487. John GRIFFIN of Wivenhoe, 1776. PROB 11/1018/206

In the Name of God Amen
I John Griffin of Wivenhoe in Essex being very sick
and weak of Body but of perfect Mind and Memory
thanks be given unto God therefore calling unto Mind
the Mortality of my Body and knowing that it is
appointed for all Men once to die Do make and
ordain this my last Will and Testament (that is to say)
Principally and first of all I give and recommend
my soul into the Hands of Almighty God that gave
it and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be
Buried in a decent Christian Burial at the discretion
of my Executor nothing doubting but at the general
Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the
power Almighty God And as touching such
Worldly Effects wherewith it hath pleased God to bless
me with in this life I give devise and dispose of the
same in the following manner and form Imprimis –
my request is that at my departure in this life my
Body may be Interred in the Chancel of this Church
I would desire to have a six of Mrs Bawtrees workmen
to convey my Body to the Ground each man is to
have a pair of Gloves and half a Crown in money
and that my Burial may be decent and frugal at
the discretion of my Executor  Item I give and bequeath
to my housekeeper Ann Anderson Daughter of Mr
Dodd Anderson of Weathersfield in Essex Farmer if
she remains with me at my decease all and every
part of my Household Furniture Wearing Apparel
And every undivided part of my property under
Whatsoever denomination it may be called both
within Doors and without of whatsoever appears to
be my property as likewise the sum of fifty pounds to
be paid her within twelve Calendar Months after my
decease and five pounds per mourning Item I give
and bequeath to my Sister Crane wife of William Crane
of Kidderminster in the County of Worcester the sum
of twenty pounds as also to my Sister Margaret
Conquest wife of John Conquest of Oldswinford in
The County of Worcester Carpenter provided they or

either of them shall be living at my decease the sum
of five pounds Item I give and bequeath to my three
Neices Fannywell Susanna and Elizabeth Daughters of
William and Fannywell White late of the Town of
Ludlow in the County of Salop Grocer and Chandler
after all my Debts Funeral Expenses Legacies are
paid off by them all and every part of what Money remains
to be my property in the 3 p. Cent Consolidated Stocks
in London as also what Interest remains due upon
the same as also whatever Notes of Hand or otherwise
appears to be my property to be equally distributed
between the three Sisters aforesaid Fannywell Susanna
and Elizabeth I do hereby constitute and request of Mr John Robins
Surgeon and Apothecary of Wivenhoe my sole Executor
of this my last Will and Testament ratifying and
confirming this and no other In Witness whereof I
have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this thirtieth
December 1775 John Griffin Signed Sealed
Published Pronounced then Declared by the said John
Griffin as his last Will and Testament in the presence
of us William Mason James Mason

P.S I shall request of my Neices that they do
make Mr Robins a very handsome present for the
execution of his trust.   J. G.

This Will was proved at London the sixteenth
day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and seventy six Before the Right Worshipful
Sir George Hay Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper
or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
lawfully constituted by the Oath of John Robbins the sole
Executor named in said well to whom Administration
aas granted of all in singular the Goods Chattels and
Credits of the deceased having been first sworn by
Commission duly to administer Exd ./.