Will of John Watts, ironmonger, 1689 (proved 1692)

Herts RO 129AW22

In the Name of God Amen the eight day of June Anno Do(mi)ni one thousand six hundred eighty and nine. And in the first yeare of the Reigne of our Soveraigne Lord and Lady William and Mary King and Queen of England, Scotland France and Ireland & Co. I John Watts of Winslow in the County of Bucks Ironmonger being of perfect minde and memory praised be Almighty god therefore: Knowing the certainety of Death, and the uncertainty of the time and hour thereof, do therefore make ordaine and declare this my last will and testament, in manner and forme following. First I commit and commend my soul into the hands of Allmighty God my Creator resting assured of the remission of all my sinnes by the merrits of his ever Blessed sonne our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. My body I commit to the earth from whence it came to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executrix here after named. And as touching and concerning my worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I doe hereby declare my Last will and Testament as Followeth, viz First I give and bequeath unto my Eldest sonne William Watts the sume of Twenty shillings of Lawfull money of England to be paid him within six moneth next after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto every one of my sonne William Wattses Children the summe of twenty shillings a peece of lawfull money of England to be paid unto them within six moneths next after my Decease.

Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne John Watts and to each of his Children the some of Twenty shillings a peece of Lawfull money of England to be paid unto them and every of them within six moneths next after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne Thomas Watts the summe of sixty[?] one hundred pounds of Lawfull money of England to be paid within one yeare next after my decease.

Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne Marmaduke Watts the summe <of> twenty shillings of Lawfull money of England to be paid him within six moneths next after my Decease.

Item I give and bequeth unto my Daughter Ann Anderson, and unto every one of her Children the sum of twenty shillings apeece of good and lawfull money of England, to be paid unto them & every of them wihin six moneths next after my Decease.

I give and bequeath to my Daughter Katherine Watts the summe of sixty pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid her within one yeare next of my decease

Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Stutsberry and unto each of her children the summe of ten pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid her within two yeares next after my decease

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Stutsberrys Children to each of them twenty shillings apeece of Lawfull money of England to be paid unto every of them within six moneths next after my Decease.

All and singular other my goods Cattell and Chattells whatsoever, my debts and Legacies being paid and funerall charges defrayed, I give and bequeath unto Katherine my wife who I make full and sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament, And I do make and ordaine Thomas Bishop and John Green overseers of this my last will and Testament, And I the said John Watts do hereby renounce, revoke, and repeale all former wills by me made, and declared, and all Legacies, bequeaths and things in them conteyned, and I do declare this to be my last will and Testament. In Witness thereof I the said John Watts have hereunto set my hand and seale the day and yeare above written

John Watts

Signed sealed published and
declared in the presence of us  
John Greene
Tho: Bishop
Joseph Dandridge

[Probate 19 Dec 1692 by John Crofts clerk, MA, to Catherine Watts, widow and executrix]

Inventory of John Watts, ironmonger, 1692

Herts RO A25/4378

An Inventory of the Goods of Mr John Watts Lately Deceased

£
s
d
Imprimis his wearing Aparrell & money in his pockett
10
0
0
in the Litle Chamber i bedsted & feather Bed & Beding 1 table 3 stools & 2 Chairs & some shop goods
9
0
0
in the great Room i bed stid Curtains valens & Blankets & Coverlids 2 tables 6 Chairs & 2 stools & other furniture
4
6
8
in his Bed Chamber i Bedstid i feather Bed & Beding i hanging presse i Chest 2 trunks 2 Chars & 2 stools & other goods
4
3
4
in the Gatehouse Chamber 1 Feather flock Bed i bedstid & beding 10 p(ai)r sheets & other Linen i Chest & other Lumber
4
13
4
in the Hall 2 tables 10 stools 4 Chaires i presse Cuboard i Clock i jack 2 spits handirons dogs fire shovell & tongs & Bellows
3
6
8
in the kitchin i furnace 3 ketles & brewing vessells & other Lumber
3
0
0
in the pantry i brass [ - - ] & pewter & other lumber
2
18
4
in the Celler 7 Barrells i safe salting trough & other Lumber
1
2
6
in the Stable 21 Hurdles i sadle 2 paniells with other lumber
1
0
0
in the yard & hovell firewood & Lathers & 2 hovells
5
5
0
in the Barn hay & Boards & 2 Lathers
4
2
6
i elm at the saw pit
2
0
0
Item in the Shop goods
104
10
0
in the ware house goods & iron
48
6
8
in the back Chamber goods ropes skutles shovells & other Lumber
8
10
0
in the Back houses rakes forks whips besoms & Laths sneds
7
10
00
Book Debts ready money & Plate
50
00
00
Desperate Debts
27
19
00
----------------
 
306
4
00
Prized by us whose names are underwritten
Tho. Godwyn   Henry Hughes   Wm Watts   Tho. Foster
 
306
4
0
[minus]
27
19
0
 
-----------------
                                        
278
05
0

[verso] Decemb. 29 An. 1692 Catherina Watts Executrixt & Vidua Johannis Watts defunct, jurata fuit coram me Johane Croft. Cur. Sur.

[another hand] Invm Joh(ann)is Watts ex(hibi)t(um) 2 Janry 1692/3 per Execut &c.

Notes

John Watts lived in Winslow from at least 1642 and also had a shop at Leighton Buzzard. His shop in Winslow was at 6 High Street. He served at various times as overseer of the poor and tithingman. He was buried on 20 Nov 1692. His wife was nee Lipscombe (her will was proved in 1710), and they had these children:

Both sides of John Watts halfpennyHe produced his own trade tokens in 1664 (right). John's grandchildren were not baptised at Winslow, and his sons may have lived at Leighton Buzzard. The bequest to his daughter Katherine was crossed out in the will.

Thomas Bishop and John Green: the names were inserted later into a blank space.

Lathers: ? = ladders

Copyright 19 September, 2018