In the name of God Amen I Sir Joseph Alston of Bradwell Abbey in the County of Bucks Barronett being (sicke in body but of perfect mind and memory (praise be given unto the Allmighty God for the Same) doe make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) Principally and above all the rest I commend my Soule into the hands of Allmighty God my Heavenly Father in hope and for all assurance to be Saved by the meritorious death passion Resurrection and ascension of my most gracious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And my body I commit to the Earth to be decently interred in the parish Church of Bradwell aforesaid at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named And as concerning such parte of my worldly Estate as herein after is mentioned and with which the bounteous hand of God have in much mercy blessed me I doe devise and bequeath the Same unto Such persons and in Such manner as herein after is expressed (that is to say) First I give and bequeath unto my most dear and loveing wife Dame Elizabeth Alston all that Cottage or Tenement with the Commons and appurtenances thereunto belonging Scituate lying and being within the parish of Bradwell aforesaid where in John Byman now dwelleth and alsoe all that Cottage or Tenement with the Commons and appurtenances thereunto belonging Scituate lying and being in Bradwell aforesaid wherein Goodman Underwood now liveth To have and to hold the Same Cottages or Tenements and premises unto my Said wife Dame Elizabeth Alston and her Assigns for and during the terme of her naturall life and from and after her decease into such one of my Sonnes Joseph Edward or Isaac and his Heyres as my Said wife by any Writing under her hand and seale testified in the presence of three or more creditable Witnesses shall nominate direct and appoint Item I give and bequeath unto my Said wife her owne necklace of Pearle with her owne Jewell together with all other the goods and things in her Closett and elsewhere that now are usually had and enjoyed by my Said wife for her owne immediate and particular use with liberty to change or alter the Same not diminishing the value of the same or any parte there of to be had enjoyed given and disposed by my Said wife unto Such of my Said Children and in Such manner as she shall judge most convenient Item I give and devise unto my Said wife one Moiety or equal halfe parte of my Household goods to be by her onely used and employed for and dureing her naturall life with like liberty to change or alter the Same or any parte thereof not a lessening or abateing the value of the Same And the other Moiety or equall halfe parte of my Said Household goods And alsoe the Said Moiety Soe devise the unto my Said wife after her decease I give and devise unto my Sonne Joseph Alston his Executors Administrators or Assignes And further my mind and Will is That if any waste Spoile or destruction happen all come unto the goods herein by me devise unto my Said wife by reason or accident of Robbers or fire. That then and in such case my Said Wife shall not anywaies be charged or chargeable to make good the same or answere the value of the goods Soe lost or destroyed Item I give unto my Said Wife my Coach and Charriot and my foure Coach Horses or Mares item I give unto my Said wife the Summe of one Hundred pounds Item I give and devise unto my Said Sonen Joseph Alston my great Silver Bason and Spout pott two great Silver Flagons the paire of Silver Candlesticks that was my Father’s the Silver Mounte the two Silver rings the Silver Bason to wash hand in the great Silver Saltseller the two Silver Chamber potts the great Silver the Chaffing dish the Silver Snuffers and snuff dish the Silver gilt Tankard and the best velvet Bedmantle Item I give and devise unto my Said Sonne Joseph All that Messuage or Farme house Scituate and being in Bradwell aforesaid called or knowne by the name of Ferre.’s Farme now in the occupation of William Herbert together with all houses lands Tenements and Hereditaments thereunto belonging or with the Same now used occupied or enjoyed Scrituate lying and being within the parish of Bradwell aforesaid and alsoe all those three Cottages or Tenements with the Commons and appurtenances thereunto belonging Scituate lying and being in Bradwell aforesaid now or late in the Several occupations of John Cleavers widow Harris and widow Skyes To have and to hold the Same Messuage or Farme house Cottages lands Tenements Hereditaments and premises with theire appurtenances unto my said Sonne Joseph Alston and his Assignes for and dureing the terme of his naturall life and from and after his decease unto the Heyres male of his body lawfully to be begotten And for default of such issue unto my Sonne Edward Alston for and dureing the terme of his naturall life and after his decease unto the Heyres male of his body lawfully to be begotten and for want of such issue unto my Sonne Isaac Alston for and dureing the terme of his naturall life and from and after his decease unto the Heyres male of his body lawfully to be begotten and for want of Such issue unto the right Heyres of me the Said Joseph Alston for ever Item I give and devise unto my said son Joseph Alston all my Estate Right Title interest reversion tearme of yeares illeg and demand whatsoever which I now have or with I my Heires Executors Administrators at any time hereafter may or ought to have or claime of or to all those three Messuages or houses Scituate and being in the George Court in Lumbard street within the City of London together with all and Singular the appurtenances unto the Same belonging or in any wise appertaining now in the possession of my Mother Dame Anne Alston To have and to hold the Same Messuages and premisses with their appurtenances unto my said Sonne Joseph his Executors Administrators and Assigns for and during all the rest residue and remainder of the tearme or Tearmes of yeares therein then to come and unexpired Item I give and bequeath unto my Said Sonne Joseph Alston all my messuages houses lands Tenements and Hereditaments whatsoever with theire and every of theire appurtenances Scituate lying within the parish and Precincts of Chelsey in the County of Middlesex, and all my Estate right Title and Interest both in possession and remainder or Reversion of in or to the Same To have and to hold the said Messuages houses Lands Tenements and hereditaments with theire appurtenances unto my Said Son Joseph Alston for and dureing his naturall life and from and after his decease unto the Heyres male of his body lawfully to be begotten and for want of Such