Will of Thomas Harris Esq of Maldon, Essex, 1659

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Maldon, Essex, England
Surnames/tags: Harris Herris

Transcript of the PCC Will of Thomas Harris Esq of Maldon, Essex.^[1]

In the name of God Amen The Sixteenth day of November In the yeare of our Lord god one thousand six hundred ffyfty and Seaven I Thomas Harris of Malden in the County of Essex Esquier being infirme of body but of perfect minde and sound in memory thankes bee unto Almighty god for the same consideringe the frailety and uncertainety of this life for although there is nothinge more certaine than death yet there is nothinge more uncertaine then the tyme thereof And intendinge the disposeinge of my lands goodes and Chattells which god hath bestowed upon mee I doe in this tyme of my good and perfect memory for the better satisfyeinge and quiettinge of my minde and conscience whensoever it shall please god to visitt mee with ffarther sickenes I doe ordaine and make this my last will and testament in manner and forme followinge that is to say ffirst I commytt my soule into the hands of Almighty god who gave it mee assuredly believeinge through the death and passion of his sonne Jesus Christ my Lord to inherite the Kingdome of heaven with everlastinge ioy and happines And my body I commytt to the earth from whence it came to bee decently interred at the discretion of my executrixes heereafter named And of my wordly goodes which god hath bestowed upon mee I thus dispose as ffolloweth ffirst I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Cordelia Harris all my lands in Late [?B]endon cum Larling commonly called Cookes and in the use and occupation of Thomas Harper dureinge the tearme of her naturall life Item I give and bequeath unto the said Cordelia all my lands in Munden commonly called Vincents now in the use and occupation of William Malden dureinge the tearme of her naturall life Item I give and bequeath unto the said Cordelia all my lands in Malden comonly called Beane meade now in the use and occupation of Richard ffadzor dureing the tearme of her naturall life and after the decease of the said Cordelia I give and bequeath my said lands in Late Gendon cum Larling unto my kinsman Mr. John Wroth Esqr and Sir Humphrey Wroth part and part alike and to theire heires forever they therefore paying unto my kinsman Edward Northen one hundred pounds of lawfull money and alsoe pay one hundred pounds of like money unto Easter and Elizabeth grandchildren of my sister Markes deceased and daughters of her daughter Katherine within twelve monthes after my wives decease and my will is heerein that if Mr John and Sr Humphrey shall neglect or omitt to pay the said two hundred pounds within the tyme aforesaid that the said Edward Northen and the said Easter and Elizabeth shall enter upon and enioy the said lands at the usuall rent untill the two hudnred pounds and all theire necessary charges there unto belonginge shall be fully satisfyed and paid Item I give and bequeath unto my sister Nan after the decease of my Wife all my lands in Mundon dureinge the terme of her naturall life and after her decease I give and bequeath the said lands unto her oldest sonne and his heires for ever Item after the decease of my wife I give and bequeath unto my kinsman Mr Salter Harris Esqr all my lands in Malden commonly called Beane meade dureinge the tearme of his naturall life and after the decease of the said Salter I give and bequeath the said lands unto Thomas Harris sonne of the said Salter and to his heires for ever hee the said Salter therefore paying unto my Sister Long ffyfty pounds and doe pay unto Elizabeth Harris daughter to Sir Cranmer Harris one hundred pounds and doe pay unto my servant Elizabeth Hutt twenty pounds and doe pay unto Mr John Greene now of Maldon twenty pounds within two yeares after my decease And doe likewise pay unto John Harris sonne of my kinsman John Harris late of [?Haybrige] deceased the summe of ffifty pounds at his age of one and twenty yeares And my will is heerein that if the said Mr. Salter Harris shall neglect or omytt to pay the said severall summes of money unto the severall parties before mentioned within the tymes appointed that then either of them or all of them shall enter upon and inioy the said lands at the usuall rents untill theire severall legacies and .. other necessary charges there unto belonginge shall be fully satsifyed and paid Item my mynde and will is that if my sister Long dyeth before her legacy become due and payable that then her husband if liveinge shall have twenty pounds thereof And likewise if Elizabeth Harris aforesaid shall depart this life before her legacy become due and payable that then her sister Mrs Anne Harris shall have and enioy the same Item I give and bequesth unto my kinswoman Mrs. Abigall Grebby all the debt of money which my kinsman Mr Richard Humphrey Esqr owes unto mee and the bond thereunto belongeinge immediately after my decease shee paying one hundred pounds thereof unto my wife soe soone as it shall bee paid unto her or bee recovered by her Item I give unto the poore of the towne at Malden tenne pounds to bee distributed amongse them within one month after my decease at the discretion of the Bayliffes and overseers for the poore of the severall parishes Item I doe nominate and appointe my loveinge ffreind Mr. John Greene now of Malden overseer of this my last will and testament to advise and assist my executrixes in the due execution thereof Item all the rest of my goodes and Chattells whatsoever as alsoe all my household stuffe and utensells of household stuffe whatsoever I doe give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Cordelia Harris and my kinswoeman Abigall Grebby whom I doe nominate ordaine and appointe the full and ioynte executrixes of this my last will and testament it being my mynde and will heerein that my wife Cordelia Harris shall dureinge the tearme of her naturall life have possesse and enioy the use benefitt improvement and disposeing of all my said goodes and Chattells as her necessary occassion at all tymes shall require annd after her decease to devolve unto my other executrix Abigall Grebby

In witnesse whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day and yeare above written. Thomas Harris. Sealed and signed published and declared by the aforesaid Thomas Harris to bee his Last will and Testament in the presence of us Richard Sammes Phillip Lee John Hart William Robinson.

This will was proved at London before the Judges for Probate of wills and grannteinge administrations the third day of January in the yeare of our Lord god one thousand six hundred ffyfty and eight by the oath of Cordelia Harris and Abigall Grebby executrixes To whome administration was grannted they being ffirst by Commyssion sworne truely to administer.

Sources

1. ↑ Will of Thomas Harris of Maldon, Essex. 03 January 1659. PROB 11/286/21. National Archives.