ID: MARG_190

TitleWill of Edward Bellamy of London 1656 TNA PROB 11/258/240
AbstractWill of Edward Bellamy, Citizen and Fishmonger of London 3 April 1656 transcribed from National Archives document PROB 11/258/240
There is a translation to Modern English further down the page

Transcriber Trevor Hearn 7th May 2021

1   In the name of God Amen I
2   Edward Bellamy th[e]elder Esquire Cittizen and Fishmonger of
3   London sound in Bodie and of good and perfect memorie (thankes be
4   Therefore given to Almightie God Considering the Frailty of this mortall
5   life and knowing that it is appoynted for all men to die, though
6   the time when, where, or manner how be altogether uncertaine Doe
7   therefore make and declare this my last Will and testament in manner
8   and forme following That is to say First and principally I recommend
9   my Soule into the hands of Almightie God my Creatour most assuredly
10   trusting and verelie beleeveing to be saved and inheritt eternall life by
11   my Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ and through his pretious and
12   most meretorious death and passion only My Body I Committ to the
13   Earth to be decently and Christianlike buried where it shall please God to
14   appoynte And my Worldly or personall Estate and Lands and Tenem[en]ts
15   I give as followeth (That is to say) Inprimis I will that my debts and
16   funerall expences shall be first paid and discharged and then that
17   my goods Chattells and personall Estate shall be valued and devided
18   into three equall parts and shares according to the auncient and
19   La[u]dable Custome of the Cittie of London One full third part thereof
20   I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth my Loveing Wife as and for
21   her third part of my said Estate due unto her by the said Custome
22   of the said Cittie of London One other third part of my said Estate
23   I give and bequeath unto my sonne William Bellamy solely and
24   my other Children to have noe part or share therein In regard I
25   have advanced them otherwise, as by Certaine writings and notes
26   or otherwise will or may appeare, for and in Liewe of his share
27   due to him of my said Estate by the said Custome of the said Cittie
28   of London And th[e]other third part of my said goods Chattells
29   and personall Estate (wherein I desire the Leases hereinafter men-
30   tioned may be valued and accompted as part thereof) being by

Page 2

1   by me to be disposed of by the said Custome of the said Cittie ast is its plea-
2   sure I doe give and bequeath as followeth (That is to say) to my said sonne
3   William Bellamy thereout I give the Lease of my dwelling house Called the
4   Flying horse in Thames streete in the parish of Magnus the Martyr neare
5   London Bridge and all my Estate right Title and interest Tearme of yeares
6   and time to Come Clayme and demaund whatsoever of in and to the
7   same And I give more thereout unto my Sonne Robert Bellamy The
8   Lease of the Messuage or Tenement called the Chequer in Thames streete
9   in the parish aforesaid and all messuages houses and Tenements with
10   Th[e]appurtenances therein or thereby mentioned or intended to be letten
11   and all my Estate right Title and interest Rents and proffitts tearme
12   of Yeares and time to Come Clayme and demaund whatsoever of in
13   and to the same Item I give and bequeath unto the said Elizabeth my
14   Loving Wife the Lease of my house and Gardens with Th[e]appurtenances
15   in the Parish of Saint Saviours in Southwarke neare Saint Georges
16   Feilds in the Countie of Surrey and all my Estate right Title and Interest
17   Tearme of yeares and time to Come therein Clayme and demaunds
18   whatsoever of in and to the same together with all goods Wainscoate bedds
19   bedding bedsteads houshold stuffe and furniture which I shall have therein
20   att the tyme of my death parcell alsoe and out the said third part (last
21   mentioned of my said personall Estate [)] Alsoe I give unto my Daughter
22   Mary Wife of George Hurleck Cittizen and Stationer of London my
23   Book shopp and Stock and furniture therein and thereto belonging, adjoy-
24   ning to Saint Magnus Church in Thames Streete in London and
25   the Lease thereof and tearme of Yeares and time to Come therein and
26   my Copies of Bookes and share in Copies of Bookes Commonly sold
27   therein, and all my interest benefitt Clayme and demaund whatso-
28   ever in and to the said shopp and Lease and Copies parcell alsoe of the
29   said part (last mentioned) of my said personall Estate Item I doo hereby
30   revoake and make void all former Wills and Testaments by me made, and
31   make this to be my last Will and Testament, And my said Loveing
32   Wife and sonne Robert Bellamy Executors thereof desiring them to see this
33   same duely and truly performed as my Trust is in them And I ordaine
34   and appoynte my Loving Freinds Robert Bullock Barber Chirurgion and
35   William Wynsr Joyner Cittizens of London Overseers thereof to aid and
36   direct my said Executors duely and trulie to performe the same and for
37   theire paines and Care therein to be taken I give unto them five pounds
38   a peece to buy and weare mourning for me The rest and residue of the
39   said Thirt part (last mentioned[)] of my Goods Chattells and personall
40   Estate I give as followeth (videlicet) Two parts thereof (the whole in three
41   parts to be devided) I give unto Edward Bellamy oldest sonne and th[e]other
42   Third part thereof (the whole being devided in three parts as aforesaid)
43   I give unto the said Mary Hurleck my Daughter And Lastly I give
44   and assay to descend to and upon my said oldest sonne Edward Bellamy
45   and his heirs and assignes for ever All my Fee simple Messuges Lands
46   and Tenements with the Appurtenances in Bridgstreete otherwise
47   new Fish Streete in London and shopp in old Fish streete in London
48   and other my Messuages and Tenements in Fee simple in London.
49   And I give unto the said Elizabeth my Wife and to her heires and
50   assignes for ever All and singular my Messuages Lands Tenements
51   and hereditaments (in Fee simple) with theire and every of theire
52   Appurtenances lying att or neare Stratford upon Avon or elsewhere
53   in the Countie of Warwick In Witnesse whereof to this my present
54   last Will and Testament Containing three sheetes and this peece
55   of paper

