Henry Sherman
1524 - 1590In the name of God, Amen, the twentithe day of Januarye a thousand fyve hundred eightie nine and in the two and thirtithe yeare of the raigne of oure soveraigne Ladie Quene Elizabethe, I Henry Shearman, the elder, of Colchester in the county of Essex being whole of memorye and in parfect mynde thankes be to God do make constitute and ordeyne this my laste will and testamente revokinge all other willes and testamentes made by me. Firste I bequeathe my soule into the handes of Almighty God my maker acknowledging Jesus the sonne of the Lyvinge God my only Savyoure and Redeemer by whose pretious bloodshedding all my synnes ar washed awaye which hath satisfied the wrathe of God the father and I by his meritts and noe other meanes shall enherite the Kingdome prepared for the faithefull. I acknowledge the holy ghoste the god of comforte which hathe sealed me up to the everlastinge covenaunte of eternall joyes, my bodie I commit to the earthe from which yt came to be buried in the parishe church of Dedham.
Item. I will and bequeathe to Doctor Chapman the preacher of Dedham sixe poundes to be paid within sixe monethes after my decease.
Item. I will to Mr. Parker fortie shillinges to be paide at the same time.
Item. I will to the poore of Dedham twenty poundes to be a contynewall stocke for the poore to the worldes ende and the use and benefit of it to goe to the poore. Further my will and mynde is that it shalbe ordered at the discretion of the governours of the free schoole of Dedham or the greatest parte of them and they to take securitie for the princypall.
Item. I will and bequeathe unto Henrye Shearman, my sonne my Shearman's crafte to hym and his heires for ever.
Item. I give to Henrye Shearman, my sonne, all the householde (sic) which is in his house which he hathe already.
Item. I give to my sonne, Henrye Shearmans children that is to saye to Henry Shearman, Samuel Shearman, Daniell, John, Ezechiell, Phebe, Nathaniell and Anne Shearman to each of them five pounds a peece to be paied to the sonnes at the age of two and twentie. And yf any of them dye before they shall accomplishe the foresaid age then I will yt to be equallie divided betwixt the reste alive and to the daughters at one and twentie. And yf they die before this age then I will there porcon to be equallie divided betwixt my sonne Henryres children then alive.
Item. I will and bequeathe to Edmonde Shearman, my sonne ten poundes.
Item. I give to Edmonde Shearman, the sonne of my sonne Edmonde Shearman, thirteene pounds thirteene shillinges and fouer pence to be paid unto hym at the full age of twoe and twentie yeres. And yf he die before he come to the age of twoe and twentie, then I will it be divided betweene Richarde Shearman, Bezalieill Shearman, Anne Shearman, the children of my sonne Edmond Shearman.
Item. I will and bequeathe to Richarde Shearman, Bezaliell Shearman, Anne and Sarah Shearman, the children of my sonne Edmonde Shearman, to eache of them fourtie shillings a peece to be paide to the sonnes at the full age of twoe and twentie and to the daughters at one and twentie. And yf any of them dye before they shall accomplish theire full ages then I will theire parte to be divided amongeste the reste that lyve of Edmonde Shearman's children.
Item. I give to Edmonde Sherman, my sonne my beste cloake.
Item. I will and bequeath to William Petfeilde, my sonne in lawe, twentie pounds to be paied within one whole yere after my decease.
Item. I give to the three children of my sonne in lawe Petfeilde, that is to say to Richard Petfielde, to Susan Petfeilde and Elizabeth Petfielde, to each of them six poundes thirteen shillings fouer pence to be paied to the sonne at twoe and twentie yeres of age and to the daughters at one and twentie. And yf any of them dye before the age beforesaid then I will their portion to be equallie devyded betwene the children of William Petfeilde then alive. And my will and mynde is that my saide sonne, Petfield, shall have the occupyinge of that money untill the children shall come to their full age puttinge in suffucient suertie to my executors to paye the money as ys abovesaid.
Item. I give to Margerye, my wife, two and twentie pounds to be paied within three monethes after my decease.
I will that she shall have all her householde stuffe which she brought me and that householde which we renewed and boughte since we marryed.
Item. I will that Margerye, my wife, shall have all my broome, wood, and logges, which I have at my departure.
Item. I will and give to Margerye, my wife, twentie shillings of money.
Item. I give to Margerye, my wife, that twelve pounds which is due unto me from Fendring Yf my executors can recover yt of hym.
Item. I will that Margerye, my wife, shall have her dwellings for twoe years in that parte of the house wherein we do nowe dwell that is in the lower parloure and the twoe chambers next Mr Ruddes and parte of the backehouse yf my sonne Robert do enjoy the house. But yf it be redeemed and he do not enjoy it then I will that my sonne Robert shall paye unto Margerye, my wife, fouer pounde for twoe yeres dwellinge.
Item. I give to Margerye, my wife, my tipped pott tearme of her life, and after her decease I give it to Judith, my daughter.
