Edward Darker 1651 of Scalford Will
National Archives PROB 11/218/25
In the name of God Amen The Twelfth day of June Anno Dom one thousand sixe hundred fiftie and one I Edward Darker of Scalford in the County of Leic Gentleman being sick in bodie but in good and perfect memory thankes be given to God revoaking all former wills by mee made doe make and ordaine this my last will and Testament in manner and forme as followeth
First I bequeath my soule into the hands of Allmighty God that gave it me and my body to the ground to be buried at the discretion of my Executors hopeing for a ioyfull Resurrection
Item I doe give and bequeath unto Dorothy Darker my loving wife the thirds of my lands that I held at the day of my Marriage with the aforesayd Dorothy soe longe as shee keeps herselfe as widdowe And alsoe all that her portion of [blank] of lawfull money of England which was promised mee with her and as yet not received by mee and alsoe her books trunckes and boxes and forty shillings of good and lawfull money of England in full satisfaction of all my houshold goods implements of houshold Cattells or chattels whatsoever
Item I doe give and bequeath unto Henry Darker my sonne over and besides that I have allready given him Twenty shillings of good and lawfull money of England to bee paid him within three moneths next after my decease
Item I doe give and bequeath unto William Sculthrope my sonne in Lawe over and besides that which I gave him with my daughter Anne Barker [sic] Twenty shillings of good and lawfull money of England for him to give unto those children which he had by my daughter Anne and to be paid him within three moneths next after my decease
Item I doe give and bequeath unto Jane Dallewater my servant Tenn shillings of good and lawfull money of England and to bee paid her within three moneths next after my decease
Item I doe give and bequeath unto Isabell Tyars my servant five shillings of good and lawfull money of England and to be paid her within three moneths next after my decease
Item I doe give and bequeath unto the poore of Scalford Twenty shillings of good and lawfull money of England and to bee paid them at the day of my buriall
Item my debts being paid and my funeral expences discharged I doe give and bequeath the rest of all my goods houshold goods implements of houshold Cattell and chattels whatsoever and all my bills and bonds whereupon any person or persons are bound unto mee the said Edward Darker unto my fower children hereafter named to witt John Darker Thomas Darker Elizabeth Darker and Dorothy Darker equally to be divided amongst them
And my will and mynde is that Henry Portman gentleman and William Reade of Barson [sic, possibly Barnstone] gentleman and Thomas Wormwell of Melton Mowbray yeoman to be supervisors to ende any difference that shall happen to arise at any tyme concerning my will amongst my Children either all of them or two of them
And I doe make and ordayne George Darker and John Darker my sonnes to be my full and sole Executors of this my last will and Testament
In witnes whereof I have hereunto sett my hands and seale the day and yeare first above written
The marke of Edward Darker
Sealed and delivered in the presence of us
Thomas Wormwell
Edward .aple
This Will was proved at London before William Clarke Doctor of Lawes and Surrogate to the right worshipfull Sir Nathaniell Brent Knight doctor of Lawes and Master or Keeper of the Prerogative Court the fowerth day of August in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand sixe hundred fiftie one by the oath of George Darker one of the Executors in the same will named To whom Administration of all and singuler the goods chattels and debts of the sayd deceased which any manner of waye concerne the same will was graunted and committed he being first legally sworne well and faithfully to Administer the same Power being also reserved to make like probate & graunte like Administration to John Darker the other Executor in the same will named when he shall come and legally require the same