Will of Gilbert I Paige (d.1647) of Barnstaple

(1)"In the name of God Amen the third day (2) of January in the yeare of Our Lord God one thousand six hundred ffourtie (3) and twoe and in the eightenth yeare of the raigne of Our Soveraigne Lord Charles (4) by the grace of God of England, Scotland, Ffraunce and Ireland King, Defender of (5) the Ffaith etc., I Gilbert Paige of Barnestaple in the countie of Devon, merchant, being (6) in perfect health and memorie thankes be given to Almightie God, yet (recalling?) to minde (7) the certentie of death amd the uncertentie of the time when and howe it shall please God (8) to call me out of this mortall life, doe make and ordaine this my last will and testament in manner (9) and forme following. Ffirst I doe by these presents revoke all former wills and testaments by (10) me made and all legacies by mee given and bequeathed. I bequeath my soule to Almightie (11) God my maker and to Jesus Christ my Redeemer by whose death and resurrection onely I hope (12) to be saved, and my bodie to Christian buriall. Item, I give and bequeath the summe of ffive (13) poundes of lawfull mony of England to be distributed amongst the poore people of the (14) buroughe and parish of Barnestaple at the time of my ffunerall or shortlie after at the discretion (15) of mine executrix and overseers of this my last will and testament. Item, I give and (16) bequeathe the summe of ffourtie shillings of lawfull mony of England to be distributed amongst (17) the poor people of the parish of Ffremington in the said countie of Devon shortlie after my (18) ffunerall by the discretion of my executrix and overseers of this my last will and testament. (19) Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne Roger Paige the summe of one hundred poundes to (20) be paid him at the end of one yeare after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto John (21) Paige my sonne the summe of one hundred poundes to be paid him at the end of six (22) moneths after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto Gilbert Paige my sonn the summe (23) of twoe hundred poundes to be paid him within one yeare after my decease. Item I give (24) and devise unto Sara my wife my howse in Corke (sic, should be Crocke) Streete within the towne of Barnestaple (25) wherein I now dwell and the rents and proffits thereof for and dureing the terme of (26) ffiftie yeares if shee shall live soe long. Item I doe will and devise that Sara my wife (27) shall have and take the use, benefitt and profitt of my messuage or tenement at the (28) highe crosse in Barnestaple aforesaid wherein Robert Leyman now dwelleth and of (29) a garden in Barnestaple aforesaid in the Bel meadowe now in my owne possession (30) for and dureing the terme of ffiftie yeares if shee shall live soe long and my (31) terme and termes in the said garden shall soe long continew. Item I doe give and (32) bequeath unto Roger Paige my sonne all my estates termes and interests in the (33) messuage or tenement in high streete at the high crosse .... and (34) peaceablie permitting his mother to have and take the yssues and profitts thereof (35) in manner and forme as aforesaid. Item I give and bequeath unto Sara my wife (36) the use benefitt and profitt of my tenement at Rookebeare in the parish of Ffremington (37) that I bought of my brother in law Samuel Cade for and dureing the terme of (38) ffiftie yeares if shee live soe long. Item I give and bequeath unto Gilbert Paige (39) my sonne all my estate termes and interest of my garden in the Greene Lane now (40) in the possession of Alexander (Geadent?). Item I give and bequeathe onto my sonne (41) Gilbert Paige all my estate termes and interests in my garden and tenement in the (42) Bel meadowe he quietlie and peaceablie permitting his mother to have and take (43) the yssues and profitts thereof in manner and forme as aforesaid. Item I give and (44) bequeath unto my sonne Roger Paige my scarlett gowne and my best black gowne. (45) Item I give more unto my sonn Roger Paige all my household goods that shall be (46) in my howse at the highe crosse at the time of my death. Item I give unto my sonne (47) John Paige all my printed bookes. Item I give more unto my sonn Gilbert Paige (48) all the rest of my apparrell not before given as well lynnen as woollen w$ch$ belonges (49) unto my bodie. Item I give unto my daughter in lawe Ellenor Paige a muskett (50) performed which belongs to my (liveing?) at Rookabeare and is in the handes of (51) Richard Gregorie the smith at Ffremington. Item I give more unto my sonne (52) Gilbert Paige my best corslett and my best (m..slett) with the (...rke) swordes and other (53) ffurniture belonging to the same. Item I give unto my twoe daughter in lawes (54) Ellinor and (Ew...ce) Paige twentie shillings to each of them to buy them a ring. (55) Item I give unto my twoe servants James Langdon and Mary Parmenter twenty (56) shillings a peace to each of them. Item I give to each of my brothers and sisters (57) tenn shillings a peace to buy them a ring. Item I give and bequeath to (58) the poore people of Master John Penrose's Almshouses ffive poundes to be imployed (59) towardes the buyeing of sea coales for the poore of that howse for ever. Item I (60) give and bequeath to each of my grandchildren that shall be liveing at my death the (61) summe of ffive poundes a peace to each of them. Item I give and bequeath unto (62) my kinsman Master Martin Blacke the summe of two and twentie shillings (63) the residue of all my goods and chattailes whatsoever not before given and (64) bequeathed. I doe give devise and bequeath unto Sara my wife whome I doe (65) make ordagned nominate and appoint to be my sole executrix of this my last will (66) and testament and I doe hereby appoint my brother in lawe master Richard Beaple (67) and my kinsman Master Martin Blacke, Master Richard Fferres and my sonne (68) Roger Paige to be my overseers of this my last will and testament whom I (69) doe very .... request and desire to (see?) this my last will and testament to (70) be performed (on each of whome?) my will is that my executrix doe bestowe a gould (71) ring of twentie shillings price. In witness whereof I the said Gilbert Paige (72) have hereunto putt my hand and and (sic) seale and published this writeing (73) to be my last will and testament even the day and yeares first above written (74) in the presence of those whose names are hereunto subscribed. Gilbert Paige (Sen.(ior?)). (75) Published by the said Gilbert Paige to be his last will and testament in presence (76) of us. Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Agnes Dennes fforty shillings (77) to buy her a peece of plate and to keep it in remembrance of me".

"I doe averr (78) and (inst...?) that the will within written is the originall will of the within named (79) Gilbert Paige and that the same is his owne hand writing as I verily beleive. William Balworthy". (Proved on the 20th day of  May in the year of Our Lord the 1647th ( vice(n)ssimo die mensis Maii Anno Domini mill(ensi)mo sescentensimo quadragensimo septimo))