Item. My will is that yf Margerye, my wife, doe make any clayme or title to the thirdes or any parte of that house wherein I nowe do dwell, that then she shall be frustrate of the twoe and twentie pounde given her and I will the fore said two and twentie pounde to be divided betwene my three sonnes Henrye, Edmonde and Robert Shearman. Allso my will and mynde ys that she shall put in bonde to myne Executors before shall receyve any parte of her legacy that she do not trouble or moleste myne Executors or my sonne Robert in any thinge that is given them
Item. I will and bequeathe to Robert Shearman, my sonne three skore pounds which three skore pounds I give for the state of the house wherein I nowe dwell which was latelie Richarde Kinges, Berebruer of Colchester, And yf it shall happen that saied three skore pounde be not paied according to bargayne and sale at the tyme appointed then I give the foresaied house wherein I now dwell latelie Richarde Kinges with yards and appurtenances to Robert Shearman, my sonne, and his heires for ever.
Item. I give to Robert Shearman, my sonne, all the coppiehoulde called the Heckells, or knowne by any other name conteyinge by estimacon fifteene acres more or lesse with the barne and cottage to it and two acres called Byrdes, now in the occupation of William Petfeilde, to hym and his heires, forever.
Item. I give to my saied sonne, Robert Shearman, fouerty pounde of good and lawfull money to be paied unto hym within sixe monethes after my decease. I will it be divided betwene the children of Robert Shearman then alive.
Item. My mynde is that Robert, my sonne, shall have the occupyinge of the money untill the children come of age, puttinge in sufficient securitye to my executors for the principall.
Item. I give unto Robert, my sonne, all my householde stuffs which I had before I marryed Margerye, my wife, that is to saye, Beddes, featherbeddes, cubbardes, bedsteades, pillowes, brasse, pewter, hangings, togeather with the greate cupboarde in the parlour and the sealinge with the three tapestrie cushions.
Also I give unto him three payer of sheetes and all other ymplements of householde. Allso I give unto Robert, my sonne, my silver and gilte goblett. Allso I give unto Robert Shearman, my sonne, my best gowne.
Item. I give unto Robert my sonne one sword and a Bylle.
Item. I give unto Judith Petfeild, my daughter, the cheste and lynnen upon the Soller (three payer of sheetes excepted before given to Robert my sonne).
Item. I give unto Henrye Shearman, my sonne, twelve silver spoones.
Item. I give unto my son in law, Nicholas Fynce, forty shillings.
Item. I give unto the poore of Allhallows parishe six shillings, eight pence.
Item. I give to Robert, my sonne, the typped pot which he hathe.
Item. I give to Henrye Shearman, my sonne, all my Armour except that which I gave to my sonne Robert.
Item. I will that yf the fortie poundes which is due unto me by the heires of administrators of Richarde Kinge beerebruer be recovered then I will the saied fortie pounde be equallie divided betwene Henrye Shearman, Edmonde Shearman, Robert Shearman, Judith Petfeild, my children.
Item. I give unto Judith Petfeild, my daughter, my sydesaddell and cloath to yt.
Item. I give to Robert Shearman, my sonne, my saddle.
Item. I give to William Petfielde my best gowne save one.
Item. I give to Henry, my sonne, my best cassocke hatte and nightcappe.
Item. I give to Christopher Stone a Cloathe doublet.
Item. I give to Caser an olde payer of hosen. To Richard Fycher my olde gowne.
Item. I give to Edmonde Shearman, Henrye Shearman, Robert Shearman, my sonnes, to eache of them twentie shillings in goulde, and to each of theire wyves twentie shillings in goulde.
Item. I give to Judith Petfeild, my daughter, twentye shillings in goulde.
Item. I will that the halfe yeares rente due at my decease of all my landes and tenements shall goe to the performance of my will.
Item. I give all my goodes unbequeathed to be equallie divided betwixt my three sonnes, Henry, Edmonde and Robert Shearman.
Item. I make and ordeyne Henry Shearman and Edmonde Shearman, my sonnes, Executors of this my laste will and testament.
Witnesses unto this my will theise whose names be underwritten Byme Ricam Symnell, By me Oliver Pyggethelder, By me Nathaniell Bassack, By me Henrye Osborne.
Henry Shearman's mark by his owne hand. Dated Jan 20, 1589/90 A Codicell annexed to my will for some respit of payinge legaceys by my Executors, the XVI day of February.
I will that the twentie poundes for the poore shalbe paied at oure Ladie day nest twelve monethes. I will that Dr. Chapmans sixe pounde be paied at the same tyme. I will that Mr. Parker's fourtie shillings be paied at the same tyme. I will that Nicholas Fynces fourtie shillings be then paied. I will that my sonne Robert have fyve pounds paiede hym this next Ladie day and tenne pounde at the next mydsommer and thirtie fyve pounde at Ladie Daye next come twelve monethe. I will that the legaceys for my sonne Edmondes children be payed at oure Ladie day come twelve monethe. I will that Petfeilde have fortie pounde paide hym this nexte mydsommer. Item whereas the twentie pounde which I gave to the poore was appoynted to be ordered by the governours of the free schoole at Dedham. Nowe my mynde ys that my sonne Henry Shearman shall have the occupying of it tearme of his life puttinge in sewertie for to pay the principall and fortie shillings a yere to theire use to be bestowed in wollen and lynnen cloathe. Item my will is that my Executors shall pay my sonne Robert use for fyve and thirtie pounde for the latter half yeare.
By me Oliver Pyggethelder, By me, Nathaniell Bassack.
Will dated Jan 20, 1589/90 [County Essex, England]. Codicil dated Feb 16, 1589/90. Will Proved July 25, 1590 (SG p166; DPS p10).
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