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Will of Sir Richard WENMAN of BKM Twyford Will 15 Aug 1638   Codicil Mar 1640   Probate 30 Apr 1640
Source: TNA no. PROB11/182 Contributed by: John Moore Go to Translation Go to Transcript
Summary.
... I Sir Richard Wenman, knight, Lord Viscount Wenman ... Name Relationship [Comments] or Major Bequests Sir Richard WENMAN   BKM Twyford Sir Thomas WENMAN Eldest Son (Exec) Phillip WENMAN Son Martyn LISTER Son-in-law Overseer Arthur GOODWIN Son-in-law Overseer Mary MORE Legatee Servant William BASSE Legatee Servant Witness Edward GROUT Legatee Servant James THOMSON Legatee Servant Bezaliel SERGIAN Mention Elizabeth SERGIAN Mention [w Bezaliel] Edward SERGIAN Legatee [s Bezaliel -- see Note] Mr WILKINSON Legatee Thame Mr LITLE Bureaucrat Probate 30 Apr 1640 London (PCC) with codicil ... Sir Thomas Wenman, Baronet, son and Executor ...
Transcriber's and Editor's Notes
BKM Twyford is just across the border from Bicester. £40 pa for life was a huge sum to give to someone else's son ... and "now wife" ... the editor wonders ... The following details are believed to be true but should not be totally relied upon: Testator: Father of Thomas (1664/65 qv).
Translated and paragraphed. with some of the standard preamble and "legalese" removed. Go to Glossary
... I Sir Richard Wenman, knight, Lord Viscount Wenman ... My body is to be buried in Twyford Church beside my wife's. My son and heir Sir Thomas Wenman, knight, whom I make my sole Executor, stands jointly bound with me for most of my debts. As soon as possible after my decease he is to pay all my debts, whether secured by part of my lands etc or by simple contract. The better to enable him to do so, I leave the inheritance of all my Manors, lands, tenements etc in Oxon, Bucks or elsewhere in England (those which I have not already settled on him or on my son Phillip Wenman during my lifetime, or otherwise disposed of) to him and his heirs In Trust to pay my debts and money legacies as he has promised -- rather than disposing of them myself to pay off my debts. I give £50 to my servant Mrs Mary More, to be paid within six months after my decease. I give life annuities of £10 pa, paid half-yearly and beginning within six months after my death, to my servants William Bas, Edward Grout and James Thomson. I give to each of my servants whom my Executor does not wish to employ one year's wages more than is due at my decease, to be paid at their departure. I give to young Edward Sergian, son of Bezaliel Sergian and his now wife Elizabeth, an annuity of £40 pa for life, paid quarterly and beginning on the first Quarter-day after my decease [see Note] I earnestly enjoin my Executor (and his heirs) to perform this legacy faithfully, and to be careful to see the boy well brought up and educated. My Executor is divide £150 in blackes[?] amongst my children at his discretion. I give £10 each to [the parishes of] Twyford, Thame, and Brackley, to be given to the poor of those towns. My Executor is to give a piece of plate worth £5 to Mr Wilkinson, lecturer at Thame, as a legacy from me. Witness William Basse, my servant =================================== Codicil March 1640 I give £100 to my son Phillip Wenman besides that which I formerly gave him, which Mr Litle, Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, is to retain for me, being my Creation money [whatever that meant]. I desire my two sons-in-law Mr Martyn Lister and Mr Arthur Goodwin to be overseers, and as a remembrance of my love I give them my two best horses, white cap and the gray horse [which?] my son Goodwin gave me. My son Goodwin is to have first choice. Probate 30 Apr 1640 London (PCC) with codicil ... Sir Thomas Wenman, Baronet, son and Executor ...
As transcribed from a copy of the original document. Original line- and page-breaks are not preserved.
