Gerrans & St Anthony in Roseland Wills

Will of Gilbert CREWES (1614)
Will of Nicholas KEMPE (1768)
Will of James Lawry (1850)
Will of John Garland CREGOE (1856)

The will of Gilbert CREWES (1614)

Thanks to Ken Nash for sending a transcription of the will of Gilbert Crewes of Gerrans made in 1614. Well worth a read. Ken tells me that this transcription was made by the late Thomas Frost Johns and is published in his book "Crewes of South Cornwall (and their ancestors in Liskeard, Cornwall and Cruwys Morchard, Devon)". Ken has offered to perform look-ups in his copy of this book - see the Other Sources of Information page for contact details. There's also a link from that page to the National Archives where, when I last checked, they had 27 wills, 2 death duty register entries and 42 seaman's records relating to Gerrans and 18 seaman's records relating to Portscatho.

In the name of God Amen.

The 15th. December 1614 and in the reign of our sovereign lord James of England, King, the 12th. year, I, Gilbert Crewes of Gerrance, being of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God therefore, do make my last will and testament in manner and form following:-

First, I give and bequeath my Soul to Almighty God my creator, redeemer and sanctifier; And my body to the earth.

Item. I give to the poor of Gerrance parish twenty shillings and to the poor of Lyskeard town and parish ten shillings.

Item. I give to each godchild I have twelve pence.

Item. I give to my daughter Thomasin so as she take the consent of her mother in her match if she fancy any the sum of thirty pounds to be paid her at her at the time of her marriage. If she do not desire marriage yet she to have her portion of thirty pounds at the years of sixteen if she lives thereunto.

Item. I give and bequeath unto Edward Crewes the elder thirty pounds to be paid him at the age of fourteen, or set out for him in the (mortgaging) of his portion. And also I give and assign over unto him by this my estate, the estate that I have in the Shop at Ventengawas alias Portscatthowe and that he shall have the benefit thereof put (by) after my death.

I give and bequeath my other son Edward Crewes thirty pounds to be paid him when he shall accomplish the age of fourteen.

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Honor thirty pounds so as she match to her mother's liking. And the same to be paid when she shall accomplish the age of sixteen, sooner if she marry.

As for my son Nicholas, I give him no portion of money in that I have already disbursed money and in time if it shall please God there may fall on to him a tenement in Lanhoose which Henry Robertes now dwelleth during his life; but my will is and I bequeath and assign over unto the said Nicholas Crewes one tenement in Carwinak which I have by the grant of Edward Humphry gent. And if the said Nicholas Crewes happen to die, then Edward Crewes the elder to have the estate.

Item. My will is that my wife Jane Crewes shall have the occupation of all my household goods until my son Anthonie Crewes come unto the age of one and twenty years, but she shall give bond to restore the goods or the value again.

And in that my children be very young my will and request is that (they) remain with their mother all. And she to have their portion giving sufficient service to answer the same. And if she will maintain them she shall have the tenement which I hold by copy in Tregassick in ten pounds a year. And she shall have the two closes called Perranvanor (for) six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence a year until my son Anthonie accomplish the age of one and twenty years if he lives thereunto. If she was so to maintain and keep her children with her: Then the goods to be sold: And the lands let at the most. And the children's portion to be made, and they well placed as well as may be with taking assurance of their goods.

I give and bequeath unto my wife Jane Crewes if she refuse the charge of her children two featherbeds, two white cream coverlets, two pairs of sheets, one of dowlas, and two brass crocks, the two great crocks to be ?, two??, two milk pans of the second sort, one great pan I bought of Nicholas Roberte, one other pan I bought of Trenewith, six silver spoons, two tablecloths and a dozen napkins of the second sort, six podengers, six patters.

The residue of my goods and chattels I give and bequeath to Anthony Crewes. And by this my will I nominate and appoint him my sole and whole executor. And do give him my land I bought of John Bodrigowe. And all of the years that (I) have in the tenement which I now dwell in to begin after the decease of Jane Crewes her mother which I had by the grant of Edward Humphry in Tregassick.

Overseers of this my last will and testament: I do heartily thank Sir John Vivian of St.Columb and Richard Gardiner. And do give them for their labours ten shillings apiece.

