Will of Nathan Wright of St Olaves, Hart Street and Cranham Hall, Essex, 1658

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Wright Wolfris Hacker

Will of Nathan Wright^[1]

In the name of God Amen The fiveth Day of Februarie in the yeare of our Lord God according to the Computation of the Church of England One Thousand Six hundred Fiftie and Seaven I Nathan Wright of the parish of Saint Olave Hart Streete in the Cittie of London

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London Esqr being att this present sick anie weake in Bodie but of good and perfect minde and memorie (thanked be therefore given to Allmightie God doe make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following (that is to say Imprimis and before all Earthlie things I commend my Soule into the hands of Almightie God my heavenly Father trusting and confidently beleiving by the merritts death passion and glorious assention of his deare fsonne and my alone and all sufficient Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ to be saved and to have full and free remission and forgiviness of all my sinmes and iniquities and by noe other wayes. or meanes whatsoever, And my Bodie I Committ to the Earth from whence it Came to be decenttlie interred and buried in the Chancell of the parish Church of Cranham in the Countie of Essex in such decent and Christi= =anlike manner as to my executors hereunder named shall be thought most Convenient But for theire better direction it is my minde and desire that they shall bestowe noe hipen superfluous or extraordiarie Charges there= upon Item I give and bequeath to Ann my well beloved Wife according to the Custome of England for and in lieu of her dower out of my reall Estate One Third part of all my Mannors Messuages Lands and Tene= ments with theire Appurtenances wheresoever they lye within the Commoniealth of England for aind during the Tearme of her naturall life Soe that my said Wife or her assignes make noe wast or spoyle there uppon or upon anie part or parcell thereof: And it is my will minde and true meaning (that the said Anne my Wife shall (if she shall soe please) have hold, occupie possesse and inioy for and during the tearme of her naturall life in part of her said dower my Mannor house Com[m]only Called Crannum Hall in the said Countie of Essex, with all my Lands Meadowes pastures Farmes Tenements and all other the Appurtenances to my said house and Mannor belonging or in anie wise appertaining for and in Lien of the value thereof out of some others of my said Mannors Messuages Lands and Tenements as itt shall be in differ =rentlie rated and valued: And further it is my minde and true meaning that the said Anne my Wife and her assignes for and -during the tearme of her naturall life shaill have the Free use of all my plate and housholdstuffe remaining and being in and about my said Mannor house and in my dwelling house in London Item I give devise and bequeath unto my well beloved Sonne Benjamin Wright and to his heires and assignes for ever And my said Mannors Lands and Tene= ments with theire and everie of theire Appurtenances Two Third parts whereof presently after my decease, and the other Third part thereof after the death of the said Anne my Wife Together alsoe from and after the death of my said Wife withale my said plate and house= holdstuffe remaining in and about my said Mannor house Called Crantham Hall aforesaid and in my said house in London Item as concerning my goods Chattells debts and other my personall Estate which God of his infinite mercie and goodnes hath endowed mee withall I devide the same into three equall parts and portions according to the Comedavble Custome of the Cittie of London And whereas I have marryed three of my daughters ( videlict) my daughter Susan First unto Charles Roth Esquire deceased and since unto Francis Drake Esquire, my daughter Mary unto Robert Burdett of London Esq and my daughter Alice unto John Woilfris of London Merchant with whome and with every of them I have given Competent portions and I have severall discharges for the same undernamed and Sead? But?

