Peter Chamberlen the elder of London, Chirurgion, 29 Nov 1631

In the name of God Amen.

The nine and twentieth daie of November Anno domini One thousand sixe hundred thirtie one And in the seaventh yeare of the Raigne of o’ Soveraigne lord Charles by the grace of God Kinge of England Scotland ffraunce and Ireland defender of the faith &C.

I Peter Chambrelan thelder of London Chirurgion beinge at this present weake of body but of perfect minde and memory (thankes be therefore given vnto Allmightie God) doe make and declare this my last will and testament Indented in writinge in manner and forme followinge That is to saie

ffirst and principallie I doe commend my soule into the handes of my most gratious and mercifull God, hopeinge and undoubtedly beleeving through the merritts, death passion and resurrection of my lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to have free pardon and forgivenes of all my sinnes and to enioye everlastinge blessedness in the kingdome of heaven hereafter

And for my body I committ the same to the earth to be buried in decent manner at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named

And for such worldly goods and estate as it hath pleased God of his goodness to bestowe vpon mee I doe dispose of the same in manner and forme followinge That is to saie

Imprimis after all such debts as I doe duly owe shalbe trulie paid and satisfied I doe give & bequeath to the poore of the ffrench Church or Congregation in London the some of five Pounds sterlinge

Item I doe give unto the poore of the parish of Allhallowes Stayninge in Marke lane in London the some of fortie shillings

Item I give and bequeath vnto the poore of the parish of Downe in the Countie of Kent fortie shillings

And to Mr. Nett vicar of the said parish Twentie shillings

Item I give to the poore of the parish of Dionis Backchurch in London where I now dwell fortie shillings to be paid unto the respective Churchwardens of the said severall parishes and by them to be distributed where most need shalbe

Item I doe give and bequeath unto Esther Cargill eldest daughter of my daughter Esther the some of two hundred pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid unto her husband within three moneths next after her marriage daie, if her husband shall call for it, and doe then give an acquittance and acknowledg the receipt thereof, as from mee her Grandfather

Item I doe give unto the rest of my said daughter Esthers children that be in Scotland That is to saie Jane Cargill, to William Cargill and Margarett Cargill to each of them two hundred pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid as I have appointed the first. That is to saye within three moneths after theire severall daies of marriage giving the like receipts But the said William Cargills legacie I desire should not be paid unto him untill he shall attaine the age of fower and Twentie yeares.

Item I give and bequeath vnto Thomas Cargill eldest sonne of my said daughter, all and singular my lands and messuages tenemente and hereditamente with the rights, members and appurteniices whatsoever therevnto belonginge or apperteyninge lyinge and beinge in the parishes of Downe, Crodon, Keston and ffarneborowe or any of them in the Countie of Kent, To have and to hold the same lande messuages Tenemente hereditamente and premisses and every of them and every part thereof unto the said Thomas Cargill and his heires and assignes for ever

Allsoe I give vnto the said Thomas Cargill my best apparrell and my bookes, except my new English bible which I give vnto my Grandchild Anne Cargill

Item I give unto the saide Anne Cargill my diamond Ringe which I had of Queene Anne to be keept or sold for her as my Executor shall thinke fitt

Item I doe give unto the said Thomas Cargill my watch

Item I doe give unto my brother Simon Chambrelan of Downe in the Countie of Kent my furred Coate which I lately had made

Item I doe give and bequeath unto Peter Smith my Godsonne who is now in ffrance the some of threescore poundes of lawfuU money of England

And to his brother Robert Smith whoe is now in Virginia the some of fortie pounds of like lawfuU English money upon Condicion that they the said Peter and Robert doe severally come and demand their said severall legacies within eight yeares next after my decease

Item I give unto my Cozen Abraham Chambrelan the younger my house Clocke

Item I give unto my three servants Thomas Price George Crawley and ffrancis August my shopp book and all debts and somes of money due to mee for phisike that at my decease by the said shopp booke shall appeare to remaine unpaid to be equallie parted and devided amongst them.

