Will of Thomas Gifford of Halsbury, Devon

Signed 18 February 1659

© Crown Copyright

PROB 11/288/426, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury

Transcribed by John Moore

In the name of God Amen I Thomas Gifford of Halsbury in the County of Devon Esqr being very sicke and weake but of perfect minde and memory thanks be given to God therefore considering the uncertenty of this mortall life and the certenty of death, Doe make this my last will and testament in manner and forme following, First and principally I comend my soule into the hands and protection of my heavenly father, hopeing through the meritts death and passion of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to inheritt the kingdome of heaven And I comitt my body to the earth from whence it came to be decently buried in the Temple church by my very loveing Cosin Arthur Bassett Item I give devise and bequeath unto my Cosen Bridgett Gifford whom I allwaies loved with a true and reall affect[i]on all my whole estate in Halsbury in Parkham with all the howses barnes Stables orchards backsides Gardens Lande meadowe and pasture thereunto belonging; Item I give and bequeath unto my uncle Addington Forty shillings to buy a Gold ring and scarfe and to his wiefe and daughters and to his sonne Thomas to every one the like gold ring and scarfe, Item I give and bequeath unto my Cosen John Gifford and his Lady mourning Suyte cloake and Gowne and ringe. Item I give and bequeath unto my Cosen Thomas Beare esqr and his Lady a ring and scarfe of the price of Forty shillings a peece, Item I give and bequeath unto my mother and my sister mourneing Gownes and each of them a ring of the price of forty shillings Item I give and bequeath unto my Grandmother Champneham  a mourneing Gowne and a ring of the like price of Fortie shillings, Item I give and bequeath unto my Cosen Layers and his wife a scarfe a peece a ring a peece, of the price of Thirty shillings a peece, and to all my litle Cosens their children a scarfe a peece, Item I give unto my Cosen Doctor Beare a scarfe and a ring of Fortie shillings, and also a mourneing Suyte and cloake, Item I give and bequeath unto Mr Rawlins and his wiefe and each of his children a scarfe a peece, with a ring of the price of Thirty shillings, Item I give and bequeath Margarett Ashwyn widdowe my nurse a mourning gowne and a ring of Thirty shillings, Item I give and bequeath unto Mr John Fountaine Practizer of Phisicke and his uncle and father a scarfe a peece, Item I give and bequeath all the servants of Brightley howse a scarfe and a payre of gloves a peece, Item I give and bequeath unto all the servants of Halsbury a scarfe & a payre of gloves a peece, Item I give and bequeath unto my Cosen John Gifford the younger of Brackley esqr and to Mr James Sprade esqr to each of them a scarfe and a ring of the price of Forty shiilllings and to Mr Sprads Lady a scarfe and a ring of the price of Fortie shillings, Item I give unto Mr John Butler of Parkam and his wiefe a scarfe and a ring of Forty shillings a peece, Item I give and bequeath unto my Cosen John Pollard and his wiefe a scarfe and a ring of Fortie shillings a peece, Item I give and bequeath unto Mathew Giles a ring of twenty shillings; Item I give and bequeath unto John Davy, Mr Addington a scarfe and a ring of the price of thirty shillings; Item I give and bequeath unto Grace Daniell my nurse in the Countrey Twenty shillings to buy her a Ring, Item I give and bequeath unto Good Keene a ring of Twenty shillings, Item I give and bequeath unto Roger Butler my servant and to his wiefe a scarfe ring and gloves of the price of Thirty shillings, and I make my very loveing Cosen Bridgett Gifford Executrix of this my last will and testament whome I doe hereby impower to lett sett sell devise of my estate or any part thereof to raise money for the performance of this my last will and payment of my Legacies hereby given and bequeathed and alsoe the dischargeing of my funerall expences, And I doe hereby revoke make void and of none effect all former and other wills before by me made and declare this to be my last will and testament In Witnes whereof I the said Thomas Gifford to this my last will conteyned in two sheets of paper have sett my hand and Seale this second day of February in the yeare of our Lord one thowsand six hundred fifty and seaven The mark of Thomas Gifford Signed sealed published and declared in the presence of us theTestator then being blinde with the Small Pox but was dictated by him as is heere written also in our pr[e]sence, Robert Ridge Will Hill Senr

This will was proved at London the Eighteenth day of February in the yeare one thowsand six hundred Fiftie and eight English Stile before the Judges for probate of wills and granting Admin[istr]acions &c by the oath and in the name of Bridgett Gifford the Cosen and Sole Executrix named in the said will, To whome was Comitted Admin[istr]acion &c She being first sworne by Comission truly to administer &c the said will being pronounced for by a diffinitive sentence in that behalfe read and promulgated