Sealed with my seal the day and year above written, per me, Gilbertum Crewes.

Signed and sealed in the presence of Robert Sawell the sign of John Michell the sign of Peter Hodge, miller.

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The Will of Nicholas KEMPE (1768)

Thanks to Lyn Nunn for giving permission for me to include this transcription. She commissioned the transcription to be carried out by Rob Burns.

In the Name of God Amen
I Nicholas Kempe of Rosteage in the parish of Gerrans in the County of Cornwall Esquire being of sound mind and disposing mind and memory (praised be to God for the same) but calling to mind the certainty of death and the uncertainty of its coming do hereby make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in manner following. And first I bequeath my soul to God who gave it me hoping through the merits of my saviour redeemer Jesus Christ to inherit eternal life and my body to the earth to be decently and privately buryed. Also I give and devise unto my brother Charles KEMPE of Carsillash gent and unto my sister Ursula Kempe Roseteage aforesaid spinster and unto the survivor of them who shall prove my will and take upon him or her or them the trust hereby reposed in him her or them his and her assign and assigns forever all my lands tenements and hereditaments whereof or wherein I am now seized in ffee or whereof or wherein any person Or persons do stand seized in ffee in trust for me or whereof I have any power to dispose and the rents reversions and securities thereof and every part and parcel thereof and I do and I give and bequeath unto my said brother and sister Charles Kempe and Ursula Kempe and to the survivor of them who shall prove my will and take upon him her or them the trust hereby reposed in him her or them his and her executors and admons all my goods chattels and personal estate whatsoever and I do make and ordain them or the survivor of them or each of them who shall prove this my will to be executor or executors of this my last will and testament. In trust nevertheless and to and for the uses interests and purposes hereinafter mentioned and not otherwise that is to say that my said trustees or either of them who shall prove my will or act in the trust hereby reposed in him or them and the survivor of them his and her executors or admons shall and may by selling all or any of my goods chattels and personal estate credits money to pay and discharge my late ffather Arthur Kempe’s debts and also my own debts and funeral charges and in case any goods chattels and personal estate shall not be sufficient to pay off and discharge the same then that my said trustees or either of them who shall prove this my will or act in the trust hereby reposed in him her or them and the survivors of them shall and may by selling so much of my lands tenements and heredits(?)as shall be sufficient and enough to pay off and discharge the same and after my said ffathers and my own debts and funeral charges shall be paid and satisfied then that they my said trustee or trustees shall out of my funds tenements or forthwith raise by sale the sum of nine(?) hundred pounds to be equally divided between my three daughters Mary Dorothy and Ursula or the survivor and survivors of them to whom I give and devise the same and my further will is that after my ffather’s and my own debts and funeral charges and also the nine hundred pounds shall be raised and paid as aforesaid All the remainder of my lands tenements and heredits(?) and the rents reversions and devices(?) thereof and all the remainder of my goods chattels and personal estate which shall be undisposed if for the purposes aforesaid shall be and remain unto my son Samuel Kempe his heirs and assigns to whom I hereby Give and devise the same.

In witness whereof I have set my Hand and seal this sixth day of September in the year of Our lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and ffifty ffour Nic Kempe signed sealed published and declared by the above named Nicholas Kempe to be his last will and testament in our presence and by us signed as witnesses in his Presence
John Rice, Will Carkeet, Thomas Gatley

Whereas since the making of my above will my Daughter Dorothy is married to Mr William Bedford clerk to whom I have given as her portion a bond leaving interest at five Percent payable at my death my will therefore is that My said daughter Dorothy shall not claim or be entitled to any part of the nine hundred pounds given by this my will to be divided between my daughters after my decease and that my trustees named in the above will his or her power given them by this my said will raise the sum of six hundred pounds and no more to be equally divided betwixt my daughters Mary and Ursula after mine and my ffathers debts are paid. This codicil being all writ with my own hand signed with my name and sealed with my seal this 24th day of June One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty ffive Nic Kempe H(£5) H %
 
