| Will of John Hawkins oyster fisherman of West Mersea 22nd May 1667 transcribed from Essex Record Office document D/ABW 65/89
Transcriber Jenny Ennew December 2020
1. In the name of God Amen since
2. it is not given unto us to know the day nor the houre
3. when We shall dye or chang this transitory life and
4. knowing by Course I cannot long continue I think
5. it fitt and a peceable Course for those that shall take
6. any Benefitt by this my Will to dispose of the small
7. portion of Goods which God of his great mercie
8. hath here bestowed upon mee For this Cause I John
9. Hawkins of Westmersy in the county of Essex Seaman
10. being not in p[er]fect health but in a p[er]fect memory and
11. of a disposing Condit[i]on Thanks be given to the Allmighty
12. doe therefore in the twoe and twenty day of May in
13. the year of o[ur]Lord God one Thousand six hundred
14. sixty and seaven ordaine make and declare this to
15. be my last Will and testament \renouncing revoking all other Will or Wills declaring this to be my true Will & testament/ in manner and Forme
16. as followeth Item I give will and bequeath unto Margarett
17. Hawkins my Wife all that my messuage and Tenement
18. called little Podd[es] scituated in Westmersy with all the
19. appurtenances and proffitts thereto belonging as now it is
20. in my owne possession dureing her nattural life and after
21. her decease and having noe Child then by mee to the
22. nearest heirs of my owne Bloud forever. Item I give
23. will and bequeath unto my Wife Margarett one Oyster
24. Laying Lying in great ditch in Salcott Fleet John Sames
25. butting to the East & Robert Wollis butting to the West
26. dureing her natturall life And then to the next heirs
27. of my owne Kindred my Wife having noe Children by
28. mee as aforesaid Item I give will and bequeath all other
29. Good[es] Chattells proffitts Inplements debts part or parts in
30. any manner of waies whatsoever in whose handes or possession
31. they are or hereafter may bee unto my beloved Wife
32. forever Whom I make my whole Executrix of this my
33. Will discharging my debts and bringing my Body to the
34. ground in a decent manner In Wittnesse whereof I have
35. hereunto sett to my hand and seale the day and year
36. above written
37. Sealed signed and deliv[er]ed
38. In the pre[se]n[c]e of us John Playder
39. John Story
40. The marke of
41. John Hawkins
| 