Christopher Wright of Eastwell 1686 will

National Archives PROB 11/384/234

In the name of God Amen The Third day of December in the first yeare of the Raigne of our Sovereigne Lord James the Second by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the faith &c Annoq Domini One Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Five I Christopher Wright of Eastwell in the County of Leicester Clerke being weake of body but of good health and memory Doe make and ordain this my last Will and Testament vizt

First I give and bequeath my Soule to God my Creator hopeing through the merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour to be made partaker of life everlasting

And for my body I Commend it bee buried in decent manner in the Chancell of Eastwell Church aforesaid under the broad stone whereon the Communion Table useth to stand

And for my Lands Tenements goods and chattells and worldly estate whatsoever I give and dispose of them in manner and forme following vizt

Inprimis I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Wright the summe of five hundred pounds to be paid out of my two Closen in Glensfeild in the said County of Leicester the one knowne by the Name of the Stocking now or late in the possession of Mr Nicholas …bingham Clerke the other called Billingtons Close now or late in the possession of James Hassall to bee paid to my said daughter within the space of one year next after my decease or soe soone after as the same shall be sold

Item I give and bequeath to my sonne Joseph Wright the summe of foure hundred pounds to bee paid out of my Close in Glenfeild aforesaid called by the name of Stocking Close now or late in the possession of Abigael Stedman widow to bee paid to him at the time when hee shall bee out of his Apprenticeshipp or soe soone after as the same can bee raised

Item I further give and bequeath to my said daughter Elizabeth Wright all my new plate vizt one silver dish plate marked … 1683 two silver porringers marked … 1683 one sett of Casters being three peeces of plate marked … 1683 eleaven silver spoones marked … foure silver salts marked … 1683 and the bedd and bedding six chaires and foure stooles all needle worke in the Chamber over the Hall and one sattin stitch’d looking glasse

All my old plate vizt two Tankerds one bowle and one salt marked … one other bowle without any marke given mee by Sr Geo. Villiers and all other my old plate not before given I give and bequeath to my sonne Christopher Wright and Joseph Wright to bee equally divided betwixt them

The rest of my household goods vizt pewter brass linnen woollen tables stooles chaires bedding and my Studdy of bookes &c I give to my sonne Christopher daughter Elizabeth and sonne Joseph to bee equally divided amongst them

And if it shall soe happen that my said three Closen or Inclosure ground upon the sale thereof shall not amount to the said summe of nine hundred pounds before bequeathed then my Will is that the summe that shall bee soe wanting to make up the said nine hundred pounds shall be paid and made good out of my personal estate hereby bequeathed as aforesaid

Item I give and bequeath the poore of the Inhabitants amongst them by the directions and appointment of the next succeeding Minister of this Towne of Eastwell and the Churchwardens and Constable of the same for the time being

And of this my last Will and Testament I make my sonne Christopher Wright my Executor giving him power by and with the Consent of my daughter Elizabeth and sonne Joseph or either of them to sell my said three Closen or Inclosures or any of them for and towards the payment of the said nine hundred pounds bequeathed as aforesaid

In Witnesse whereof I have to these two sheetes set my hand and seal and Published and Declared these words or any of them being first interlined in the presence of us

Tim Chamberline

Edm Hourd

William Cawnt

Richard Healeay

Thomas Wollarton

Probate London 25 August 1786 to Christopher Wright son and executor