General Notes

He was accounted a rich man and was referred to as a yeoman. This wasthe o
ld designation for an independent farmer who owned his own land. This w
as not very common in the 1500's since most of the land was still under t
he control of the nobility or the church. Robert seems to have lived in t
he area of Shalford in Essex most of his life and he is buried there.16
17 Last Will & Testament of Robert White This was found
in the genealogy of The Goodwins of Hartford Connecticut
Someone went to great pains to copy the handwritten
document as exactly as possible. "in the name of God Amen.
May the seaven and twentyeth in the fifteenth yeare of the
raigne of our Soveraigne Lord James by the grace of god
Kinge of England France and Ireland defender of the faith
et ct and of Scotland the fiftyeth. In the yeare of our
Lord god 1617 1 Robert White of Messinge in the countye of
Essex yeoman, beinge of good and pfect remebrance, doe make
this my last will and testament, in manner and forme
followinge. Imprimis. I comend my soule unto the hands of
god almightey my most faythfull creator redemer and
sanctifier and my bodie to be buryed in the parish church
or church yeard of Messinge, at the discretion of mine
executors. Item I give and bequeath unto the poore people
of Messinge fortye shillings of lawfull mony of England, to
be distributed amongst them, at ye discretion of mine
executors and the minister of Messinge, wthin one month
next after my depture from this naturall life. Item I give
and bequeath unto Mr. Richard Rogers preacher of gods word
at Withersfield in Essex aforesaid, and to Bartholomew
Scrivener Minister of the church of god in Messinge
aforenamed to each of them the severall stimme of fortey
shillings of like lawfull monie, to be payd unto them wthin
two monthes next after my depture. Item I give and bequeath
unto mine eldest daughter Sarah the wife of Jeames Bowtell
of litle Salinge the summe of fifteene pounds of lawfull
mony of England, to be paid wthin fower years next after my
depture. Item I give and bequeath unto Jeames Bowtell the
younger, son of my said daughter Sarah Bowtell, the summe
of five pounds of good and lawfull mony of England, to be
paid unto him when he shall come to ye sixteenth yeare of
his age. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Marie
the wife of Joseph Lunimis of Branctree, one pewter
platter. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter
Elizabeth the wife of Willm Gooddinge of Bockinge the summe
of fortye markes of like lawfull monye wthin one yeare next
after my depture, to be paid unto hir. Item I give and
bequeath unto my daughter Bridgett White the sume of one
hundred marks of like lawfull monye, to be paid unto hir
upon the day of hir marriage, provided that she my said
daughter Bridgett shall not bestow hir selfe in marryage
wthout the approbation and consent of my two sonnes in law
Joseph Lummys and Willim Gooddinge formrly mentioned, and
of my wife Bridgett White or the consent of two of them
wherof my wife to be one of the twaine. But yf it happen
that shee marrye wthout the consent aforesaid then I give
hir only the summe of thirtye pounds of like lawful] monie.
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Anna White the
summe of one hundredth markes of like lawfull mony- to be
paid unto hir upon ye day of hir marriage; yf soe be she
shall bestow hir selfe in marriage, accordinge to the"
likinge and consent of my two fomamed souncs in law, and my
wife, as is aforesaid. But yf it soe fall out, as that she
my said daughter Anna shall marrye wthout the consent and
approbation formerly mentioned, then I give and bequeath
hir only the summe of thirtey pounds of like lawfull monie.
Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne Nathaniell White the
sume of fortie pounds of like lawfull monye, wherof my will
is that twenty pounds shalbe paid wthin one yeare next
after my deptu