Thomas Johnson, Cittizen & Marchantaylor of London

The image of this will, located by Lea Dowd in the British National Archives and copyrighted by the Crown, is identified as Image Ref: 583; Catalogue Ref:  Prob 11/149.   Admittedly this is the closest to Shakespearean-era penmanship I've attempted to transcribe; thus those who may disagree with "my version" are urged to obtain a copy and decide for yourself. Toward this end I want to thank Lea and my husband Gerald for their input and support  as I struggled with new symbols for letters and British spelling.  Paragraphs and highlighting were added, while doubtful words are underlined. Except for the noted omissions of the given name for one of his godchildren and the specific amount due him by a deceased son-in-law, [ bracketed  words ] provide today's spelling or meaning of some archaic terms.	  Linda Sparks Starr    April 2007

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN the thirde Daie of September Anno Dui 1624 And in the yeares of the raigne of our soveraigne Lord James by the grace of god of England ffrance and Ireland Kinge  defender of the ffaith etc the two and twentieth and of Scottland the eight and ffiftieth I Thomas Johnson Cittizen & Marchantaylor of London being of good and p[er]fect health and memorie thankes be given to Allmightie god for the same Consideringe the Frailtie of this lief and the uncertaintie thereof Doe make and ordaine this my last will and testament in manner and forme following (that is to saie) 

ffirst and principallie I Comende my Soule to allmightie god my maker, Saviour and Redeemer trustinge and ffaithfullie beleevinge, that through the merritts of Christ most precious passion all my sinns shalbe freelie pardoned and forgiven me and to enioye [enjoy] everlastinge lief and happines in the kingdome of heaven.  And my bodie I comitt to the earth, to be buried at the discrecon [discretion] of my executors and Overseers of this my last will in the parrishe Church of Saint Dunstan in the west London in the Chappell where I oft to sitt at neare the place 

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where the poores' bread is sett as convenientlie maie be

Item I will that all such debts as shalbe oweinge and due by me at the time of my decease by right in lawe or consience to anie person or persons be well and trulie contented and paide by my executors hereafter named, And as concerninge my landes & Tenements my will and meaninge is, That they shall remayne after my decease to such persons and for and Duringe such estates, and in such manner and forme as I have allreadie lymitted  settled and disposed the same by my severall Deedes in writinge that is to saie 

by two small Indentures bearing Date the Thirteenth Daie of November in the Seaventeenth yeare of his saide Maisties Raigne over England etc. which I made upon the marriage of my sonne William Johnson, And by one other Indenture bearinge date the  Tenth daie of September in the Twentieth yeare of his said Maiesties raigne over England etc and inrolled in his Maiesties high Courte of Channcerye the Thirteenth daie of the saide moneth of September,  And alsoe by One other Indenture bearinge date the Twentieth daie of Maie in the two and Twentieth yeare of his said Maiesties Raigne over England etc which  I made upon the marriage of my sonne Thomas Johnsonn Or doe or shall lymitt settle dispose or appointe the same by this my laste will and Testament or by anie other deede or writinge hereafter to be by me made sealed & delivered in the presence of two or more sufficiente witnesses

Item I give and bequeath all that siyfe parte of Huttoste Grange, and the siyfe parte of Thurleby Grange in the Countie of Lincolne which I latelie purchased of Sr ffrancis Englefield Baronett, And all my ffreehould and Customarie  landes Tenements and hereditaments with theire appurtenances in the parish of Ixer in the Countie of Buckingham unto my sonne William Johnson and his heires for ever

Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne Richard Johnson  his heires and assignes forever, All that my Coppiehould [coppice: thicket, copse] mesuage and landes in Sutton contayneinge by estimacon Nyneteene acres beinge parcell of the Mannor of Candlesby in the Countie of Lincoln, And all those my Coppihould landes in Hoggesthorpe contayninge by estimation sixe acres beinge  parcell of the Mannor of Clagby in the saide Countie of Lincolne,  And alsoe all those my Coppihoulde Tenements and heriditaments in  Pinchbeck  and elsewhere  in the parts of Holland in the Countie of Lincolne, And alsoe all that Lordshipp and Mannor of Spaldinge with the rights members and appurtenances thereof in the Countie of Lincolne aforesaide which I latelie purchased of Sr William Garvace Knighte [? Gervase] and others,  And alsoe all those my ffreehould landes Tenements and hereditaments with theire appurtenances lyinge in the Marsh neere Alford in the Countie of Lincolne which are not heretofore grannted settled given bequeathed or assured unto or upon my sonne William Johnson and his heires.  And alsoe all and everye other my Mesuages Cottages landes Tenements and hereditaments with all and singular theire rights members and appurtenances whatsoever to them and everie of them belonginge or appurtayninge beinge ffreehould or coppihould lyinge and beinge in the Countie of Lincolne which are not settled or assured unto or upon my sonne William Johnson and his heires  And  all my estate right tytle interrest and Demannd in and to the same premisses and everie of them with theire and everie of theire rights members and appurtenances whatsoever, to the onolie proper use and behoofe of my saide sonne Richard Johnsonn and of his heires and assignes for evermore.

