Will of John Chamberlain

Wills are generally written without any punctuation or abbreviations. There is often alternative spelling of some words and using upper case letters which do not always mean the start of a new sentence.

In some instances two lower case letters at the start of a word can denote an upper case letter, such as ff for F

Neither are they divided into paragraphs but are continuous lines of writing This can make documents difficult to read or understand.

This post shows the Will exactly as it was written with no attempt to break it down into paragraphs. Done in this way it shows exactly how the original document is written. As the documents are sometimes very large each line of writing in the document sometimes takes up two lines when it is transcribed in to the web site.

The last part of this will shows a summary of the Names, Places, Properties and Vessels mentioned in the will.

[Outside cover]

The Will of John Chamberlain late of Wivenhoe

De[cea]sed

Proved 27 July 1743

Reg:

1   In the Name of God Amen I John Chamberlin of Wivenhoe in the

County of Essex Husbandman being sick and week but of sound and senseable mind

and Memory Praised be God for the same do make this my last Will and Testament in

manner and form following First I give my Soul into the Hands of God that gave

5   Jesus Christ my saviour and only Redeemer and my Body to be decently

by my Executor herein after mentioned and as to those Worldly goods it hath

pleased God to bestow upon me I give and bequeath in manner and form following

First I give and bequeath to Anne Chamberlin my Loving Wife all my Goods

and Chattels (except a Sorrel Colt) to her Use and for she to dispose of as she

10   thinks proper, As to such Moneys that I have by me and is out at interest

Whatsoever and wheresoever I give and bequeath to my Brother Robert Chamberlin

of Ardleigh and Sister Mary Turner of Wivenhoe to be equally Divided between the said Robert

and mary share and share alike to be paid them by my Executor within Six

Weeks Months next after my decease And I do nominate and appoint my Brother in

15   Law Martin Turner of the said parish of Wivenhoe My Sole and only

Executor of this my last Will and Testament revoking all other Wills by

me made declaring this to be my last Will Dated and Singned and

Sealed this Fourteenth Day of May in the Year of our Lord God One Thousand

Seven hundred Fourty and two

20   the mark of

John X Chamberlin

Signed, Sealed published and

declared by the Testator to be

his last Will and Testament

25   in the presence of us}                    John Chamberlin

Wm Cary

The 27 July 1743

Martin Turner the sole Executor within

named was sworne before me

30   Philip Morant Surrogate

Persons and places mentioned in will                                                                

Person                                Occupation/position                                    Place                    Key facts               Date(s)     Line

John Chamberlin               Husbandman                                                   Wivenhoe            d. 1742/3               1742/3

Anne Chamberlin              Wife of John Chamberlin                              Wivenhoe            beneficiary               1742           8

Robert Chamberlin           Brother of John Chamberlin                        Ardleigh               beneficiary               1742          11

Mary Turner                      Sister of John Chamberlin                            Wivenhoe            beneficiary               1742          12

Martin Turner                   Brother-in-law of John Chamberlin            Wivenhoe            executor               1742/3      15

William Cary                                                                                                                               witness                1742          26

Philip Morant                    Surrogate                                                                                       proved will               1743          30