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But to my daughter Susan in regard She is my eldest and first -borne Child I have given a larger portion Then to my other daughters And I am advised that I am not obliged either by Lawe or by the Custome of the Cittie of London to make anie further augmentation thereunto but that I am att Libertie and have power in my selfe to give my same Estate to my Wife and to my other Children not yett advanced: Wherefore I proceed to dispose of my said Estate as followeth Item I give and bequeath unto the said Anne my well beloved Wife One Third part of my said personall Estate hopeing that she will be very Kind loving and Tenderly affected towards my Children and lett them inioy the benefitt and partake of her said part and portion, One other Thirds part of my said personall Estate I give and beqneath to be equally debided betweene my other three Children unadvanced, namelie Benjamin Wright Frances Wright and Jane Wright part and part like And the other part thereof I leave and reserve to my selfe to pay such Legacies and bequests as I shall give and bequeath to anie person on persones whatsoever Item out of my intire love and affection unto my said daughter Susan drake Wife of the said Francis Drake and for an addition unto her said portion I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Susan drake the Summe of Two Thousand pounds of lawfull monie of England, hopeing and desiring my said sonne Francis Drake and my said Daughter his Wife that the Children begotten or to be begotten by him of the body of my said Daughter may pertake of all or the most part of the said Two Thousand pounds Item out of the like love and affection which I doe beare unto my said daughter Mary Burdett Wife of the said Robert Burdett and for an addition uuto her foresaid portion I give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Mary Burdett the like summe of Two Thousand pounds of like lawfull monie of England part whereof to be paid unto her by her said husbond out of the debtes which he doeth or will owe mee by bond and the rest by my Executors hereunder named Item out of the like love and affection which I doe beare unto my said daughter Alice Wolfris Wife of the said John Wolfris and for an addition unto her ^fore said portion I give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Alice Wolfris the like summe of Two Thousand pounds of like monie part whereof to be paid unto her by her said husband out of the debts which he doeth or will owe mee upon Amounts and the rest by my Executors hereunder named Item I give and bequeath unto my Grandchildren and Godsonnes Nathan drake and Nathan Burdett the summe of Threescore pounds a peece of lawfull monie of England to be paid unto them severallie att theire severall ages of one and Twentie yeares Item I give and bequeath unto my Grandchildren Susanma Potts the Summe of Twentie pounds of lawfull monie of England to be paid unto her forth with after my decease to buy her a ring in remembrance of my love Item I give and Bequeath unto all the rest of my Grandchildren that are now liveing the summe of Fiftie pounds a peece of lawfull monie of England The male to be paid att theire severall ages of one and Twentie yeares and the females to be paid att theire severall ages of one and twentie yeares or severall dayes of marriage which shall first and next happen Item I give and bequeath unto my Grandchild Ann Wolfris the sum[m]e of Fiftie pounds more of like lawfull monie of England to be paid vnto her att her full age of one and Twentie yeares or daye of marriage which shall first and next happen Item it is my true intent and meaning That if anie of my said Grandchildren shall happen to die or decease before the receiptt of theire said legacies That then the Legacie of him or

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Or her so deceased shall remaine and Come unto my Sonn Beniamin Wright above named Item I give and bequeath unto my two Sisteris Martha Borradell and Jane Joslin the Summe of Twentie pounds a peece of Lawfull monie of England as a remembrance of my Love (if they be liveing) att the time of my decease Item I give and bequeathe unto my Cozen John Tysons Wife the Summe of Three pounds of like monie Item I give and bequeath unto my amment? and faithfull Servant John Oliver the Sum[m]e of Twentie pounds of lawfull monie of England And I doe hereby require and Charge my heire and Executors that they see not my said Servant to want during his life but that they from tyme to tyme will supplie his necessities Item I give and bequeath unto the poore of the parish of Saint Anne Hartstreete where I now dwell the Summe of Twentie pounds of lawfull monie of England to be distributed by and att the discetion of the Minister and Churchwardens of the same parish for the time being Item I give and bequeath unto the Master, Wardens and Comminaltie of the Companie of Skinners London whereof I am a free member the Summe of One hundred pounds of Lawfull monie of England to be by them from three yeares to three yeares for ever lent gratis to fower young men free of the same Companie by five and Twentie pounds a peece for three yeares giving good securitie unto the said Companiie according to theire likeing for the repayment thereof att three yeares end Item I give and bequeath unto the said Master Wardens and Comminaltie of the said Companie of Skinners the summe of Thirteene pounds Six shillings eight pence of lawfull monie of England to buy a peece of plate for the same Companie in remembrance of mee Item I give and bequeath to the poore of the Parish of Cranham aforesaiid the Summe of five pounds of like mony to be distributed among them by the Minister and Church Wardens of the same parish for the tyme being Item I give and bequeath to Robert and Nathan The Two Sonnes of my brother Ezekial Wright Clarke the Summe of Twentie pounds a peece of Lawfull monie of England to be paid unto them severallie att theire severall ages of one and Twentie yeares (if they shall be then liveing) Item it is my will and minde that if anie of my Legatees, shall be displeased with there Legacies or shall makeiing disturbance in or against the probate of this my will That then and from thenceforth the Legacie given to him her or them makeing such disterence shall be void and of none effect Item I doe nominate and appoynte my said three Sonns in Lawe Francis Drake Robert Burdett and John Wolfris and my said Sonne Benjamin Wright ioynt Executors of this my last Will and Testament and because my said Son Benjamin is under age it is my will and pleasure that my said Three sonns in Lawe shall take upon them the execution of this my will and to act therein in trust for the use and benefitt of my said Sonn Benjamin during his minoritie and to resigne and make apointe unto him of the whole Estate when and as soone as he shall attaine to his full age of one and Twentie yeares or att any time after when he shall require the same And I doe here by give and bequeath vnto my said Sonn Benjamin Wright, after my debts legacies and funerall expenses shall be paid and discharged all the rest and residue of my goods and Chattells whatsoever unbequea= =thed Item I givee and bequeath unto my same Three sonnes in Lawe for theire care and paines to be taken in the premisses the summe of Twenty pounds a peice of lawfull monie of England desiring them to

