Will of Robert Lovett of TawstockIn the name of God Amen I Robert Lovett of Tawstock in the County of Devon Esq being sick, and weak of Body, but of sound, and perfect mind, and memory praised be God do make this my last will, and Testament, in manner, and form following This is to say I first, and principally I recommend, and bequeath my Soul, to Almighty God hoping in his mercy that through the merits, and sufferings of Jesus Christ my Blessed Saviour and Redeemer, all my sins shall be forgiven, and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently interred, according to the Rites, and Ceremony's of Christian Buriall, in the Church of England of which Church I ever was a true son, and resolved to Dye, and for my temporall Estate I dispose thereof as followeth Imprim I give, and bequeath, to the poor of the parish of Solebury in the County of Bucks the sum of three hundred pounds of lawful money of England, to be laid out and disposed of for the best Advantage, and benefit of the said poor, as shall be thought fittest, by Mr. Sambee the present Minister there Mr Nelle and my two Cousins, Mrs Bates, and Mrs Piggot. Item I give and bequeath to the poor of the parish of Tawstock aforesaid the Sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of England to employed by the Minister, Church Wardens and Oversears of the poor for the time being in bind out Apprentices to some Handicraft Trades as they by ye advice of the Minister shall think fittest. Item I give to the parish of St Giles twenty pounds for making an handsome Altar piece there if there is none already, but if there is no need of making any Then I give the said Twenty Pounds, and thirty pounds more, to the poor of the said parish to be disposed of as the precedent Legacy. Item I give to the parish of Tawstock the sum of fifty pounds of lawfull money of England, and to be laid out in making a new floor before the Communion Table in the Church there Item I give to my Cousin Mr John Lee's two Children, one hundred pounds to each of them. Item I give, and bequeath my Cousin Mr. Lewis Gregory's two youngest Children each fifty pound of lawful money of England. In witness of I have hereunto set my Hand, and Seal this twenty seventh Day of November anno Domini 1710 Robert Lovett Sealed published and declared in presence of us Wm Mervin Memorandum It is my desire that Nicolas Jones my servant should be present at the payment of the Legacys Herein my me. Robert LOVETT, the son of Edward LOVETT (1626-1700) and Joane HEARLE (1641-1709), was baptised at Tawstock, Devon on 18 Mar 1668/69, and buried on 29 Nov 1710. According to his mural monument at St Peter's, Tawstock, Robert "dyed of a Malignant Small Pox" on 27 Nov 1710, the same day as he wrote this will. Soulbury, Buckingham was the birthplace of Robert's father. Robert's will was proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 31 May 1711. |