1679: JOHN
COSTER, Whitecleeve, Newland, Gentleman
Ref: PCC PROB 11/359
Proved: 1678/9 Feb 23 Written:
1678 Oct 22
Transcribed by Martin Thompson
In the name of God Amen in the thirtieth year of the reign of our sovereign lord King Charles the second I John COSTER of Whitecleeve in the parish of Newland and County of Gloucester gent being weak in the body but of perfect memory thanks be to God of this two and twentieth day of October in the year of our Lord God 1678 make this my last will and testament in manner and form following renouncing and revoking all former wills whatsoever Impremis
I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Anne COSTER One hundred pounds Item I give her my two best featherbeds and feather bolsters with bedstead curtains valences blankets rugs and all other things there unto belonging Item I give her six pairs of my best sheets and two pairs of pillowcases with three of the best tablecloths and four dozen of the best napkins with all her own wearing apparel both linen and woollen
Item I give and bequeath unto her the one half of the mansion house wherein I now dwell at Whitecleeve which part she best liketh with the orchard barn and gardens and outhouses thereto adjoining and belonging and the land adjoining called Gennings land with a grove thereunto adjoining Item I give her one parcel of land called the hill now divided into two parts together with a grove lying between the New Orchard and that To have and to hold with all ways watercourses profits issues and commodities whatsoever may be had for and during her natural life and afterwards by her last will and testament or otherwise to whom shall dispose of the same
item I give unto my youngest son James COSTER fifty pounds to be paid unto him at the age of one and twenty years more I give and bequeath unto him one parcel of land with a house belonging and thereunto adjoining bought of Abell Foley MORE / I give and bequeath unto him one parcel of land called Mathews Meade with a grove thereunto belonging
Item I give unto my son John COSTER fifty pounds more I give unto him one parcel of land called Millins Meade with one parcel of land thereto adjoining called Millins Lease with a grove adjoining unto them both
Item I give and bequeath unto my son Arthur COSTER land called the common skowles with another piece of land called Fearnily to have and to hold all the several parcels of land hereby given and bequeathed to them the said Arthur, John and James COSTER their heirs and assigns for ever and as to my personal estate whether it be in ready money or any other kind whatsoever after the sums above bequeathed be fully satisfied and paid that then the rest of my said personal estate to be equally divided between my said wife and three sons (vizt. ) Arthur, John and James and I would have my household stuff except before bequeathed to be equally divided between the four last mentioned
and I do nominate and appoint my well beloved wife Anne COSTER to be sole executrix of this my last will and testament and I do hereby appoint my trusty and well loved friend George BOND of Whitecleeve gent and William MORGAN of Morke to be overseers of my last will and testament and for their care therein I give unto my said overseers five shillings a piece in witness whereof I have hereto sett my hand and seal this day and year above written and published and declared to be the last will and testament of the above named John COSTER the elder and sealed and delivered / John COSTER/ in the presence of Will MORGAN , Robert ROBERTS, Richard GRIFFITH, James YARETH.
Proved in London by Anne COSTER, 23rd Feb 1678/9
Notes
Per research by historian Joan Day, this is John COSTER 1, (abt 1613 - 1678); wife Anne
| Children: | ||
| John II | 1647 - 1718 | m. Mary |
| Rebecca | 1651 - 1665/6 | bur Lydney, GLS |
| Arthur | Bef 1658 - 1680 | m. Frances SHARPE; died London |
| James | Abt 1661 - 1720 | m. 1) Dorothy; 2) Sarah OWEN; bur Newland |
Of the witnesses, James YARETH m Elizabeth, d/o James/Sarah. The others are unknown.
One MI says John COSTER d Oct 23, 1678 aged 65 years; Bigland says aged 63 years