Thomas SEWELL [201]

  General Notes:

Thomas was preferred to inherit the capital messuage Guyblons in Gt Henny

  Research Notes:

The Sewell's are connected to the Woodbridge family via Batho/Sewell/Alston branchs of the tree.
woodbridgefamily.co.uk <http://www.woodbridgefamily.co.uk/
Ref: Les Woodbridge webmaster

  Other Records

1. Thomas Sewell: Will, 31 Aug 1661.
In the name of God Amen.
The 31st day of August in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord king Charles II now of England etc., 1661, I Thomas Sewell of Great Henney in the county of Essex Gent being sick in body but of perfect memory thanks be to God etc. I do now make this my last Will and testament.

First I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God, believing to be saved in the day of general resurrection and judgement not by mine own merits but by the only merits and passion of my lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

My body I commit to the earth from whence it came to be decently buried in Christian burial at the direction of my executors.

As touching my worldly estate, I give unto Thomas Sewell my eldest son my messuage where I now dwell, with all the lands, tenements, etc. both freehold and copyhold which were my father's with their appurtenances (except the tenement, lands, meadow, and marsh now in the occupation of Lionell Lambert) in Great Henny, Little Henny, and Middleton in Essex, for himself and his heirs as soon as he turns 21.

I also give Thomas and his heirs all my messuage now in the occupation of John Greene Miller
in Great Henny with all the lands, appurtenances etc. and also my messuage now in the occupation of the widow Gilbert in Great Henny, Little Henny, and Middleton, and all the lands, etc. as soon as he turn 21.

I give to John Sewell my son and his heirs my messuage and lands, etc. which I purchased from John Dyster in Otton Belchampe or in some other parish there near adjoining, to have and to hold from age 21, he paying out my daughter Elizabeth £50 at age 21.

I give to Robert Sewell and his heirs my son all my lands, etc. in West Mersey in Essex, from the age of 21, he paying out my daughter Elizabeth £50 at age 21.

I give to Edmund Sewell my son and his heirs all my lands, etc. in Alphamstone and also one tenement wherein one Ambrose (Lanrod?) now dwelleth within cottage wherein widow Wattells now dwelleth in Great Henny and all the lands etc. and also all the lands which I purchased from Samuell Coleman and his wife with appurtenances in Great Henny to have and to hold from the age of 21.

I give to Benjamin Sewell my son my messuage, lands, etc. freehold, copyhold, and leasehold, in Great Connard and Little Connard in Suffolk and in Middleton, Essex for himself and his heirs from age 21.

I give to my daughter Mary Sewell £300 to be paid to her at age 20.

I give to Parnell Sewell my daughter £310 to be paid at age 20.

I give to Elizabeth my daughter my tenement in the occupation of Lyonell Lambert and the lands, etc. there belonging, and two tenements, one in the occupation of Richard Greene, the other of John Enis in Great Henny to have and to hold from age 20.

I also give to Elizabeth £110 more to be paid to her at age 20 to be raised by my executors out of my stocks.

I give to the poor of Great Henny £00.20.00 to be paid within one month of my decease.

I give to the poor of Middleton £00.10.00 to be paid as above.

I give unto Mr Blacklyn whom I desire to preach at my funeral 12 shillings to be paid at my funeral.

If Thomas shall die before age 21, then the messuages, lands, etc. bequeathed to him I give to John and his heirs in his place. And if that be the case, my gift to John of my said messuages, lands, etc. which I purchased of the said John Dister shall instead be given to Robert, Edmund, and Benjamin my sons and their heirs divided equally, and paying out the aforesaid sum of £50 in place of John to Elizabeth.

And if John, Robert, Edmund, or Benjamin my sons shall die before age 21, then my Will is that the messuages, lands, etc. hereby bequeathed to him/them so dying shall go to his/their survivor/s and be shared equally. And if any of my three daughters Mary, Parnell, or Elizabeth should die before age 20 my Will is that the legacy/ies of money and lands given to her/them shall go and remain unto and amongst all my daughters surviving and their heirs, etc. shared equally.

Item my Will is that if any of my said sons shall marry before age 21 without consent of my executors, then they shall no longer be entitled to the lands, etc. given and their share shall then go to any of the other survivors of my sons before mentioned. And in that case I will give £5 each to my executors. And the same for any daughters who marry without consent before the age of 20 for their share to be divided equally between my other living daughters.

Item I give to Barnard Curier my son-in-law £00.40.00 to buy himself a ring to be taken by him within one month after my decease.

For my executors during the minority of my son Thomas or for Thomas himself once 21 years old to pay unto Parnell my wife £20 a year of the rents of the said messuages, lands, etc. which I have hereby given to my son John to be paid to my wife during her natural life half yearly at the feast days of the Annunciation of our Lady St Mary the Virgin and St Michael the Archangel divided equally.

I hereby authorise my executors to demise all the said messauges, lands, etc. hereby bequeathed
to my said children and to take the rents and profits thereof until my said children reach the ages mentioned above.

For my executors with all convenient speed after my decease to sell all my corn, cattle, and other
personal estate (except my household stuff and furniture), money arising from rents, and the sale of my said stock and of all other my personal estate, and to pay my said legacies as they are due.

I authorise my executors to receive all such money as I have sent and shall grow due to me upon any messuages.

My desire is for my executors to make the best improvement they can of my estate.

For any overplus to be divided equally amongst my children immediately after my legacies shall be paid.

For all my household stuff and furniture to be equally divided amongst my children.

If my rents, stocks, and other personal estate shall not be sufficient to pay all my legacies then my
executors shall sell so much of my said household stuff as shall be required to pay my legacies.

The residue of my household stuff to be divided equally amongst my children.

I appoint my brother Robert Sewell and my loving son-in-law Barnard Garter to be my executors. And I give them each £5 for their trouble. And for any extraordinary trouble to be paid for by my brother Robert as he sees reasonable.

In case my son John or his heirs, or Robert or his heirs, shall not each pay the said sum of £50 to Elizabeth, then it should be lawful for her to enter into all of my said messuages, lands, etc. which I purchased from John Dister and to take all the rents, issues, and profits thereof until the said £50 and all costs be paid.

I appoint my loving brothers-in-law Mr Edmund Alston, Mr Samuell Alston, and Mr Edward Alston to be the supervisors, and I give to each of them £00.20.00 to buy them rings, and my earnest desire and request is to my executors that all good means may be used to bring up all my children in the fear of God and that they may have such teaching and learning given them as shall be fit for them.
In witness whereof, etc.,
signed

Thomas Sewell

in the presence of
Samuell Coleman
John Greene
Isaac Nicholsune
Joseph Mann

Transcribed and summarised by C. L. O'Sullivan 2023

Thomas married Mary ALSTON [2788] [MRIN: 92], daughter of Edmund ALSTON [2617] and Rachel SKINNER [2782], on 20 Jun 1633 in Newton SFK. (Mary ALSTON [2788] was baptised on 26 Apr 1614 in Newton Nr Sudbury SFK.)