Appeared Personally
Stephen Johns of Trewince within the parish of Gerrans in the county Of Cornwall esquire and Martin Davis of the borough of P Nryn in the said county Gentleman and under oath on the holy evangelists that they knew and were well acquainted with Nicholas Kempe late of Rosteage in the parish of Gerrans in the county of Cornwall Esquire decease and with his manner and character of hand writing having often seen him write and subscribe his name and having now seen and carefully observed the paper writing here unto annexed containing the last will and testament and codicil of the said deceased the said codicil being writ under the said will and beginning “ Whereas since Ye making of my above will” and ending “This codicil being all writ with my own hand signed with my name and sealed with my seal this 24th Day of June One thousand seven hundred and sixty ffive” and subscribed “Nic Kempe” do verily believe the whole of the said codicil and the said subscription to be of the proper hand writing of the said deceased

Stepn Johns, Martn Davis on the seventh day of May in the year of Our Lord 1768 the said Stephen Johns and Martin Davis Were sworn to the truth of this afferdavit by virtue of the Commission here unto annexed before me William Bedford
Commissioner  
This will was proved at London with a codicil Annexed on the sixteenth day of May in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Eight before the right worshipful George Day Doctor of Law Master Keeper or commifsary of the prerogative court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Ursula Kempe spinster the sister of the deceased and surviving executor named in the said will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased she having been ffirst sworn by commifsion duly to administer

Foot note by the transcriber
______ means the word was undecipherable
(?) means was what it looked like but not 100% positive

P Nryn could be Penryn but there is no letter to be sure after the P

 

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The will of James Lawry (1850)

Thanks to Nina Graham for transcribing this will and for letting me publish her transcription here.

Will of James Lawry late of the parish of St Anthony in Roseland in the county of Cornwall yeoman deceased.

Executor Samuel Lawry of St Anthony In Roseland aforesaid yeoman Proved in the Consistory Court Of the Lord Bishop of Exeter 28th Febry 1850. Effects sworn under £800. [signed] Chas ?? ?????? Regr.

The form “FOR EXECUTORS, AND ADMINISTRATORS WITH WILL ANNEXED” States that James Lawry died “on or about” 8th September 1849 within the Peculiar jurisdiction of the Lord Bishop of Exeter. Samuel Lawry appeared personally and swore the oath on 15th February 1850. The estate was under the value of £800. The form was signed by Clement Winstanly Carlyon, Commissioner and Samuel Lawry.

This is the last Will and Testament of me James Lawry of the Parish of St Anthony in Roseland in the county of Cornwall yeoman. I give and bequeath to my youngest Son Samuel Lawry all my Property Goods and Chattles of every kind whatsoever subject nevertheless to the following conditions and to the payment of the hereinafter mentioned Annuity and Legacies and of all my just and lawful Debts, viz, I give to my dear Wife Ann Lawry the Sum of Fifteen Pounds per year of lawful money of Great Barton to be well and truly paid to her by my said Son Samuel Lawry yearly and every year during the term of her natural life. I give to my second Son James Lawry and also to my third Son Joseph Lawry the sum of one shilling to each of them. I give to my Eldest Daughter Maria Gerrans and also to my Second Daughter , Betsy Lawry, and also to my third Daughter Catherine Sturgess and also to my fourth Daughter Mary Usher the sum of one shilling to each of them. I give to my eldest Son Walter Lawry the sum of two hundred pounds. And further I do hereby make and appoint my said Son Samuel Lawry Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and Seal this 6th day of July One thousand eight hundred and forty nine.

Signed sealed and declared by the said testator James Lawry as and for his last Will and Testament In the presence of us who at his request and in his Presence and in the presence of each other have Subscribed our names as witnesses thereto [signed]Grace W Martyn, Richd Martyn

James Lawry [Seal]

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The will of John Garland CREGOE (1856)

Thanks to Lyn Nunn for giving permission for me to include this transcription. She commissioned the transcription to be carried out by Dave Wollven of Newport, South Wales (ref PROB11/2228).