In the name of God Amen the Fifteenth day of August Anno d[om]in[i] One thousand sixe hundred thirty eight and in the Fowerteenth yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne lord Charles by the grace of God of England Scotlande France and Irelande king defender of the Faith &c. I S'r Richard Wenman knight Lord Viscount Wenman being of good health and of a disposeinge understanding (thankes bee to Allmighty God) doe make and ordayne this my last will and testament in manner and forme following, revoking thereby all other and former willes by mee heretofore made, And first I com[m]end my soule into the hands of Allmightie god my Creator hopeing assuredly through the merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour afer the finishing of theise my fewe and evill dayes to be made p[ar]taker with him of eternall life in his everlasting kingdome, And my body to be buryed in Twyford Church by my wives, yf itt may bee done without haveing my body opened in a decent manner as to my Executor hereafter named shalbe thought fitt And as touching the disposic[i]on of such my worldly estate wherewith God hath pleased to blesse mee and to conferr uppon mee, First I will that S'r Thomas Wenman knight whome I intend of this my last will to make my sole Executor whoe is likewise my sonne and heire and standeth ioyntlie and severally bounde with mee for all or the greatest parte of my debtes shall within as convenient a tyme as may bee after my decease iustlie and truely satisfie and pay all my iust and true debtes w[hi]ch shalbe by mee oweing to any person or persons whatsoever att the tyme of my decease whether secured by any assurance out of any parte of my landes, or by other specialtie, or otherwise due by simple contract. And the better to inhable the said Sr Thomas Wenman to satisfie and paye all my said debtes, as likewise such other legacies in money as I shall give or bequeath by this my said last will and testament to any other person or persons, And uppon the sure trust and confidence which I have and repose in my said sonne S'r Thomas Wenman for the performance of the same, and uppon his faithfull promise made to mee to that effect and purpose I doe leave the inheritance of all and singuler my Mannors landes tenements and hereditaments within the counties of Oxon and Bucks or any of them or ells where within the Realme of England which I have not otherwise setled alreadie uppon him by act executed in my life tyme, or uppon my sonne Phillip Wenman or otherwise or otherwise [sic] disposed of to descende unto my said sonne S'r Thomas Wenman and his heires in fee simple according to the course of the comon lawe w[hi]ch otherwise I could and would have disposed of in such sorte as the same might have beene lyable to the payment of my said debtes and legacies. Item I give and bequeath unto M'rs Mary More my servant Fifty poundes of good and lawfull money to be paid unto her by my Executor w[i]thin sixe monethes next after my decease, Item I give unto my servant William Bas an Annuity of Tenn poundes per Annu[m] To be paid him during his naturall life, The first payment to beginn within Sixe monethes after my death and soe halfe yearely. Item I give unto my servant Edward Grout the like Annuity or yearely rent of Tenn poundes a yeare to be paid him in a like manner during his naturall life, Item I give unto my servant James Thomson the like Annuity of Tenn poundes a yeare to be paid him in like manner during his naturall life. Item I give unto all the rest of my servants that my sonne my Executor shall not bee disposed to keepe, One whole yeares wages a peece, more then shalbe due unto them att my decease to be paide unto them att their departure. Item I give unto younge Edward Sergian the sonne of Bezaliel Sergian and Elizabeth his now wife an Annuity or yearely rent of Forty poundes a yeare of good and lawfull money to be paid him quarterly by my executor during his naturall life, w[hi]ch Annuitie or yearely rent to beginn att the first of the fower most usuall Feasts that shall happen next after my decease earnestly enioyneing my sonne my Executor that hee take care, that this my legacie may bee faithfully and really performed by him his heires and Executors and that hee wilbe carefull allsoe to see the boy well bredd and educated It[em]: I will that my sonne my Executor bestowe One Hundred and Fifty poundes in blackes to be devided amongst my children according to his discretion. Item I will and bequeath to Twiforde, Thame, and Brackley Tenn poundes a peece to be given to the poore of those Townes. Item I will that my sonne my Executor give unto M'r Wilkinson Lectorer at Thame a peece of plate of the value of Five poundes as a legacie from mee, And of this my last will and testament I constitute and make my beloved sonne Sir Thomas Wenman knight my sole and onely Executor. Richard Wenman This my last will I make the Fifteenth day of August One thousande sixe hundred thirtie eight. I doe now the same day and yeare declare to be my last will and testament in the p[rese]nce of William Basse my servant. Itatestor[?] William Basse. An addition to my last will and testament bearinge date the Fifteenth day of August Anno d[omi]ni 1638, w[hi]ch Addition I annex this present March 1640 Inprimis I give and bequeath to my sonne Phillip Wenman besides that which formerly I bestowed uppon him one hundred pounds which Mr Litle Secretarie to my Lord Lieueten[an]t of Ireland is to retayne for mee being my Creation mony. Item I appointe S'r Thomas Wenman knight whoe is my sonne and heire sole Executor of this my Addition allsoe to my last will and testament. Lastlie I desire my twoe sonnes in lawe Mr Martyn Lister and Mr Arthur Goodwin to be Overseers of this my last will and testament, and as a remembrance of my love I bestowe uppon them my twoe best horses, white capp and the gray horse; my sonne Goodwin bestowed uppon me And I desire that my sonne Goodwin may have his choice Richard Wenman Probatum fuit testamentum suprascriptum … cum Codicillo annex' apud London coram venerabili viro Basilio Wood legum doctore Surrogato venerabilis viri d[omi]ni Henrici Marten militis legum etiam d[o]c[t]oris Curie Prerogative Cant[uarensis] Mag[ist]ri Custodis sive Com[m]issarij l[egi]time constitut[i] ultimo die mensis Aprilis millesimo sexcentesimo quadragesimo Juramento Honorandi viri D[omi]ni Thome Wenman militis modo barronet[ti] Wenman filij n[atu]ralis et l[egi]timi dicti defuncti et Executoris in hui[us]m[od]i testamento no[m]i[n]at[i] Cui com[m]issa fuit administratio omni[um] et singular[um] bonoru[m] iuriu[m] et creditoru[m] dicti defuncti de bene et fideliter administrand[o] ead[em] Ad s[an]cta dei Evangelia Jurat[i].      ex[amine?]d