Relf Will 1649

Will of Gregorie Rofe

of Woodchurch, Kent


Source: Prerogative Court of Canterbury PROB 11/208/699
Transcribed by Dianne Bowles, 16 January 2022.
In the Name of God Amen I Gregorie Rofe of the parish of Woodchurch in the County of Kent Husbandman, being sicke and weake of bodie, but of good and pfect memorie praised be God therefore, doe make and ordaine this my last Will and testamt in manner and forme followinge
first I comend my Soule into the hands of Almightie God my Maker trusteing to be saved by the onley merritts of Jesus Christ my Saviour And I comend my bodie to the earth whereof it was made

Item I give and bequeath unto John Rofe my brother Johns sonne, the sume of one hundred pounds of lawful money of England to be paid by mine Executors hereafter named unto him when he shall come to the age of one and twenty yeares
Item I give and bequeath unto Mercy Wiborne my sisters daughter the sume of Fiftie pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid her by mine Executors when she shall come to the age of eighteene yeares, or day of marriage wch first shall happen
Item I give and bequeath unto Edward Hodly my sisters sonne the sume of Tenn pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid him by mine Executors within one yeare next after my decease

Item I give and bequeath unto Mercy Elminstone and Jane Elminstone daughters of Richard Elminstone of Tenterden the sume of forty shillings a peece, to be paid them by mine Executors within sixe Moneths next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto Susan Hodly my sister the sume of Five shillings to be paid her within sixe moneth next after my decease by mine Executors,
Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Jude my servant the sume of Tenn shillings to be paid her by mine Executors within sixe Moneth next after my decease

Item I give and bequeath unto the poor people of the parish of Uerst in Sussex the sume of Tenn shillings to be distributed by the discretion of mine Executors within Foure Moneth next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto the poore people of the parish of Woodchurch the sume of Tenn shillings, to be distributed amongst them by the discretion of mine Executors within Foure Moneth next after my decease,

Further my mind and will is that & if John Rofe and Mercy Wyborne either of them shall departe this naturall life before they shall come to the severall ages before expressed then the Survivors shalbe heire to the deceased
And further my mind and will is that the p[ro]fitts that shall arise or be made of either of their persons shalbe for the better education & maintenance
Further my mind and will is that Mercy my wife shall have the bringing up of Mary Wyborne my sisters daughter and shall keepe her person in her hands duringe the time of her widdowhood but & if it soe happen that Mercy my wife doe marry again, then she shall give security to my brother John for the portion.

And further my mind and will is that and if Edward Hodly my sisters sonne shall depart this naturall life before the time he should receive the guift before given then I give and bequeath the guift of Tenn pounds unto my sister Hodlyes next child that shalbe then liveing, and default of such child I give and bequeath the said Tenn pounds unto my sister Hodly herselfe, to be paid her at the time before expressed

And I doe make and ordaine Mercy my wife, and John Rofe my brother mine Executors to see this my last Will and testament performed
And I doe give unto them after my debts are paid and the legacies herein expressed and funerall expences discharged all the residue of my goods whatsoever, only Mercy my wife to have twenty pounds more then John Rofe my brother.
And I utterly revoke all other Wills by me formerly made

In witnes whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale this thirtieth day of May in the the yeare of our Lord Christ one thousand sixe hundred Forty nyne Gregorie Rofe his marke and seale.
Witnes to the publishinge and sealinge hereof Richard Emstare and Thomas Ramsden

Probate in Latin: granted 12 July 1649 to Marie [Mary] Rofe the Relict and Johannis [John] Rofe, the brother the Executors.


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Will of Gregorie Rofe
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