The last Will and Testament of John Garland Cregoe residing at Place House in the parish of St Anthony in Roseland in the County of Cornwall Gentleman.  I leave and bequeath unto my beloved wife the house I have lately purchased called No One in Pittville Villas in the town of Cheltenham for her life or during her widowhood at her death or on her contracting a second marriage then it is to go to such of my four daughters as may remain unmarried viz Clara, Caroline, Josephine and Harriet and as each contracts marriage the interest in such house is to devolve upon those daughters who may yet remain in an unmarried state to the exclusion of the married ones at the marriage or death of the last remaining daughter then the house to be sold and the proceeds divided between the three youngest daughters Caroline, Josephine and Harriet it being my impression that my eldest beloved child Clara will be provided for proportionally by her maternal grandfather Major William Slade Gully of Trevener in the aforesaid County.  Again I bequeath the money if not disposed of by my own marriage settlement which will descend to me by the marriage settlement of my father Matthew Garland Cregoe at his decease viz six hundred pounds or thereabouts to my beloved wife for her life or during her widowhood.  And at her decease or on her subsequent marriage then I desire that the said money shall be divided between my three youngest daughters the aforesaid Caroline, Josephine and Harriet premising that my beloved eldest daughter Clara will be provided for by her maternal grandfather proportionably my son Edward Garland I presume will be provided for under his grandfathers Will to whom I beg to recommend him with the hope and request that he will in every particular regard him as the only son of his only son and invest him with his heir right privileges.  I also recommend my wife and her little daughters to his paternal care and sympathy in their widowed and orphaned condition.  I also bequeath the amount now standing on two Notes of hand for two hundred pounds each given to me for the amount of four hundred pounds advanced as a loan to Mr George Hill of Tiyassack (Tregassick?)in the parish of Gerrans in the aforesaid County to my beloved wife for her use and disposal in adjusting debts and other expences there may be also remain one hundred pounds more or less remaining after the settlement of the late Mrs Fletcher’s affairs and there also a few pounds perhaps about sixty gifts to the children standing in my name in the Devon and Cornwall Bank at Truro these various little sums I also bequeath to my beloved wife Cornelia to pay for repairs on my house at Cheltenham and to buy furniture with liquidate my debts if any discharge funeral expences and the small sums to the children aforesaid she will pay to them at any time she thinks proper.  All the rest residue and remainder of my property whatsoever and wheresoever I bequeath to my said wife Cornelia to be for her use unmolested by any other persons.  I also appoint my said beloved wife Cornelia Cregoe (nee Gully) my sole executrix of this my last Will and Testament and for carrying out my trusteeship over the property and affairs of my said wife’s Aunt Anne Pownal Fletcher hoping my eldest daughter Clara and my son the aforesaid Edward Garland will not entertain any impression on their minds that I have not done justice to them in the foregoing disposal of my few effects and appointing my cousin Colmore Cregoe Colmore of Moorend, Cheltenham as trustee to carry my intentions above expressed relative to my bequests to my daughters.  I deliver this as my last Will and Testament this fourteenth day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty two.  JG Cregoe
 
In the presence of us signed sealed and delivered LS Boyne;  Mary Chesterfield
 
In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
In the goods of John Garland Cregoe, Gentleman deceased
Appeared personally Mary Chesterfield on Number One, Pittville Villas, Cheltenham in the County of Gloucester spinster and under oath that she is one of the attesting witnesses to the last Will and Testament of the said John Garland Cregoe formerly of Place House in the parish of Saint Anthony in Roseland in the County of Cornwall but late of Pitville Villas, Cheltenham in the County of Gloucester Gentleman deceased which Will is now hereunto annexed bearing date the fourteenth day of August one thousand eight hundred and fifty two and thus subscribed “JG Cregoe” and she further made oath that the said deceased executed his said Will on the day of the date thereof by writing his aforesaid subscription at the foot or end thereof as the same now appears in the presence of her this deponent and of LS Boyne of Saint Mawes in the County of Cornwall, Surgeon the other subscribed witness thereto both of whom were present at the same time and attested such the execution of the said Will by the said deceased by writing their names thereon as they now appear in the presence of him the said deceased and of each other.  Mary Chesterfield.
 
Same day the said Mary Chesterfield was duly sworn to the truth of this Affidavit (by virtue of the annexed Commission).  Before me, Samuel Edward Barnard, Commissioner
 
Proved at London 4th March 1856 before the Judge by the oath of Cornelia Powne Cregoe (in the Will written Cornelia Cregoe) widow the relict the sole executrix to whom admon was granted having been first sworn by Comon duly to adm’r

 

© Bill O'Reilly 2007

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