Norfolk Wills: South Creake

© Transcription Copyright Linda Steward, August 2005.

The Will of Edmund DAWSON
of South Creake, Norfolk - 1670

In the Name of God Amen the Sixth Day of October In the yeare of our Lord one Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy I Edmund Dawson of South Creake in the County of Norff Cordwainer being Sicke in body but whole in mind and in good and pfect. remembrance (thanks be to God for it) revoaking all former wills by me heretofore made doe make and ordaine this my last will and Testament in manner following

first I bequeath my Soule into the hands of Allmighty God my maker and Creator trusting to be saved by the meritts of my onely Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and my body to the Earth to be buried in Christian buriall at the discretion of my Executors and as for my personall Goods wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give and bequeath them as followeth first I give and bequeath all my messuages lands and tenemts. the Tenement wherein my daughter Ursula the wife of John Raby now dwelleth onely excepted be the Same free or Coppy Situate lyeing and being in the towne and field of South Creake aforesaid unto Edmund Raby my Grandchild Sonne of John Raby to have and to hold the same unto the said Edmund Raby my grandchild and to his heires for ever

Item I give and bequeath unto Ursula my daughter Wife of John Raby my house or Tenement in the yard where in the said Ursula now dwelleth for and dureing the tearme of her naturall life Keeping the same in good and Sufficient repairations dureing the said Tearme of her naturall life with free Ingress egress and regress through the said yard to the said Tenement and likewise to the well to draw water and roome to lay fireing in the said yard all soe I give unto my said daughter Ursula halfe the benefitt and pfitt. of my land dureing the said tearme of her naturall life Soe being that my sd. daughter will be at the Charge of the tilling soweing seed and reaping of the said lands and the profitt of one of the c.....es? soe being she will renue and keepe the stocke and halfe the fruit of the orchard

And I nominate and appoint Mr Walter Askins Supervisor of this my last will requesting and earnestly desireing him to be aideing and assisting to My Executors and ready and willing to discharge this my trust reposed in him

Item I I give and bequeath to John Raby my Sonne in law tenn shillings if he chance to Survive my daughter Ursula otherwise nothing

All the residue of my goods chattels debts household stuff and Cattle of wt. kinde soever not before herein given and bequeathed my debts and funrall charges paid and discharged I give and bequeath to Edmund Raby my grandchild and to his heires and Assignes forever

And to this my last will and Testament I doe make the said Edmund Raby my grandchild and Ursula Raby my daughter Executors willing them to receive debts owe to me and to pay my debts and to bring my body decently to the earth

In Wittness where of to this my last will and Testament I the said Edmund Dawson have sett my hande & seale and all soe published the same to be my last will and Testament the day and yeare first above written

Edmund Dawson         his marke

Subscribed Sealed and published to be the last will and Testament of the said Edmund Dawson

In the psence. of John Browne..ler?         Sarah Becroft?     her marke