John Steevens

Prerogative Court of Canterbury will made: 18th May 1649
Probate Date: 15th June 1649
Proved by Elizabeth Steevens, wife of the testator
National Archive Catalogue reference: PROB 11/208

The original document is in the custody of the National Archives

Transcript

In the name of God Amen the eighteenth day of May One thousand six hundred forty and nyne I John Steevens of Heath and Reach in the parish of Leighton \Bussard/ in the County of Bedf[ord] yeoman being weake in body but perfect in minde and memory (praised be god) doe make and ordaine this my present testament declaring herein my last will and testament in manner and forme following. First I comend my soule into the hands of Almightie God my Creator hopeing for everlasting life through the only merrittes of Christ Jesus my Saviour And comend my body to the earth when it shall please god to call me Item I doe give and bequeath to the poore people of Mentmore in the County of Buck[ingham] the sume of three poundes of lawfull money of England. Item I doe give and bequeath to my sister Anne Hore now wife of William Hore the sume of forty poundes of lawfull money of England to be paid within one halfe yeare after my decease. Item I doe give and bequeath unto William Steevens my brother the sume of tenn poundes of lawfull money of England to be paid within one halfe yeare after my decease. Item I doe give unto Richard Steevens my brother the like sume of tenn poundes of lawfull money of England to be paid within one halfe yeare after my decease. Provided alwayes and my will is that if I shall fortune to have any issue by Elizabeth my now wife liveing at the end of one halfe yeare after my decease that then but onely one halfe of the said forty poundes shall be paid to my said sister Anne Hore at the time of payment thereof aforesaid And that then the two Legacies of tenn poundes shall not bee paid to William Steevens and Richard Steevens my brethren as aforesaid. Item I doe hereby give and bequeath unto my Child or Children as I shall fortune to have by Elizabeth my said wife the full sume of two hundred poundes of lawfull money of England And doe hereby will and appoint that the said two hundred poundes shalbe imployed and disposed of by William Theed of Leborne in the parish of Mentmore aforesaid gent[leman] and Edward Steevens of Leborne aforesaid yeoman to and for the only use benefett and behoofe of such child or children as I shall fortune to have by Elizabeth my said wife untill such child or children shall attaine the age or ages of eightene yeares. Item all other my goodes cattells and chattells and whatsoever not herein before given or bequeathed my debtes being payd my legacies performed according to the true meaneing of these presentes and all my funerall expences being discharged I doe give and bequeath unto Elizabeth my said wife whom I doe make sole Executrix to this my last will and testament. In wittnesse whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seale the day and yeare first above written The marke of John Steevens. Sealed and acknowledged in the presence of Adam Michell the marke of Elizabeth Terner ./