In the Name of God Amen
I Walter Shercom of Andiver being sicke of body but of perfect memory doe make this
my last will and Testament Imprimis I bequeath my Soule unto God my Creator And
for my body to be decently buried in the Churchyard My will is that my debts shalbe
fully paid the which I account will amount unto above Forty poundes And for the
satisfying thereof the stocke of sheepe now in my custody shalbe sold wholy the debtes
wilbe paid I doe bequeath unto my lovinge wife Sarah halfe the stoke of the Farme
I doe bequeath unto my Sonne Andrew the Tenement with the backside and Stable and
barne adioyninge unto the long meadow during his naturall life And after his decease
I bequeath the foresaid Tenement backside stable and barne unto Mary the daughter of
William Gronsell duringe her life I doe bequeath unto my daughter Mary Gronsell twenty
poundes in money to be paid by my executor or executrix in twelve moneths after my
decease I do bequeath unto William the sonne of William Gronsell five poundes in money
to be paid to the said William Gronsell two yeares after my decease I doe bequeath to
Richard the sonne of William Gronsell five poundes in money to be paid to the sayd
Richard at the end of two yeares after my decease I doe alsoe bequeath to Andrew the
sonne of William Gronsell five poundes in money to be paid unto the said Andrew
at the end of two yeares after my decease I doe alsoe bequeath to Sarah the daughter of
William Gronsell fower poundes to be paid unto the said Sarah when shee cometh to
the age of sixe yeares I doe bequeath to Mary the daughter of William Gronsell in
money twenty shillings to be paide her in two years after my decease I doe alsoe
bequeath unto my Sonne Andrew the Featherbed the great feather boulster one paire of
sheetes two blanketts one coverled and two feather pillowes also one ioyned Chest twoe
Cushion Chaires the table and cupboard in the hall Alsoe one great brasse pott one
brewinge kettle and one old kettle one Skillett three large and one Small presse of pewter
two kives and three beere barrells one buckinge tubb two kettrells one Spitt one paire of
pott hookes I doe bequeath unto my lovinge wife Sarah the Lease of the Farme duringe
the whole terme of yeares Alsoe I doe bequeath unto my Said wife the Lease of the
Mill duringe the whole terme of yeares Conditionally that my Sonne Andrew and
my Sonne in lawe John Bigwood shall have and enioy the said Mill with the meadow
adioyninge unto the lower garden yeilding and payinge yearly the full rent of Twenty
poundes a yeare In case they pay the rent every yeare as it groweth due Then to enioy
it for the whole terme of yeares they Standing only to the reparatons of Cogg and rugg
and iron geares the water for the wateringe of the grounds to be free for that use at necessary
tymes with egresse and regresse at all tymes when they make not use of it to draw and
shutt the hatches alsoe they are to have Strawe for litter and the dung to be delivered for it
I doe bequeath to William Gronsell my coate and one paire of breeches that was my
Cloathes I doe also bequeath unto Sarah my daughter in lawe in money five poundes to
be paid unto her the said Sarah to be paid at two yeares after my decease I doe alsoe bequeath
to my Sonne in law John Bigwood one sheepe I doe alsoe bequeath to John the sonne of
John Bigwood one sheepe I doe alsoe bequeath to my Sonne in law Arthur Bigwood one sheepe
I doe bequeath to John Carnell one shirt I doe make my loveinge wife Sarah Sole executrix
to this my last will and Testament In witnes whereof I have hereunto sett my
hand and Seale This Fourteenth day of September In the yeare of our Lord God one
Thousand sixe hundred fifty seaven The marke of Walter Shercom Witnes Mary Smith her
marke witnes William Gold
This will was proved at London the nynth day of the moneth
of October in the yeare of our Lord God one Thousand sixe hundred fifty and
Seaven Before the Judges for probate of wills and grantinge administrations
Lawfully authorized by the oath of Sarah Shercom the relict of the said
deceased and Sole executrix named in the Said will To whom was
committed administration of all and Singular the goods Chattles and debtes
of the Said deceased Shee the Said Sarah Shercom beinge first Sworne in
due forme of lawe by vertue of a Commission well and truly to administer the
same
content last revised 4 Jun 2004