MRP: Charles Longland will

Charles Longland

In the Name of God Amen one thousand six hundred seventy seven I Charles Longland residing at Leghorn in Italy at present in reasonable good health and perfect memory awaiting the good pleasure of Almighty God for my better things doo committ my Soul and Spiritt unto God that gave it and my body to the Earth from whence it came there to remain till my blessed Saviour shall awake it unto glory I doo make and ordagne (sic) this my last Will and Testament for disposall of the Estate it has pleased God to give me I bequeath and give unto the Poor in the parish of Tingewick near Buckingham one hundred and thirty in one hundred and forty pounds Sterling to buy a parcel of land called thexxxx yards lands (free hold) such a parcell as my ffather Edward Langland left me in the same Parish and I sold it in the yeare one thousand six hundred twenty five to one of the same Towne That the Minister and Churchwardens of the same parish be desired to see their money well laid out in such Land and the yearly rent thereof distributed to poor widdows of honest life that have fatherless Children twenty shillings a year to each Widdow as far as the rent will goo but if there be others in the Parish that have more need if it is referred to the Minister and Churchwardens as above to give them that are in most want not exceeding twenty shillings a yeare to a ffamily This I give in memory of my father Edward Longland and my Grandfather John Longland both of them liv'd long in the parish my Grandfather was Minister dyed & lyeth buryed there wherefore it is desired that the present Minister & Churchwardens of the parish would cause this donation to be duly and punctually registered in their Church Book in soe many words as is here above exprest (sic) that it may not be otherwise disposed of in future Ages but according to the true intent of the donor I give two hundred and ffifty pounds for redemption of poor English Captives in Barbary, Seamen, such as have no friends or xxxxx to Redeem them I give unto Mrs Hester Harris the widdow of Mr Richard Harris with whom I was prentice two hundred pounds I give unto Mrs Edward Goodwyn fifty pounds I give unto my Cozen Mrs Anne Rolfe twenty pounds I give unto her Brother Mr Thomas Rolfe tenn pounds I give unto my cozens (their fathers two sisters) to each tenn pounds I give unto my Cozin Evering and his sister to each five pounds (I give unto my cozin Danvers in London (the widdow) five pounds I give unto the five husbands of my neices to each tenn pounds I give unto the wives of my Nephew Robart Harris and Paul Bush to each tenn pounds and I give unto my cousin Mrs Margarett [?Oldish tenn pounds It has long been in my thoughts (as a duty incumbent upon me) to doe some good for the poor of this place where God has been mercifull unto me to give me soe long life and health but again considering how I am disabled by the Corsare Cardi who has taken from me so great an estate and deteyned it now these twenty yeares ag:t all the world of Justice I cannott performe the charity I would but conditionally that is to say if the letter from his Majesty to this prince in my favour doe prevaile with him to doe me justice and render the Estate taken from me (with charges damages and Interest for twenty yeares detention) I doe then give unto the poor of Livorne a house or Tenement to be bought by my Executors for the full vallue of tenn in twelve hundred pieces of eight the annuall rent thereof to be distributed among tenn poor widdows house women that have fatherless children each of them widdowsto have an equall share of the said rent soo long as she lives and as any of them come to dye another to be chosen in her place The widdows to be thus relieved are not to be such as formerly have lived well and plentifully and are now fallen to decay by their own xxxx husbands or thier Childrens Errors but such widdows as have been the wives of

[NEW PDF PAGE]

poor laborious men left bare and work daily with thier own hands for bread for themselves and children among these such as are natives of Livorne and have most small children are to be preferred The rest of my Estate I give to my sisters Children and grandchildren in the manner and forme following To my sister Bury's sonne John Parker and to the said Parkers daughter Elizabeth Chamberlain pieces of eight five hundred I give to the said Eliz Chamberlains daughter being two to each one thousand pieces of eight and to each of her five sonnes pieces of eight five hundred I give to my sister Harris her son Rob:t Harris one thousand pieces of eight to his daughter one thousand pieces of eight and to his three sonns each five hundred pieces of eight I give to my sister Harris sonne Charles Harris who has lived long with me two thousand pieces of eight besides all the household stuffe belonging to my house I give to Alexander Constantin'schildren by my neece to say his three daughters to each one thousand pieces of eight To his sonne Alexander that has lived long with me here one thousand pieced of eight and to his other two sonnes to each five hundred ps of eight I give unto my neice Winifred Harris pieces of eight fifteen hundred I give to my neece Susan ?Gyle pieces of eight five hundred I give unto my neice Hellen Newham pieces of eight five hundred To her daughter pieces of eight one thousand and to her sonne peeces of eight five hundred I give to my sister Constantins sonne Phillips children To his two daughters for each peeces of eight one thousand to each of his two sonnes five hundred peeces of eight I give to my sisters daughter Cicely Loid one thousand peeces of eight and more one thousand peeces of eight to the said Cicely Loyds (sic) daughter I give unto my Sisters Sonne Paul Bush one thousand peeces of eight I give to my sisters sonne William Bush one thousand peeces of eight All the aforsesaid Legacies and donations shall be paid and comppleted by my Executors within a yeare after my death except my Heire Winifred and my severall sisters Grandaughters whose portions are not to be paid till their marriage nor their grandsons till they become one and twenty yeares Age But my Executor is to allow them att five per Cent per Annum Interest till effectuall payment The legacies likewise given to my Neeces that are marryed are not to be paid them but in Widdowhood not withstanding my Executor is to give them five per cent yearely Interest for the same and in case of mortallity before their widdowhood each of them may dispose of and give away the said Legacy to whom they please the like may my neece Winifried in case she should dye unnmarryed I lent unto Mr Thomas Chamberlain long since one hundred and ffifty pounds which he promised faithfully to repay but has not done it and I have furnished him with one hundred and twenty pounds for charges in lawing with fframpton and Buckeredge both which parcells must be repaid what shall be recovered of fframpton and Burckeredge (more than the charges I have paid) I give unto the said Chamberlain as also all the Esmerald Buttons rings or loose stones which he shall recover of Marshall for his pains in recovering of him the composition money and the two pendent pearles with other friendly Offices done me If my Estate should come short and not Answere what I have given away there must be a proportionable abatement made of what I have given to each of my Sisters Children as above (but noe abatement to the other Legacyes) likewise if my Estate prove more there must be a proportionable Addition made to what I have given to each of my sisters Children and grandchildren I order and leave my two nephews Charles harris Alexander Constantin Executors of this my Will and Testament to see every thing performed

