Will of Mary Martin 1703
Captain Matthew Martin's mother National Archives Probate 11/518
Added by Pat Marsden
Mary Martin was the wife of the mariner Samuel Martine (1640-1694) and mother to Captain Matthew Martin and his brother George. Mary died on 21 April 1710.
To All People to Whom this May Concern
I Mary Martin of Wivenhoe in the County of Essex Widow being in health and perfect memory yet considering of the certainness of death and the uncertainness when I do declare what is my Mind and Will as followeth March the 25 1703 in the second year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Queen Ann of England
Item I give to everyone of my Grandchildren that shall be living when I dye a broad piers of old gold [could be referring to a ‘broad piece of gold’ commonly called a Jacobus] and to each of them five pounds of Good and lawful money of England to be paid to each of them att the Age of One and Twenty Years or at the Day of Marriage which comes first
item I give to my cousin Mary King One Guinea to be paid within Three Months after my death
I have in my hands Seventy pound which remains of what my husband gave to my son Matthew Martin and One hundred and thirty pound that remain in my hands of what my husband gave to my son George Martin and my Mind and Will is they shall take each of them the Sum before mentioned out of the money I shall leave and whatsoever money I shall leave besides those Legacies before mentioned when I die or Sheping [Shipping?] or Plate or Household Goods or anything that is not mentioned all whatsoever I shall leave when I dye to my two sons I give to my two sons Matthew Martin and George Martin to be equally divided between them they shall have Share and Share alike of all I shall leave after my debts and buriall is paid but if my son Matthew Martin should be appointed to dye before me then I give Two hundred pounds of good and lawful money of England out of what I left him to be equally divided between all the children he shall leave to be paid to each of them att the age of One and Twenty Years or att the day of Marriage which comes first and if my son George Martin should be appointed to dye before me then I give Two hundred pounds of lawful money out of what I left him to be equally divided between all the children he shall leave to be paid to each of them att the age of One and Twenty Years or att the day of Marriage which comes first
And I make my two sons Matthew Martin and George Martin my whole and sole Executors but if either of them should be appointed to dye before me then I make his wife that is dead equal Executrix with my other son to this my last Will and Testament revoking all other
Mary Martin
Sealed and Delivered in the presence of
Thomas Martin
Mary Bennett
Sarah Theedom? (her Mark)
[Transcribed by Pat Marsden December 2020. The Probatum to the Will which is in Latin was not transcribed but is displayed as an image]
Comments about this page
It seems her eldest son Samuel had already died when she wrote this Will in 1703 . Wivenhoe parish records have them both dying 1711/12 ..Does anyone know if the grand round tomb on north side of the church is Mary and son Samuel’s grave ?
The rest of Mary Martin’s sons and family are buried in St Peters Church Alresford.
Hi James
I have a copy of Essex Family History Monumental Inscriptions for Wivenhoe. While there is a number of Martins buried in Wivenhoe, neither Mary or Samuel are recorded there.
According to the will on the web site, Mary died 21 Apr 1710. Her husband was Samuel, died 1694. And her sons were Capt Matthew Martin and George Martin. Are we talking about the same Mary and Samuel Martin?
The broad was a gold coin from the commonwealth period, worth 20s
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad_(English_gold_coin)
I have added a note Michael.
“a broad piers of old gold”
should read “a broad piece of old gold”
The lower case c looks very much like an r in the PCC Wills of this period.
Could be but actually looks more like piers which also had the meaning of a large glass or mirror?
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