The Document Chest

1634 will of Thomas Hawker

Gentleman of Hawker's Farm, Vagg

 

In the name of God Amen the three and twentith daye of September in the tenth yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland Kinge Defender of the faythes 1634 I Thomas Hawker of Vagge in the parrish of yeovill in the Diocesse of Bathe and Wells gent being sicke of bodye but of perfect memory thankes be given to Almighty God doe make and ordayne this my Last Will and testament in manner and forme following First I comitt my bodie to the earth and my soule into the handes of Almighty God my Maker and Redeemer hopeing assuredly through the merits of Christs passion to be made [word illegible] of his heavenly kingdome Item I give towards the maintenance of the parrish Church of yeovill fortie shillings Item towards the reliefe of the poore people of the sayd parrish fortie shillinges Item to the maintenance of the Church of Chilthorne twenty shillinges [inserted = Item to the poore of the parish of Chilthorne Twenty shillings] Item I give unto Sarah my loveing wife all my plate with two of my best Fetherbeds with all furniture belonging unto them Item I give unto my Daughter Sarah seaven hundred poundes [around £125,000 at today's value] Item I give unto my daughter Frances fyve hundred poundes Item I give the Childe that my wife is now with Childe withall be it sonne or daughter two hundred poundes Provided allways that yf any of my sayd Children shall happen to dye before they are marryed or attaine the age of one and twentie yeares That the portion of that Childe or Children soe dyeing shallbe equally divided amongst the rest of my Children then liveing Item I give unto [Adrye?] Hawker my Mother five poundes Item I give unto my sister Mary Hartwell fyve poundes Item I give unto my sister Elizabeth Appletree tenn poundes Item I give unto my Cosen Hugh Hawker of Ilmister twentie poundes Item I give unto Thomas Salmon of Vagge thirtie poundes Item I give unto my two menservants and two Women servants twentie shillinges a peece Item all my goods Landes and Chattles not formerly given and bequeathed I doe give and bequeath unto Thomas Hawker my sonne whome I doe make my sole Executor unto this my last will and Testament Lastly I doe constitute and appoint my loving wife Sarah Hawker and my said Kinsman Hugh Hawker to be my Overseers of this my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I the said Thomas Hawker have hereunto sett my hande and seale even the daye and yeare first above written

Thomas Hawker

Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of

Thomas Banton     William Banton     the marke of Jonas Greenland     the marke of Joane Jeanes

 

Proved in 1634

 

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn 

 

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The Hawker brass in St John's church, showing the Arms of Hawker impaling Duke.