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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.
Summary
James Feedham was the brother of Jonathan Feedham, who funded the building of the Feedhams Court almshouses.
He was born in 1661.
James was a Mariner who also accumulated many properties .
James married Marjorie Havens in 1687. He died in 1716.
When he died his beneficaries were his wife 3 sons and 3 daughter.
1 I James Feedham of Wivenhoe in the County of Essex Mariner being in perfect health
of body and of sound mind and memory doe make and ordain my last Will & Testament
in manner and forme following (that is to say) Impris I give and devise unto my
son James ffeedam All that Messuage Tenement or ffarmehouse And all the Lands
5 hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever thereto belonging or therewith used or
enjoyed situate lying and being in Alresford and Elmstead in the said County or
one of them and now in the tenure or occupation of Thomas Cole his assigns
or undertenants And also All that Messuage or Tenement comonly called or
known by the name of Brook House with the Lands hereditaments and appurtenances
10 thereto belonging situate lying and being in Alresford aforesaid or some other
parish or parishes there neare adjoining and now in the tenure or occupation of
the said Thomas Cole Thomas Mills and Abraham Martin And also All these
four Messuages Tenements or Rentaries with the yards gardens ffishouse Stables
hereditaments and appurtenances thereto belonging Situate lying and being
15 in Wivenhoe aforesaid and now or late in the several tenures or occupations of
Robert Simons the widow Pimm Arthur Lamb Thomas Burgess and the widow
Wilson their sonns or one of their Assignee or assigns To hold unto my said
Son James and the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten And for want of
Such Issue Then I give and devise all the aforesaid Messuages or Tenements
20 Lands hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances unto my two sons
Edward ffeedam and Jonathan ffeedamand their heirs for ever as Tenants in
Comon and not as Joynt Tenants chargeable nevertheless with the payment of
Sixteen pounds three shillings and six pence of lawfull money of Great Britain
yearly and every year unto my loving wife Margery or her assigns during
25 her natural life (in case she shall soe long continue a widow) by four equall
quarterly payments (vizt) upon the five and twentieth day of December the
five and twentieth day of March the four and twentieth day of June and the nine
and twentieth day of September without any deduction or abatement for or in
respect of Taxes or any other matter whatsoever In part of Satisfaction for
30 all such I owre and Thirds as she by the Laws of this Realme may or can claime
out of my Estate The first of the said payment to begin and be made upon
the first of the said ffeast days which shall first happen next after my decease
And if default shall happen to be made in payment of the said Annuity or Rent
Charge or any part there of contrary to the intent and meaning of this my Will
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35 That Thou itt shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Margery my wife and
Her assigns into all and singular the aforesaid Messuages Lands and premises
Devised to my said son James as aforesaid or any part or parcel thereof to
Enter and the same to have hold occupy possess and enjoy and to receive and take
the rents Issues and profits thereof and of every part thereof to her and
40 their owne use and uses until she and they shall be fully satisfied and paid all
Arrears of the said Annuity together with all costs and charges which she or
They shall be putt to or expend in or about the Recovery of the same And also
Chargeable with the payment of the same of sixty pounds of lawfull money of
Great Britain to my Daughter Margery Feedam within twelve Months next
45 After my decease Item I give and devise unto my son Edward Feedam All
that Messuage or Tenement with the Lands Hereditaments and Appurtenances thereto
belonging situate lying and being in Alresford aforesaid and now in the
occupation of Thomas Cant his Assignee or Assignes And also All that
Messuage or Tenement with the Land Hereditament and Appurtenances thereto
50 Belonging situate lying and being in Alresford aforesaid and now in the
Occupation of John Baton or his Assignes To hold unto my said son Edward
And the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten And for want of such Issue
Then I give and devise all the aforesaid Messuages or Tenements Lands
Hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances hereinbefore devised unto
55 my said son Edward ffeedam unto my two sons James Feedam and Jonathan
ffeedam and their heirs for ever as Tenants in Comon and not as joint Tenants
chargeable never the less with the payment of sixteen pounds three shillings and six pence of lawful
money of Great Britain yearly and every yeare unto my loving wife Margery
or her Assignes during her natural life (in case she shall continue so long
60 widow) by four equal quarterly payments (vizt) upon the five and Twentieth
day of December the five and fiventieth day of March the four and twentieth
day of June and the nine and Twentieth day of September without any
deduction or abatement for or in respect of Taxes or any other matter
whatsoever in part of satisfaction for all such I owed and Thirds as she by
65 the laws of this Realms maay or can claim out of my Estate The first of the
said payments to begin and be made upon the first of the said ffeast daids
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Which shall first happen next after my decease And if default shall happen to
Be made in payment of the said Annuity or Rent Charge or any part thereof
Contrary to the intent and meaning of this my wife Then it shall and maybe
70 Lawfull to and for the said Margery my wife and her Assigns into all and singular
the aforesaid Messuages Lands and premises devised to my son Edward as aforesaid
or any part or parcel thereof to enter and the same to hold occupy possess and
enjoy and receive and take the Rents Issues and proffitts thereof to her and their
owne use and uses until she and they shall be fully satisfied and paid all
75 Arrears of the said Annuity together with all costs and charges which she or
they shall be putt to or expend in or about the Recovery of the same And also
chargeable with the payment with the payment of sixty pounds of lawful money of Great
Britain to my Daughter Elizabeth ffeedam within twelve months next after
My decease Item I give and devise unto my son Jonathan ffeedam All that
80 My moiety or halfe part & all my Estate and Futerest of and in all that
Messuage or Tenement commonly called or known by the name of Alresford Lodge
And all the Lands Meadows Marshes pastures ffeedings hereditament and
appurtenances whatsoever thereto belonging situate lying and being in
Alresford aforesaid and now in the tenure or occupation of Robert Bray his
85 Assignee Assignes or undertenants To hol unto my said son Jonathan and
The heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten And for want of such Issue Then
I give and devise all the aforesaid Messuages or Tenements Lands hereditaments
And premises with the appurtenances herein before devised to my said son Jonathan
ffeedam unto my said two sons James ffeedam and Edward ffeedam and their
90 heirs for ever as Tenants in Comon and not as joynt Tenants cahargeable
nevertheless with the payment of sixteen pounds three shillings and six pounds
of lawfull money of Great Britain yearly and every yeare unto my loving
wife Margery or her Assignes during her natural life (in case she shall
continue so long a widow) by four equall quarterly payments (vizt) upon the five
95 and twentiet day of December the five and twentieth day of March the four
and twentieth day of June and the nine and twentieth day of September without
any deduction or abatement for or in respect of Taxes or any other matter whatsoever
in full satisfaction for all such I owe and Thirds as she by the laws of this Realms
may or can claime out of my Estate The first of the said payments to begin and be
100 made upon the first of the said ffeast daies which shall first happen next after
my decease And if default shall happen to be made in payment of the said Annuity
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Or Rent Charge or any part thereof contrary to the intent and meaning of this my
Will then it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Margery my wife and
her Assignes into all and singular the aforesaid Messuages Lands and premises
105 devised to my son Jonathan as aforesaid or any part or parcel thereof to enter
and the same to hold occupy possess and enjoy and receive and take the Rents Issues
and profits thereof to her and their owne uses until she and they
shall be fully satisfied and paid all Arrears of the said Annuity together with
all costs and charges which she or they shall be putt or expend in or about
110 the recovery of the same And also chargeable with the payment of sixty
pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain to my Daughter Leah ffeedam