issue unto my Sonne Edward Alston for and dureing his naturall life and from and after his decease unto the Heyres male of his body lawfully to be begotten and for default of Such issue unto my Sonne Isaac Alston for and dureing the Terme of his naturall life and from and after his decease unto the Heyres male of his body lawfully to be begotten and for want of Such issue unto the right Heyres of me the said Joseph Alston for ever Item I give and devise all those my five Messuages or Houses with the plott or piece of ground lying on the backside of the Messuage in the occupation of Mr Towne and now in the occupation of Mrs. Reyes together with all and Singular thappurtenances rentes to the Same belonging Scituate standing and being in the George yard in Lumbard Street within the City of London now or late in the severall occupations of Mr Bathurst Mr Springall Mr Fox and Mr Towne theire Some or one of theire Undertenants or Assignes together with all my Right Title interest possession Tearme of yeares claime and demand whatsoever of in or to the Same To have and to hold the Same Messuages and premisses with theire appurtenances unto my said Sonne Joseph his heyres and Executors Administrators or Assignes for and during all Interest residue and remainder of the Tearme or Tearmes of yeares thereinto come and unexpired And further my mind and Will is that my said Sonne Joseph shall pay all the ground rent ariseing growing due for the Same Messuages or houses and premises Item I give unto my Sonne Edward Alston the plate we hath the pott and Cover that his Uncle Sir Edward Alston gave him the great paire of Candlesticks that I bought two great Silver wrought Salvers the great wrought Cupp with the Cover and the pinke coloured Sattine laced Mantle Item I give to my Said Sonne Edward Alston all that Messuage or dwelling house with all and Singular the appurtenances unto the Same or belonging Scituate and being in the George Court in Lumbard street aforesaid wherein in Mr John Johnson now dwelleth and all my Estate right Title interest Tearme of yeares claime and demand what soever of in or to the Same To have and to hold the Same Messuage and premises unto my Said Sonne Edward Alston his Executors Administrators and Assigns for and during all the rest residue and remainder of the Tearme or Tearmes of yeares therein to come and unexpired Item I give and devise unto my Sonne Edward Alston five Hundred pounds Item I give unto my Sonne Isaac Alston three Silver Salvers a Silver Tea pott and Six Silver Cupps Six Silver gilt Spoons a little paire of Silver Candlesticks my Tankard I had of Mr Morritt the two Silver plates my two Silver porringers and all other my Silver plate not herein before devised and the laced Mantle of Cloath of Silver And Further my mind and Will is that my Said wife Dame Elizabeth Alston shall have the use of the Silver plate herein before devised unto my Said Sonnes Edward and Isaac Alston untill theire several and respective dayes of marriage Item I give and devise unto my Sd sonne Isaac Alston all the Messuage or dwelling house Scituate and being in the Said George yard fronting into Lumbard street aforesaid together with all and singular the appurtenances unto the Same belonging now or late in the Occupation of Mr. Young or his Assignes together with all my Estate Right Title and Interest tearme of yeares or claime and demand whatsoever of in or to the Same To have and to hold the Said Messuage and premises with thappurtenances unto my said Sonne Isaac his Executors Administrators and Assignes for and during all the rest and residue of the tearme or tearmes of yeares thereinto come and unexpired Item I give and bequeath unto my Sonne Isaac Alston one Thousand pounds And further my mind and Will is that in case my Sonne Edward shall happen to departe this life before he attaine the age of one and twenty yeares That then and in Such case I doe hereby give and devise the Said Messuage and premises with thappurtenances together with five Hundred pounds herein before devised unto my Said Sonne Edward aforesaid unto my Said Son Isaac Alston his Executors Administrators and Assignes And likewise but in case my Son Isaac shall depart this life before he attaine the age of one and Twenty yeares That then and in Such case I doe hereby give and devise the Said Messuage and premises with thappurtenances togeather with the Thousand pounds herein before devise unto my Said Son Isaac in like manner unto my Said Son Edward Alston his Executors Administrators and Assignes Item I doe hereby desire also authorise and appoint my said wife to dispose of the Linnen now being in the Trunke within my now dwelling house that is lyned with Skye coloured Sarsuett unto and amongst my Said Sons in Such parts Shares or portions and at such time and times as she shall judge most necessary and convenient Item I doe hereby appoint Mr. Matthew Disney of Bradwell aforesaid to preach at my Funerall and I doe hereby give him five guineas Item I give unto my Servant Charles Westerne five pounds Item I give unto my Servant William Perkins fourty shillings Item I give unto my maid Servants fouty shillings a peece All the rest and residue of my personall Estate goods and Chattels whatsoever not herein before devise after my debts legacyes and funerall expences are paid and discharged I doe give and devise unto my Said Son Joseph Alston whome I do hereby appoint to pay and discharge the expences and charges of my Funeral Solemnities and I doe hereby constitute and appoint my Said wife Dame Elizabeth Alston and my Said Son Joseph Alston joynt Executors of this my last Will and Testament desiring them to see the same faithfully performed and executed And I doe hereby command and require my Said Executors that they give no Mourning unto any person or persons that my Said Funerall otherwise then to Such person or persons as shall be resident within my now dwelling house at the time of my decease And I doe hereby revoake all former Wills and Testaments by me any waies heretofore made or declared In Witnesse whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seale this nineteenth day of February in the yeare of our Lord God according to the computation of the Church of England one thousand six Hundred eighty and eight Joseph Alston Signed Sealed published and declared by the Said Sir Joseph Alston for and his last Will and Testament in the presence of us S. Oldfield Mary Clayton Faith Disney F. Pomfrett
Probate: 19 June 1689
Sarcenet definition: a fine, soft fabric, often of silk, made in plain or twill weave and used especially for linings.