IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN the nineteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred ninety nine and in the fortieth and one year of our sovereign Lady Elisabeth. I Thomas Twytt of Harwich the elder, merchant, being of good and perfect memory, do make and ordain my will and testament in manner and form following. In primis I give and bequeath my soul into the hands of almighty God the father the son and holy ghost, and my body to the ground in sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life with the ? thorough Jesus Christ my saviour Item I give to the poor of the parish of Harwich £5 to be paid them 20/- yearly at the discretion of my executors and supervisor. Item I give to Johan my wife my mansion house wherein I now dwell, together with the quay and all other edifices hereto appertaining And after her decease I give my said mansion house, quay and all other edifices to Michael Twytt my son and his heirs forever item I give to Johan my wife the messuage and ground together with the orchard and gardens that I purchased of William Cooper, set in the West street of Harwich, between the tenement and ground late of widow Beardes towards the North, and the town ground towards the South, to have and to hold to her or her assigns for the term of her natural life, and after her decease to Michael Twytt my son and his heirs forever I do give the said messuage, ground, orchard, gardens and all other the appurtenances (sic). I give to Johan my wife the messuage called and known by the name of Three Cuppes together with the stable and one field called stonewell pictle together with all other houses, edifies and gardens, as they are now in the tenure and occupation of Anthony Syward, for term of her natural life, and after her decease to Thomas Twytte my son and his heirs forever. Item I give to Johan my wife the one half and moiety of my household stuff, as bedding, plate and all other utensils to my mansion house appertaining and wherewith my (sic) and wherewith my said mansion house is now furnished Item I give to Johan my wife £40 in money, provided always that if my wife decease before me or within one whole year after my decease, then I will that the one moiety of my plate be equally divided amongst my three daughters, Anne King, Sarah Jones and Bridget Haunkin ? and the residue of the said movables to Michael Twytt my son. Item I (lacking) to Thomas my son the messuage I bought of Richard Johnson als Arnould, together with the brewery, malting house and all other offices, houses, edifices, kilns and one pightell of ground to the same appertaining, set and lying without the South gate of the town, to have and to hold the said messuage and all other the premises to my said son Thomas Twytt and his heirs forever. I give to the said Thomas Twytt the garden and stable that I purchased of Peter Pette, appendant sometime of the capital messuage that I sold to Thomas Greene, set in high street in Harwich, to have and to hold the same garden and stable to him and his heirs forever. I give to my son Thomas Twytt a quarter or one fourth part of my ship called the Salomon together with all the tackling and furniture to that quarter or fourth part appertaining. Item I remit to my said son Thomas Twytt forty and four pounds in money which he owes me. Item I give to my son Thomas Twytt all my cask horses and carts and all other utensils to my brewhouse and malting house appertaining. I give to my son Thomas Twytte one green silk quilt. Item I give him one golden ring. Item I give and bequeath to Michael Twytt my son my messuage, salthouse, kiln and all other appurtenances which I late purchased and bought of John Gover of London, to have and to hold the said messuage with the salt house, quay and all other appurtenances to him the said Michael Twytt and his heirs forever. Item I give to Michael Twytt my son all that my messuage and salt house situated on the west side of the same, late John Jynnyngs, which messuage is now in the tenure and occupation of widdow Skynner, to have and to hold the said messuage, salt house and all other the appurtenances to the said Michael Twytt and his heirs forever. Item I give to the said Michael Twytt my son my salt house which I purchased of Thomas Richmonde the younger, to have and to hold the said salt house to him the said Michael Twytt and his heirs forever. Item I give to the said Michael Twytt my son two fields in Dovercourt which I purchased of Peter Petts of Deptford in the county of Kent, which fields are commonly called Stonewell fields now in the occupation of George Eastwicke?? To have and to hold to him the said two fields according to the custom of the manor to the said Michael Twytte and his heirs forever. Item I give to Anne King my daughter four score and seven pounds lawful money to be paid to the said Anne or her assigns within one year after my decease. Item I give to Sarah Jones one twelfth part of my hoy called the Apollo. Item I give the said Sarah Jones £20 lawful money to be paid within one year after my decease. Item I give to Bridget Haunkin my daughter the £20 which her father in law doth owe me. And I give her besides £30 more to be paid within one year after my decease. Item I give to Mr Branham £4 whom I make supervisor of this my last will and testament Item I give to Annie (or Amice) Branham £6. Item widow Cooper 20/- and to my maid Susan 20/- The residue of my shipping not given and bequeathed viz three quarter of my ship called the Salomon and three quarters of the hoy called the Thomas, and one quarter of the hoy called the Apollo, together with their furnishing and stock of my said parts I give and bequeath to Michael Twitt my son . Item I give unto the said Michael Twitt my son the residue of all my moveable goods, wares, fish, debts and chattels whatsoever not before by me bequeathed, he paying my debts and performing my legacies , charges of my funeral &c. And I do constitute and ordain and nominate the said Michael Twytt my son my sole and only executor of this my last will and testament revoking all other wills. Thomas Twitt.
Witnesses Raymond King, Hugh Branham, clerk, (‘John Forber, writer of the court at London’, this is added in another hand).
Probate of the above testament was given in London at the court of the venerable master John Gibson master of law …………………on 20th day of January 1601 in London
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