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I Laurence Gibbons of Tawstock yeoman; I bequeath all my rent of Assize of Shop[?], my two messuage by the name of Meddon and Empscott in the parish of Hartland unto the poor of Tawstock ... I give the parson that shall take my burial 20/- and the ringers at my burial 20/- ... to my brother John Gibbons 4 of my best oxon, 4 of my best kyne, one of my best horses, 2 of my best feather beds, of his own election and choosing ... to each of the children of Bridgett my now wife being 6 in number £20 each ... to my brother and sisters children there being 7 in number £15 each ... to my cousins and kindred vizt William Gibbons £10 Francis Gibbons the son of Francis Gibbons £20 ... Elizabeth Gibbons £10 Thomas Pile £10 Agnes Symons £10 William Berry of Alverdiscott £10 Richard Berry £10 Nicholas Berry £10 Katherine Rowe £10. Margaret Berry £10 Alice Reavior £10. ... Agnes Comer £10 Elinor Berry £10 Mary Conybeare the wife of William Conybeare 50/- ... to William Lea curate of Swimbridge £10 to Robert Lea his brother £10 to John Berry of Knowston gent £10 to Phillip[a] Mongey the wife of Lewis Mongey of Landkey £10 to the Constable Hobsons daughter 50/- to Edmund Symons his daughter £5 and to John Johnson £10
Item I give and bequeath for the repairing and paving of the Cawsey andwaye that leads from Rowdowne Thorne to Hole Cross being the common way that leads towards Barnstaple £10.
Item I give to every one of my servants being with me at the time of my burial 40/- ... to every one of my god children at want, 5/- ... I give to the towns of Barnstable and Great Torrington £20 each and Bideford and Molton £10 ... to John Burbidge son of [?] Burbidge heretofore parson of Porlock deceased to whom I now stand Guardian ... all my lands of inheritance that I now stand possessed of, and the sum of £40 ... to Simon Rendall 40/- to Edie Rendall to Johane Rendall 40/- a piece. to Richard Nichol als Syne of Fremington 20/- the poor of Tawstock £15 to Margaret Downe widow £5. to Robert Leas children £4 to John Scote children 40/- to all my debtors especially those who have been indebted for two years ... so they quietly pay in their said debts to my executors hereinafter named ... to the Rulers of Tawstock £20 ... touching the lands I have in mortgage of Thomas Greene of Pilton fuller I give the same to the now wife and her heirs (if she does not redeem the same)
Item I allow and appoint to be bestowed at the time of my funeral £30 at the discretion of my Rulers and Overseers
Item as to the rest of my goods and chattels to my now wife Bridgett and Peter Sanders her son whom I make and ordaine my executors. and I entreat and appoint as Rulers and Overseers of this my last will and testament my loving brother John Gibbons my loving friends John Weaver of Tawstock John Heirall of the same yeoman John Salterne of Bideford yeoman and Hugh Dalling of Pilton and I give to each of them for their pains 20/- ... signed 16th Jan 1634 witnesses Richard Berry, John Gibbons, John Salterne, William Lorimer the sign of Walter Britton, James Penhorred.

Proved London 19th Oct 1635 by the oath of Bridgett Gibbons widow of the testator and Peter Sanders son of the said Bridgett

Last updated - Brian Randell, 6 Oct 2005