- Contributed by Gillian Palmer -
The Will of CHARLES BLOUNT, 1655
In the name of God Amen.
I Charles Blount late of Astley in the countie of Worcester Gentleman finding myselfe of late somewhat sickely but of sound and perfect mind and unconfused Thanks be given unto almightie God therefore and calling to remembrance the insertayne estate of this transitory life thus that all flesh mast yield unto death, where it shall please God to call do make constitute ordayne and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following revoking annulling and ______ all and every testament and testaments which pass will heretofore by me made _______ only for my last will and Testament and none other And first being a penitent sinner from the bottom of my heart for my sinnes past most humbly desiring myself forgiveness for the same — committ my soule unto Almightie God my Saviour and Redeemer in whom and by the meritte of Jesus shall hereafter and believe assuredly to be saved, and to have full remission and forgiveness of all my sinnes and that my soule with my body att the the generall day of resurrection shall rise again with joy and through the meritte of Christes death and passion possess and inherit the kingdome of heaven prepared for his elect and chosen. And my body to be buried in such place as itt shall please my Executors hereafter named to appoint. And now for settling my temporall estate and such goods chattells and debts as it has pleased God farr above my desire to bestowe upon me. I doe order, give and dispose the same in manner and form following That is to say first I will that all those debts and duties as I owe in right of constitute to any manner of person or persons whatsoever shall be well and truly contented and paid or ordeyned to be paid within convenient tyme after my decease by my Executors hereafter named. Item I give, direct and appoint the summe of Twentie pounds of lawful english money to be by my said Executors hereafter named laid forth and expended out of the first moneys which by virtue of this my last will and Testament shall come to their hand in the buying of one good pared Gelding, Nagg or Mare for the right honourable and my Noble Lord and Master George Earl of Desmond which I desire them to present to his Son as remembrance of my gratitude and obligation to him. Item I give and bequeath unto the right honourable the Countess of Desmond my most honourable Lady and Mistress the summe of one hundred pounds of lawfull money of england and acknowledge mine likewise of my gratitude to her honour. Item I give and bequeath to the Lady Mary Fielding Eldest daughter unto the said right honourable the Earl of Desmond to the summe of twentie pounds to buy her Ladyshipp A ring (If she so please) Item I give unto the Lady Elizabeth Fielding second daughter to the said Earle of Desmond the summe of twentie pounds likewise to buy her Ladyshipp A Ring (If she so please) Item I give and bequeathe unto the Lord Kallan Eldest sonne to the said Earl of Desmond And to Mr. George Fielding and Mr. Charles Fielding younger sonnes to the said Earl the summes of ten Pounds apeece to buy each of them a Nagg, Mare of Gelding, If they so please. Item I give and bequeathe unto my deare brother Francis Blount Esquire the summe of fiftie pounds. Item I give and bequeathe unto my dear sister Mrs. Selbourne the summe of fourtie pounds to be by her disposed of to such use or uses as shee herselfe shall direct or appoint without the consent or approbation of her husband Edward Selbourne Gentleman. And in case the said Edward Selbourne husband shall intermeddle with the same thus my said Executors hereafter named shall not bee obliged to pay the same unto her therefore Mrs. Selbourne or her husband but to pay or dispose of the same to the use of Mark Mallard Sonne of the same Anne. Selbourne by her former husband. Item I give and bequeathe unto my dear Sister Mrs. Hannery the summe of Thirtie pounds which her husband Thomas Hannery Gentleman is to suffer her to pay or dispose of to such use or purpose as she please. Item I give and bequeathe unto my cozen James Blount one of the Sonnes of my late brother James Blount Esquire deceased the summe of fiftie pounds in case he be liveinge or such returned from beyond the seas where now he is to demand the same. Item I give and bequeath unto my cozen John Blount son of my said Brother Francis Blount the like summe of fiftie pounds. I give and bequeath unto my cozen Mr. William Blount one of the sonnes of Sir Walter Blount of Sodington in the county of Worcester, knight, the summe of twentie pounds. And to his brother my cozen Edward Blount another of the sonnes of the said Sir Walter Blount the summe of tenne pounds. Item I give and bequeath unto my couzen Mr. Windsor, who married one of the daughters of the said Sir Walter Blount the summe of twentie pounds. Item I give and bequeath unto my couzen Mr. Thomas Hill, Linen draper att the Golden Lyon in Harogate Market, London, the summe of twentie pounds. Item I give unto the wife of my couzen Blount Sadler of ___ London where he usually lodges the summe of five pounds to buy her a Ring. Item I give and bequeath unto the poor people of the parish of Astley in the said countie of Worcester being the place where I was borne the summe of ten pounds to be used ___ for a Monke[?] To the best benefitt and advantage that may be for the ____.