Item I give and bequeath for ever onto the poore people in the parish of Huttoft in the Countie of Lincolne One Anuall payment of Twentie shillinges of lawfull money of England,  And unto the poor people of the parish of Alford in the said Countie of Lincolne for ever the like anuall payment of Twentie shillinges of like moneye.  And unto the poore people of the parish of Billesby in the saide Countie of Lincolne for ever one Anuall payment of Tenne shillinges of like money and unto the poore peeple of the parish of Rathby in the saide Countie of Lincolne forever the like anuall payment of Tenne shillinges of like money  The said severall anuall payments to be forever yearelie yssuinge [issuing] goinge fourth and payable out of all those my lands and Tenements in Rathby and Hundolby in the Countie of Lincolne  which  I have given to my sonne Richard Johnson and his heires forever and to be respectively paide to the severall Churchwardens and Overseers of the poore of the saide severall parishes for the time beinge yearely, and to be by them respectivelie and Dulie  distributed and paid to and amongst the poorest peeple of their severall parishes on the feaste 

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Daie of Saint Thomas the Apostle yearelie by twelvepence a peece to soe manie of the said poore as the said severall  anuall payments  will extend unto.  And I doe straightlie charge my said sonne Richard to provide that the saide severall anuall payments be truelie paide accordinge to my meaning  which I hope he will the rather performe in regarde I have voluntarilie and ffreelie given him the said landes. 

  Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne Thomas Johnson all my Advanture and stocke which I have in the Virginia Companie

Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Wright wydowe the some [sum] of ffiftie poundes of lawfull money of England to be paide unto her within one yeare next after my decease.  And I doe alsoe give unto my saide Daughter Elizabeth Wright a gould Chayne which was her mothers

Item I give bequeath and Release unto my Grandchilde William Wright sonne of my saide Daughter Wright and his heires all the estate and right which I have in the Coppihould landes in Eastham in the Countie of Essex which was his fathers And one Obligacon of the  some of [   blank   ] poundes wherin his father stood bound unto me for assuringe the saide landes.  Alsoe I give bequeath and release unto the saide William Wrighte and his heires All that mancon howse [mansion house] with the landes and appurtenances to the same belonginge in  Eastham aforesaid which was his fathers and all my right tytle and interest in and to the same upon condicon nevertheles that the saide William and my saide Daughter Wright his mother Doe theire uttermost endeavors in aydinge [aiding] and  assistinge my executors in obtayninge and gettinge in the debts due to me by the Lord Dingwell, And if they or either of them  shall oppose or  neglect the same, Then the said William Wright to have or take noe benefitt of this my guift and Devise to him of the saide hould and landes.

Item I give and bequeath unto Katherine Wright my Grandchilde daughter of the saide Elizabeth Wright the some of One hundred poundes of lawfull mones of England to be paid unto her at her age of  One and Twenty yeares or day of marriage which of them shall first happen,  But if she dye before the same time, 

Then I devise and bequeath the said some of one hundred poundes to Elizabeth and Martha two other of my Daughter Wrights children to be equallie devided betweene them widlt to either of them the some of ffiftie poundes a peece to be paide at their severall ages of  One and Twentie yeares or daies of marriage which shall first happen,  

And if my saide grandchilde Katherin Wright doe  live and receive the said some of one hundred poundes soe to her given as aforesaide Then I give and bequeath onto the saide Elizabeth and Martha Wright the some of one hundred poundes of lawfull money of England to be equallie devided betweene them at theire saide severall ages of one and twentie yeares or daies of Marriage which shall first happen. And my mynde and meaninge is, that if ani of my said Daughter Wrights children happen to dye before the times lymitted for payment of theire severall porcons, [portions] Then I will and divise that the porcon of her or them soe dyinge shalbe paid to and amongst such other of her Daughters as shall  survive parte and parte like as  theire severall dayes or tymes aforesaide.

Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne in lawe Mr Isaac Johnson, The some of one hundred poundes of lawfull money of England to be paid unto him within one yeare next ensuinge my decease.

