CONTENTS
The one and thirtieth day of March for this year of our Lord, one thousand six hundred fifty two, I Samuel Gilbert the elder of the parish of Bridgerule in the County of Cornwall, Gent being sick of body but of good and perfect memory, thanks be to God for the same, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following.
First I commend my soul into the hands of God my maker, having assuredly through the .?.. merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour to be made possible (?) of life everlasting and I commend my body to the earth whereof it was made. Touching my goods and chattels my desire and will is to give and dispense as hereafter followeth. Firstly I give and bequeath unto my Agnes my wife the halfendeale of the corne and grain that shall be in my ..showcharge?…… at the time of my death and the halfendeale of my corne and grain now growing in and upon my grounds.
Also I give and bequeath unto her three of my ..?…, my best riding mare (?) and ten of my sheep And also I give and bequeath to her, the said Agnes my bed and bedstead performed over the kitchen. Also two beds and bedsteads over the Entry(?) Also I give and bequeath unto my son Richard Gilbert the Tableboards, formes, joyntstools & chairs that are in & belong to my parlour. Also I give & bequeath to him, the said Richard, two tableboards and two formes in my hall and one bedstead in the East Chamber and the liney(?) table that is in the said chamber. And also one bedstead in the middle chamber and one little tableboard in the same. And also one other bedstead in the West chamber.
Also I give & bequeath to my daughter Deborah1 Gilbert two hundred pounds of current English money.
Also I give & bequeath to my daughter Grace, now the wife of John Werrye 2 of St Merryn in the said County of Cornwall twenty pounds both which two several Sums of money my will is that my executor hereafter named shall Respectively well and truly pay within two years next after my death.
Also I give & bequeath to my son Samuell Gilbert thirty pounds of current English money to this intent & purpose that the said Samuel, his executors abd administrators shall wholly employ the same for the better maintenance of Kathryn my daughter, now the wife of John Avery & of her children born during the life of the said John Averie. And after his death my intent will and meaning is that the said Samuel my son his executors or administrators shall pay the said thirty pounds to the said Katherine for the better Maintenance of her and her children if she be then living but if she be then dead then the said Samuel my son, his executors or administrators shall pay the same over to such child or children as shall be then living. But if she shall then have more children than one then the said thirty pounds to be equally divided among them by the said Samuel, sonne, his executors or administrators.
The said Samuel my son is not to take any benefit for himself his executors or administrators of the said thirty pounds. And now for the confidence which I have in my said son Samuel that he will duly and truly perform this my last Will & Testament. I do hereby make and ordain this said Samuel my son to be my whole & solo executor of this my last Will & Testament. And I do hereby revoke all former wills whatsoever in witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and set my seal to this my last Will and Testament the day and year first above written in the presence of those whose names are hereunder written. Samuel Gilbert.
The sign of Thomas Lamerton, Thomas Browne, Richard Honey. The sign of Degorie Honey.
This Will was proved the thirtieth day of May for the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty three before the judges for probate of Wills granting Administrations, appointed by Act of Parliament, entitled an act for probate of wills and granting administrations. By the oath of Samuel Gilbert the son and executor named in the said will to whom was committed administration of all and singular, the goods, chattels and debts of the said deceased. He being first sworn by Comission truly to administer the same.
Source: Will of Samuell Gilbert,Gentleman of Ridgerule, Cornwall. Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
1 Deborah was unmarried at the time Samuel Gilbert's will was written. She possibly married Thomas Brown on 27th May 1653 in Morwenstow. This could be the Thomas Browne who was one of the witnesses to the will.
2 The IGI gives the marriage of Grace Gilbert to John Weary on 30th January 1633 at St Merryn. In the Protestation Returns for that area in 1641/2 the surname is spelt Wery.