In
the name of God Amen the nineteenth day of ffebruary in the year of our
Lord God according to the computation of the Church of England One Thousand
six Hundred ffiftie Six I Simon Benning of London pewterer being in health
of body and of good and perfect memories Praised bee God and being intended
forthwith to take a voyage to the Barbados beyond the Seas by the permission
and providence of Allmightie God therefore doe make and Ordaine this my
present will and Testament Containing therein my last will in manner and
forme following, that is to say, ffirst I command myselfe and all my whole
estate to the mercie and protection of Allmightie God being fully persuaded
by his holy spiritt through the death and passion of Jesus Christ to obtaine
full pardon and remission of all my sins and to inheritt everlasting life
ffirst. I will that all such debts as I shall happen to owe at my
decease shalle truely be paid as they Growe due in such manner as is hereafter
addressed and sett downe ----- Item I give and bequeath unto my brother
William Benning the sums of Threescore and ten pounds pounds of lawfull
money of England to bee pd upon demande after my decease alsoe I do give
and bequeath unto my said brother William Benning all these my goods mentioned
and addressed in one Bill of Ladeing Signed by David Larkwood? Master of
the goods on shipp called the reall freinde? shipp now bounde for Barbados
aforesaid if it shall soe please God that I depart this natural life upon
or beyonde the Seas provided allways and my will minde and intent is that
my said brother William Benning after receipt of the said goods and sale
being made out of the money that shall bee raised for the said goods shall
forthwith pay unto the severall parties hereafter nominated these several
somes following that is to sae ffirst my will is that he pay unto John
Bedford of London Parishe Churche the sume of Thirtie pounds of lawfull
money of England together with interest for the sume accordinge to the
true Intent abd meaninge of one obligation with Condition theresoe
written for payment of the said Sume of Thirtie pounds with interest unto
the said John Bedford his heirs Executors Administrators and Assignes by
the said Simon Benning William Benning and ffrancis Benning or any of them
theire heires Executors Administrators or Assignes relation being had unto
the said obligation it doth and may more fully appeare And alsoe it is
my will that my said brother William Benning doe pey or cause to be paid
unot John Duffield London England or his Assignes out of the moneys soe
raised upon the goods as aforesaid the sume of six pounds six shillings
of like lawfull money and further it is my will that my said brother William
Benning doe also pay or cause to be paid unto my brother Tobias Benning
or his assigned out of the moneys soe raised upon the goods as aforesaid
the sume of six poundes eleven shillings and six pense of the said John
Duffield and my brother Tobias Benning havinge purchased with me certaine
goods to the respective value of said sumes of money, provided allways
that if it shall happen that after my decease as aforesaid my said brother
William Benning doe not receive all the said goods mentioned in the Bill
of Ladeing as aforesaid but only some part thereof then my will is that
my said brother William Benning doe pay unto the said John Duffield and
my brother Tobias Benning soe farr as the said goods shall amounte unto
either in parte or in full. And it is my will and meaning that if
there bee not wherewithall upon the goods as aforesd to satisfie the said
John Bedford or his Assignes the full payment of the saide Thirtie pounds
with Interest when it shall growe due upon the aforesaid Obligation my
minde will Intent and meaninge therein that my said brother William Benning
and ffrancis Benning my Executor do joyntly pey part and part alike and
equally satisfye content unto the said John Bedford the said sume of Thirtie
puonds together with the Interest whereby the said obligation may bee discharged
Item I give and bequeath unto my brother Tobias Bening the sume of Tewntie
pounds of lawfull Englishe money to bee paid upon demande after my decease
Item I do give and bequeath unto my brother John Bening the sum of ffortie
pounds of like lawfull money to bee paid to his present Guardian William
Bening of page one and in the parishe of Tottnam ale [alsoe] Tottenham
in the Countie of Middlesex or any other that shall happen to bee his Guardian
hereafter upon Demande after my death for the onely use and behoofe of
my said brother John Bening when he shall attain to the age of one and
Twentie years and if it shall happen that my said brother John Bening this
life to depart before he attaine to the said age of one and Twentie years
my will and meaninge is that my brother William Bening shall have the saide
ffortie pounds if he shall then bee livinge but if deceased further this
my will and meaninge is that my brother Tobias Bening shall have the said
fortie pounds, X X X X X X X
And lastly as concerning all other my Estate either reall or personnall
wheresoever what soever or howsoever I give and bequeath to my brother
ffrancis Bening whome I make my sole Executor of this my last will and
Testament in Wittnesse whereof I have here unto sett my hand and seale
this day and year that is first above written Simon Benning Sealed Signed
and delivered in the presence of ye? Tho:Barnarde, Samuell Hursman?/ffursman?
Str./
[The following
Latin part of the will is not transcribed with any degree of accuracy.]
Probatum
apud London fact huinswode (?) estamentie soram venerabili et egregio Domino
Initietino merite _____________ et ____________ Dertore curia Pre-opative
Cantuarion Magistre Cussode ___________ commissarie logitune tenssitute
Litesuno ____________ die __________ ___________ Domini Millesunio Segrented
______________ Quarto paramente Frantisi Benning fratrie ditti dosuncti
et _________ in ___________ ______ altuna aoluntato dict defunct _________
cui Somlanissa fuit deminssiatro ammium et _____________ bonord __________
et Crediternum eniSem defunct devene et fideliter ____________ eadeni old
Sancta Dei Evangelia in debito Junio forma jurat.
[This will
was proved in London on 25 June 1664, with Francis Benning as executor.]