1614/15 Hester Powkes wrote her will on January 19. [1]
In the name of God amen the Nyneteenth daye of January in the yere of oure Lord god one thowsand sixe hundred and fourteene I Hester Powkes of the precinct of St Martin le Graund London widow late the wife of John Powkes Deceased and executrix of his last will and Testament beyng at this present in healthe of body and of good and perfect memorye (praised be god) do make and ordayne this my presente last will and testament in manner and forme folowing that ys to saye First and principallie I give and commend my soule into the handes of Almightie god my Creator and maker trusting in hym onlye Item I will my bodye to the earthe to be buryed in the parish where I nowe dwell. Item I will that all suche debts as I shall happen to owe at the tyme of my decease shalbe well and trulie payed within covenient tyme after my decease. Item I give and bequeath to the Releife of the poore people of the frenche Congregation in London Three poundes And to the Releife of the poore people of St Leonard in Foster lane to be distributed amongest them by my Executors hereafter named Twentye shillinges. Item I give to the Releife of the poore people of St Andrewe in Holborne where I nowe dwell to be distributed amongest them by my executors hereafter naed twentye shillings Item I give and bequeath to Philip Powkes and Hester Powkes the two children of my late Sonne John Powkes deceased twenti shillinges a peece to be payed unto them at the full age of one and twentie yeres Item I bequeath to John le Sage Twentie shillinges. To Judithe Sage and Hester Sage the children of my late daughter Judith Sage deceased to either of them three poundes a peece to be payed unto them at the accomplishtment of there serverall ages of twentie twoe yeres. Yf any of the daughters vizt. Judith and Hester shall happen to dye the one to be the others executor. Yf bothe of them should happen to dye Then to remayne to my Executors to be devided amongest them Item I bequeath viz to the twoe sonnes of my daughter Sara de Critz, Cornelis and Israel de Neve Six poundes a peece to be paid unto them at the age of twoe and twentie yeres. Item I will that all the rest of my goodes and Chattells shalbe equallie devided amongest myne executors after my funerall and other necessarye chardges aboute proving my will beyng firste deducted thereont: The Residue then remayning to be equallie devided amongest my three Children: the one third parte thereof to my Sonne Philipp Powkes the other third parte to my sonne Daniel Powkes And the last third parte to my daughter Sara de Crittz. And I doe ordayne and make the sayed Philip Powkes Daniel Powkes and Sara de Critz my three children ioynt executors of this my last will and testam't Chardging and requiring them on my blessing to see this my Will and testament well & trulie performed as my truste is in them And I do revoke and make voyde all former willes and Testaments whatsoever hertofore made by me. In witness wherof I the saied Hester Powkes have set my hand and Seale the daye and yere abovewritten Signed Hester Powkes Sealed and delivered in the presence of us Philipp Powkes Daniel Powkes John de Critz.
1615 The will of Hester Powkes was proved on November 4. [2]
[1] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11, Piece 126: Rudd, Quire Numbers 67-118 (1615), [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[2] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11, Piece 126: Rudd, Quire Numbers 67-118 (1615), [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].