Difference between revisions of "MRP: Squire Bence will"
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| − | Kenneth R. Andrewes suggests that Squire and Alexander Bence were unusual, in that they were, as he characterises them, merchants who chose to invest heavily in shipping.<ref>Kenneth R. Andrews, ''Ships, money, and politics: seafaring and naval enterprise in the reign of Charles I'' (Cambridge, 1991), p. 49</ref> However, this characterisation does not accurately represent the Bence family in the second half of the sixteenth and the first part of the seventeenth century, and the families with which | + | Kenneth R. Andrewes suggests that Squire and Alexander Bence were unusual, in that they were, as he characterises them, merchants who chose to invest heavily in shipping.<ref>Kenneth R. Andrews, ''Ships, money, and politics: seafaring and naval enterprise in the reign of Charles I'' (Cambridge, 1991), p. 49</ref> However, this characterisation does not accurately represent the Bence family in the second half of the sixteenth and the first part of the seventeenth century, and the families with which Bence family members, male and female, married and pursued commercial partnerships. |
Revision as of 17:17, December 11, 2011
Contents
Squire Bence will
Editorial history
11/12/11, CSG: Created page & pasted partial transcription
Abstract & context
Kenneth R. Andrewes suggests that Squire and Alexander Bence were unusual, in that they were, as he characterises them, merchants who chose to invest heavily in shipping.[1] However, this characterisation does not accurately represent the Bence family in the second half of the sixteenth and the first part of the seventeenth century, and the families with which Bence family members, male and female, married and pursued commercial partnerships.
Suggested links
See Alexander Bence of Aldeburghe will
See Alexander Bence the elder will
See Sir Alexander Bence will
To do
Transcription
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN: the last day of march Anno dmi One thousand six hundred forty eight And in the ffower and twentieth yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles by the greace of God King of England Scotland ffrance and Ireland defender of the faith x:r I Squire Bence of Aldburgh in the County of Suff Esquire (being in good health of body and of sound and perfecte minde and memory praise be therefore given to Almighty god But considering the fraylty and uncertenty of this mortall life doe therefore make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and forme following That is to say.
FFIRST and principally I comend my sould into the hands of Almighty god my most mercifull ffather assuredly trusting and beleeving that through his mercey and the death and meritts of Jesus Christ my onely Saviour and Redeemer I shall have free remission and forgiveness of all my sinns and after this life ended be made partaker of those heavenly ioyes which are prepraed for the blessed Saints And my body I comitt to the earth whereof it was framed
And touching such temporall goods and substance as god of his mercey hath blessed me withall I dispose thereof as followeth
FFIRST my will and meaneing is That all and every such debts and summes of money whatsoever as at the time of my decease I shall trewly owe to any person or persons shalbe satisfied and parid within as short time after my death as conveniently may bee
ITEM in case at the time of my decease i shall not have any child liveing and that Mary my wife shall not then be with child Then I give and bequeath all and every the said legacies of moneyes goods Lands and other things here after particulalry mentioned That is to say
FFIRST I give and bequeath unto my Couzens Thomas Johnsons two children tenn poundes betwixt them That is to say To his sonne five poundes to be payd him at his age of one and twenty yeares And to his daughter five poundes to be payd to her at her like age of one and twenty yeares or day of marriage first happening. And in case either of them shall depart this life before such age or marriage as aforesaid That then the Legacie of him or her soe dyeing shall remaine unto the survivo:r of them
ITEM I give unto John ?Base
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Sonn of my sister Mary Base forty pounds and to Thomas Base another of the sonnes of my said suster Mary sixty poundes, And to bee payd them at their severall ages of one and twenty yeares And in case either of them shall depart this life before he shall attaine to his said age of one and twenty yeares That then the Legacie of him soe dyeing shall remaine and bee paid ubto the Survivo:r of them
ITEM I give and bequeath to Elizabeth Base daughter of my said sister Mary Base the summe of two hundred pounds of lawfull money of England And to bee paid unto her at her age of one and twenty yeares, or day of marriage first happening But if the said Elizabeth shall fortune to depart this life before such age or Marriage as aforesaid that then the said Legacie of two hundred poundes shall remaine to my Executor hereafter named
ITEM I bequeath unto my Cozen Rose ?Day wife of Clement Day tenn poundes
ITEM I give into John Bence Elizabeth Bence and Anne Bence sonne and daughters of my Brother Alexander Bence the severall legacies hereafter expressed (vizt) To the said John Bence tenn poundes To the said Elizabeth Bence tenn poundes And to the said Anne Bence five poundes To be payd to the said John Bence within one yeare after my decease And to the said Elizabeth and Ann att the severall ages of one and twentie yeares or dayes of marriage first happening And in case either of them the said Elizabeth and Anne shall departe this life before such age or marriage as aforesaid That then the Legacy or Legacyes of her or them soe dyeing shall remaine and bee paid unto the Survivo:r or Survivo:rs of the said children
ITEM I give and bequeath to my cozen Mary Bartlett wife of William Bartlett ten poundes and to her three children five poundes a peece
ITEM I give to Mary Parker Wife of Robert Parker[2] ten poundes and to all her children five poundes a peece
