The Will of Richard Warren of Fordington - 5th July 1636
In the name of God Amen: The fifth day of December in the fourteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles by the grace God King of England, Scotland, France & Ireland defender of the faith Anno Dm [In the year of Our Lord] 1636 I Richard WARREN of Fordington in the County of Dorset Husbandman being in health and of good and perfect memory thanks beingto God considering my weak and frail state of being and grown into age and Desirous to settle and dispose of that estate which it hath pleased Almighty God for to give me in peace for the avoiding of Controversies between my children after my death Do make and ordain this my last Will & Testament in manner & form following And first of all I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God having in and through the merit and mediation of Jesus Christ his only Sonne and most blessed Lord Saviour to attain unto that eternal salvation of soul and body which he hath prepared for his event in Christ And my body I commit unto Christian burial to be buried in such decent manner as my Executors herein nominated shall think convenient Item I give and bequeath towards the set paragons of the Church of Fordington Six Shillings and eight pence And to the poor of the same Parish the sum of six shillings and eight pence to be paid within convenient time next after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Marie BARTLETT wife of John BARTLETT the sum of six shillings & eight pence and no more in respect have bought my copyhold tenement in Fordington for her life and she hath married without my consent. ItemI give and bequeath unto John COX son of John COX of Bockhampton and of Elizabeth his wife one other of my daughters the sum of twenty pounds Item I give and bequeath unto William COX one other of the sons of the said John COX and Elizabeth his wife the sum of twenty pounds ItemI give and bequeath unto my daughter Johan wife of Edward SPRAGUE six shillings and eight pence and unto the children of the said Edward SPRAGUE and of Johan his wife which shall be living at the time of my decease the same of twenty shillings a piece Item I give and bequeath unto my God children William Swann, Richard COSENS and Christopher SAMPSON and unto Margaret WILLS daughter of Richard WILLS of Fordington the sum of twelve pence a piece. Item Upon condition that the said John BARTLETT and Marie his wife my daughter do permit and suffer mine executors herein nominated and the survivor of them quietly and peaceably to hold and enjoy the copyhold tenement with the appurtenances in Fordington aforesaid wherein I now dwell and to take ye whole in profit thereof for the space of six months next after my decease. I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Marie the sum of Ten Pounds to be paid unto her within 1 year next after my decease All the residue of my goods and chattels debts and credit whatsoever not being given & bequeathed I give and bequeath unto for my wife and to the said Elizabeth COX my daughter whom I make and ordain to be Executor of this my Last Will & Testament And I do nominate and appoint my loving friend Mr William JOLLIFFE of Dorchester Wollendraper and Thomas SERVANT the younger from Charminster to be Overseers of this my Last Will & Testament And in remembrance of my love I give to either of them the sum of three shillings and four pence In Whiteness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written Richard WARREN Signed sealed and acknowledged by the same Richard Warren to be his Last Will & Testament in the presence of us Sworn July William JOLYFFE Henry SAMWAYS 1636
PROBATUM: [The Probate entry is written in Latin and needs proper translation but Administration appears to heve been granted in London by a Henry Martin to Elizabeth Cox daughter of the deceased. The PRO date given is 3rd May 1638]
Genealogical Notes:-
- Johan is short for the Latin Johanna or Joan
- I cannot trace a marriage between a Johanna Warren and an Edward Sprague but certainly an Edward Sprague had at least two children in Fordington : Elizabeth Sprague Baptised 1st May 1627 (who was buried Fordington 24 Sep 1631) and an Edward Sprague Baptised Fordington 1st Aug 1630 which seem to fit the circumstances outlined in the Will. A Johane Warren did marry a Ralph Sprague in Fordington on 15 Aug 1623 but she is known to have emigrated to Massachusetts - Ralph went on the Abigail in 1628 and his wife is likely to have followed on the Lyons Whelp in 1629.
- Maria WARREN married John BARTLETT in Fordington on 25th January 1634/5 - clearly without her fathers consent.
- The IGI shows a marriage of a John COX to Elizabeth WARREN on 6th Dec 1636. Registers do not survive for this period so its not clear where this date came from.
- William JOLIFFE was a wealthy draper living in Dorchester, he was appointed treasurer of the restoration fund after the Fire which occurred in Dorchester on 30th Jan 1623 .