And I do hereby desiring my said Executors hereafter named and Mr. Thomas Hill the elder of Astley aforesaid and Mr. Thomas Hill the younger his sonne to take care that the said son promised be not misemployed or dispossessed of, contrary to the intention and understanding of this my will. Item I give and bequeath unto my very good friend Mr. Clay, Chaplain to the said Earl of Desmond, the summe of five pounds to buy him A Ring to weare for my sake. Item I give and bequeath unto Henry Belland & Elizabeth Cookley, the summe fo siazen pounds (sizt). The Lyhon and Bell[?] five pounds and to Elizabeth Cookley fourtie shillings for their care of and stadie assistance to me on all occasions.[?] And I do likewise give unto and among others the ancient servant of the said Earl the summe of tenn pounds to be given unto and amongst such of them along said very good friend Mr. Clay by and with the consent and approbation of my said Executors hereafter named shall be thought fitt. And as for all the rest and residue of my goods and chattells debts and ______ in case there shall be any ___ or remainder after all and every the debts and legasies before expenses and bequeaths and my funerall charges shall be satisfied and paid. I give and bequeath the same unto my said brother Mr. Francis Blount unto whom I particularly commend the execution and performance of this my will. And do here by make, constitute and ordayne my said brother Mr. Francis Blount and my said couzen Mr. William Blount Sonne of the said Sir Walter Blount Executors of this my last Will and Testament: desiring they will for the same duly and punctually perform according to the true intentions and meanings thereof. And in case of any of my friends, kinsmen and ____ or any of them, or any of the persons to who I have klame or hereby bequeathe any Gift or legasie, shall in any manner or wise indeavor to avoyd hinder or frustrate the full force and due execution and intention of this my said last will and testament that then such persons and persons so obstructing or hindering the same shall for ever hereafter be absolutely debarred from taking or retaining any benefitt by this my said will, or of any legasie herein before unto them or any of them bequeathe. And my said Executors are hereby fully discharged from paying or performng the same or any part therefore. Any things herein before contayned to the contrarie not withstanding. In Witness whereof I have here unto sett my hand and Seal this Nineteenth day of December in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fifty and five 1655/Cha: Blount/Signed sealed and delivered by the within named Charles Blount with person of rod J. Blount, J. Nicholls, Thomas Jelfman.
This will was proved att London the two and twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord God One thousand six hundred fity and six before the judges for probate of wills and granting Administration lawfully authorized by the oath of Mr. Francis Blount the brother, and one of the executors of the said deceased named in the said will to whom administration of all and singular the goods, chattells and debts of the said deceased was committed ____first legally ____truly to administor the same. Desiring power to make and grand the like probate to Mr. William Blount the cozen and other executor in this will named whom he shall come and in legall manner require the Same.
This will was futher proved at London the nineth day of July in the year of our
lord God one thousand six hundred fifty and six before the judges for probate of
wills and granting administration lawfully authorized by the oath of Mr. William
Blount, gentleman, kinsman of the said deceased and therefore executor named in
the said will to whom also administration of all and singlular the goods
chattells and debts of the said deceased committed by signing heretofor as
before John Exton Doctor of Lawes, truly to administor therefore.
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Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, Folio 172, Public Record Office, London
Indexed in Vol. 54 Wills 1653-56, Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Will of
Charles Blount/Blunt, gent. of As[t]ley, Worcestershire, 1656, Folio 172.