Will of William Browning-42

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Description

This is a transcript of the will of William Browning, written in London 23 Apr 1635. The will was probated in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury and is preserved in the UK National Archives.^[1][2] William's burial was recorded 26 Apr 1635, three days after the writing of his will, in the register of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, London.^[3] The register lists his age at death as 80.

The will lists numerous heirs (children and their spouses; grandchildren) and lands owned in several parts of Essex County, England.

Text of the will

In the name of God Amen: The three and Twentieth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand Six hundred, thirtie five, and in the Eleventh yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles, by the grace of God; King of England, Scotland, Ffrance, and Ireland, defender of the faith. I William Browning of London, merchant, being sicke in bodie, but of good and perfect memorie, praysed be God for the same. Do make and declare this my last Will and Testament, and first and principally; I comytt and commend my Sohle unto the hands of Almighty God that gave it mee, and my bodie to the Earth from whence it came, stedfastly believing to have free pardon and forgiveness of all my Sinnes, and to enjoy everlasting life in the kingdome of heaven, by the merits and passion of Jesus Christ my onelie Savyour and Redeemer.

And as touching the ordering and disposing of all such goods, chattels, lands, tenements, and hereditaments, whatsoever, wherewith God hath blessed mee in this world. I dispose thereof as followeth: That is to say.

Ffirst I give and bequeath unto my Sonne Jeremy Browning the some of Twentie pounds of lawful English money, and my Gowne.

Item – I give and bequeath to my said Sonne Jeremy Browning. All that my messuage or ffarme Called Little Wicke, situate in Burneham in the Countie of Essex, now or late in the occupation of Daniel Stacy or his assignes, with all the Land and other appurtenances, and the rents issued, and yearlie profits, thereof and thereunto belonging. To have and to hold the same for and during all the residue and remaynder of the terme or years with, att the tyme of my decease. Shall bee to Come and unexpired of, in the Lease whereby I hold the same, for and under the rent and Covenants therein reserved and conteyned, (if hee the said Jeremy Browning shall soe long live). And if my said sonne Jeremy Browning, shall departe this life before the expiracion (-expiration) of the terme of yeares to Come and unexpired of, and in the Lease above mentioned. Then I give and bequeath the Lease of my said farme Called Little Wicke, and all my Estate and interest therein, unto Thomas Browning, his sonne.

Item – I give and bequeath to the poore people of Chelmsford, in the said Countie of Essex, one Annuitie of ffortie shillings per Annum, to be issuing and payable out of my lands in Maldon, in the said Countie of Essex, for and during the first tenne yeares next after my decease.

Item – I give and bequeath to Malachy Browning my sonne, and Anne Gurney my daughter; all those messuages, lands, tenements, and hereditaments, with their and everie of their appurtenances, situate, lyeing, and being in Maldon aforesaid, (charged with the said Annuitie). To have and to hold the same unto the said Malachy, and Anne, for and during the terme of their naturall lives and the naturall life of the longer liver of them. And after both them deceased, I give and bequeath all my said Messuages, lands, tenements, and hereditaments, with the appurtenances in Maldon aforesaid, unto Thomas Browning my Grandchild, for and dureing the terme of his naturall life.

And after the decease of the said Thomas Browning, I give and bequeath my said Messuages, Lands, tenements, and hereditaments, with the appurtenances in Maldon aforesaid, unto William Browning and Sammuel Browning my Grandchildren, for and dureing the termes of their naturall lives, and the naturall life of the Longer liver of them. And after the decease of the Survivors of them, the said William and Sammuel, I give and bequeath all my said Messuages, Lands, tenements, and hereditaments, with the appurtenances in Maldon aforesaid, unto the heirs males of the said William Brownyng my Grandchilde, lawfully to be begotten. And for default of such issue, Then to the heirs males of said Thomas Brownyng my Grandchild, lawfully to be begotten. And for want of such issue, then to the next heires males of mee, the said William Browneing the Testator, forever.

Item – I give and bequeath unto my Grandchildren Jeremy Colins, Elizabeth Colins, Ffrancis Gurney, and Anne Gurney, and to everie of them, for and dureing the terme of their Severall and respective lives, one Annuitie or yearely payment of Eight pounds apiece, of Lawful money of England. To be issuing payable, and yearelie goeing out of my farme and Lands, situate. Lyeing, and being, in Rayleigh in the said Countie of Essex, now or late in the occupation of Widow Hawkins or her assignes.

