| Will of Thomas May, yeoman of West Mersea, died 1788, transcribed from National Archives PROB 11/1165
Transcription by Elaine Barker June 2024
Transcription
In the name of God Amen
I Thomas May of West Mersea in the County of Essex
yeoman being of sound and disposing mind and
Memory (thanks be to God for the same) do make and
declare this my last Will and Testament in manner
following (that is to say) I desire to be buried in
the Parish Church yard of West Mersea aforesaid
and that an head and foot stone may be fixed at
each end of my Grave I Give and devise to my
Nephew Thomas May the Son of my Brother Edward
May all those my Messuages or Tenements with
the Outhouses Yards Gardens and Appurtenances thereunto
belonging and all my Oyster Layings with the Appurts
thereunto belonging (being part Freehold and part Copyhold
the Copyhold part whereof I have surrendered to the
use of my Will) situate and being in the several
Parishes of West Mersea aforesaid Tollesbury Great
Wigborough and Little Wigborough some or one of
them in the said County of Essex and all other
my Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments situate
lying and being in the said Parishes of West Mersea
Tollesbury Great Wigborough and Little Wigborough or
any of them or elsewhere in the said County of Essex
with their and every of their Appurtenances to hold the
same unto the said Thomas May his Heirs and Assigns
for ever And I Give and Bequeath unto my Sister
Lydia (wife of Edward Harvey) the sum of two hundred
pounds to be paid to her within One year after
my decease And I Give and Bequeath unto all and
every my Nephews and Nieces (the Children of my
late Sisters Hannah Wakeling deceased Mary Spurgeon
deceased and Elizabeth Wakeling also deceased and of my
said Brother Edward May) that shall be living at the
time of my decease the Sum of fifty Pounds a piece
to be paid to them Respectively within twelve Months
after my decease And I Give and Bequeath the further
sum of fifty Pounds to my niece Phillis the wife of
Robert Welham over and above the said sum of
fifty Pounds before bequeathed to her Also I Give &
Bequeath unto my said Nephew Thomas May the sum
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of four hundred Pounds over and above what I have
before bequeathed to him to be paid to him within
One year after my decease Also I Give and Bequeath
unto the said Thomas May his executors Administrators
and Assigns All my Lease remaining terms of years
and Interest that I shall have at my decease of and
in the Farms and Lands now in my Occupation in
West Mersea aforesaid and also of and in the Great
Tythes and Glebe Land of West Mersea aforesaid
and all the Cattle Corn (as well such (as shall be
growing at the time of my death as other Corn) or
Hay Farming Stock and Implements of Husbandry lying
and being in upon or about the said Farms and
Lands and also in and about all and every other
Messuages Farms and Lands now in my Occupation I
Also Give unto the said Thomas May all my
Household Goods and Furniture Plate Linen and China
and as to all the Rest and Residue of my Monies
Credits Goods Chattels and Personal Estate whatsoever not
herein before by me otherwise disposed of (after payment
of all my Just Debts Funeral Expenses Legacies and
the probate of this my Will) I give and bequeath
the same and every part thereof to my said Brother
Edward May for his own proper use and I do make
and Appoint the said Edward May and my said
Nephews Thomas May and Thomas Wakeling Executors
of this my Will and I Give to each and every of
my Executors the Sum of One hundred pounds apiece
for their Care and trouble in and about the Execution
of this my Will over and above What I have herein
before given and bequeathed to my said Nephews
Thomas May and Thomas Wakeling respectively In Witness
whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament
contained in two sheets of Paper set my hand to the
first sheet thereof and to this last \sheet/ my hand and seal
the third day of November in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and eighty seven Tho[mas]May
Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Thomas
May the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament
in the Presence of us who have Subscribed our names
as Witnesses thereto in his presence and in the presence
of each other. Floyd Clay Peck Tho[mas] Finer Rob[ert] Tindal
This Will was Proved at London the twenty fourth
Day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and Eighty \Eight/ before the worshipful Peter
Calvert Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of
the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by
the oaths of Edward May the Brother Thomas May and
Thomas Wakelin (by Mistake in the will called Wakeling)
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the Nephews of the deceased and Executors named in the
said Will to whom administration was granted of all and
singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said Dec[eas]ed
having been first Sworn duly to Administer./
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