The Will of Hanna Brinsmead - 1675

Hanna Brinsmead left a will that is a virtual Rosetta stone for the scattered Brinsmead family in the mid-1600's.

In the name of God, Amen, the six and twenty day of November, ano domini one thousand six hundred and seventy five, and in the seven and twentyith year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Second, By the Grace of God King of England and Scotland, ....... and Ireland, Defender of the Faith.

I, Hanna Brinsmead of the Town of St Albans in the County of Hartford, widow, being weak in body but of perfect mind and memory praysed be to God for the same do make and ordain this my present testament to God, my last will, in manner following, that is to say first and principally I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my maker and possessor and Jesus Christ my blessed saviour and redeemer by whose glorious death and passion I trust and firmly believe for .........full and free pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and life everlasting. My Body I commit to the earth to be interned in such .......... manner as my executors hereafter named shall think fit and as touching such worldly estate as God in his mercy has bestowed on me I give and dispose of same as following, that is to say

Item; I give and bequeath to the poor of the Abbey of St Albans the sum of twenty shillings and likewise to the poor of the parish of St Peters in St Albans aforesaid twenty shillings likewise

Item; I give and bequeath to my brother Edward Grubb the sum of twenty and five pounds and to my sister Abigail the like sum of twenty and five pounds.

Item; I give to my servant Elizabeth Harris the sum of forty shillings and such of my everyday or mourning apparel as my executors as hereafter named shall think fit

Item; I give to my cousin Jasper Brinsmead the sum of forty shillings and to my cousin Simon Brinsmead  the sum of twenty shillings.

Item; I give to my cousin Dorcas Russell’s three children twenty shillings apiece all with legacies above by me given and bequeathed I do will order and appoint shall be paid within two months after my decease out of the sum of one hundred and thirty pounds belonging to me which is now held In the hands of my said brother Edward Grubb. The rest and residue of all and every of my money plate rings household effects debts goods and chattels whatsoever I give, devise and bequeath to my daughter Mary Russell, wife of John Russell, Apothecary and I do make ordain and appoint my said daughter Mary my full and sole executrix of this my will and my said brother Edward Grubb and my Brother Richard Brinsmead of Hills Bishops in the County of Somerset overseers thereof.

Item; I give devise and bequeath unto my said daughter Mary Russell all that my messuages or tenements situate lying and being in Portersmouth in the Parish of St Michaels in the County of Hartford with the barns stables outhouses with the orchards gardens appurtenances belonging thereto and also all those closes of land and springs of wood which are not already settled upon my said daughter in one pair of indentures bearing date the nineteenth day of January one thousand six hundred and seventy seven (gift) one close called Churchfoil, one brook called Churchfoil Spring one wood called Spratgrove one close called Tawningfoil, one close called Hoggfoil, one close called eight acres with the spittle adjoining and one wood called Honnwood to hold the said messuages or tenements with the gardens orchards and appurtenances thereunto belonging and all and every the closes of land and springs of wood unto my said daughter Mary Russell and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten or to be begotten and for a default of such issue I give devise and bequeath the said messuages or tenements with the appurtances and all and every the said closes of land and springs of wood unto my said brother Edward Grubb and my said sister Abigail Ong, their heirs and assigns for ever equally between them part and part alike.

Item; I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Mary Russell all those two closes of arable land and all the pastures and fields containing four acres or thereabouts being copyhold belonging to the Manor of Windridge in the County of Hartford and all other of my copyhold lands held of the said Manor which I have surrendered to the use ......... as in my last will and testament to have and to hold the said two closes of arable land and all other of my copyhold land unto my said daughter Mary Russell and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten or to be begotten and for default of such issue I give devise and bequeath the said two closes of copyhold land and all other copyhold land held of the said Manor of Windridge unto my said brother Edward Grubb and to my said sister Abigail Ong their heirs and assignees forever equally between them part and part alike provided nevertheless and my will is that in case the said messuages and land aforesaid shall happen to fall to my said brother Edward Grubb and my sister Abigail Ong or their heirs by virtue of this my bequest, I do then and in such case charge the said messsuages or tenement closes of land and springs of wood ......... and given them by me to them given and bequeathed with the payment of the several legacies hereunder mentioned, that is to say; I give and bequeath unto the children of my said brother Richard Brinsmead or such of them as shall then be living five pound apiece; Item; I give and bequeath to the children of William Brinsmead of Hill Bishops aforesaid or such of them as shall then be living the sum of forty shillings apiece; the two daughters of Samuel Brinsmead five pounds apiece; to the child of Thomas Brinsmead five pounds; and to the children of Joanne Brinsmead deceased or such of them as shall be then living forty shillings apiece. Item; I give and bequeath unto my cousin Thomas Cooly Brinsmead and to the children of my said cousin Dorcas Russell as shall be then living forty shillings apiece beside the legacy above to them bequeathed herewith. Said several legacies my will is shall be paid equally by my said brother and sister, their heirs, executors, or administrators, share and share alike, so soon as any of them enjoy the messuages aforesaid.

Lastly, I do revoke all former wills by me at anytime heretofore made and do publish and declare this my present testament and last will consisting of two sheets of paper and part of this third written on the one side set my hand to the first and last thereof ascribed my seal dated the day and year first above written.

Hanna Brinsmead, signed sealed and published, declared and delivered by the said testatrix for and after last will and testament in the presence of Joanne Reid the mark of Joanne Reid and Elizabeth Harris.