Item – I give and bequeath unto Jeremy Brownyng and Daniel Browneing my Grandchildren, and to either of them for and during the termes of their several and respective lives, one Annuitie or yearelie payment of eight pounds apiece, of lawful money of England. To be issuing payeable and yearelie goeing out of my farme and Lands, Situate, lyeing, and being in Ramsey abovementioned, now or late in the occupation of Charles Abell, or his assignes.

The said several annuities given to my said Six Grandchildren, to bee paid unto them severally and respectively, Att or in the now dwelling house of my sonne-in-law Ffrancis Gurney, merchant, scituate in Thredneedle Street in London, at the two usuall feasts or termes in the yeare. That is to say, St. Mychaell the archangel, and the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Marie, by even and equall portions. The first payment thereof to bee made and begyme at such of the said feasts which shall first happen after the end of two years next after my decease.

And my will and mynd is That if it shall happen any of the said Annuities to be behind and unpaid in part or in all, by the spare of one and Twentie days next over or after either of the said feast daies of payment thereof abovementioned. That then it shall and may be lawful, and I doe hereby give full power and authoritie unto and for my said Grandchildren or such of them, whose Annuities shall soe bee behind and unpaid, and to and for their or any of their assignes, to enter and come into and upon all or any of my said Messuages, Landes, Tenements, and hereditaments, out of which the said Annuities are respectively issuing and payable.

And there to distreyne (-distrain) for the said Annuities or such part and parts thereof, which shall be behind and unpaid and for all acreages thereof. And the distresse and distresses there from tyme to tyme had and found, to leade, drive, take and carry away, the same to detayne and keepe until the said Annuities and all acreages thereof, shall be fully satisfied and payd.

Item – I give and bequeath unto my grandchildren William Browneing and Thomas Browneing, for and during the termes of their natural lives and the natural life of the Longer liver of them. All those my Messuages, Landes, tenements, and hereditaments as well, in Rayleigh and Ramsey aforesaid (-Essex County), charged with the Annuities aforesaid. As also in Hockley, Hannyngfield, and Ramsden bellowes, in the Said Countie of Essex. And after the decease of the longer liver of them, the said William and Thomas. I give and bequeath all my said Messuages, Lands, tenements, and hereditaments, with the appurtenances in Rayleigh, Ramsey, Hockley, Hannyngfield, and Ramsden bellowes, aforesaid, (charged as aforesaid), unto Malachy Brownyng my sonne, and Samuell Browneing my Grandchild, for and dureing the termes of their natural lives, and the natural life of the longer liver of them. And after the decease of the longer liver of them, the said Malachy and Samuell. Then to the heires males of the said William Brownyng my Grandchild, before named, lawfully to be begotten. And if default of such issue, then to the heires males of the said Thomas Brownyng my Grandchild, lawfully to bee begotten. And for want of such issue, then to the heirs males of the said Samuell Brownyng my Grandchild, lawfully to be begotten. And for default of such issue, then to the heires males of Nathaniell Browning my Grandchild, lawfully to be begotten. And for want of such issue, then to the next heires males of mee, the said William Brownyng the Testator, forever, provided always.

And my will and mynd is, and I doe hereby ordeyne, that if any of my said Grandchildren shall either directly or indirectly sell, assigne, doe away, or depart, with his, her, their, or any of their said Annuitie or annuities, to any person or persons whatsoever. That then and from thenceforth, the said annuitie or yearely some of money soe sould, assigned, done away, or departed with, shall in noe wise be payed or payable to any such person or persons, to whom the same shall bee sould, or done away; but shall from thenceforth, become due to my Executors. Provyded also that if my said sonne Jeremy Brownyng shall deteyne from my Executors, any some or somes of money which shall happen to be remayneing in his hands and due to mee at the tyme of my decease or shall by himself or any other person or persons, attempt or endeavor to hinder the due proving of this my Will.

Then and in such case. I doe hereby revoke and make void, all legacies by this my will formerly given unto him and hers thereof. I doe give unto him onely the some of Twentie pounds in full satisfaction of his child’s part. And in such case, I doe give to the Executors of this my last Will, for and dureing the terme of the naturall life of my said sonne Jeremy. All my lands to him formerly given in such sort as hee should have had and enjoyed the same. And whereas I have a writing under the Common Seale of the Towne of Greate Yarmouth, in the Countie of Norfolk, made for the payment of one Annuitie of Twentie pounds per annum, unto my daughters Sarah and Anne after my decease. I doe appoint the Custodie of the said writing unto my Executors hereafter named, for the use of my said daughter Anne whoe is onely surviving.

