The Last will and Testament of Robert Blachford (1625-1670) of Newport in the Isle of Wight
 

 

In the name of God Above, I, Robert Blachford, now of Newport in the Isle of Wight in the county of Southton, Gent, do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say)

Imprimis: I commend my soul into the hands of God my creator hoping to be saved through Jesus Christ my saviour and my body to the earth to be decently buried according to such of my quality.

Item: I gave and bequeath unto my dear wife Anne one broad piece of gold.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth (Mullens), the daughter of my said wife Anne another piece of gold.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth (1647-1676), tho' now wife of Stephen Marsh, another of my broad pieces of gold

Item: I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth, the daughter of my son in law Stephen Marsh, one broad piece of gold.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Daniel (1651-1720) and his heirs forever, all that parcel of land known by the name of the manor of Crosse Scittault (?) having and being in the parish of Durston in the county of Somersett with all and singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my said son Daniel and his heirs forever all that parcel of land called or known by the name of Heathley now in the tenure or occupancy of William Miller and William Oates, their assignor or assignee together with all and singular thappurtenance.

Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Ellenor, the sum of two hundred pounds of good and lawful money of England to be paid immediately after my decease by my son Robert (1650-1705) provided always that if the said Robert has not the money in his hands immediately after my decease then to pay interest therefore unto my said daughter Ellenor until such time that he shall have moneys in his hands to pay her the whole two hundred pounds.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Mary the sum of two hundred pounds to be paid unto her when she shall come to the age of one and twenty years or six months after her marriage to be paid also by my said son Robert and also to pay interest unto my said daughter Mary until the said sum of two hundred pounds shall grow due and payable.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Jane the sum of two hundred pounds also to be paid unto her by my said son Robert to be paid also when she shall attain to the age of one and twenty years or six months after her marriage.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah the sum of two hundred pounds to be paid also by my said son Robert when she shall attain to the age of one and twenty years or six months after marriage with interest therefore until the money shall grow due and payable.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Hannah the sum of two hundred pounds to be paid also by my said son Robert when she shall attain or reach to the age of one and twenty years or six months after her marriage with interest therefore until she shall reach the age of one and twenty years or until six months after her marriage.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Martha the sum of two hundred pounds to be paid by my said son Robert when she shall attain or reach to the age of one and twenty years or six months after her marriage with interest therefore until the money shall grow due and payable.

Item: My will is that in case it shall happen that either of my daughters should decease or depart from this natural life before they shall favourably attain unto the age of one and twenty years, that then my will is that one hundred pounds of each daughter for dying be equally divided amongst the rest of my daughters and the other hundred pounds shall go back and again unto my said son Robert.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Hannah above what I gave her before the sum of twenty pounds to be paid by my said son Daniel when she shall reach to the age of one and twenty years or six months after her marriage.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Ellinor the sum of ten pounds also above what I have given her before to be paid by my said son Daniel when she shall reach to the age of one and twenty years or six months after her marriage.

Item: I give and bequeath unto the poor of Newport the sum of forty shillings to be paid by my said son Robert.

Item: I give and bequeath unto the poor of the parish of Fordingbridge the sum of forty shillings to be paid also by my said son Robert immediately after my decease.

Item: I make William Talke of Sandhill Heath in the county aforesaid, Gent, and William Rooke of Fordingbridge in the county aforesaid, Gent, them I do devise and grant unto them the said William Talke and William Rooke and to their executors and administrators and assignee all that my manor of Sandhill with all the lands tenanted with the appurtenance thereunto belonging, for the course of forty years next after my decease provided nevertheless that it is my said son Robert or his heirs or executors shall pay and discharge all and singular the legacies aforesaid wherein he is concerned as aforesaid. And also do and shall pay and discharge all such costs and charges as any person shall be at in or about my funeral not exceeding three score pounds that from the said deceased to my said executors shall cease, discontinue, and from thenceforth shall be utterly void. In witness whereof I have unto this my will contained in two sheets of paper set my hand and seal over the fifth day of October one thousand six hundred and seventy.

Signed, sealed and published by the within named Robert Blachford as his last will and Testament. John Ball.