Last Will and Testament of

Thomas Emerson – 1704

In the name of God Amen  I  Thomas Emerson  of the Parish of Vange in the County of Essex being ? of body but of perfect mind memory do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner following First and principally I surrender and bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping through his mercy and merits of Jesus Christ for salvation thereof and as for my body I desire it may be decently buried in Vange Church as near as it can be to the place where my dear wife was buried and as for the temporal estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bestow I dispose thereof as followeth 

Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Emerson the sum of six hundred pounds which I desire my executor hereafter named to lay out upon a purchase of either lands at good rents for her or to get secured upon a mortgage for her till she shall be twenty one years of age or day of marriage which shall first happen but if my executors cannot get a purchase for just the sum of six hundred pounds then my will is if he see it is needful and convenient that he shall and do lay out of my personal estate fifty pounds more for her and in case I give her fifty pounds more? and as to the? …. and it being my desire that she should be maintained by the interest of the said six hundred pounds or profit of it wherein it is sold out and not any of it should be wasted for her maintenance my will is it shall happen to lie dead so as my executor cannot make profit to maintain of her that he allows her the rents and profit of my marsh called Narswick Marsh (sic. Nazewick) lying in the Parish of Fobbing for the term of four years after my death to maintain her if her money shall not or cannot be disposed of in that time so as she can be maintained  by the profit but if her money be disposed of so as she can be maintained by the profit of it then my will is that she shall have the rents of the Marsh but for so many of the four years as my executor shall see it needful and no longer it being my hopes that her money may be disposed of for her maintenance  before that time 

Item I give unto my daughter Sarah half my plate and half my linen and all her mother’s wearing clothes and linen in the trunk and boxes in which those things locked up in which I have fixed a note to the inside of the lids and all other things to which I have or shall affix any note to signifying that they are her and all those things that are in my closet in my bed chamber all the rest of plate and linen I give to my son Matthew desiring it may be equally parted between them 

Item I give unto my son Matthew and to his heirs forever all my lands but my will is and I do give to my daughter Sarah the rents of my March called Narswick Marsh the first four years after my death if my executor do see it needful as aforesaid and desire my executor to keep the dwelling house outhouses of the farm where I now hold in good repair and not to suffer more than forty acres of the land belonging to it be plowed till my son be of age and whereas John Man hath been my servant many years and being very just and honest in all that I have employed him it is my desire if my executor think fit if John Man will take the charge upon him to manage the farm and stock upon it to let him manage it till my son be of age if my executor think fit to let it to him or any other person as he shall think will be most convenient for my son’s advantage 

Item I give unto my good friend Mr. Thomas Henry? Rector of Downham twenty pounds and desire to be guardian to my children till the years of age and will is if he shall be paid out of my personal estate all charge that he shall put to in the execution of the trust I have desired him to be upon him 

Item I give unto my good friend Mr. George Allen sen? a guinea to buy him a ring and to Mrs. Margaret Hamond and to her son William? Hamond to each of them a guinea to buy them rings 

Item I give unto Elizabeth Crumpton my kinswoman forty shillings 

Item I give unto John Man who also lives with me the feather bed on which he useth to lie in my little chamber with the curtain and all other thing belonging to it and some other things as are now ? to furnish him a chamber which he shall desire and choose to be taken by him out of any of the chambers in the house except the best chamber and such other things as I do purpose to appoint him by a note in writing and if he doth not manage the farm till my son be of age desire my executor to intrust him to manage it till the stock is put of and to give him such satisfaction as he shall desire for his pain

Item all the rest of my goods chattels and personal estate unbequeathed except my wearing clothes which I shall dispose of by a note of writing after my debts and the charges of my funeral which I desire may not exceed twenty pounds being first paid and discharged I give unto my son Matthew Emerson and if my executor do think it convenient to put of the stock I desire that he will secure the money that shall be made of it and the remainder of such money as I may have that may be more than will pay my daughters portion and the legacies I have given the best and safest way he can for my son’s advantage 

and do hereby appoint my good friend Mr. Thomas Harvey? Rector of Downham to be guardian to my children and sole executor of this my last Will and Testament contained one sheet of paper written with my own hand 

In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal this seventeenth day of November on the year of our Lord 1703  Tho Emerson 

Signed sealed and published by Thomas Emerson to be his Last Will and Testament in the presence of
John Brettell, Thomas Barker, Abraham Lees 

Probated January 1704

Acknowledgment to the Essex Record Office - ref :- D/ABR 15/125