Person:Bennet Eliot (2)

Bennet Eliot's Will

"Bennett Elliott of Nasinge, Essex, yeoman, 5 November 1621, proved 28 March 1622. My body to buried in decent and Christian manner. I give and bequeath all the rents and profits of all my copy and customary lands and tenements &c in the several parishes of Ware, Widford, Hunsdon and Estweeke in the Co. of 'Harford' unto my trusty and well beloved friends William Curtis, my son in law, Nicholas Camp the younger and John Keyes, all of the said parish of Nasinge, for the space of eight years from the time of my decease quarterly to pay unto my son John Elliott the sum of eight pounds a year of lawful money of England for and towards his maintenance in the University of Cambridge, where he is now scholar, and the residue of the rents and profits I give and bequeath for and towards the bringing up of my youngest children, that is to say, Francis, Jacob, Mary and Lydia. And the inheritance of all my said lands lying in the said parishes I give and bequeath as followeth. First, to Francis, my youngest son, and to his heirs forever, one parcel of land called Crottwell Croft, containing two acres more or less, and one other parcel of land called Coles Croft, containing one acre more or less, and one parcel of land called Dameter in Great Hyfield and one other parcel of land lying in Little Westney, by estimation one acre and a half more or less, and one parcel of land lying in Sowters Common Meade, containing half an acre, with all the rents and profits after the end of the said eight years have expired; and I give and bequeath unto my son Jacob and to his heirs forever all that my messuage or tenement in the said parish of Widford, with all the lands thereunto belonging lying in the said several parishes of Widford, Ware, Hunsdon,and Estwick, with all other the appurtenances other than those lands before given to my son Francis, with all the rents and profits of the same from and after the said eight years. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Lydia the sum of fifty pounds of lawful money, to be paid unto her at the age of eighteen years or day of marriage, which shall first happen. I give unto my daughter Mary the sum of twenty pounds of like lawful money, to be paid unto her in like manner and I give unto my goddaughter Mary Curtis the sum of three pounds of like money, payable to her as to the others; and my will and mind is that if either of my said two daughters die before their said age or marriage that then the survivor to have her part or legacy as aforesaid and that if they both happen to die before the said time that then the sum of forty pounds thereof be paid to my son John and the residue to and amongst my younger children.

Item, my will and mind is that so soon as may be after my decease my executors make sale of all my stock of cattle, corn and all other goods and chattles that be 'a broade' out of my house and of so much of my moveable goods within the house as in their discretions cannot well be kept in their own property till my said children be of age to use the same, to such persons as will give most money for the same, and the money rising thereof to employ for the use, behoof and maintenance of my said children to the best advantage they lawfully may or can; and further my will and mind is that my daughter Mary and my daughter Lidia shall have the chest in the yellow chamber and all that is in the same, over and above their parts in the rest of my goods, and my will and mind is that my son Phillip shall have so much of my household implements as cannot well be removed without loss, for his part of my said goods if it rise to be so much; if his part come not to the value then that he may have them at a reasonable price if he will before any other; and I give unto my son Francis four silver spoons which were given him at his Christening, over and above his my part of goods, and my will is that my daughter Mary Curtis have the keeping of them till he be of age, and for that my said daughter Mary Curtis hath heretofore had a good and competent part of my goods for her portion and preferment in marriage, whereby she is already provided for, I give unto her only the sum of five shillings to make her a small ring to wear in remembrance of my love to her and because my estate in goods and chattles will hardly be sufficient for the education of my young children, Francis, Jacob, Mary and Lydia therefore I more give unto my said friends William Curtis, Nicholas Camp and John Keyes, whom I trust for their bringing up, the sum of ten pounds a year yearly for the space of eighteen years after my decease out of my messuage and customary lands in the parish of Nasinge, or out of any part thereof, for the better maintenance of my said children; and the inheritance of my said messuage, lands and tenements with their appurtenances, with all the rents and profits thereof other than the said ten pounds a year out of the same for the time aforesaid, I give and bequeath unto my son Phillip Elliott and to his heirs forever; and my will and mind is that my said friends pay all such fine or fines as shall be due to the lord or lords for their said lands when they shall be thereunto admitted, and the rest of my estate in goods, rents, money, debts or chattels, with the profits thereof if any be, to deliver to my said children by even and equal portions at the end and expiration of the said eighteen years; and for that cause I do hereby ordain and appoint my said beloved friends William Curtis, Nicholas Campe the younger and John Keyes my full and sole executors &c. and I give to either of them for their pains herein taken forty shillings apiece, and my earnest request is that Mr John Tey of the said parish of Nasinge Esq. would be aiding and helping to my said executors by his good counsel and advice for the better execution thereof, and my will and mind is that if any question or doubt do arise between my executors concerning this my said will that they submit themselves to be ordered and ruled by him without any further trouble or contention.

Wit: Robert Wonnam, Parnell Borum, John Tey, John Campe, William Curtis.

Proved by the oaths of William Curtis, Nicholas Camp junior and John Keyes, executors &c.

Register 24 Com. C^t. of London (1621-1626) fo. 85."^[2]

NOTE: The "daughter Mary Curtis" referred to in the above will is almost certainly the daughter Sarah who married William Curtis in 1618.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Fiske, William Wyman. Ancestry of Bennet Eliot of Nazeing, Essex, Father of Seven Great Migration Immigrants to Massachusetts. New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Apr, Jul, Oct 2007, Jan, Apr 2008)
   162:72, 135.

   "Bennet^A Eliot (Simon^B, Thomas^C, William^D was born after 1552. … his godfather, Bennet Averell of Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, whose will dated 11 April 1572 … left 20 shillings to godson Bennet Ayet [sic at age 21. … Bennet was buried (Nazeing) 21 November 1621."

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Waters, Henry Fitz-Gilbert, A.M.. Genealogical Gleanings in England. (Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1901)
   2:904-06.