Lawrence Nighell 1657

In the name of God amen the sixth day of August in the year of our lord according to the English account one thousand six hundred fifty and six. Lawrence Nighell of Coppull in the county of Lancaster yeoman being old and something infirm of body but of sound and perfect memory (I give God thanks therefore) and considering with myself that death is certain to all living creatures and the time thereof most uncertain and being minded so to dispose of such worldly goods as it hath pleased almighty God to bless me with all and to the end and intent that all controversy may be avoided touching the same after my death and that the same may be bestowed [illeg] and enjoyed according to my dispose of it I do hereby make this my last will and testament renouncing and revoking all former and other wills and testaments heretofore by me made or devised wherein is contained my whole will and mind concerning my soul my body and my goods in manner and form following that is to say first and principally I commend my soul into the hands of almighty God my maker and preserver assuredly trusting that through his infinite mercy and goodness and the meritorious death and passion of Jesus Christ my only saviour and redeemer to be made partaker of that glorious kingdom which he himself hath prepared for his elected and children servants there to remain with him in heaven amongst his blessed saints and angels for ever and for my mortal body I commit to the earth from whence it came to be buried in decent and comely manner in my parish church of Standish at the discretion of my executors here after named there to remain in the bosom of the earth until it shall please the almighty God to raise it up again at the general resurrection of all mankind.  And as concerning my worldly goods which God of his goodness hath blessed me withal I dispose thereof as followeth and first my will and mind is that my debts and funeral expenses shall be paid and discharged forth of my whole goods and chattels which being done my will and mind is that my goods be divided into two equal parts the one part whereof I give unto Marjorie Nighell my dear and loving wife and the other part thereof I reserve to myself and whereas I have formerly estated my now dwelling house and land in Coppull aforesaid to feoffees in trust for certain uses reserving thereby the sum of forty pounds to myself to dispose of by my last will and testament after the decease of me, and of the marriage or death of Marjorie my said wife first happening and want of issue begotten or to be begotten betwixt us two and it is my will and mind and I do hereby give and bequeath the said sum of forty pounds in manner and form following first  unto Lawrence Worthington my grandchild the sum five pounds and to my grandchild Robert Dicconson ten pounds for and to my grandchildren Elisabeth Latham Ellen Worthington and Margaret Fisher to every one of them five pounds apiece Item I also give and bequeath unto John Worthington my son in law and unto Margaret Worthington and two Alice Dicconson my natural daughters every one of them three pounds six shillings and eight pence apiece which doth in all amount to the said sum of forty pounds which is my will and mind shall be paid by my feofees so soon as it can be raised forth of the issues and profits of my said house and lands in Coppull aforesaid after my decease marriage or death of my said wife and want of issue lawfully begotten betwixt us two.  Item I do moreover give and bequeath unto my said grandchild Lawrence Worthington one great chest and one long table in the house one cupboard and one standing bed in my chamber and one great chest in the chamber over the house and one new great brass pot one stone cistern and all stone troughs within or about my house and my husbandry gear (vizt) carts ploughs harrows axes spades nogers wimbles wean ropes halteroes and all other such like implements after the marriage or death of Marjorie my said wife but not before.  Item I give and bequeath more unto my said wife all my hay and corn and all my horses mares colts and four silver spoons for the great care and pains she hath ever taken with me.  Item I give and bequeath unto Agnes Prescott sister to William Prescott of Coppull now living in Preston twenty shillings and also to John Finch of Haigh ten shillings and a whole suit of my clothes.  Item I give and bequeath unto my good friends and neighbour Roger Haydock ten shillings and to William Haydock his brother five shillings and to my cousin John Wearing of Langtree five shillings and to my loving friend James Urmston forty shillings.  Item all the rest reversion and remainder of my part of goods I give and bequeath unto Marjorie my loving wife to John Worthington my son in law and to Margaret Worthington and two Alice Dicconson my natural daughters to be equally divided amongst them. Item I give more to John Worthington my said son in law my best cloak.  And whereas I have a close of ground now in my possession called the Leigh which I have assigned over unto my said wife after my decease yet nevertheless it is my will and mind and the agreement and free assent and consent of Marjorie my said wife that my said son in law John Worthington shall have hole use of the same close called the Leigh with its appurtenances after my decease for and during the term of the lease to me thereof made for his best use commodity and advantage yet nevertheless upon condition (and not other ways) that if he the said John Worthington Margaret his wife their or any of their children their or any of their executors administrators assignees or any other person or persons by their or any of their means consent or procurements shall or do interrupt molest or trouble Marjorie my said wife or her assigns after my decease touching her quiet occupying and enjoying of my said house and grounds in Coppull or for or about any other matter or thing I have thereby given unto my said wife but in case the said John Worthington or any other beforementioned do at any time thereafter molest or trouble my said wife in the premises aforesaid then the said John Worthington nor his assigns nor any of them shall not or may not have or enjoy the said Lee nor any part thereof after any interruption or trouble being offered or done unto my said wife so that the same close and every part and parcel thereof shall from thenceforth remain and be unto my said wife according to the true intent and meaning of the said assignment for me by me made and I do hereby ordain and appoint the aforesaid Roger Haydock of Coppull and Marjorie Nighell my loving wife executors of this my last will and testament not doubting of their real and honest dealing in the execution hereof and I also desire my good friend and kinsman John Wearing of Langtree aforesaid to be supervisor to see this my last will and testament performed in every respect as my trust is in him before others.  In witness whereof I have here unto put my hand and made my mark the day and year first above written Lawrence Nighell his mark and seal.

Sealed signed and delivered in the presence of us William Haydock carrier Edward Worthington Glover a witness mark Mary Sumpner a witness her mark James Urmston.

This will was proved at London before the judges for probate of wills and granting administrations lawfully authorised the twelfth day of November in the year of our lord one thsand six hundred fifty and seven by the oath of Marjorie Nighell of Coppull the relict and of Roger Haydock executors named in the said will to whom administration of all and singular the goods chattels and debts of the said deceased was committed they being first by commission sworn truly to administer the same.