Will of Elizabeth Paige, Widow, of Barnstaple, proved 7 July 1657

by Elizabeth Paige

(1) The last will and testament of me Elizabeth Paige of Barnestaple, widdowe, made (2) the nynth day of March one thousand six hundred (3) fiftie six (...) being sicke of bodie but thank be to God (4) of perfect memorie doe make this my last will and (5) testament as followeth. Ffirst I committ and commend (6) my soule into the hands of Almightie God trusting and (7) verelie beleeving through the merritts death and passion of his sonne (8) Christ Jesus my Lord and only Saviour that my sinns are forgivenne (9) and my bodie to Christian buriall. In primis I give and bequeath unto (10) the poore of Barnestaple five pounds to be distributed by my executor (11) hereafter named immediately upon the solemnizing of my funerall (or by his (12) (order?) and (assignes?)[)]. Item I give and bequeath unto tenn poore weavers of (honor?) (13) (...) (...) twentie shillings a peece of which John (Henraley?) to be one and for (14) the other nine I referr the nomination of them unto my executor hereafter named. (15) Item I give to the building and erecting of those Almeshouses (now in decay) (16) commonly knowne and being called the Almes Land and (lay?) next adjoining (17) unto that Almeshouse built and erected by my selfe (...) att my propper cost and (18) charges formerly the summe of one hundred pounds to be bestowed therein att (19) the discretion of my executor hereafter named. Item I give unto the Maior and (20) Aldermen for the time being and unto theire successors the summe of ffiftie (21) pounds to be lent forth for the benefitt of those poore people which shall be here (22) after placed into those Almes houses when builtt and towards the repairing (23) of that Almeshouse already built as well as those other Almeshouses to be (24) built and the remaining proffitt of the said ffiftie pounds to be yearely distri- (25) -buted equally unto the said poore the whole weeke before Christide and (26) I doe make it my raquest unto the said Mayor and Aldermen that they (27) and theire successors from time to time doe take good securitie for this ffiftie (28) pounds and informe such person or persons as shall borrow the same to bring it (29) in at the end of every yeare or to renewe theire bonds by them selves and (30) (two?) sufficient sureties. And I doe further desire and ordaine that during the (31) whole life time of my executor hereafter named he may have the placeing (32) of such poore into those Almeshouses when built as he shall (contend?) to be (33) most fitt and remove them to his pleasure (in case of misdemeanour). Item (34) my will is that my executour hereafter named shall furnish each of those (35) Almeshouses when finished and built with a tableboard, cupboard, (fold?) bed- (36) -stead, rugg, canvis sheete, dustbed. Item I doe give and bequeath unto Mast^r Martin Blake and Master Jonathan (...ner) in cause the fformer shall be (38) Vicar of this towne and the later Lecturer of the same at the time of my (39) death the summe of twentie shillings unto each of them to be bestowed in a (40) booke. Item I give and bequeafe unto my sister Alice Bayley, widdowe, the (41) summe of twenty pounds. Item I give and bequeafe unto my sister Cooke the (42) summe of twenty pounds. Item I give and bequeafe unto my brother Thomas (43) Harwood the summe of forty pounds. Item I give and bequefe unto Anne Horwood, (44) widdowe, my sister in lawe, fortie shillings (if she survive me [)]. Item I give (45) and bequeafe unto Joane Horwood my sister-in-lawe three pounds (if she (46) survive me [)]. Item I give unto Mary Horwood my sister in lawe now living in ... [end of page 1 of 3 1/2] Exeter ...