| Will of William Wright, Fuller, of East Mersea 26th March 1654 transcribed from National Archives PROB 11/236/544
Transcription by Jenny Ennew April 2023, checked by Sue Howlett
Abstract
Date of will 26 March 1654
Date of probate 14 April 1654
William wants half the money owed to him by Captain Burrill from the military service he carried out on Mersea to be used to buy clothes for his eldest daughter Mary whilst she carries out her apprenticeship with Captain Burrill and Mrs. Burrill. The other half is to be given to her when she finishes her apprenticeship.
Everything else is to be sold and the money to be given to Captain Burrill and John Loker, who he appoints as executors, for his second daughter Sara and son John to be used to bring them up and pay for his funeral and other debts.
Transcription
1. In the name of God Amen
2. The Six and twentieth day of March in the yeare of our Lord one thousand Six hundred
3. Fiftie and foure I William Wright of Eastmersey in the county of Essex Fuller
4. beinge Sick and weake in Body yet of Sound and perfect memory praised bee god
5. hereby revoakeinge all other Wills and Testaments doe make Constitute and
6. Appointe this my Last Will and Testament In manner and forme Following
7. Imprimis I bequeath my Soule to god that gave it and my body to bee buried att
8. the discrection of my Executors hereafter named Item I give and bequeath to
9. Mary my Eldest daughter what arrears of paye Shalbee due unto mee at the
10. tyme of my decease for Service done under the Command of Captaine William
11. Burrill the one halfe to bee disbursed towards the fitting her with Apparell and
12. other necessaries during the Six yeares tyme of Apprenticeship which Shee is
13. to Serve with Captaine Burrill and Misteris Burrill And the other halfe to bee
14. payde her at the end or Tearme of her Apprentishipp Item All the Rest of
15. my Chattles and goods as well moveable and immoveable I give and bequeath
16. unto Captaine William Burrill and William Loker They beinge to Sell that
17. goods within two months after my decease and therewith discharge my debts
18. and Funerall expenses And to bringe up or putt fourth my Children Sara
19. Second daughter and John my only Sonne as they Shall think fittinge And
20. what Shalbee overplus of the Sayde Somme amountinge of the Sale of the goods
21. And what debts or cleames unbequeathed due to mee Shall bee hereafter receaved
22. or recovered my Will and meaninge is that it Shall bee payd to Sara my youngest
23. daughter when Shee Shall come to the age of one and twenty yeares And therefore
24. I Appointe the Sayd Captaine William Burrill and William Loker in regard
25. of the Confidence I have in them my Full and whole Executors In Witness
26. whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day and yeare first above
27. written: William Wright Signum : Signed Sealed read and published in
28. presence of us William Noble William Anger his marke John Spall his marke Thomas
29. Thomson.
30. THIS WILL was proved at Westminster the Fourteenth day of Aprill in the
31. yeare of our Lord god Accordinge to the Computation of the Church of England
32. one thousand Six hundred Fifty and foure before the Judges for Probate of Wills
33. and grantinge Administrations Lawfully Authorized by the oath of Captaine Burrill
34. one of the Executors named in this Will of the Saide deceased To whom was
35. Committed Administration of all and Singular the goods Chattels and debts.
36. of the Sayde deceased Hee beinge first Sworne well and truly to Administer
37. the same : Morover beinge likewise reserved to make to make the like Probate unto
38. William Loker the other Executor named in this sayde Will when hee Shall
39. Come and in Legall manner desire the same.
Note
Captain Burrill was in charge of Mersea Island during the interregnum but not much is known about him. But this will tells us he was married and was trusted enough by William Wright to be his executor and assist in the bringing up of his children.
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