Andrew Pern of Stathern 1726 will
National Archives PROB 11/609/217
In the Name of God Amen this 17th day of August Annoq Dni 1725 I Andrew Perne Rector of Stathern in the County of Leicester do make ordaine and appoint this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following
First I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator trusting through the merits of Jesus Christ my Redeemer to obteine forgiveness of my sinns and eternall life
My body I commit to the Grave
As for the disposall of my worldly Estate I devise the same as followeth
First I bequeath to my sister Mrs Elizabeth Bithell One hundred pounds of lawfull money of England to be to her paid within a yeare after my decease if she shall live so long
Item I bequeath to her two old silver spoons partly gilt as also Two rings one a very small wedding ring the other a ring with a very fine red stone in it all formerly belonging to my mother
Item I bequeath to the Reverend Mr [Richard, Elizabeth Pern married Richard Bithell rector 13 September 1716 at Great Bradley, Suffolk] Bithell husband to my Sister ten pds lawfull
Item I leave my house in Cambridge (as it in right belonge) To my Kinsman Mr Chester Perne with all the rents that shall appeare due to me from the said house at my decease
Item I bequeath to the said Mr Chester Perne my silver decanter and Ring both bearing the Arms of our family with ten pounds lawfull
Item I bequeath to his brother Mr John Perne ten pds lawfull
Item to his sister Mrs Judith Perne ten pds lawfull
Item I bequeath to my Godson Mr Andrew Perne Fifty pounds lawfull with my silver Tankard bearing the Arms of our family
Item I bequeath to my Kinsman the Reverend Mr Henry Perne Rector of Knappwell ten pounds lawfull
Item I desire that fourscore pounds be paid to him in trust towards the Education of his son Andrew Perne to whome I bequeath that sume
Item I bequeath to the Master and Fellows of St Peters Colledge in Cambridge One hundred pounds lawfull for the benefit of the Colledge
Item I bequeath to the Rector of Brinkley the place where I was borne Twenty pounds lawfull to be by them imployed to the benefitt of the poore
Item to the Caterchist of St Mary the less in Cambridge Forty shillings to be distributed among the poore
Item I bequeath to the Rector of Stathern forty pounds lawfull to be by him disposed of as he shall think fitt to the use of the poore of the said parish
Item I give to the Clerke of the parish of Stathern Twenty shillings
Item to every one of my menial servants forty shillings a peice
Item I bequeath to Mary Morley my now housekeeper my Close lying in the parish of Coulston Bassett in the County of Nottingham for her life only And after her decease I bequeath the said Close to William Morley son of the above named Mary and William Morley my faithfull servant late of Harby deceased and to his heires forever
Item I bequeath to the said William Morley my Close of pasture lying in the bounds of the parish of Market Overton in Rutland and to the heires of his body and in defect of such heirs to St Peters College in Cambridge forever
Item I bequeath the remaining part of my personall Estate with all my books goods stock whatsoever to the said William Morley
And because my Relations are at so great distance and unacquainted with my accompts I do therefore ordaine constitute and appoint the above named William Morley Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament
And I do by these presents desire and impower the Reverend Mr Ellis Master of the Free School at Grantham the Reverend Mr Wright Rector of Knipton the Rector of Stathern and the above named Mary Morley or any two of them or their lawfull Attorney to act in the minority of the said William Morley if it be requisite And to call in such moneys as shall be due to me whether bonds booke debts mortgages &c in order to discharge the above bequeathed legacies within a yeare after my decease And also for the necessary expences in the education of him the said William Morley
And I do by this my last Will and Testament make null and void all former Wills whatsoever
In witness whereof and all other the premisses I have sett my hand and seale the day and year first above written
Andr: Pern
Signed and sealed in the presence of
James Bampton
Thomas Beferly [?]
John Lock
Probate 25 May 1726 during minority of William Morley to Jeremiah Ellis Charles Wright and Mary Morley widow