Item I give and bequeath onto my grandchilde and godsonne Thomas Johnsonn sonne of the said Isack Johnson and Katherine hys late wief my daughter deceased, The sume of Two hundred poundes of lawfull money of England to be paide unto him at his age of twenty and one yeares if he shall soe longe live. And if it shall happen the said Thomas to Dye before he shall attaine to his saide age of Twentie and one yeares  Then my will & meaning is, and I doe devise unto the said Isack Johnson his father the some of One hundred pounds more parcell of the saide two hundred poundes to be paid unto him within one yeare next after the death of his saide sonne Thomas

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Maria fullwoodd wief of Christopher ffullwood Esquior the some of ffiftie poundes of lawfull money of England to be paid unto her within one yeare next after my decease.  And I doe alsoe give unto my saide Daughter Marry ffullwoodd ffowerteene gouts Buttons enamelled and sett with pearles and stones which her mother did weare for a hattband, And a gould ringe sett with a great Turkey stone which was her mothers.

Item I give unto my Grandchide George ffullwood sonne of the said Christopher and Marye fulwood the som of Twentie poundes to  Buy him a horse,

Item I give and bequeath unto my

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Grandchilde Awdeley ffulwood sonne of the saide Christopher and Marie fullwood the some of One hundred Markes of lawfull money of England  [mark =  13 shillings and 4 pence]

Item I give and bequeath unto my Grandchilde Anne ffullwood daughter of the saide Christopher and Marie ffullwood the some of ffortie poundes of lawfull money of England.

Item I give unto my Grandchildren Elizabeth and Marye fullwood Daughters of the saide Christopher and Marie ffullwood and to either of them the some of ffortie pounds a peece of lawfull money of Englande.  

And my will and meaninge is, and I doe devise that the severall legacies hereby given to my said Grandchildren George Awdley, Anne Elizabeth and Marye ffullwood be respectivelie paide unto them at theire severall ages of One and Twentie yeares or daies of marriages which shall first happen,  And if anie of my saide Grandchildren shall happen to die before his or her age of one and Twentie yeares or daie of marriage then I give the legacie of him or her soe Dyinge to be equallie devided and paid to and amongst the rest of them which shall happen to survive at there Daies and times aforesaide parte and part like

Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne William Johnson my greate sealinge Ringe, and to my sonne Thomas Johnson my ring sett with  Emrodds and my Rapier & Dagger hatched with gould and my girdle [belt or sash worn at the waist] and hangorb [perhaps watch fob ?] of black silke and gould,  And unto my sonne Richard Johnson my Ring with an Aggatt stone.

Item I give onto my two daughters in lawe the wief of my sonnes William and Thomas Johnson to either of them the some of ffive poundes a peece to buy them Ringe.

Item I give and bequeath to my two daughters and to my daughters in lawe to everie                                 of them the some of tenne poundes a peece to buy them mourninge.  

Item I give to Mistres Johnson wief of my sonne in Lawe Mr. Isack Johnson the some of ffiftie shillinges to buy her a Ringe.

Item I give to Mrs. Jenkinson a mourning gowne or Tenne pounds in money to buy her mourninge.

Item I give and bequeath to my lovinge friend my late Partner Mr. Thomas Boothby for a remembrance of my good will my night Gowne of Changeable  Moe=haire [mohair]  hued with russett shagg and garded with velvett

Item I give to my sister Everett soe much Cloth as will make her a gowne, And I doe forgive my brother Everett all the debte he oweth me

Item I give unto my sister  Prudence Mercer a Gowne  of Cloth of Sixteene shillinges the yarde, and I doe forgive my brother Mercer all the debt he oweth onto me

Item I give unto my sister Rayner a mourninge gowne and a Ringe of Twentie shillinges

Item I give to my Godsonne John Rayner a mourninge Cloake.

Item I give unto my sister Abraham, widdowe, late wief of my brother-in-lawe Richard Abraham deceased a mourninge gowne of Cloth of Twentie shillinges the yarde or  Stuss or ffive poundes in money to buy her a mourninge Gowne which she  pleaseth

Item I give to my goddaughter [   blank   ] daughter of my said sister Abraham the some of Tenne poundes to be paide to her at the daie of marriage by her mother for which her mother hath sealed a bonde unto me

Item I give to my sister Abraham wief of my brother  Major William Abraham the some of Thirtie shillinges to buy her a Ringe.

Item I give to my cosen Mr. George Johnson and his wief to either of them a gould ringe with a  dashed head  of the value of Thirtie shillinges a peece.