[NEW PDF PAGE]

accordingly In the first place to adjust the Books reviewall old Accompts and give every man thier due particularly Prior such States ginger Accompt Smith and Xolls Cork and others and also to gett my due from those that are debtors to use thier best diligence in selling my goods especially my Jewells either at Venice (?) or Paris which I conceive will be the best markets for them

We the underwritten Affirm to whom it may concerne that the aforesaid writing is a true Copy of the Originall Will of the late Mr Charles Longland all of his own hand writing And this wee affirme out of the knowledge wee have of the Character and handwriting of the said Mr Longland I XXX Man affirm the same witness myy hand I Edward Palmer affirm the same witness my hand

Vicesimodie meusis July Anno Uno millesimo septantesimo ortaro Emanat xxxxx [another seven lines]

TNA, PROB 5/5417

[Three sheets of parchment, folded to create an unbound booklet, with fold to produce a page of ca. 6” x 10”. Good condition, has been mounted by restorer, some loss of letters in top margin of first page. Written in non-italic English hand]

[Avove main text at top, but partially destroyed by ragged edge]

?Inventory XXXXX XXXX ?Argxx Caroll Longland desi ?intered p ?magasin
?Gould ?7:0 July 1688

TRANSLATED OUT OF ITALIAN

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN In the year of our Lord Jesus Christ from his Salutiferous (sic) incarnation One thousand six hundred eighty and eight the Eleventh Indiction , and nine and twentieth day of the moneth of April Innocent the Eleventh being Pope and the most Serene Cosmus the third the sixth great Duke of Tuscany happily reigning. Done at Leghorne in the dwelling house of the underwritten M:r Thomas Dorman scituate in the Great Streat in the presence of M:r James son of another James Harriman English man dwelling in this City and M:r Luke Anthony son of francis de ?Aubeis of Leghorne Witnesses

[LH MARGIN] Inventory and Estimation

Be it known and manifest that Before me underwritten Notary and the above written witnesses Personally appeared M:r Thomas Dorman English Merchant in this City to me Notary very well known who declared that by vertue of a deceree of the Archiepiscopal Court of the City of London he was ordered to be present at the Underwritten Inventory and Estimation underwritten respectively of the underwritten Jewells and Plate belonging to the Heirs and Inheritance of late M:r Charles Longland: deceased The said M:r Dorman in the presence of the above written witnesses and of M:r Robert Serle and John Horsey also English Merchants in this City also called to assist at the afterwritten Acts of the said M:r Thomas Dorman, having presented unto me a Packet of Papers very well seasled with two seales

[NEW PDF PAGE]

in Red Wax without any the least suspicion of the said Seals having been in any manner touched or altered, in each of which seals he remembers was stamped the Impression of Armes in the Margent (sic) and upon which Packet was read the underwritten words writ in the English tongue with the own hand and Character as well of the underwritten Notary as the said M:r John Horsey have perfect knowledge and acquaintance, which words were ny the said M:r John Horsey who sufficiently understands the Italian tongue interpretted, and the swore touching &c well and faithfully to interpret [Key of the Jewells] And I the said Notary in the presence as well of the above named witnesses as of the said Mess:rs Serle and Horsey haveing opened and unsealed the said Packet, there was found therein a small Iron key with which I the said underwritten Notary immediately at the request and by Commission and order of the said M.r Thomas Dorman with the assistance and presence of all the above named did open a little Iron Chest of about a quarter of a brace high and above half a brace long which was within a great Iron Chest fit to keep the money joined to the said Chest in which little Chest was dound tHE underwritten Jewells which severally were valued by M:r Francis Paci

