Copyright: Lichfield Joint Record Office
William Weightman's Will: Hints 1663
In the name of God Amen. I William Weightman of Hints in the Countie of Stafford, being weak in body, but of perfect memorie, thanks be to God for it, doe declare and make this my last will and testament in manner and forme following. First I comit and bequeath my soul unto the hands of almighty God who gave it, hoping in his mercy, to be saved through the onely merit and satisfaction of Jesus Christ his sonne my blessed Saviour and redeemer; & my body to the dust, from whence it came, to be decently buried at the discretion of my executrix hereby appointed. And for my outward effects I dispose of it as followeth. my funeral expenses being discharged & all my debts truly payed, Imprimis I give unto my two sons John & Thomas to either of them the sume of fourscore pounds, the wch sumes of fourscore pounds apiece shall become payable unto them, when they shall come to be of age of twenty foure years: And if it shall happen that either of them shall die, before said age, and leaving noe issue behind him, that then his said portion of fourscore pounds, shall pass and accrue wholly unto the surviving brother. And if it shall happen that they both should die before aforesaid age of 24 years, that then both their portions of fourscore pounds apiece shall be added unto & divided equally among my three daughters or for as many of them as shall be living. And further I allot ye interest of these sumes of money unto my wife for ye bringing up & putting out my two sonnes to trade, to wch I desire they may be disposed of at the discretion of their mother and Mr Richard Voughton & Mr John Voughton of Lichfield Street in Tamworth. (Transcriber's note: Thomas Guy also lived in Lichfield Street). And to such of my three daughters Mary Anne and Benedict I give the sume of threescore and ten pounds, wch shall become payable to each of them at or upon the day of their Marriage of wthin twenty dayes after, they being of the age of twenty & one years at least, and marrying wth the consent of their mother: And if it shall happen that anyone or more or all of them should die unmarried, that then their portions shall be equally devided amongst the rest of my children, whether sons or daughters surviving ; & that their mother shall have the use and interest of the aforesaid sums of money being ye portions of the daughters for the bringing them up untill they shall be of twenty and four years of age if they remain unmarried, and afterwards the interest shall accrue unto them respectively, for longer as their portions are unpaid. Item I give unto my kinsman John Oldes my eldest Brothers sonne the sume of five pounds to be payed to him at his coming of the age of twenty five years. Item I give unto my uncle Richard Voughton and brother in law John Voughton of Lichfield Street in Tamworth, whom I make overseers of this my will to each of them the sume of five shillings. Item I give unto my brother Thomas Oldes the sume of five shillings , & to his two children one shilling apiece. Item I give all ye rest of my goods chattels, leases bonds whatsoever unto Benedict my wife, whom I constitute and make full and sole Executrix of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have put my hand & seale this twenty & ninth day of January in the thirteenth year of the Reign of our Souvraign Lord Charles the second by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King, Defender of the faith ....
Anno Doi 1661
Sealed in the presence of
Joane Voughton, her mark
Frances Wright, her mark
Thomas Brookes William WeightmanLatin section follows on proving the will in 22nd May 1663