Will of Elizabeth Brooke of Yoxford, 29 Mar 1683

In the Name of God, Amen

The Nine and twentieth day of March in the yeare of our Lord One Thousand Six hundred and eighty three I Dame Elizabeth Brooke of Cockfield Hall in Yoxford in the County of Suffolk Widdow being infirm in body but of perfect sound minde and disposing memory do make and ordaine my last will and testament in manner following after an humble recommendation of my Soule to God my Creator exorting him through Jesus Christ my Blessed Saviour to accept of me and pardon my mind my Body I desire Honorable burial at Yoxford as next my husband may be at the discretion of my Executors and my worldly Estate I desire of as followeth

First I give and bequeath unto Mary Brooke my daughter and her heirs forever All those my Manors of Yoxford Cockfield Mavericks alias Murrells alias Brent Farm and Stockland or by whatsoever other name or names the same are or have been called or known with all and singular their and every of their rights royalties members hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever

And also all that my tenement or farm house in Yoxford aforesaid with all the lands meadows paddocks hereditaments rights members and appurtenances whatsoever to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining or therewith now or late used occupied or enjoyed or ___ reputed have taken or known as part parcell or member thereof now in the occupation of Thomas Larwood or his assigns

And also an that my grate wood in Yoxford aforesaid Containing by estimate One hundred Acres be the same more or less with all wayes passages profitts commodities and appertenances whatsoever to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining

Item I give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Mary Brooke and her heirs forever All that my Capital Messuage called Cockfield Hall wherein I now dwell withall the house lands ___ and pastures so the same belonging or in anywise appertaining unto or with the same now or late used occupied or enjoyed with these and every of their rights members heriditaments and appurtenances whatsoever situate lying and being in Yoxford aforesaid

And my will and mind is that the heirs or assigns of my said daughter Mary shall pay out of the same the several summes of money following that is to say

The summe of five hundred pounds to Charles Blois Esquire my grandchild within one year after my said daughters decease

And the summe of One hundred pounds to my great grandchild Robert Blois sonne of the said Charles at the time aforesaid and if the said Robert Blois shall not be of the age of One and Twenty years when the said Legacy shall become payable then I will the same shall be paid to the said Charles Blois his father to be by him ___ for the said Robert till he shall attain his said Age of One and Twenty years

And shall also pay unto Robert Hovenor my great grandchild the summe of Three hundred pounds at the same time above said if he shall then be one and Twenty years of age otherwise not to be paid till he attains that age

And unto Mary Bacon my great grandchild the summe of two hundred pounds at the time above said if she shall then be eighteen years of age or be then married otherwise not to be paid till she attain that age or shall be married which first happens

And if she shall die before she attains that age or be married then I will the said Two hundred pounds shall be paid to my said great grandchild Robert Hovenor if he bee living

Item I give and devise to my said daughter Mary and her heirs forever All that my Messuage tenement or farm situate in Yoxford aforesaid now in the occupation of Thomas Gilder or his assigns and all the Lands Meadows pastures commodities privileges and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining And from that she her heirs or assigns shall pay oout of the same to my two grandchildren Elizabeth Blois and Mary Blois the summe of One hundred and fifty pounds apiece at their severall and respective days of marriage or within three monthes next after the decease of the said Mary my daughter which shall first happen

And if my said Daughter her heirs or assigns shall refuse or neglect to pay the said Legacies or either of them when they shall respectively become payable as aforesaid that then it shall and may bee lawful to and for the said Elizabeth Blois and Mary Blois or either of them their or either of their assigns unto the said Messuage Farm Lands and premises last mentioned to enter and the rents Issues and Profitts thereof to take and receive equally between them until she or they are fully paid her and their respective legacy or legacies together with full costs and damages for the forbearance of the same

And if either the said Elizabeth or Mary Blois shall happen to die beofre the Legacy aforesaid shall become payable then I will that the Legacy of her so dying shall go to the Survivor of them

Item I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Mary Brooke and her heirs forever ___ my messuage or farm situate in Yoxford aforesaid now in the occupation of John Inhams or his assigns together with all the houses Lands Tenements Meadows pastures hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining and I will that the heirs or assigns of my said Daughter Mary shall pay out of the sum to my great grandchild Robert Hovenor the summe of Seven hundred pounds of good money within Six months after the decease of my said daughter in case the said Robert Hovenor bee then living and shall have attained his age of one and twenty yeears otherwise not to bee paid till he shall attain to that age the said seven hundred pounds to bee paid in the Church ___ of Yoxford aforesaid

I give and devise unto William Betts Sen my Steward ____

Item I give abd devise unto my said daughter Mary Brooke and her heirs All other my real and personall estate whatsoever or wheresoever the payment of my debts Legacies funeral charges probate and execution of this my will and do nominate and appoint the said Mary Brooke sole Executrix and I do revoke all former wills and testamens whatsoever by me heretofore mae and do publish and declare this to be my last will and testament contained in these two sheets of paper In witness whereof I have set my name to the last sheet and my seal to the top of the fist sheet and the bottom of this sheet the day and year aforesaid

Elizabeth Brooke

Sealed published and declared in the presence of us who in the Divisors presence did subscribe our names

Nath Parkhurst
William Betts
Bridgett Singleton