within twelve Months next after she shall attaine her age of one & twenty
years And my mind and Wills is that if my said wife shall marry again
or shall claime any I owe or Thirds out of any part of my Estate That then and
115 in either of the said cases the several Annuitys or Rent Charges herein before
limited to her and every part of every of them shall from the time of such
Marriage or Claim cease and determine Item I give and bequeath unto
My Daughter Margery ffeedam All that Messuages or Tenaments with the Land
Hereditaments and appurtenances thereto belonging situate lying and being in
120 Stratford in the County of Suffolk and now in the occupation of Samuel Webb or
his Assigns And also all that Mesuage or Tenament with the Lands hereditaments
and appurtenances thereto belonging situate lying and being in Stratford aforesaid
and now in the occupation of Mary Cook or her Assignes And also all those
Messuages or Tenements with the Yards Gardens and appurtenances thereto belonging
125 Situate lying and being in the parish of St Leonard in Colchester in the said
County of Essex late in the tenure or occupation of Samuel Leveningham and
Richard Peers or one of them their or one of their Assignee or Assignes and now in
the tenure or occupation of Mr James Brute or his Assignes And also the stables
and one tenement with the appurtenances situate lying and being in the conduit
130 yard in the said parish of St Leonard and which are now untenanted To hold
unto my said Daughter Margery and the heirs of her body lawfully to be
begotten And for want of such Issue Then I give and devise the same premisses
with the appurtenances unto my two Daughters Elizabeth ffeedam and Leah
ffeedam and their heirs forever as Tenants in Comon and not as Joynt Tenants
135 I give and devise unto my Daughter Elizabeth ffeedam All that
Messuages or Tenament with the Lands hereditaments and apptenures thereof
belonging situate lying and being in Alresford aforesaid and now in the tenure
or occupation of Thomas Hills and his Assignes or undertenants And also all
those Messuages or Tenements with the Lands and appurtenances thereto belonging
140 situate and being in the Gatehouse yard above the conduit in the said parish of
St Leonard and now in the occupation of William Birth Daniel Snell Anne
Woodham James Braberenton John Cooper and some or one of them their sone or one of their Assignee Assigns or
undertenants To hold unto my said Daughter Elizabeth ffeedam and
the heirs of her body lawfully to be begotten And for want of such Issues Then
145 I give and devise the said Messuages or Tenements Lands hereditaments and
Premisses unto my two Daughters Margery ffeedam and Leah ffeedam and
their heires for ever as Tenants in Comon and not as Joynt Tenants Item
I give and devise unto my loving wife Margery and her Assignes until
My Daughter Leah ffeedam shall attaine her age of fifteen years All
150 that Messuage or Tenement with the Lands hereditaments and appurtenances
thereto belonging situate lying and being in ffingringhoe in the said County
of Essex and now in the tenure or occupation of George Partine his Assignee or
Assignes And also All that Messuages or Tenement with the Smiths Shopp
Lands and appurtenances thereto belonging situate lying and being at Weeley
155 Cross in the parish of Weeley in the said County of Essex now in the tenure
Or occupation of John Mosse his Assignes or undertenant And
also all those Tenements Granaryes or Buildings with the apptenues situate
and being in Chick St Oseth in the said County of Essex and now in the
occupation of Henry Steevent his Assignee Assignes or undertenants And
160 immediately from and after my said Daughter Leah ffeedam shall have
attained her full age of fifteen years Then I give and devise unto her the said
Leah all the said Messuages or Tenements Granary Lands hereditaments and
Appurtenances hereinbefore devised to my wife as aforesaid To hold to her the
said Leah and the heirs of her body lawfully to be begotten And for want of such
165 Issue Then I give and devise the same premisses with the appurtenances unto my said
Two Daughters Margery ffeedam and Elizabeth ffeedam and their heirs for ever
As Tenants in Comon and not as Joynt Tenants And I doe nominate and
Appoint my said wife to be guardian to my said son Jonathan during his
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Minority and desire her to take care of his Education and maintenance and
170 to place him out an Apprentice to some Trade or Business and for and
towards the reimbursing and paying the charges she shall expend or be att
touching the same My will is that she shall retaine the Rents and profits
