Top Section: Contains a modernised English version of the Will set out in a way that makes it easier to follow and understand the intentions of the testator without losing the original sentence structure. I have added some punctuation and genealogical notes and links where appropriate.
Second Section: Shows the original transcription, where to aid researchers with identification, I have deliberately retained the original line structure, paging, spelling, abbreviation and superscript used in the Will. Words that I am unsure of are coloured red.
In the Name of God Amen:
The thirtieth day of August One Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy according to the computation of the Church of England I Robert TAPP of Fordington in the County of Dorset Yeoman being sick in body but of good & perfect memory, thanks be to Almighty God,
-
And calling to remembrance the unchtaine (uncertain?) estate of this transitory life which all flesh must yield unto death when it shall please God to call, do make constitute, ordain and declare this my Last Will & Testament in manner & form following revoking and annulling by these presents all and every testament & testaments Will and Wills heretofore by me made & declared either by word or writing:
- And this to be taken only for my Last Will & Testament and no other, and
- And my Body to be buried in christian burial at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter nominated
- And now for the settling of my temporal estate and such goods chattels and debts as it has pleased God, far above my deserts, to bestow upon me I do order give and dispose of the same in manner & form as follows that is to say
Item: I give & bequeath unto Christian [TAPP] my wife all my goods and chattels both within doors & without, movable and unmoveable, upon condition that she shall pay all debts and make her whole executrix of this my last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written
The mark of Robt TAPP
Signed and Sealed
in the presence of us vizt
Reginald WOODSEYES
James HALLETT
August One Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy according to the Computation of
the Church of England I Robert TAPP of ffordington in the County of Dorset
Yeoman being sick in body but of good & perfect memory thanks be to Almighty
God, and calling to remembrance the unchtaine estate of this transitory life ??
all flesh must yield unto Death when it shall please God to call do make Constitute
ordaine and declare this my last Will & Testament in manner & forme ffollowing
Revoking and annulling by these presents all and every testamt & testamts Will &
Wills heretofour by me made & declared either by word or writing: And this to be taken
only for my Last Will & Testament and none other, And
Impremis being penitant and sorry from the bottom of my Heart for my sinns
past most humbly desiring foregiveness for the same I Give Bequeath and
commit my soul unto Almighty God my Savior & Redemer in whom I trust
and believe assuredly that I shall be saved and have full remission and for
=giveness of all my sinns and that my soul wth my body at the Great Day
of Resurrection shall rise againe wth joy & through the Merits of Christs death and
passion possesse & inherit the Kingdom of Heaven prepared for his elect & chosen &
my Body to be buried in Christian Buriall at the discretion of my Executrix
here after nominated And now for the settling of my temporall Estate & such
goods Chattells & Debts as it hath pleased God far above my deserts to bestow
upon me I do order give and dispos the same in manner & forme ffollowing that is to say
ffirst I will that all those debts & duties as I owe in right or consesionn in
manner of p'son or p'sons whatsoever shall be well and truely contented &
paid or ordained to be paid wth in conveinient time after my decease by my
Executrix hereafter named Item I give & bequeath unto Christian
my wife all my goods and chattells both within doore & without movable
and unmoveable upon condition that she shall pay all debts and
make her whole executrix of this my last Will & Testament In Witness
where of I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day and
year ffirst above written
The mark of Robt TAPP
Signed and Sealed
in the presence of us vizt
Reginald WOODSEYES
James HALLETT
Genealogical Notes:-
(1). The Burial Register for St Georges church in Fordington records Robert TAPP's burial as being on 7th Septembver 1670
(2). I have not been able to locate any information so far on his widow Christian, not even her death.
(3). This transcription comes from the CLDS film of Wills for Fordington but the Wiltshire Archives under Ref P15/14 purports to have an Inventory and will for him.