William Stokes senior of Wartnaby 1662 Will

Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Archives, Leicestershire Wills and Probate Records 1662

In the name of God Amen I William Stokes the elder of Wartnaby in the County of Leicester yeoman being sicke and weake of body but of a good and perfect memory (praysed be god) doe make and ordeyne my last will and Testamt in manner following

And first I bequeath my soule into the hands of Allmightie god my onely Savioure and redeemer hopeing that through the meritts of Jesus Christ my Savioure to have pardon and remission of all my Sinnes And my body I comitt to the earth whereof it was made hopeing of a full resurrection at the last day and to be buried at the discression of my Executrix hereafter named

Item I give and bequeath unto Jane my Loveing wife all my houses lands Tenemts & hereditaments whatsoever which I am now owner or possesser of To hold to her and her assignes untill my Sonne John Stokes shall accomplish the age of Six and Twenty yeares towards the maynetenance & bringing up of my yonger Children hereafter named & towards the rayseing of porcons for them

Itm I give and bequeath unto the said Jane my wife & to her heires & assignes for ever All that my Closse called the woulds Close now in my occupacon conteyning five acres or thereabouts adioyneing Hollwell wouldes To be sold by her for and towards the payment of my debts rayseing of porcons for my daughters hereafter named and for theire maynetenance & education

Item my will and mynd is that when my Sonne John ys of the age of Six & Twenty yeares That then my wife shall onely have her thirds out of my land during her life

Item I give unto Sarah Stokes Mary Stokes & Anne Stokes my Children Tenne pounds a peice to be payed unto them at their severall ages of Twenty yeares And yf any of them shall happen to dye that then the porcon of her soe dying to be equally devided unto the other daughters surviveing

Item all the rest of my goods Chattles & Cattles whatsoever my debts being first payed I give & bequeath unto my wife Jane whome I make sole executrix of this my last will & Testamt

In wittnes whereof I the said William Stokes have hereunto sett my hand & seale the second day of April Anno Dni 1662

                                                                                                                William Stokes his mark

Sealed delivered & published in the presence of us

John Cant

William Wartnaby

Robert … his mark