MRP: Mansel Smith will
Mansel Smith will
PROB 11/374 Drax 102–156 Will of Mansell Smith, Merchant, Gentleman of Greenwich, Kent 20 September 1683
Editorial history
01/12/11, CSG: Created page & posted transcription to wiki
Contents
Abstract & context
Mansel Smith wrote his will on March 25th, 1681/82. He described himself in his will as "Mansell Smith Merchant in Surrat of the Parish of Greenwich in the County of Kent Gent." He had been sick for some time, noting that he was "sick and weak in body of a fflux that I have long languished under."
Mansel Smith mentioned in his will "my Mothers Brother and dear Uncle Colonel Edmon: Chapman." His father was possibly Francis Smith of Saint Alphage, Greenwich, which would give Mansel Smith a christening date of September 15th, 1641.[1]
He named his wife's mother, who was still living, as "Mrs. Issabella Young."
He acknowledged his birthplace with a small bequest for "the Poore of that Parish where I was borne namely Greenwich in Kent near London."
He made his brother one of his executors: "my dear Brother William Smith Gentleman." His reference to "my welbeloved Brother Mr William Smith now resident in England" suggests that his brother, too, had been overseas.
Suggested links
See Sir George Oxenden will (Mansell Smith was servant of Sir George Oxenden in Surat)
To do
Transcription
Transcription has been completed, but requires checking
In the name of God Amen the twenty fifth March in the Twenty fourth yeare of the Reigne of our sovereign Lord Charles the second by the grace of God, King of England Scotland ffrance and Ireland Defender of the ffaith xr:a Anno. Dpm. 1681/2 I Mansell Smith Merchant in Surrat of the Parish of Greenwich in the County of Kent Gent. being sick and weak in body of a fflux that I have long languished under though in good sound and perfect mind and being desirous whilst I am in perfect and sound memory to settle my Worthy affairs doe therefore make and declare this my last Will and Testament renouncing all former Wills in manner and forme following Vizt.
ffirstly and principally I recommend my immortal soule unto the hands and protection of Allmighty God my Creator assuredly trusting by and through the meritorious death and passion of Jesus Christ my blessed Saviour and Redeemer that I shall receive a glorious Resurrection amongst the Just my body I leave to the earth from whence it came to be decently not costly buryed with a little building over me if I dye in a convenient place in India
And as for my temporall estate which God hath been pleased to blesse me with I give and dispose thereof in manner following Vizt.
IMPRIMIS I give [(in margin) "and bequeath"] unto the Poore of that Parish where I was borne namely Greenwich in Kent near London five pounds Sterling to be paid presently after my Brother in England shall receive any effects of mine that is of any value, I give and bequeath unto my Mothers Brother and dear Uncle Colonel Edmon: Chapman fforty pounds sterling to be paid as above said I give and bequeath to my Wife's Mother Mrs. Issabella Young 700 Zeraphurs, thus shee when I marryed her daughter promised to give us said 700 Zeraphirs to buy Jewells for my Wife but I have not received it to this day. And if I dye doe freely forgive it her but otherwise to doe with it as I thik fit. I give unto Capt. Thomas Niccolls my Wife's Brother in Law and to his good Lady my wifes sister above to little Mansell their male Child and my Godsonne Tene pounds sterling each to be paid by the Overseer that is here in India out of the first considerable money that hee shall recover. I give unto my Boyes Nurse if it be found that shee hath bin found carefull and loving unto him and that he lives to be well weaned over and above what is her reall pay Thirty Rupees to be paid by that Overseer here in India and bequeath to my very good friend the Worp:ll John Child Agent for the Honourable Companys affairs in Surratt xr:a fifty pounds for the great care I know hee will take in that business for hee with my Brother I humbly desire and request may be Overseers of this my last Will and Testament hee being my Boyes Godfather will I hope take care of himselfe and see that hee be well educated at good schooles and bred up in the true Protestant Religion.
I doe make constitute and appoint my dear Brother William Smith Gentleman one of my Executors and my deare sonne William Smith jnr. the other Executor of this my last Will and Testam:t
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and I doe give ?SUIT them the residue of my whole Estate Goods Chattells and Credits my funerall charges debts and Legacies first paid and discharged in manner following Vizt.