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To haue special Care of my Sonne and to advise him in all his affaires wishing him upon my blessing to hearken diligently and to follow theire admonition and it is my will and meaning that if it shall please God That my said sonn Benjamin Wright shall die before he attaine his age of one and Twentie yeares or after unmarried That then and in such Case my Executors shall be accomptable to all my daughters and Children equallie and that they shall be Executors in trust onlie for those purposes Itein I doe nominate and appoynte my said brother Ezechiell Wright and my loving Cozin Edward Herris of Lincolnes Inne Esquire Overseers of this my last Will and Testament unto whome for theire paines to be taken therein I give and bequeath Twentie pounds a peece of law= =full monie of England Item I give and bequeath unto my Cozm William Herris of Lincornes Inne Gentleman the Summe of five pounds of law= =full English monie to buy him a ring hopeing if need be that he will be helpfull in the manageing of my Eslate Item I give and bequeath unto my Appren= =tice Thomas Wilson the Summe of five pounds of lawfull English monie Item I give and bequeain unto my Apprentice John Wise to place him else where for the remainder of his tyme the summe of Two hundred pounds of lawfull monie of England which I had with him when he was bound And alsoe it is my Will and I doe hereby give unto my said Apprentice being a very honest and an able Servant his Fathers bond whereby he is obliged to ^pay mee one hundred pounds more hereafter soe that the said John .... with my Executors by the space of one whole yeare next after my decease to helpe to manage my Estate and to gather in my debts Item I give and bequeath to all the rest of my servants That shall live ^with mee and take wages of mee att the tyme of my decease the summe of fortie shillings a peere of lawfull English monie In Winess whereof I the said Nathan Wright To this my last Will and Testament. have sett my hand and Seale geeven the day and yeare first above written Nathan Wright: Signed sealed and published by the within named Nathan Wright as hid last Will and Testament in the presence of us Tho Pemant John Willis Rich[ar]d Wise

Probate statement

This will was proved att London The Twentie Seaventh Day of Aprill In the yeare of our Lord God One thousand Six hundred ffiftie and Eight before the sjdges for probate of Wuls and granting Administrations Lawfully authorized by the oathes of Framnis Drake rsquire and John Wolfris Mar= =chant two of the Execuitors under certaine limitations d in the above written Will To whome Administration of all singular the goods they being first legalie sworn truly and faithfully to adminster the same power being first reserved to make like probute and graunt like probate and graunt like Administration unto Robert Burdett the other Executor in trust when he shall come and in legall manner desire the same

In margin next to Probate statement Proved on the 27th Feb 1661 before the Judge by the oath of Sir Benjamin Wright Bart the son of the dec[ease]d the Exor the former trust having ceased & expired by reason of the full age of the said Sir Benjamin Wright

Sources

1. ↑ Will: "England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858"
   The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 274
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 5111 #963422 (accessed 10 March 2024)
   Will of Nathaniel Wright, granted probate on 27 Apr 1658. Died about 1658 in London.