Richard Skynner

Of Pixley, in the county of Hereford. From Allan Maclean Skinner QC's book about Robert Skinner DD, Bishop of Bristol, then of Oxford, then Worcester in the 17C.

Will of Richard Skynner of Pixley, proven Hereford, April 11th 1662

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. Jan 1, 1659

I, Richard Skynner, of Pixley, in the County of Hereford, Gent., being sick and weak in body, but of perfect minde and memory, thanks be to Almighty God, do make and declare this my last will and testament in writing, in manner and form following: that is to say, first and principally, I give and bequeathe my soul into the hands of Almighty God, my maker, hoping and undoubtedly believing, to be saved by the merits, death, passover, and resurrection of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and my body to the earth, whence it came; to be decently interred by my executors, hereinafter named, in Ledbury Church, as near unto my dear wife as conveniently it may be placed; and as for any outward and worldly estate, which God hath been pleased to bestow upon me, I dispose thereof as followeth: - First, I give, bequeathe, and devise unto my son Joseph Skynner, and to his heirs for ever, all that parcell of ground called the Castle, or Old Castle, lying in Aylton, in the said County of Hereford; neverthelesse upon condition that my said son Joseph shall sattisfie and pay, or cause to be paid unto my sonne-in-law, Mr Robert Charles, the summe of ten pounds; and unto my grandson Stephen Charles, the sum of twenty pounds (both which sommes are the proper debt of my son John Skynner), which if my said , sonne Joseph shall refuse or neglect to do by the space of three months next after my decease, then my will and meaning is that the said Robert Charles and Stephen Charles, their executors and administrators, shall make sale of the said lands, and pay themselves out of the money had for the same, rendering the surplus to my executor hereafter named, towards the satisfaction of my debts, legacies, and defraying my funeral expenses. Also I geve and bequeathe to John Jones of the City of Hereford (who married my daughter Elizabeth) tenne shillings, as a marriage portion with the said Elizabeth. Also I give and bequeathe towards the setting forth of two such poor children of the Parish of Pixley to be apprenticed as my executors and two Justices of the Peace shall think fit, the sum of twenty shillings. Also I geve and bequeathe to the poor of Ledbury twenty shillings, and to the poor of Aylton tenne shillings, to be distributed as the churchwardens and overseers of the poor of each parish shall think fit. Also I geve and bequeatbe to John Showell, of Ashperton, who was formerly my servant, five shillings, and to Elizabeth Baynton, who formerly attended upon me in my sickness, six shillings and eightpence. Also I give and bequeathe unto John Morgan, one of my grandson Richard Clarke, his servants, six shillings and eightpence; and to Anne Jonson, other of his servants, five shillings. Also I geve and bequeathe unto my daughter, Rebekah Merrick, my wife's wedding ring. And for debts owing to me I do fully forgive Thomas Turner (who hath been my faithful servant and workman) his seventy-nine pounds tenne shillings; and for the debt that my sonne-in-law, James Gamond, owes me upon two several bonds, I give and bequeathe the one half thereof unto his sonne Richard Gamond, and the other half thereof unto all the rest of my said sonne-in-law's children, to be equally divided between them. All the rest of my goods, cattle, and chattels, I geve and bequeathe unto my said sonne Joseph Skynner, whom I make and ordain executor of this my last will and testament.

RICHARD SKYNNER.
Witnesses - WILLIAM CHARLES.
HENRY CLARlKE.
KATHERINE CLARKE.
RI CLARKE
(Sealed, Skynner Arms, without crest or motto).