Page 3

1   Paper I the said Edward Bellamy have putt my hand and Seale the
2   Third day of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred
3   fifty six Edward Bellamy This present Testament was Read sealed and
4   delivered and by the said Edward Bellamy published and declared to be his
5   last Will and Testament in the presence of us Richard Shellery
6   Sir Thomas Barber, James Peter Servants to the said Sir

7   M[ajo]ris Twenty eight Augusti
8   One thousand six hundred Fiftie six
9   Bellamy Confessed That this Day the Testator gave five pounds
10   to the poore of Magnus Parish Twenty pounds to Eliz[abeth] Bellamy Daughter of
11   his sonne Edward , Twenty pounds to Margarett Bellamy his brothers daughter
12   and Tenn pounds to Sarah Ellis Wife of John Ellis

13   This will was proved att London the five
14   and twentith Day of September In the yeare of our Lord God One
15   Thousand six hundred fiftie and six before the Judges for probate of Wills and
16   granting Administrations lawfully authorized by the oath of Elizabeth
17   Bellamy the Relict and one of the Executors named in the above written
18   Will To whome Administration of all and singular the goods Chattels
19   and debts of the said deceased was Committed she being first legally
20   sworne truly and faythfully to administer the same Reserving power to Robert
21   Bellamy the other Executor to make like probate when he shall Come and in
22   legall manner desire the same


