Will of John Hopkins

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. 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 front page]

Mr J[oh]n Hopkins

Last Will & Testament

1734

1    In the Name of God Amen: I John Hopkins of Wivenhoe in the County of Essex Mariner

and Fisherman being very sick and weak of Body but of sound and perfect memory at the sealing hereof do this

Twentieth Day of May in the Seventh year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of

God, of great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith (and so forth) 1734 do make and ordain

5   this is my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following first I Commend my Soul into the hands of

Almighty God (trusting through the Merritts of Jesus Christ my Redeemer to have Eternal Life) and my Body I Committ

to the Earth to be Buried in Christian and Decent Manner at the Discretion of my Executors herein after Named :-

And as touching such worldly Estate (worldly Estate) as it hath pleased God, to bless me with I: Give Devise and Dispose

of the same as followeth: Item I do hereby order Devise and Bequeath all my Freehold Lands Messuages, tenements

10   premises and appurtenances whatsoever and wheresoever that shall belong unto me at the time of my Decease to be Sold by

my Executors for the Best price they can gett. and the money thereof (to be) imployed for the maintenance and support of my

Children as is herein after mentioned. Item I Give to my Son Thomas Hopkins my mourning ring. Item. I do hereby

order my Smack and Boats and utensills; and Stock of Oysters to be sold by my Executors and the money arising thereby

together with the money arising from the Sale of the before mentioned freehold Estate to be all imployed for and towards the

15   maintenance and Support of all my Children till they are Capable to take Care and provide for themselves. and if any

thing remains I do hereby order it to be equally parted Between my Loving wife and all my Children when my youngest

Child shall attain the age of One and Twenty years; But if it shall so happen that my said Wife Shall Contract

Matrimoney after my Decease, then I do hereby order my Executors to take Care and order the bringing up of all

my Children. Item I give to Susanna my Loving Wife; all my Houshold Goods and Linen. Item what money I have

20   and what Debts are due and owing to me at the time of my Decease I do order to be imployed for the paying of

my Just Debts, funeral Charges, and probate of this my Last will and Testament. And I do make Constitute

and appoint my father in Law Thomas Martin and my two Brothers, Thomas Hopkins and Robert Hopkins to be Executors

of this my Last Will and Testament as the same is Contained in one sheet of paper. In Witness

Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the Day and year first above written

25   Signed Sealed published and declared by the said             }

John Hopkins to be his Last Will and Testament                  }              the mark of

in our presence and attested by us in his presence            }              John X Hopkins

George Clarke

John Quince

30   John Potter

October the Nineteenth One thousand Seven Hundred

and thirty four/Thomas Martin and Thomas Hopkins

two of the Executors within named appeared this

day and were sworn before me

35    John Carleton Surrogate

Proved the Nineteenth Day of October in the Year of our

Lord 1734 before the Rev. John Carleton Doctor in Divinity Surrogate

By the Oaths of Thomas Martin and Tho[ma]s Hopkins two of the Executors, to whom Admin[istrati]on was

granted they being first sworne duly to admin[ist]er power reserved of making the like Grant to Robert

Hopkins the other Executor whenever etc.

[Outside back page]

/30/

The last Will of

John Hopkins late of Wivenhoe

Proved the 19^th October 1734

Persons and places mentioned in will of John Hopkins 1734                                                                   

Name                                  Occupation/position                     Place                    Key facts                               Date      Line

John Hopkins                     Mariner & Fisherman                        Wivenhoe            died 1734                           1734

Susanna Hopkins              wife of John Hopkins                         Wivenhoe            beneficiary                         1734      19

Thomas Hopkins               son of John Hopkins                          Wivenhoe            Executor, beneficiary       1734      12, 22

Robert Hopkins                 son of John Hopkins                          Wivenhoe            Executor, beneficiary        1734      22

Thomas Martin                father-in-law of John Hopkins           Wivenhoe            Executor                              1734      22

George  Clarke                                                                                Wivenhoe            witness to will                     1734      28

John Quince                                                                                    Wivenhoe            witness to will                      1734      29

John Potter                                                                                      Wivenhoe            witness to will                      1734      30

John Carleton                    Doctor of Divinity, Surrogate           Wivenhoe            proved will                            1734      35