Will of Joan Paxton, widow, 1666/7 (proved 1678)

Herts RO 114AW11

In the name of God Amen.  the seaven and twentieth day of March Anno Dom(ini) one thousand six hundred sixty and six and in the eighteenth yeare of the Raigne of our Soverraigne Lord King Charles the second over England &c. I Joane Paxton of Winslow in the County of Bucks Widdowe beinge aged and weake of body but of p(er)fect minde and memory I prayse Almighty God therefore, knoweinge the certainetey of death and the uncertainetey of the time and houre thereof, doe therefore make ordaine and declare this my last will and testament in Manner and forme followeinge  First I Committ and com(m)end my soule into the hands of Almighty God my Creatour who gave it mee, restinge Assured of the remission of al my sinns by the merrits, passion, pretious bloud sheddinge, death Resurrection and Assention of his ever blessed sonne o(ur) Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and to bee a happy partaker of the Kingdome of heaven.   My Body I committ to the Earth from where it came to bee decently Interred, And as touchinge and concerneinge my worldley estate with which it hath pleased God to bless mee I doe hereby declare my last will and testament in manner and forme followinge.  First I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Monke one great Caldron one great Chest, my two biggest pewter platters, two payre of My best sheetes, one Diaper table cloath, one flaxen table cloath and 1 dossen of napkinns and the sume of five pounds of Currant English money to bee paied within twelve months next after my decease.  Item I give and bequeath unto my grandchilde William Monke one joyned bedsteed, one sett of curtaines and valliants, one feathebed one feather boulster and one Chest.  Item I give and bequeath unto Mary Monke, Joseph Monke, Benjamine Monke, Elizabeth Monke, and Martha Monke five other of my grandchildren the sume of five shillings apeece of currant English money to bee paied within twelve months next after my decease.  Item I give and bequeath unto \my grandchildren. viz/ Thomas Paxton, Ann Paxton and Hannah Paxton the sume of five shillings apeece to bee paied within twelve months next after my decease.  All and singular other my goods, cattells and chattells of what kind and nature soever my debts and legacies beinge paied and funerall expences defrayed I wholey give and bequeath unto Edmund Paxton my sonne whome I make full and sole executor of this my last will and testament.   And I the said Joane Paxton doe hereby renounce revoke and repeale all former wills by mee made and declared and all legacies and bequests and things in them or aney of them contayned.  And I doe pronounce and declare this to bee my last will and testament.  In witness whereof to this my last will and Testament I the said Joane Paxton have sett my hand and seale the day and yeare first above written

Joane Paxton her marke

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Joane Paxton for her last will & testament in the p(re)sence of us
Mathew Bishop   Peter Loundes

[Verso] Probate 10 April 1678 to Edmund Paxton son & executor

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Notes

Edmund Paxton's children were baptised at Winslow in 1658 (Thomas), 1662 (Ann); Hannah's baptism is not recorded. Edmund and his sister Mary do not seem to have been baptised at Winslow. Joan was the widow of John Pax(t)on of Blake House who was active in the 1640s and 1650s.