expences discharged — I will and bequeath according to the custome of the City of London, one third parte of all my goods and chattells and estate unto my deare and loveing wife, Sibilla Delmé. Item, according to the custome of the said city, I will and bequeath one other third parte of all my goods and chattells and estate to and among my six deare children, Peter, Samuel, Ann, Sibella, Elizabeth, Elias and Jane Delmé,[1] to be equally divided amongst them, share and share alike, to be paid to my sonnes at their respective ages of one and twenty yeares, and to be paid to my daughters at their ages of one and twenty yeares, or days of marryage, which shall first happen, my will being in case any of my said children happen to dye before the said times, that the survivors or survivor shall have the deceased or deceased's share. And for the other third of all my goods and chattels and estate which, according to the custome of the said city, I have in my owne dispose, I will and bequeath unto the poore of the French or Walloone Church in Threadneedle Street, in London, fifty pounds. Item, I will and bequeath unto the poqre of the Auncient Walloone Church in the City of Canterbury, fifty pounds, to be paid to the Deacons for time being of the said two churches for the use of the said poore. Item, I will and bequeath unto the poore of the Parish of All Saints in the City of Canterbury, five pounds. Item, I will and bequeath unto the poore children harboured in Christ Hospitall, in the City of London, fifty pounds, to be paid to the Treasurer of the said Hospitall for the time being, for the use of said poore children. Item, I will and bequeath unto my deare brother, John Delmé, tenne pounds. Item, to my deare sister Elizabeth, widow of Samuel Dubois, tenne pounds. Item, to my deare nephewes and nieces, to witt Elizabeth Delmé, John, Margaret, Jane and Elizabeth Crow, to each of them five pounds. Item, I will and bequeath unto my said loveing wife, one hundred pounds. Item, I will and bequeath unto my son Peter, all my share of the grounds and houses descended to me from my late cozen James Mauroie, situate in the Poultry, Old Jury, Conyhoope Lane, and in the Alley betwixt Old Jury and betwixt Grocers Alley, in the City of London, to him and to his heires for ever. Item, I give unto such hired servant or servants who have lived with me the space of one yeare before my decease, and that shall live with my wife one whole yeare after my decease, five pounds apiece, to be paid them at the end of the yeare after my decease in case they have behaved themselves honestly and faithfully during said time unto my said deare wife. Item, I will and bequeath all the rest and residue of my goods and chattells and estate, wheresoever and whatsoever, to and among my said six children, to be equally divided among them, share and share alike, to be paid my sonnes as aforesaid at their respective ages of one and twenty yeares, and to my daughters as aforesaid at their respective ages of one and twenty yeares or dayes of marryage, which shall first happen. And in case of the death of any of my said children before the said times, the survivor or survivors to enjoy and have the share of the deced. or deceaseds out of this my last third of my estate. And in case they should all dye before the said times, my will is that one moyety of this last third of my goods and chattells in my owne dispose and which is hereby bequeathed to my said children, shall be paid unto my deare brother and sisters, or their children representing them.
And I doe hereby order and appoint my deare and loveing wife to be my sole Executrix of this my last will and testament, recommending her and my deare children to the protection of Allmighty God, desiring my said deare wife to take care that our children be educated in the fear of God, and in all good educacons according to the estate which it shall please God they shall have, willing that the share of my estate which shall be due to my children be put forth at interest from time to time by my said executrix for the use of my said children and at their hazard, soe as shee take the same care to put the same forth as for her owne, allowing thirty pounds per annum for each child for dyett, cloathing, and educacon, until their porcions become payable to them. And I doe hereby renounce and revoke all other wills and testaments whatsoever, declareing this to be my last will and testament, written with my owne hand upon one sheet of ordinary paper, this nineth day of July, Anno one thousand six hundred and eighty-six. In witnesse have subscribed the same.Peter Delmé, 1686.
Proved by Mrs Sibella Delmé at London, 4th January 1687 (new style).
- ↑ There are seven names here for six children. I find no “Sibella” in the baptismal register of Threadneedle Street. I find Ann and Elizabeth — probably the name of Ann was Ann-Sibella.