I give unto Humffrey Skalcrosse Screvenor   a mourning Cloake of Cloth of Twentie shillinges the yarde and ffortie shillings in money to buy him a Ringe. 

Item I give to everie one of my men servants that shall dwell with me at the time of my death a mourninge Cloake and ffortie shillinges in money.

Item I give to everie of my maid servants that shall dwell with me a the time of my death a mourninge Gowne and ffortie shillinges a peece in money.

Item I doe forgive Andrewe  Johnes all the debt and some of money he oweth me.

Item I give to evorie one of my godchildren (not havinge anie thinge given unto them before by this my will) the some of Twentie shillinges a peece for a remembrance which shall come and require the some to be paide at theire severall ages of one and Twentie yeares.

 Item I bequeath will and Devise that soe much money as will purchase landes or tenements in ffee simple of the yearelie value of Three poundes and Tenne shillinges forever shalbe paide by myne executors at the discrecon of my Overseers, and of the Canon Councell men and Churchwardens for the tyme beinge of the parish of St. Dunstans in the west in ffleetstreete London where I doe now dwell which shalbe assured with provision that the some three poundes Tenne

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Shillinges shall ever thereafter yearelie be bestowed in Seacoales to be bought at the best season of the yeare and Devided yearlie forever amongst the poore peeple of the saide parish of Saint Dunstan, and the poore of the parish of Saint Bridgett als Brides London that is to saie) the some of ffiftie shillinges for the poore of St Dunstan's parish and twentie shillinges for the poore of the parish of Saint Brides

Item if my bodie shalbe buried in the parishe Church of Saint Dunstan aforesaide, Then I give to be bestowed amongst the ancienest [eldest] of the same parish which have benne  Scavingers  and upwardes to make them a Dynner [dinner] the some of ffifteen poundes that is to saie to the Precinct wherein I dwell sixe pounds and to the other two Precincts ffower poundes tenne shillinges a peece.

Item I give to soe manie of the worshippfull Companie of Merchantaylors of London as shall attend my bodie to the Church if I shalbe buried in London the some of ffortie and ffive poundes in money to make them a Dynner, And my will and Desire is that the wardens and the sixteene men of the Bachelors  Companie of Marchantaylors attend my bodie to the Church and to be at the same Dynner

Item I do give unto ffortie poore men to everie of them Two yards and a halfe of blackcloth of eight shillinges the yarde to make them Cloakes to weare at my funerall and Twelve pence a peece in money for the makinge of them Alsoe.   I give unto ffortie poore women to everie of them soe much black Cloth of Eight shillings the yard as will make them Gownes to weare at my funerall and twelve pence a peece in money for the makinge of them.  

 Item I doe give to the Preacher that shall preache my funerall  Sermon a Mourninge Gowne.

Item I give to the Almsfreemen of the Companie of Marchantaylors at Towerhill the money which I lent for Provision of Corne, and sor much more in money as will make up the Corne money Twentye and ffive poundes to be distributed for thire better maintennce at the discrcon of the Mr. and wardens of the same Companie for the time beinge 

Item I give to the Governor of Bridnell such as shall accompany my bodie to Church the some of Twentie markes in money to make them a Dynner And I doe will and desire they invite to the same Dyner the three Treasurers of the three other Hospitalls of London, And I doe give for the better releef of the poore people of the Hospitall of Bridwell the some of Tenne poundes

Item I give to the Children of  Christs  Hospitall to accompanie me to Church the some of sixe poundes, thirteene shillinges and ffowerpence and such bread as myne executors and Overseers shall thinke fitt,   And to the poore of the parish where I shalbe buried such bread as myne executors and Overseers shall think fitt

Item I give to the poore in the Two Counfors and in Newgatt in London the some of three poundes to be equally devided amongst the poore there,  and to be delivered by the advise  and descrecon of myne Overseers

Item I give to the poore people of Paddington in the Countie of MidS [Middlesex] where I nowe dwell Twentie shillinges by the yeare to be paide onto them for ever, on the feast daie of Saint Thomas th apostle yearelie and to be yssuinge [issuing] out of my house in Paddington in the occupacon of Robert Saborne  

Item I give to the poore peeple of Marrybone in the Countie of MidS the yearelie some of Sixe shillinges eight pence to be distributed amongst the poore there on the feast Daie of Sainte Thomas th apostle yearelie for and Duringe the Contynuance of my lease in Marrybone aforesaide and to be yssuinge out of my saide Lease landes there Duringe the saide time. 