[NEW PDF PAGE]

and M:r Jacob Berrera both skilfull Jewellers chosen and called with the consent of the said M:r Thomas Dorman To which skilfull persons was administred Oath by me the underwritten Notary in forme &:a to make the said estimation justly and according to their Conscience , and immediatley was made by the said skilfull persons the following estimation viz:t N:o 1. One necklace of divers Perls of various colours in all Thirty nine Perls valued at four hundred peeces of eight ryals N:o 2. Two pendant Perls one round white and the other not round both valued at Eight hundred peeces N:o 3. Eight small pendant Perls of various colours put in four papers all valued at Twenty five peeced N:o 4. One Jewell whrein the Picture of King Charles the first set in gold with Diamonds at the bottome one pendant Perl all valued at One hundred and fifty peeces N:o 5. Two great pendant Perls blemished not Round valued at Six hundred peeces. N:o 6. Two gold Rings in one a Diamond and in the other a Stone of small value both valued at Eighteen peeces N:o 7. One Small

[NEW PDF PAGE]

red box in which was found another smaller box, in the first was found one Piaster florentine money Two Italian Pistoles and a half a Golden Crosse in which was set Ten Diamonnds table fashion valued at fourty five peeces One string of thirteen Perls of divers colours which were valued at Thirty five peeces In the other small box was found an Amethist stone valued at Two peeces a Topas valued at Seven peeces, a packet of Dyed Christal balued at nothing N:o 8. Bundle of Margerites of Venice which were also valued at nothing. N:o 9. Seventeenn Perls divers white Scotch , and of divers other Colours that were all valued at fifty peeces. N:o 10. Eight Rings or gold circlets valued at Eleven peeces in all. N:o. 11. Two peeces of Gold large Engéish money one of the said Charles and the other James. N:o. 12. One Jewell of Diamonds and a pendant Perl which by the said skilfull persons is believed that the stone in the Midst is a Balascio and is valued at Two hundred peeces. N:o. 13. Another Jewell of Diamonds and a great Perl with a stone in the Middle that is belived to

[NEW PDF PAGE]

be another balscio which being truly such was valued at three hundred and fifty peeces and if the said stone in the midst is not a balascio it was valued at One hundred and fifty peeces only. N:o 14. One Godl Bracelet enameled with Blew of nienteen small Saphirs and an Scotch pendant Perl valued at three hundred and Sixty peeces N:o. 15. One Gargaintil (sic) of gold with divers Diamonds valued at three hundred and Sixty peeces N:o . 16. Two ?bossies with two Enameés set in gold mixed valued at Twenty five peeces. N:o. 17. Two little boxes of blew colour in each box was two drops of false red stone in all four drops valued at Seven peeces. N:o. 18. Two great Perls somewhat of the colour of Lead valued at Three hundred and fifty peeces N:o. 19. One Jewell with Two Balascios, with Table Diamonds and one white pendant Perl valued at four hundred peeces N:o. 20. Two pendant Perls one round the other not round both a little yellowish valued at thirty five peeces N:o. 21. One Gold Ring with diamonds at the bottome valued at fifty peeces N:o. 22. Seven Perls of Lead colour valued at Thirty

[NEW PDF PAGE]

Peeces N:o. 23. One red box within it one gold Ring with three diamonds rose cut and that in the midst broken valued at fifty peeces N:o. 24. One Rose of Table Diamonds and one breast Jewell of Emeralds all inferior valued at thirty two peeces N:o 25. Ten pistols in five ?Doblons of Genoa and fourteen Spanish Pistols in two of four, and three of two in all four and twenty Pistols all uspected to be false And no more Jewells or gold was found to be Inventoried and valued Wherefore immediately all the aforesaid Jewells and gold as above Inventoried and valued were put up and locked in the said little Chest whence they were taken, and thesaid Key at the request of the said Thomas Dorman was again foulded in a sheet of Paper and by the said Mess:rs Roberts Serle and John Horsey sealed with sealing Wax with the seale of the said M:r Serle and so restored to the said M:r Dorman And presently in the great Iron Chest was found thirteen pound and eight ounces of plate

[NEW PDF PAGE]

consisting in the following particulars viz:t One pair of Candlesticks Two Vessels or Pots of the English fashion Two Salts four Cups One Salver Twenty two Spoons Twenty three forks All which plate was by teh aforesaid Skilfull persons valued at the rate of five ?lives (could be ‘livers’) six sols and eight deniers forentine money p ounce - Praying ^
I underwriten Notary with my own hand

[LH MARGIN] Notariy signum

J Angelo son of Joseph de Maffei of leghorne Judge in Ordinary and florentine Notary Publick being requested about the premises have hereunto with my own hand and put my Notarial ?firm to the praise of God Almighty

Wee underwritten Merchants of the City of Leghorne do attest for truth to whom it doth concern that the aforesaid M:r Angelo Maffei is such as he doth stile himself and that to his Writings and Sunscriptions as well publick as

[NEW PDF PAGE]

private hath always been and now is given full and undoubted faith in Judgem:t and Without. In testimony

?Lester Burdett
?Sam:ll Hackwell

It agreeth in substnace
With the Originall
XXXXX XXXXXX [signatures are very fancy and ornate, and are unreadable]

---

---