Family History

Last Will and Testament of
Richard Spittie - 1657

In the name of God Amen February the seventh according to the computation of this Church of England one thousand six hundred and fifty six I Richard Spittie of South Fambridge in the County of Essex Yeoman being in perfect memory thanks be given to Almighty God do institute and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following First I give and bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God my most merciful Creator trusting in the merits of Jesus Christ to be one of his elect and chosen And my body I commit to the earth where it was taken to be decently buried by my executor Concerning my worldly goods which God hath pleased to bestow upon me in this life I dispose of them in manner and form following

I give and bequeath unto my son Jeremiah Spittie the full sum of four score pounds of good and lawful money of England to be paid unto him when he shall accomplish his age of one and twenty years

Item I give and bequeath unto my said son Jeremiah Spittie two heifers which his brother Richard Spittie gave unto him upon his death bed or seven pounds of lawful money of England at his the said Jeremiah Spittie his own choice And also two silver spoons which were given unto him at his baptizing or also the full sum of six and twenty shillings and eight pence of lawful money of England at his choice

Item I give and bequeath unto my said son Jeremiah Spittie the bed wherein he now lyeth being the best I have but one with all which belongeth unto to the said bed that is one bolster two pillows a covering blanket and two pairs of sheets

And my will is that my son Jeremiah Spitty shall have the use of the said four score pounds before bequeathed with the rent of his land for to maintain him if I the said Richard Spittie should die before he the said Jeremiah Spittie shall accomplish his said age of one and twenty years

Item I give and bequeath unto my wife Elizabeth Spittie the full sum of thirteen pounds six shillings and eight pence of lawful money of England yearly during the time of her widowhood to be paid unto her by mine executor And if she shall happen to marry then I give unto her but ten pounds yearly upon this condition that she the said Elizabeth Spittie shall not sue any of my children for any thirds of their lands which if she do then I give and bequeath unto my said wife Elizabeth Spittie the sum of forty shillings and no more

Item I give and bequeath unto my son Henry Spittie a certain parcel of land formerly the land of one Edward Pullynes And also an other little parcel of land which I bought of one Master Stangrum And likewise I give and bequeath unto my said son Henry Spittie three pieces or parcels of land which formerly belong unto a certain wood called Kingell Wood containing by estimation eleven acres be it more or less And also one messuage or tenement with the yard and backside unto the same belonging or in any wise appertaining which said messuage or tenement was one Mary Wells All these said parcels with the said tenement are lying against a certain lane called Green Street during the natural life of my said son Henry Spittie after his decease I give and bequeath all the aforesaid land except the messuage which was Mary Weells which I leave unto my son Henry and disposing unto his son Richard Spittie and his heirs forever And if it shall happen the said Richard Spittie the son of Henry Spittie do die before he accomplish his age of one and twenty or without heirs of his body lawfully begotten then my will is that the said land shall return to the Spitties

Item I give and bequeath unto my said son Henry Spittie one feather bed and all materials unto the same belonging with all my wearing apparel and all thereunto belonging or appertaining

Item I give and bequeath unto all my grandchildren which be living at my decease the full sum of ten pounds apiece to every one of them of lawful money of England to be paid unto them when they shall accomplish their several ages of one and twenty years And if any of the said children shall happen to die before the shall accomplish their several ages of one and twenty years then his or their part or portion so deceasing to be equally divided amongst the rest which shall survive and live And my will is that the said portions shall be put out for the said children to their best advantage for them within three months next after my decease to the increasing of their said portions against the time of their accomplish of their age of one and twenty years And my will is that my son John Read and my executors shall put out the said children's portions for the said children's benefits as aforesaid and take such security as they both shall like

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Susan Read the sum of forty shillings towards the buying of her a new gown

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Tomesen the sum of twenty shillings towards the buying of her a ring

Item I give and bequeath unto my son Ambrose Spittie all my land both freehold and copyhold which is not before bequeathed during his natural life and after his decease I give the said freehold land and copyhold land unto his son Richard Spittie and to his heirs males of his body lawfully begotten And if it shall happen the said Richard Spittie the son of Ambrose Spittie do die without heirs of his body lawfully begotten then I give the aforesaid freehold land and copyhold land unto my two sons Henry Spittie and Jeremiah Spittie to be divided equally between them and to the heir males of the bodies lawfully begotten forever

All the rest of my goods chattels cattles and movables whatsoever not before bequeathed I give and bequeath unto my son Ambrose Spittie whom I make whole and sole executor of this my Last Will and Testament upon condition that he perform this my Last Will and Testament in paying my debts and legacies and discharging my funeral expenses

And I make and ordain my son in law John Read to be overseer of this my present Testament And I give unto him the sum of forty shillings of lawful money of England to be paid unto him when my executor have taken security for the portions of my grandchildren

In witness whereof I the said Richard Spittie have hereunto set my hand and seal the seventh day of February in the year above written

Memorandum before the ensealing hereof I give and bequeath unto my son Henry Spittie the full sum of ten pounds yearly out of the twenty marks yearly which I give unto Elizabeth my wife for her maintenance to be paid unto my son Henry Spittie by mine executor during all the time that she my said wife shall live in my son Henry Spittie’s land

And I give unto my said wife one feather bed with all which belongeth unto it

And if it shall happen my executor should refuse or neglect to pay any of my legacies before given and bequeathed then my mind and will is that my overseer John Reade and my son Henry Spittie shall have full power and strength by this my Will and Testament to sell any of my freehold land before given to my executor to pay and discharge all my said legacies and bequeaths aforesaid

And that my executor take especial care that my grave be made full ten feet deep
Richard Spittie his mark

Signed sealed and read in the presence of
William Brewster, John Nevill his mark

This will was proved at London the fourteenth day of April in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred and fifty seven before the Judges for probate of Wills and granting administration lawfully authorized by the oath of Ambrose Spittie the son and sole executor named in the Last Will and Testament of the said deceased to whom administration was committed he being first legally sworn truly to administer.


Acknowledgement to the The National Archives
Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC) Will ref. PROB 11/263.

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