ITEM I bequeath to my cozen Thomas Hollis and to Elizabeth his wife forty shillings a peece to buy them Rings to weare in remembrance of me
ITEM I give to the two children of Susan the daughter of my brother Robert Bence by her former husband M:r ?Dent (vizt) Bridgett Dent and Mary Dent five pounds a peece To be paid unto them at their severalll ages of one and twentie yeares or dayes of marriage first happening And in case either of them shall depart this life before such age or marriage as aforesaid That then the legacy of her soe dyeing shall remaine and be payd unto the Survivo:r of them
ITEM I give to my cozens Richard Hayman and Rose his wife forty shillings a peece to buy them Rings
ITEM I give and bequeath to my Mother in Law M:rs fflorence Osborne All my howses tenements orchards gardens and ??voyd groundes with their appurtenances scituate lyeing and being in Ratcliff in the County of Midd which I now hold by lease from the Company of Coopers London for and dureing the naturall life of her the said fflorence Osborne if the tereme so long continue And from and after her decease I give the same to the foresaid Elizabeth Base dureing her naturall life if the said terme shall soe long continue Neverethelesse my expresse will and meaneing is that Joane Rogeres sister of my said Mother in Law M;rs fflorence Osborne shall have dureing her naturall life that howse wherein she now dwelleth without paying any rent for the same, but keeping it in good Reparaccons And afterwards the said houses Tenements and premisses I leave to my Executor hereafter named
ITEM my will and desire is and I doe hereby give and bequeath to my said Mother in Law M:rs fflorence Osborne All such householdstuffe plate and other things As by a deede of Guift under her hande she heretofore hath given unto me And I also give and bequeath more to here the summe of fifty poundes in money to give and dispose thereof to whom she shall thinke goode
ITEM I give and bequeath into my nephew Robert Bence one hundred & fifty pounds in mony to bee paid unto him within one yeare next after my decease
ITEM I give and bequeath to the Bayliffe and Burgesses of Alburge aforesaid fify poundes in money to be paid within one yeare after my decease, To this intent and purpose, That they shalbe engaged under the towne seale to my executors to distribute yearly for ever forty
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Commentary
Notes
Ireland
"1653. 13 Aug. Assignment by Alexander Bence
He is survivor to Squire Bence, with whom he invested £600 and £125 in the Irish adventure. He assigns £125, part of these shares, XXXXX"[3]
Shipping
"...few merchants became interested mainly in shipping. The brothers Alexander and Squire Bence, born in the 1590s, provide a rare, yet significantly qualified example. They were members of the leading merchant family in Aldeburgh, which was probably the fastest-growing shipping centre in the country in the first half of the century, serving with substantial vessels both the booming coal trade and London's overseas trades. In the previous generation Alexander, William and Robert Bence were shipowners, as was John, merchant, and elder brother of Alexander and Squire. While John founded the county family of Bence ofThorington Hall, another elder brother, Robert, was citizen and salter of London. Alexander as a merchant and Squire as a master seem to have concentrated on shipping business, but they too had important other interests. Both represented their town in teh Short and agin in the Long Parliament, where Squire replaced William Rainborowe, another outstanding figure in shipping, in 1642. In the same year both became Naval Commissioners and so, combining political influence with natutical connections and expertise, assumed a vital role in the conduct of the civil war at sea. Alexander, as a member of the London grocers' Company, moved in City circles and is said to have married the sister of Samuel Vassall the radical City MP and Naval Commissioner, himself much interested in shipping. As a Presbyterian and City man, Alexander was secluded from the House in 1648 and about the end of that year Squire died, leaving lands in Aldeburgh and elsewhere as well as tenements and grounds in Ratcliffe. Alexander became politically active again under Cromwell and in 1655 was described as a rich man, having an income of 1,200 a year, lands with an annual value of 300 and a large estate in Ireland. He became Master of Trinity House in 1659. At some point the Bences intermarried with the Aldeburgh Johnsons, shipwrights, shipmasters and shipowners, one product of that alliance, presumably was Bence Johnson, master of the Mary and John in 1626 and of the 300-ton Assurance in 1629 and part-owner (with Alexander and Squire) of the Elizabeth of Aldeburgh (100 tons) in 1636. In the next generation Henry Johnson of the same family took over the East India Company's Blackwall yard and became perhaps the largest shipowner of his day."[4]
Possible primary sources
PROB 11/114 Dorset 57-120 Will of Hughe Base of Halesworth, Suffolk 21 June 1609
PROB 11/300 Nabbs 161-210 Will of Richard Hayman, Yeoman of Goudhurst, Kent 25 October 1660
PROB 11/249 Aylett 319-372 Will of Florence Osborne, Widow of Trinity Minories, City of London 28 April 1655
- ↑ Kenneth R. Andrews, Ships, money, and politics: seafaring and naval enterprise in the reign of Charles I (Cambridge, 1991), p. 49
- ↑ The mariner Bence Parker, son of William Parker and Rose Bence, mentions "my uncle Robert Parker" in his will. Therefore, presumably Robert Parker was the brother of William Parker. See PROB 11/292 Pell 300-349 Will of Bence Parker, Mariner and Commander of the Good Ship Three Brothers now on the Coast of Cormandell of Limehouse, Middlesex 09 June 1659
- ↑ Robert Pentland Mahaffy (ed.), Calendar of the state papers, relating to Ireland: Preserved in the Public Record Office (London, 1908), p. 231
- ↑ Kenneth R. Andrews, Ships, money, and politics: seafaring and naval enterprise in the reign of Charles I (Cambridge, 1991), p. 49
