Clayton, *William

WILL OF WILLIAM CLAYTON, of the parish of St. Pancras, Chichester, Sussex, England, 1 Feb 1658/9.

Consistory Court Will Register 1653-1668 in Chichester Miscellaneous Wills 1653-1668, vol. 218, Ref. ST61/218 at the West Sussex Record Office, Chichester, Sussex. Copied and transcribed by Marilyn London Winton, 1984.


"WILLIAM CLAYTON. In the name of God I Will Clayton of the Parish
of Pancras without the East Gate, of Chichester in the County of
Sussex, Timberman, being sick & weak in body yet of perfect
memory Lord to be thanked, do make & ordain this my last will &
Testament in form following.

First I give and bequeath my soul into the hand of Almighty God and
my body to the earth.
....Item: I give unto my son Will Clayton the sum of 12 pence to be
paid within on whole year after my decease.
....Item: I give unto my grandchildren William Clayton [and] Prudence
Clayton the children of my son Will Clayton the sum of 20 shillings
apiece to be paid unto them after they shall accomplish the age of 21
years.
....Item: I give unto my son Richard Clayton the sum of 20 shillings to
be paid him when he shall accomplish the age of 21 years.
....Item: I give unto my son Thomas Clayton the sum of 20 shillings to
be paid him when he shall accomplish the age of 21 years.
....Also I give and appoint 5 pounds for the placing of my son Thomas
above said between this and the first day of May next ensuing the
date hereof unto Thomas Coby.
....Item: I give also unto my daughter Elizabeth Clayton the sum of 40
shillings to be paid her within one whole year of my decease.
....Item: I give unto my daughter Mary Clayton the sum of 5 pounds
to be paid her when she shall attain to the age of 20 and 1 years.

....All the rest of my goods I give unto my loving wife Elizabeth
Clayton after my debts and funeral expenses be discharged for her
well being and for the bringing up of my youngest daughter Mary
Clayton, and do ordain and make her my Executor of this my last will
and testament. But my will & meaning is that for as much as my
wife may be uncapable to manage my estate to the best use and for
the payment of debts in the due order, and for as much as my loving
friend John Peche [Peachey] of Pagham doth stand bound with me for
much of my only debts, I do ordain and appoint my friend John
Peche [Peachey] and do give him full power and authority (not
withstanding my Executor above said) to prove this my last will &
meaning and to take an inventory of all my goods and to sell the
same until such time my debts & funeral expenses be discharged,
and then to resign up the Executorship into the hands of my loving
wife, and to my meaning above said he being paid all such charges as
he shall be at in this business.

....And I do ordain & appoint & my will & meaning is & I do desire
my 2 friends & do give them powers to call the above named John
Peche [Peachey] unto an account & unto such accounts as are needful
& as often as they shall think fit, namely William Steele, miller, &
living without the east gate of Chichester, & John Avery, shoemaker
in Chichester, & I do desire them that they do see this my last will be
performed to the true intent & meaning hereof, & I do give my 2
friends Will Steele & John Avery 2 shillings apiece for their care &
pains & to have their expenses borne from time to time when they
shall be employed about my business.

....In witness hereunto I have set to my hand & seal this first day of
February, [the year] of the lord 165 & 8.

William Clayton
In witness, us,
....Thomas Hopkins
....John Rogers

(Source: Will found at http://www.geocities.com/cwheatley2000/claytonwill.html , transcribed by Marilyn Winton, mlwinton@@terraworld.net, (Feb. 1997))