The Will of George Wall, Vicar of Bosbury, 1641
In the name of God Amen , the first day of September 1641, I, George Wall, vicar of Bosbury in the county of Hereford being sick in body but of good understanding, through the continuance of God’s merits towards me, do make, constitute and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following: Imprimis I recommend and bequeath my soul the sure protection of my most blessed Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ, whom as I have found a most merciful comforter in subduing the enemy of my salutation and all the fiery darts of his redemptions, so do I now expect that he will say to my soul I am your salutation and call me unto him; and my soul with all humble confidence doth thirst after the living Lord saying, 'Come Lord Jesus come quickly; finish these days of sin and sorrow, and let thy blessed Angels conduct me into that place of rest which thou hast provided for me'. Next of all I bequeath my body to the earth, and desire to have it interred in the chancel of the church of Bosbury by mine executors in assured hope of a joyful resurrection to eternal life at the glorious appearing of my Lord and Saviour. Blessed be his name for ever more, Amen.
As touching those worldly goods which the Lord hath lent me and left to my disposing, item followeth First, I give and bequeath to the poor housekeepers of the parish of Bosbury forty shillings to be distributed amongst them besides the dole to be given at my funeral at the discretion of my executors. Item I give to the poor housekeepers of the parish of Rous Lench [near Evesham] twenty shillings to be distributed amongst them by my son, now parson there. Item my will is that my executors shall give or pay according to my proviso to the church wardens of Bosbury ten shillings towards the casting of the new bell. And I will and require my sole executors to pay and discharge all my debts though I know not any and duties which shall and may in conscience be demanded out of my estate. Item I give and bequeath to my granddaughter, Isabell Best, ten pounds to be paid to her use within half a year after my decease. Item I give and bequeath to my granddaughter, Jane Best, forty shillings and to all the rest of my son–in-law Best his children (not here mentioned) twenty shillings apiece. The care of my grandchild, John Best, whom I have brought up from his infancy, I commit my sons John and George Wall whom I command to contribute towards his education in Oxford, and give him out of my study Plutarkes Lives in English and his Morals in Latin and some other books of humanity. Item I give and bequeath two books of the better sort in my study to my son in law, Edward Best. Item I give to Elizabeth, the daughter of my son Bray, ten pounds to be paid to her use within half a year after my decease
Item I give to George and Nicholas, the sons of my son Bray, all the blocks, poles and timber that is movable about the vicarage house, my wife making use of what she will during the time of her continuance there, and also of my son, George, making the use of what poles and timber he please for the repairing of his Parsonage house at Castle Frome, also my will [hole in paper] if it happen that my son George shall succeed me in this vicarage of Bosbury that then my son Bray shall not meddle with any of the said blocks, poles and timber, but my son George shall give him in regard thereof ten pounds. Item I give to my grandchild George Bray the iron bark in my Hall chimney, if my son George comes not to live here. Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Best, to my daughter Bray and to my son, Nicholas Wall, five marks apiece to buy each of them some small piece of plate to keep as a memorial of my love. Item I give and bequeath to my two sons, John and George Wall, my two silver bowls. My double silver salt cellar I leave to my wife and after her decease to my daughter Joane Bray. Item I give and bequeath my signet ring to my son George Wall. Item I give to my son Nicholas Wall a bond of twenty pounds wherein Richard Wooddings standeth indebted to my son John Wall. Item I give unto my daughter, Grace Wall, forty shillings to buy her a ring as a token of my love. Item I give unto the preacher of my funeral sermon twenty shillings. Item my study of books and papers and my apparel I leave to be divided by a brotherly partition between my sons John and George Wall
All the rest of my goods and dues ungiven and unbequeathed I give and bequeath to my loving wife,
Margery, and to my son George Wall whom I make the joint executors of this my last will and testament,
and appoint my son John Wall overseer of the same; requiring both my said sons John and George to have
a loving and dutiful care of their mother after my decease. And the blessing of God be upon her and
all of my children according to my heart’s desire! Amen
George Wall, parson
Sealed, published and delivered in the presence of [signed] Nicholas Wall, John Best, the mark of Edward Pritchard
Probate granted October 1641