One third part to my welbeloved Brother Mr William Smith now resident in England the other two third parts to my deare sonne William Smith jun:r.
And whereas my Boy William is in his minority and a child my will is that my Brother Mr William Smith who is my Boyes Uncle and Godfather have possession of the whole Estate and with the money to buy Lands such as may be most advantagious for the Child and out of the rents he may be maintained put to school and well educated and when of age to be sent to the University or put to Prentice that as hee shall be thought most fitt for and if his fortunes are soe small that the Rents will not doe it rather than want good educacon let money be spent out of the principall stock I mean such Learning as may tend to the good of his soule and bettering his litterall knowledge not that hee should be kept too much under and his spirits bawkt, for I would have him manly and vertuously valliant if it be God's will. If this my sonne William Smith jun. should dye before hee comes to the age of Twelve years and that my deare Brother Mr. William Smith sen. is still surviving then two thirds of the estate I give and bequeath to that my said Brother and his Children after his decease And the other one third to my dear Uncle Colonel Chapman But out of this whole estate I take ffifty pounds sterling to be disposed of as followeth vizt.
20 ll. Towards the building of the remaining parts of the Church at Bombay
To my wifes sister Capt. Nicholls his Lady Tenne pounds more towards the buying a good Diamond Ring the first being intended for the same use
ll. To my Wifes Mother for the same use
10 To my Wifes Brother little Johane Young
5 more to be added to the first 10ll to buy Capt. Nicholls a Diamond Ring
5 To my little Boyes slave Girle, by name Jane and if my Boy should dye before he goes to England Then the said Jane hath her freedome
ffurther my Will and desire is that if my little Boy survives his Uncle Mr. Wm. Smith That then this third partt of the estate that I have given my Brother returne to my sonne if my Brothers Children be not in great want My will and desire is that great care be taken my sonne be not bred up or educated by any Papist person whatsoever though never soe nearly related to him My will and order is that soe soone as my sonne is able to undertake and performe a Voyage to Europe that forthwith he be sent for England and with him such moneys as then can be procured or is in readiness for his better maintenance there My will and order is that by the first Europe shipping that shall arrive in India after my decease such estate of mine as is a readynesse be invested in such commodities as is fitt for the markett and consigned to my Brother Mr. William Smith for the use of himselfe and my sonne the two Executors having regard to keepe some part thereof to goe home in the same shipp with my sonne for his more decent Transport and good reception in England And having now considered it I would halfe the estate sent home on the same shipp with him my sonne William Smith the other halfe to be divided and sent home as the prudence of the Overseers in India shall think fit.
My will order and desire is that all such Papers that are sealed up and directed [TBC] to my Brother Mr. Wm. Smith be not opened here in India but sent home to him or his Assignes just as they are My will and desire is that whereas Capt. Nicholls and Mr. James [TBC] King my Correspondents and Attorneys here in India the one at Bombay the other here in Surrat they knowing my affairs and concernes [TBC] may be the better aiding [TBC] and assisting in getting in my Worldly estate therefore desire they may peruse this my last Will and Testament and for the trouble either of them may be at in the business let my Overseer gratify as his prudence shall think fit I doe alsoe hereby make void and revoke all former Wills and Testaments whatsoever
In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day of the date and yeare first above written All this my my Will written with my owne hand though coppyed over by another acknowledged by me Mansell Smith In Surat March the 29th [CHECK] Anno Dom. One thousand six hundred eighty two
Signed sealed published and delivered by the above mentioned Mansell Smith as for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us Bar. [TBC] Harris Charles Alley Daniell Gifford
PROBATUM etc..
Notes
Possible primary sources
TNA
PROB 11/202 Fines 202-260 Will of John Smyth, Gentleman of East Greenwich, Kent 04 November 1647
PROB 11/266 Ruthen 260-310 Will of Francis or Frances Smith, Gentleman of East Greenwich, Kent 25 July 1657
- ↑ IGI record, http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=/eng/search/ancestorsearchresults.asp, viewed 18/01/12
