Ancient, Curious, and Famous WillsHarris, Virgil M. (Virgil McClure)
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Ancient, Curious, and Famous Wills
Harris, Virgil M. (Virgil McClure)
Wills
“In the name of God, Amen. I, William Shakespere, of
Stratford-upon-Avon, in the county of Warwick, gent., in perfect health
and memory, (God be praised!) do make and ordain this my last Will and
testament in manner and form following; that is to say:
“First, I commend my soul into the hands of God my creator, hoping, and
assuredly believing through the only merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour,
to be made partaker of life everlasting; and my body to the earth
whereof it is made.
“Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Judith one hundred and fifty
pounds of lawful English money, to be paid unto her in manner and form
following; that is to say, one hundred pounds in discharge of her
marriage portion within one year after my decease, with consideration
after the rate of two shillings in the pound for so long time as the
same shall be unpaid unto her after my decease; and the fifty pounds
residue thereof, upon her surrendering of, or giving of such sufficient
security as the overseers of this my Will shall like of, to surrender or
grant, all her estate and right that shall descend or come unto her
after my decease, or that she now hath, of, in, or to, one copyhold
tenement, with the appurtenances, lying and being in Stratford-upon-Avon
aforesaid, in the said county of Warwick, being parcel or holden of the
manor of Rowington, unto my daughter Susanna Hall, and her heirs for
ever.
“Item: I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Judith one hundred and
fifty pounds more, if she, or any issue of her body, be living at the
end of three years next ensuing the day of the date of this my Will,
during which time my executors to pay her consideration from my decease
according to the rate aforesaid: and if she die within the said term
without issue of her body, then my Will is, and I do give and bequeath
one hundred pounds thereof to my niece Elizabeth Hall, and the fifty
pounds to be set forth by my executors during the life of my sister Joan
Hart, and the use and profit thereof coming, shall be paid to my said
sister Joan, and after her decease the said fifty pounds shall remain
amongst the children of my said sister, equally to be divided amongst
them; but if my said daughter Judith be living at the end of the said
three years, or any issue of her body, then my Will is, and so I devise
and bequeath, the said hundred and fifty pounds to be set out by my
executors and overseers for the best benefit of her and her issue, and
the stock not to be paid unto her so long as she shall be married and
covert baron; but my Will is, that she shall have the consideration
yearly paid unto her during her life, and after her decease the said
stock and consideration to be paid to her children, if she have any, and
if not, to her executors or assigns, she living the said term after my
decease: provided that if such husband as she shall at the end of the
said three years be married unto, or at any (time) after, do
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