General Notes

In the name of God: Amen: The one and twentithe daie of Julie in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand sixe hundred and tenne and in the eighth yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord King James of England I Aldred Byccombe of Oldclive with in the dioces of Bathe and Wells and Countie of Somersette Clothier beinge sicke in bodie but of perfect minde and memorie (praise be to Almightie god) consideringe the frailtie of mans mortall nature howe that nothinge is there wise more certaine then deathe althoughe nothinge more uncertaine than the time thereof have thought fitt to ordain and make my last will and testament in manner and forme followinge First comendinge my Soule into the handes of Almightie god hopinge assuredlie to receive pardon and remission of my sinnes only by the merritts deathe and passion of Christ Jesus my Saviour and to rest with him in glorie in the kingdome of heaven forever And my bodie I leave to be buried in the earthe by the discrecon and appointment of mine executrix and Overseers of this my Will And concerninge the disposicon of my temporall goodes and estate whereunto it hath pleased Almightie to endue me First I give and devise unto my daughter Charity the sume of Fiftie pounds beinge a debte due unto me by my brother William Biccombe upon twoe severall Bondes Item I give and devise unto my Daughter Mary the summe of Thirtye five poundes to be sett out and emploied at our Ladie daie next and soe from thereforthe untill her full age of one and twentith yeares to her best use and profitt Item I give and devise unto my daughter Joane the summe of thirtie poundes to be sett out and emploied to her best use and profitt within one yeare and quarter next after my deathe Item I give and devise unto my sonne William the summe of Twentie poundes in money to be sett out and imploied to his best use and profitt within three yeares next after my deathe And my further meaninge and intent is that if anie of my said three last named Children Marie Joane and William shall happen to die before they shall accomplish the age of one and twentie years That then his or her por'con soe dyinge shall remaine to the Survivors of them equallie to be devided Alsoe I give to my saide sonne William a standinge bedsteede in the lower Chamber with the bed perfourmed the newe Racke standing in the meadowe and a newe paire of Tuckers sheares in the shoppe Item my will purpose and intent is that my wife shall have the use custodie and occupa'con of all my housholde goodes stuffe and plate duringe her life And after her time I will that a good part thereof remaine to my sonne Aldred whoe is to succeede in the house and not be removed, but my will and meaning is that my wife at her discretion shall have power to dispose of anie parte of my said housholde goodes not exceedinge the value of Twenty poundes unto myne and her other children (except my silver salte and silver spoones which I will shall goe and remaine unto my said sonne Aldred) Item I give and devise unto Isot Lenham daughter of my late daughter Anne Lenham deceased the summe of Twentie shillings The residue of all my goodes and chattells not before by this my will geven or disposed I give and bequeathe unto Helen my wife whome I ordaine and appoint my sole Executrix of this my last will and testament And I doe further ordaine and appoint my brother William Biccombe my friend Andrewe Speede and my brother in lawe Thomas Cridland to be Overseers of this my Will and doe earnestlie entreate them to be carefull to see the same truelie executed and performed and in consideracon of their love and care in this behalfe to be taken I give unto everie of them three shillinges foure pence Signum Ald Byckham Wittnesses to the publishinge and declaringe of the above written will and testament of the said Aldred Biccombe Geo. Hooper, Signum Johannis Hopper Signum Rich Lanham Nicholas Bartlett