This is a transcript of a copy will from the Will Registers of The Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PROB 11), which are preserved at The National Archives, London.
Copyright of this transcript remains with Dave King, and it must not be reproduced or republished without prior permission.

 

Will of Peter Preswicke, Citizen & Goldsmith of London.

Dated 27.8.1657, proved at London 2.5.1663

Ref: PROB 11/311/67



In the name of God Amen the seavan and twentieth day of August in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred Fifty and Seaven I Peter Preswicke Cittizen and Goldsmith of London being att this prsent weake in body but of sound mind and memory (prayse be therefore given to Almighty God) doe therefore make ordeyne and declare this my present last will and Testament in manner following 

First I doe willingly with a free heart render and give againe my spiritt unto the hands of my Lord God and Creator nothing doubting but that ( for his infinite mercyes sett forth in the prcious blood of his dearly beloved sonne Jesus Christ our onely Saviour and Redeemer) hee will receive my Soule unto his glory and place it in the Company of Angells and blessed Saints in the kingdome of heaven My body I comend to the Earth whereof it was made to be decently buried In the Chancell of the parish Church of St Mathews Fryday Streete London as neare to my deceased wife as conveniently may be if the Minister will permitt me to be buried according as I have declared 

And as touching that small reall and personall Estate which God hath blessed me withall in this life I dispose thereof as followeth Whereas I have surrendered my copyhold lands tenements and hereditaments in the parish of Hackney in the County of Middlesex to the use of my last will and testament I doe hereby declare this my will touching the same and doe hereby give and bequeath the same Coppyhold lands with thappurtenns.. unto my nephew Thomas Preswick for and during the terme of his naturall life And from and after his decease I give and bequeath the same to the heires male of his body lawfully begotten And for default of such issue to the heires female of his body lawfully begotten 

And for default of such issue I give and bequeath the same coppyhold lands tenements and hereditaments to my nephew Thomas Killinghall for and during his naturall life And from and after his decease I give and bequeath the same to the heires male of his body lawfully to be begotten And for default of such issue to the heires Female of his body lawfully to be begotten 

And for want of such issue I give and bequeath the same coppyhold lands tenements and hereditaments to my neece Mary ?Jeryman? and the heires male of her body lawfully begotten And for default of such issue to the heires Female of her body lawfully to be begotten 

And for default of such issue I give the remainder thereof to the right heires of me the said Peter Preswick for ever 

Item I give and bequeath unto my sister Mrs Elizabeth Preswick for and towards her better livelyhood and maintenance during her naturall life the Rents issues and proffitts of all my lands tenements and hereditaments scytuate lying and being in Orpington and St Mary Cray or either of them in the County of Kent And from and after her decease Then I give and bequeath the same lands and prmisses with thappurtenns unto my said nephew Thomas Preswick for and during the terme of his naturall life And from and after his decease I give and bequeath the same to the heires male of his body lawfully to be begotten And for default of such issue to the heires female of his body to be lawfully begotten 

And for default thereof then I give and bequeath the same lands tenements and hereditaments in the County of Kent unto my said nephew Thomas Killinghall for and during the terme of his naturall life And from and after his decease I give and bequeath the same to the heires male of his body lawfully begotten And for default of such issue to the heires female of his body lawfully to be begotten 

And for want of such issue I give and bequeath the same lands tenements and hereditaments unto my said niece Mary ?Jeryman? And the heires male of her body lawfully to be begotten And for default of such issue to the heires Female of her body lawfully to be begotten 

And for default thereof the remainder to the right heires of me the said Peter Preswick for ever Provided always and my will and mind is that if my said nephew Thomas Preswick will not or doe not suffer my said sister Mrs Elizabeth Preswick peaceably and quietly to receive and take the Rents issues and proffitts of the said lands in Kent to her owne use during her naturall life according to the true meaning hereof That then he the said Thomas Preswick shall have noe advantage nor take any benefitt nor have any Estate or interest by vertue of this my will to any lands tenements or hereditaments herein to him bequeathed  

Item I give and bequeath unto my said nephew Thomas Killinghall and his heires for ever the reversion of my messuages or tenements in the parish of St Leonard Shoreditch and the sume of one hundred pounds in money  

Item I give and bequeath unto my sister Mrs Elizabeth Killinghall 13d  

Item I give to my said sister Mrs Elizabeth Preswick the sume of Five pounds to buy her mourning   

Item I give and bequeath to my aforesaid neice Mary Jeryman the sume of one hundred pounds in money  

Item I give and bequeath to my maidservant Mary the sume of Fifty pounds in money And the sume of Five pounds more to buy her mourning 

Item I give to my worthy friend Mr Thomas Cartwright Minister the sume of two pounds and to his wife twenty shillings to buy a Ring  

Item I give to my Brothers in Law Mr Thomas Smithies and Mr William Gibbon and their wifes the sume of twenty shillings a peece to buy them Rings with   

Item I give and bequeath to Mr William Webber and his wife the sume of tenn shillings a peece  

Item I give to Mr Smithies the sume of tenn shillings  

Item I give to my loving Friends Mr Thomas ?......? Mr George Snell the sume of tenn shillings a peece to but them Rings  

Item I give to Mr John Hastings the sume of tenn shillings to buy him a ring  

Item I give to Mr Leonard Hamond the sume of twenty shillings  

Item I give to my loving Friends and acquaintance Mr George Wilde Mr Thomas Davies Mr Humfrey Ba...er Mr ?Mohennah? Allen Mr Christopher Strange Mr Richard Rixley Mr John Warner Mr George Lee and Mr William Beckwith in remembrance of my love to every one of them the sume of twenty shillings a peece to buy them Rings with  

Item I give and bequeath to Mr John ?Haslefoote? and Mr Spratling the Sume of Tenn shillings a peece to buy them Rings with  

Item I give and bequeath to all the Poore Almesmen that attend in the hall of the company of Goldsmiths the sume of Five shillings a peece 

The rest and residue of all and singular my ready money Plate Jewells goods debts and creditts whatsoever not here before bequeathed my debts being paid and funerall Expences discharged I will shall be equally devided amongst my said two nephews and my neece Mary part and part alike I doe nominate and appoint my said neece Mary Jeryman the sole Executrix of this my last will and I desire my Loving friend Mr George Wilde to be overseer of the same And I give him for his paines and assistance herein the sume of Forty shillings 

And I doe hereby revoke all former wills by me made And doe publishthese presents conteyned in Foure sheets of Paper besides this sheets to be my laste will In Witnes whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day and yeare First above written  Peter Preswick

Signed sealed etc.....
Tho Cartwright, Fabian Browne, William Beckwith

Proved London 2 May 1663 by Maria Jerryman


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transcript Dave King, published 19.05.2009