearest wife and my aforesaid only Son if they both shall

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Survive me do Jointly take care to sustain and comfort

Henry Marten late of Beckett Esquire or if either of them

Survive me that he or she do take such care as he may

not want what is convenient for him and if the estate

hereby nequeathed unto (deletion) shall come unto

him during the life of the said Henry Marten my Will

and minds is that he do make constant weekely provisions

for him the said Henry Marten to the value of Twenty

Shillings by the week in such manner as he the said Henry

Marten shall Direct and appoint In Testimony that these

things aforegoing are my last Will I have written them

all with my own hands in Eight sheets of paper and

unto every of them have writt my name and affixed

my Seal this Fourteenth day of October in the year of

our Lord One Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy

John Wildman .||. These Eight sheets of paper fixed

together by a black ribband Sealed with my Seal on the

Knott thereof were sealed declared and published as the

last Will and Testament of the within named John

Wildman in the presence of Do: Vane John Jackson Chris:

Vane James Eyres Wm. Cogges .|.}^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ England, The National Archives, Kew.Will of Sir John Wildman of Becket, Berkshire, 30 May 1712. PROB 11/527/123.