Translation to Modern English by Trevor Hearn 7 May 2021

In the name of God, Amen. I,
Edward Bellamy senior, Esquire, citizen and fishmonger of
London, being of good health and in sound mind (thanks be
to Almighty God), being conscious of the frailty of our mortal
lives and knowing that all men must die, though
the time, place and manner be unknown, hereby
make and declare this to be my last will and testament in manner
and form following. First and principally I commend
my soul into the hands of Almighty God, my creator, certainly
trusting and truly believing that I will be saved and will inherit eternal life through
my Savious and Redeemer, Jesus Christ and through his precious and
most laudable death and passion. I commit my body to the
earth to be buried in the Christian manner where God may
direct. I bequeath my estate, lands and tenements
as follows: Firstly, I instruct that my debts
and funeral expenses shall be paid and discharged.
My goods, chattels and personal estate shall then be valued and divided
into three equal parts and shares in accordance with the ancient
and laudable custom of the City of London. I give and bequeath
to my loving wife Elizabeth one full third thererof,
as such third part is due to her by the aforesaid custom
of the City of London. I give and bequeath solely to my son
William Bellamy one further third part of my said estate;
my other children are to receive no part or share thereof as I
have advanced them otherwise as detailed in certain documents and notes
which are now, or will become, evident; this advance is in lieu of such share
of my estate due to them in accordance with the aforesaid custom of the City
of London. The remaining third part of my said goods, chattels
and personal estate (for which I desire that the leases mentioned hereafter
may be valued and counted as part of such estate), being
available to me to be disposed of in accordance with the aforesaid custom of the City
of London I give and bequeath as follows: I give to my said son
William Bellamy the lease of my house called The
Flying Horse in Thames Street in the parish of St Magnus the Martyr near
London Bridge together with all my estate, right, title, interest, unexpired term
of the lease, claims and demands whatsoever of, in and to the
same. I give to my son Robert Bellamy the
lease of the property and land called The Chequer in Thames Street
in the aforesaid parish and all property, land and tenements with
the appurtenances thereto or intended to be leased
together with all my estate, right, title and interest, rents and profits,
unexpired term of years, claims and demands whatsoever of, in
and to the same. I give and bequeath to my loving wife Elizabeth
the lease of my house and gardens together with the appurtenenaces
in the parish of Saint Saviours in Southwark near Saint Georges
Fields in the county of Surrey and all my estate, right, title, interest,
unexpired term of years, claims and demands
whatsoever of, in and to the same; also, all goods, oak beds,
bedding, bedsteads, household items and furniture which are in the premises
at the time of my death are included as part of the aforementioned third
share of my personal estate. Also, I give to my daughter
Mary, wife of George Hurleck, citizen and stationer of London, my
bookshop and stock, and furniture within belonging to it, adjacent
to Saint Magnus Church in Thames Street, London together with
the lease thereof and unexpired term of years, and
my copies of the books and share in the copies of books usually sold
there, and all my interest, benefit, claim and demand whatsoever
in and to the said shop with the lease and copies included also as
part of my said personal estate. I hereby
revoke and make void all former wills and testaments made by me, and
make this my last will and testament. I hereby appoint Elizabeth my said loving
wife and my son Robert Bellamy to be executors of this will, trusting them
to see the due performance of it. I ordain
and appoint my loving friends Robert Bullock, barber surgeon, and
Willaim Windsor, joiner, both citizens of London, as overseers of my will to assist
and direct my said executors to duly and truly perform the same and for
their trouble and care to be taken I give them both five pounds each
to buy and wear mourning clothes in remembrance of me. The residue of
the third part of my goods, chattels and personal
estate is to be disbursed as follows, viz.: the total property to be
divided into three parts and two parts to be given to
Edward Bellamy, my said oldest son and the remaining one part
I give to my daughter Mary Hurleck. Lastly, I give
and desire to descend upon my said oldest son Edward Bellamy
and his heirs and assignees for ever all my freehold properties, lands
and tenements, with the appurtenances thereto, in Bridge Street, otherwise
known as New Fish Street, in London together with my shop in Old Fish Street in London
and my other freehold property and tenements in London.
I give to my wife Elizabeth and to her heirs and
assignees for ever each and every freehold property, land, tenement
and heritable property with all of their each and every
appurtenances lying in or near Stradford-upon-Avon or elsewhere
in the county of Warwickshire. In witness to this last
will and testament comprising four sheets of paper in total
I, the aforesaid Edward Bellamy, have signed and sealed this document
on 3rd April 1656 [signature of Edward Bellamy]. This present testament was verified, sealed
and delivered by the said Edward Bellamy and published and declared to be his
last will and testament in the presence of Sir Richard Shellery, and
Thomas Barber and James Peter, servants to Sir Richard.

Additionally, 28th August 1656
[Edward] Bellamy advised that on this day he gave five pounds
to the poor of Saint Magnus parish, twenty pounds to Elizabeth Bellamy, daughter
of his son Edward. twenty pounds to Margaret Bellamy, his brother's daughter,
and ten pounds to Sarah Ellis, wife of John Ellis.

This will was proved in London the 25th September 1656
before the lawfully authorised judges for the probate of wills and
granting administration by the oath of Elizabeth
Bellamy, the widow and one of the executors named in the above written
will, to whom administration of each and every goods, chattels
and debts of the said deceased was empowered having been legally
sworn to truly and faithfully administer the same. The powers of the
other executor, Robert Bellamy, are reserved to make like probate upon
legal application for the same.

Published3 April 1656
SourceMersea Museum
IDMARG_190