Item – I give and bequeath unto my said sonne Malachy Brownyng, all my wearing apparel. And to my said two Grandchildren William Brownyng and Thomas Browneing, all my printed books equally to bee devyded betwixt them.

Item – I give and bequeath unto William Mannynge of Bury St. Edmonds, to the wife of John Thompson of the same Towne, Weaver, and to Roger Cutler of Maldon, tenne shillings apiece.

Item – I give and bequeath to Mr. Simpson of Maldon, fortie shillings, and to Mr. Voter, twentie shillings.

Item – I give and bequeath to Mr. Rowles, Mr. Hooker Late Mynisters of Gods word at Chelmsford, fortie shillings apiece, and to Mr. Marshall of Wethersfield twentie shillings, and to Edmond Mannyng merchant, dwelling in Tower Street fortie shillings.

Item – I give and bequeath to the Preacher of Gods word att Rochford in Essex; To Mr. Moorton Preacher of Gods word at St. Savyours in Southwark, and to Mr. Catelyn Minister in Suffolk, twentie shillings apiece.

The rest and residue of all and singular, my readie money, Plate, Leases, household stuffe, goods, Chattells, and personall estate whatsoever unbequeathed, (after my debts and Legacies paid, and funeral charges discharged). I give and bequeath unto all my Grandchildren beforenamed in this my Will, equally to be divided amongst them, and to bee paid to the males at their several ages of one and Twentie yeares, and to the females at their several ages of one and Twentie yeares, or dayes of marriage first happening. And if any of them depart this life before such age or marriage. Then my will and mynd is that the part and porcion -(portion) of the partie or parties soe Deceasing, shall remayne and bee paid to the survivors of them equally, part and part alike provided always.

And my will and mynd is that if the Parents or next of kinnes of my said Grandchildren, or any of them shall putt in good and sufficient Securitie to my Executors hereafter named. To pay and satisfie unto them their several parts, shares, and porcions, of and in the said last mencioned Legacie according to the tenor and true meaning of this my last. That then upon such Securitie by them, or any of them given the same, shall bee paid and Satisfied to such Parents or the next of kinnes of my said Grandchildren, who shall give to my Executors such Securitie for the same as aforesaid. And I doe hereby make and ordeyne my said sonne Jeremy Browning and the said Thomas Browning his son, full Executors of this my last Will and Testament, whom I desire and charge duely and truly to performe the same according to my true meaning herein declared.

And I doe nomynate and desire my loving friends Mr. John Walker and Mr. Mephibosheth Colins, to bee overseers thereof. And for their care and paines therein to bee taken, I give unto either of them the some of five pounds of lawfull English money. And lastly I doe hereby ordyne that in Case my said sonne Jeremy and his sonne Thomas, or one of them shall not duely prove this my last Will and Testament within three months next after my decease, being thereunto lawfully warned or summoned. That then they shall bee noe Executors of this my last Will, And in such Case, I make and ordeyne the said Mr. John Walker and Mr. Mephibosheth Colins, full Executors of this my last Will and Testament. And I doe hereby revoke all former Wills by mee made, and doe appoynt these presents onely to stand and bee in full force for my last Will and Testament.

In wittnes whereof, I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day and yeare first above written, By mee William Brownyng. This present Testament Conteyning nyne sheets of paper, was signed, sealed, and published, by the said William Browning the Testator, for his last Will in the presence of us Henry Reynolds, John Jett, and Christopher Ffavell, “Srx”./

Source information

Probate at Prerogative Court of Canterbury: 29th April 1635.

Will of William Brownyng or Browning, Merchant of London: PROB-11-167-498. The National Archives: Kew, Greater London, England.

For members of FamilySearch.org (a free membership with registration), the will is also available here.

Sources

1. ↑ Will of William Brownyng or Browning, Merchant of London. Kew, Surrey, England: UK National Archives. Reference number PROB 11/167/498. Download with free registration here.
2. ↑ Image of will at Ancestry.com ($) here.
3. ↑ London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812. Online database at Ancestry.com with images, citing London, England: London Metropolitan Archives, Reference Number P69/BOT4/A/001/MS04515/002. Ancestry link ($).

Acknowledgment

Reading of texts this old, written with quill pens and with ancient styles of handwriting, is done with determination and many hours of work. This will was transcribed by Peter Sjoberg. This appreciation was written by Raymond Watts.