Item I doe give unto them equallie to be devided all the Composicions in my shopp as well waters, Siropps, conserves, purgings, Composicons and simples and such necessarie implements belonging to the shopp except Confectio Alcarnus, Ambergrice Muske Civett and pearles, if there be any And except such sirrops or conserves as my Executor shall like for themselves which I desire them to choose out of the same.

Item I doe give and bequeath vnto my two women servants to each of them three pounds sterlinge

And to every one of my men servants a mourning suite decent and fitt for theire calling.

All the rest and residue of my goods moneys debts plate Jewells moveables and estate whatsoever not by this my will bequeathed, after my debts paid and funerall expences discharged I doe give vnto my little Grandchild Anne Cargill to be keept sold and disposed of for her accordinge to the discretion of my Executor And to preserve the same vntill she shalbe married or attaine the age of Twentie and one yeares.

And I doe hereby nominate appointe and desire my said Executors to be Guardians unto the said Esther Jane William Margaret Thomas and Anne my Grandchildren

And for the said Thomas Cargill’s vse to lett and sett the said lands, messuages and Tenements with thappurtennces, and to deteyne and keepe in theire hands the rents and yearely profitts of the same lands vntill the said Thomas Cargill shall attaine to the age of one and twentie yeares allowinge him a fittinge Competency for his maintennce in the meane tyme

And alsoe to keepe in theire hands the severall legacies hereby given unto my other Grand children, vntill they ought to receive the same according to theire said severall ages, And according to the true meaninge of this my Will And in the meane tyme to allowe unto the said Anne Cargill after the rate of sixe pounds p centum p ann for theire said severall porcions and somes of money remayninge in my said Executors hands for her mayntennce And if any overplus shall either of rents or interest more then for reasonable maintenance to deteyne it in theire hands for her the said Anne Cargill’s vse, and allowe for the same as aforesaid.

But if it happen that my sonne-inlawe would have his daughter Anne Cargill into Scotland I will her portion to be keept here vntill her marriage or one and twentie yeares of age And if he will keepe her there, he shall keepe her without any allowance, but the same shall runne on for her benefitt

And my will and minde is that if any of my said Grandchildren Esther Jane William Margarett Thomas or Anne shall fortune to die before he, she or they shall accomplish theire said ages or ought to receive theire said legacies accordinge to the true meaning of this my will Then I doe give the parte or porcion both of the said lands, rents, profitts and legacies of him, her, or them soe dyinge unto and amongst the survivor or survivors of them rateably and proportionably share and share like

And I doe nominate ordaine and appointe my most lovinge friends Mr. Richard Legge Merchant of Tower streete London and the said Mr. Abraham Chambrelan Merchant of Bread streete London to bee Executo” of this my last will and Testament intreatinge them to have a care of my little Grandchild Anne Cargill

And to see this my will truly executed accordinge to the contents thereof and my trust in them reposed And for theire paines therein to be taken I doe give unto each of them three pounds sterlinge to buy them Rings to wear in remembrance of mee.

And I doe appoint my loveinge and kind Cozen Mr. Abraham Chambrelan the elder Marchant to be Overseer of this my last will and Testament

And I doe utterly revoke and renounce all former wills and Executors by mee heretofore made And doe pronounce theis presents to be my last will and Testament.

In witnes whereof to bothe partes of this my will and Testament Indented (thone parte remayninge with Mr. Abraham Chambrelan the younger) and the other in my owne Custodie I the said Peter Chambrelan have put my hand and seale yeoven the daie and yeare first above written p moy

Peter Chambrelan

Memorandum

That this pnte will was Read signed sealed pronounced and declared by ye said Peter Chambrelan the elder and at that tyme did explayne his minde and will to bee that the fower children now in Scotland namely Esther Jane William and Margarett Cargill shall have onely theire principall legacies aforesaid And that the said Anne Cargill shall have all the interest for all the same legacies after the rate aforesaid untill the same severall legacies ought by this my will to be paid in the presence of us

John Davies Scr.
Edward Ridley Cittizen and leather-seller of London Fran. Harrison servant to the said Scr.