In the name of God amen. May the seaven and twentyeth in the fifteenth yeare
of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord James by the grace of god Kinge of
England, France, and Ireland defender of the faith etc and of Scotland the
fifyeth. In the yeare of our Lord god 1617 I Robert White of Messinge in the
countye of Essex yeoman, beinge of good and pfect remembrance, doe make this my
last will and testament, in manner and forme followinge.
   Imprimis. I comend my soule unto the hands of god almightey my most
faythfull creator redemer and sanctifier and my bodie to be buryed in the
parish church or church yeard of Messinge, at the discretion of mine executors.
   Item I give and bequeath unto the poore people of Messinge fortye shillings
of lawful mony of England, to be distributed amongst them, at ye discretion of
mine executors and the minister of Messinge, within one month next after my
depture from this naturall life.
   Item I give and bequeath unto Mr. Richard Rogers preacher of gods word at
Withersfield in Essex aforesaid; and to Bartholomew Scrivener Minister of the
church of god in Messinge aforenamed to each of them the several summe of
fortey shillings of like lawfull monie, to be payd unto them within two monthes
next after my departure.
   Item I give and bequeath unto mine eldest daughter Sarah, the wife of James
Bowtell of little Sallinge, the summe of fifteene punds of lawfull mony of
England, to be paid within fower years next after my depture.
   Item I give and bequeath unto Jeames Bowtell the younger, son of my said
daughter Sarah Bowtell, the summe of five pounds of good and lawfull mony of
England, to be paid unto him when he shall come to ye sixteenth yeare of his
age.
   Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Marie the wife of Joseph Lummis of
Branetree, one pewter platter.
   Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth the wife of William
Gooddinge of Bockinge the summe of fortye markes of like lawfull monye within
one yeare next after my depture, to be paid unto hir.
   Item I five and beueath unto my daughter Bridgett White the sum of one
hundred marks of like lawfull monye, to be paid unto hir upon the day of hir
marriage, provided that she my said daughter Bridgett shall not bewtow hir
selfe in marryage without the approbation and consent of my two sonnes in law
Joseph Lummys and William Goodinge formrly mentioned, and of my wife Bridgett
White or the consent of two of them whereof my wife to be one of the twaine.
But yf it happen that shee marrye without the consent aforesaid then I give hir
only the summe of thirtye pounds of like lawful monie.
   Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Anna White the summe of one
hundredth markes of like lawfull mony: to be paid unto hir upon ye day of hir
marriage, yf soe be she shall bestow hir selfe in marriage, accordinge to the
likinge and consent of my two fornamed sonnes in law, and my wife, as is
aforesaid. But yf it soe fall out, as that she my said daughter Anna shall
marrye without the consent and approbation formerly mentioned, then I give and
bequeath hir only the summe of thirtey pounds of like and lawfull monie.
   Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne Nathaniell White the sume of fortie
pounds of like lawfull monye, wherof my will is that twenty pounds shalbe paid
within one yeare next after my depture, and the other twentye pounds to be paid
unto him within two years next after my said depture oute of this naturall
life.
   Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne John White the summe of two hundredth
pounds of like lawfull lmonie to be paid him when he shall come to ye years of
one and twentye of his age; yett provided that my said sonne John shall not
bestow himselfe in marriage without the approbation and consent of my aforesaid
two sonnes in law Joseph Lummys and William Goodinge, and my wife his mother.
And yf it soe fall oute that this my son John shall match him selfe contrarye
to the good likinge and consent aforesaid, then I give and bequeath unto him
onlye as his full portion the summe of one hundred pounds of like lawfull
monye.
   Item my mind and will is, that yf any of my foresaid children that are
unmarried shall depte this naturall life before the tymes appointed for the
paymt of their portions; or yf any of them shall marrye contrarye to the
consent and approbation mentioned, then such summe or summes of monie (as shall
remaine and accrew, eyther by their death or disobeydience) shall be equally
devided amongste the rest of my children whither marryed or unmarried, pte and
parte like.
   Item I give and bequeath unto my said son John White the loyned standinge
bedstead wch is in the parlour, wth the featherbed, flockbed, bolster coueringe
wth other furneyture thereunto belonginge; alsoe the presse cupbourd the
cupbourd table and newest chest. all wch are in the said ploure to be delivered
him after the death of my said wife Bridgett White, or instead thereof the
summe of twenty marks of like lawfull monye.
   Item I constitute and ordaine my aforesaid sonnes in law Joseph Lumys and
William Goodinge supuisors of this my last will and testament and doe give unto
each of them the severall summes of fortey shillings of like lawfull mony:
towards their charge and paines in seinge this my will executed according to my
minde.
   Item I five and bequeath unto Ralph Bett the younger my kinsman and servant
the summe of five pounds of like lawfull monye, to be paid unto him within one
yeare next after my depture.
   Item I give and bequeath unto Joseph Digbie my servant, twentye shillings of
like lawfull monye, to be paidwithin one yeare next after my depture.
   Item all the rest of my goods unbequeathed I give and bequeath unto my wife
Bridgett White, and to my sonne Daniell White whome I constitute and ordayne
the ioynte executors of this my last will and testament, hopinge they will
faithfullye execute this my will accordinge to the trust reposed in them.

   In witness whereof I have hereunto sett myne hand and seale the daye and
yeare first mentioned.
   In presence of us:
   John Christmas ye elders (+) marke
   William Levett.

   Probatu fuit Testamentu apud Kelvedon vicesimo Die mensis Junii 1617.