John Bonnycastle Will (1708/9) and Administration (1714)



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In the Name of God Amen. The twelfth day of february In the Year of our Lord 1708. I John Bonycastle of Chipping:warden in The County of North’ton Yeoman being weak in body, but of perfect mind & memory, praised be God for it, do make & ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in manner following.

First & principally I recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God my Creatour hopeing through the meritous Death & Passion of my Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ to obtain full & free pardon & forgiveness for all my Sinnes & offences. And my Body I comit to the Earth to be decently buried according to the discretion of my Executors hereafter named; & as touching all such temporall Estate as it hath pleased Almighty God to bestowe upon me I dispose thereof as followes.

Imprimis I give & bequeath to my Son Thomas Bonycastle of Blackesly in the County of North’ton Yeoman one Shilling.
Item I give unto my Son in Law Richard Shepherd of Grimscut in the County of North’ton Yeoman one Shilling.
Item I give unto my Grandson John Bonycastle of Blackesly one half Guinea.
Item I Give unto my Grandson John Bonycastle of Maydford one half Guinea.
Item I give Unto my Grandson John Shepherd of Grimscut one half Guinea.
Item I give unto my Grandson George Gibbs of Chipping:warden one half Guinea.

All the rest of my Moneys, Goods, Cattell, & Chattells whatsoever I give & bequeath to my son in law Samuell Gibbs of Chipping Warden in the said County of North’ton Yeoman & My Daughter in law Frances Clifton of Maydford in the County of North’ton the whom I do make Joynt Executors of this my last Will & Testament. And I do hereby revoke, disannull, & make void all other wills by me heretofore made. Willing, & Bequeathing, Ratifying, & Confirming this to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal, the day and year above written.

Signed, Sealed, Published, Pronounced, and Declared by the Testatour as his last Will & Testament in presence of us the subscribers, viz:

Thomas ------ ,his mark            John Bonycastle, his mark

Jurat fuere. Sam. Gibbs Exect et Francisca Clifton Exect vicesimo 8vo Die Marty 1714 coram me
Tho: Garnett, Surrog