All and singuler the rest of my goodes and chattells (my debts and legacies beinge paide and ffunerall charges discharged) I give and bequeath unto my two sonnes Thomas Johnson and Richard Johnson and I doe make and ordaine them the said Thomas and Richard Johnson Executors of this my last will and Testament And I doe make my sonne William Johnson, my sonnes in lawe Mr Christopher ffullwood and Mr Isack Johnson and my brother in Lawe Mr William Abraham Overseers of this my last will and Testament  And I doe give to everie one of them a mourning Gowne of Cloth of Twentie shillinges the yarde, and three poundes a peece in money to make them Rings   

In wittnes whereof I have hereunto putt my hand and seale yeven [given] the Daie and yeares first above written.  Thomas Johnson.   Signed sealed published and Declared

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 by the saide Thomas Johnson to be his last will and Testament in the presence of Josias Harries Richard Moore and Syminse Shalcrosse Snr / 

2d Augusti 1626  A  Coddicill to be annexed to the last will and Testament of me Thomas Johnson Cittizen and Marchantaylor of London

Item I give my mesuage in Eastham in the Countie of  Essex with all my ffrehoude landes there unto my sonne William Johnson and the heires Males of his bodie lawfullie begotten And for want of such heires males to my sonne Thomas Johnson and the heires males of his bodie, and for want of such heires to my sonne Richard Johnson and the heires males of his bodie,  And for want of such heires to the right heires of me the saide Thomas Johnson for ever Provided allwaies that my Grandchilde Katherine Wrighte shall have and enioye [enjoy] the thirde part of all the same landes and hereditaments Duringe her lief and to be answered the said third parte of the proffitts thereof towards her advancement in marriage.

And whereas by my last will and Testament Dated the thirde of Setpember 1624 I appointed that soe much money as will purchase landes and Tenements in ffee Simple of the cleere  yearelie value of Three poundes tenne shillinges forever should be paide by my executors & at the discrecon of my Overseers and of the Comon Counsell men and Churchwardens of the parish of St Dunstan in the west, 

 I doe hereby bequeath will and Devise that my executors shall paie soe much money as shall purchase landes and Tenements in ffee Simple of the cleere  yearelie value of eight poundes at the discrecon of my Overseers, and of the Comon Counsell men and Churchwardens of the said parish of St Dunstan in the weste that is to saie ffower poundes tenne shillinges  p[er] anum more than the saide Three poundes fower shillings p[er] anum with Provision that the same eight poundes p[er]  anum shall for ever hereafter yearely be bestowed in Sewoales to be bought at the best season of the yeare & Devided yearely forever amongst the poore people of the saide parish of Saint Dunstan,  and  amongst the poore people of the parish of Saint Bridgett als Brides London, that is to saie to each parish fower poundes p[er] anum 

And whereas by my foresaide last will and testament I gave to the poore people of Paddington in the Countie of Midd[lesex] Twentie Shillinges by the yeare to be yssinge [issuing] out of my house in Paddington in the occupacon of Robert Saborne I doe hereby will and Devise that my executors shall paye soe much money as shall purchase landes and Tenements in ffee Simple to the cleere yearelie value of Twentie Shillinges at the disrecon of my Overseers to be paid unto the poore there as by my saide will is appointed And the foresaide Tenement to be thereof ffreed and discharged,

And whereas by my saide last will and Testament I gave Divers landes and Tenements in Ixer in the Countie of Buckingham to my sonne William Johnson and his heires, whereof a great part we sence Sould awaie I doe hereby give and bequeath all my landes and Tenements now beinge and lyinge in Ixer aforesaide to my said sone William Johnson, and the heires males of his bodie lawfulllie begotten, 

And for want of such heires to my sonne Thomas and the heires males of his bodie lawfully begotten And for want of such heires to my sonne Richard and the heires males of his bodie lawfullie begotten,  And for want of  such issue to the right heires of me the said Thomas Johnson forever Provided allwaies and my mynde and will is that my said grandchild Katherine Wrighte shall have  and  enioye the  moitie or  one halfe of all my saide landes and Tenements in Ixer Duringe her naturall lief

 In wittnes whereof I have hereunto sett my hande and Seale the One and Twentieth daie of  August 1626 in the seconde yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne Lord Kinge Charles etc The marke of the saide Thomas Johnson 

This Codicill was read and sealed signed and published by the saide Thomas Johnson to be annexed to his former last will and Testament the foresaide One and twentieth daie of August 1626 in the presence of us John Muskott, ffrancis Kempe, Josias Harries.

PROBATUM