of my son Jonathans Estate during his Minority without any Account to be
given him for the same And I doe also appoint my said wife to be guardian to
175 my said Daughter Leah until her age of one and Twenty years or day of
Marriage which shall first happen And doe will that my said wife shall
receive the Rents and profits of my said Daughter Leahs Estate until her
said age or day of Marriage which shall first happen without any account
to be given therefore (provided my wife shall att her owne charge maintaine
180 and educate my said Daughter) Item I give unto my said wife all the Arrears
of Rent that shall be due to me att the time of my decease Item I give to my Son
James ffeedam a Silver Tankard To my Son Edward ffeedam a Silver Tankard and
to my Son Jonathan ffeedam a Silver Tankard Item My Mind and Will is that my
said wife shall have the use of all the rest and residue of my household Goods
185 plate and household Linnen during her life And after her decease I give the
same unto my said three Daughters Margery Elizabeth and Leah to be equally
divided between them part and part alike And I doe hereby order that an Inventory
be taken of my said household Goods plate and Linnen and that my wife (In case she
thinks fit to have the use of them) shall give security to my said sons James & Edward
190 that the same shall be delivered to my said Daughter after her decease Item I
give to my son James ffeedam three sixteenth parts of the Ship or vessel called the
Rotterdam Merchant whereof I now goe Master And to my son Edward
Ffeedam two sixteenth and one two and Thirtieth parts of the same Vessel All
the rest of my Shipping my mind is shall be sold and the money arising by sale thereof
195 I give to my three Daughters Margery Elizabeth and Leah to be equally divided between
them share and share alike All the rest and residue of my personal Estate I give to
my two sons James and Edward And I doe hereby nominate and appoint my said loving
wife Margery Executrix and my said two sons James ffeedam and Edward ffeedam Executors
of this my Will and revoking all other Wills doe declare this to be my last In Witness
200 whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament contained in six sheets of paper sett my
hand and seals att the bottom of each sheet and my seales to the string or label that
fasteneth them together att the topp this first day of April in the thirteenth year of the
Reign of her present Majesty Queen Anne ??? Dui 1714
Signed sealed published & declared by the Testator to be his
Last Will & Testament in our presence & attested by us in his presence
James Braberenton John Cooper
Being first interlined in the fifth sheet
A Summary of names, places, properties and vessels mentioned in the will of James Feedam
Personal Names Places Status/Relationship Line
James Feedam Son 196, 188, 181, 88, 36, 54, 4, 197.
Thomas Cole Tenant 7, 11
Thomas Mills Tenant 11
Abraham Martin Tenant 11
Robert Simons Tenant 15
Widow Pimm Tenant 15
Arthur Lamb Tenant 15
Thomas Burgess Tenant 15
Widow Wilson Tenant 16
Edward Feedam Son 20, 44, 50, 54, 88, 181, 188, 191, 196, 198
Jonathan Feedam Son 20, 54, 84, 87, 104, 172, 182.
Margery Feedam Wife 23, 34, 57, 69, 92, 102, 147, 197
Margery Feedam Daughter 43, 117, 130, 145, 165, 185, 194
Thomas Cant Tenant 47
John Baton Tenant 50
Elizabeth Feedam Daughter 77, 132, 134, 142, 165, 185, 194
Robert Bray Tenant 83
Leah Feedam Daughter 110, 132, 145, 148, 159, 161
163, 173, 176, 185, 194
Mary Cook Tenant 122
James Brute Tenant 127
Samuel Leveningham Tenant 125
Richard Peers Tenant 126
Thomas Hills Tenant 137
William Birth Tenant 140
Daniel Snell Tenant 140
Anne Woodham Tenant 141
James Braberenton Tenant 141
John Cooper Tenant 141
George Partine Tenant 151
John Mosse Tenant 155
Henry Steevent Tenant 158
Properties
Farmhouse Alresford Thomas Cole 4-7
Brook House Alresford Thomas Cole, Thomas Mills 8-9
Abraham Martin,
Fish House, Stables Wivenhoe Robert Simons, Widow Pimm 12-16
Arthur Lamb, Thomas Burgess
Widow Wilson
Messuage Alresford Thomas Cant 45-47
Messuage Alresford John Baton 48-50
Alresford House Alresford Robert Bray 80-83
Messuage Stratford Samuel Webb 116-119
Messuage Stratford Mary Cook 120-122
Messuage St Leonard. Col. Samuel Leveningham 123-127
Richard Peers, James Brute
Messuage St Leonard Untenanted 128-129
Messuage Alresford Thomas Hill 135-137
Messuage St Leonard William Birth, Daniel Snell 138-141
Gatehouse Yard Anne Woodham, James
Braberenton, John Cooper.
Messuage Fingringhoe George Partine 149-151
Granaryes St Osyth Henry Steevent 156-158
Vessel
Roterdam Merchant. 191
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