Will of Susanna Colles of St Bride's, London, widow, 1647/8 (proved 1648)

National Archives, PROB 11/206/313

In the name of God Amen The third day of January in the three and twentieth yeare of Raigne of o(ur) Soveraigne Lord Charles by the grace of god of England Scotland France and Ireland Kinge defender of the Faith etc. Anno Domini one thousand six hundred fourty and seaven I Susanna Colles of the parish of St. Brides London beinge in perfecte minde and memory and at this time in bodily health thankes be given \un/to almighty God therefore but consideringe the frailty and uncertainty of all flesh and that here wee have noe permanent or abidinge place doe make and ordeine this my last will and testament in manner and forme followinge First and principallye I commend my soule into the mercifull hands of Almighty god my Creator haveinge assured confidence through the all sufficient merits of Jesus Christ my saviour and redeemer to bee made partaker of everlastinge happines in the world to come And my body I commit \un/to the earth from whence it came to bee decently buried in the Chancell of the parish Church of St. Stephens neere unto St. Albans in the county of Hertford, as neere unto my late Husband (who lyeth interred there) as conveniently may bee And as for and concerninge that worldly estate which Almighty god of his infinite goodness and mercy hath bestowed and blessed mee with all I doe give and bequeath and dispose thereof in manner and forme followinge That is to say Imprimis I give and bequeath unto the poore people of Saint Stephens aforesaid Fortie shillings of lawfull English money to bee distributed amongst them the said poore of St. Stephens at the discretion of my executors hereafter named I give unto my grandchild Susanna Rolfe the sum(m)e of fourty pounds of good and lawfull english money to bee paid unto her the said Susanna Rolfe within six moneths after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto my grand Child Susanna Fygge six of my Apostle silver spoones to bee delivered unto her the said Susanna Fygge at her age of one and twenty yeares or at the day of her marriage which shall first happen Item I give and bequeath \un/to my grandchild William Browne the sume of fourty pounds of Currant English money to bee paid unto him the said William Browne at his age of one and twenty yeares if he shall soe long live Item I give and beqeuath unto William Col\l/es Edmund Colles Thomas Colles Margrett Rolfe and Martha Fygge my sonnes and daughters and to every and each of them respectively the sume of thirteene shillings Forepence of lawfull English money to buy them Rings withall All the rest and residue of my goods and Chattels whatsoever herein not before bequeathed my debts beinge paid and my funerall Charges and expences defrayed and discharged I give and bequeath \un/to my daughter Susanna Browne the now wife of Richard Browne of the parish of St. Brides aforesaid Silkeman And I doe constitute make and ordeine the said Susanna Browne my full and sole Executrix of this my last will and testament And I doe hereby
utterly revoke adnull and make void all and every other wills Testaments legacies and bequests whatsoever formerly at any time by mee made given or bequeathed to all intents and purposes as if they had never bin made And doe ratifie confirme publish and declare This to bee my last will and testament In witnes whereof I the said Susanna Colles have hereunto set my hand and seale the day and yeare first above written The marke of the above named Susanna Colles Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Susanna Colles the day and yeare firste above written in the presence of us   William Wells      Arthur Cresheld                    

[Probate granted 2 Dec 1648 at London to Susanna Browne]

Notes

Susanna, originally from St Albans ("late of Parkeberry", was the mother of Martha, wife of Peter Fige the younger. See The Fige family

The will is followed by a legal case in which her son Edmund Colles tried unsuccessfully to challenge the will.