Difference between revisions of "MRP: Sir George Smith will"

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Sir George Smith

PROB 11/324 Carr 59-116 Will of Sir George Smith 06 July 1667^[1]

Editorial history

30/11/11, CSG: Restructured page

Abstract & context

Sir George Smith was a close commercial colleague and probably the partner of Sir William Vincent throughout the 1650s. In the 1660s Sir George Smith and Sir William Ryder collaborated commercially with Sir George Oxenden in what may have been an informal partnership. No account books or partnership documents survive from either the probable partnership between Smith and Vincent, or the probable informal partnership between Smith, Ryder and Oxenden.

It has been suggested by Steven Pincus that Sir George Smith was an anglican royalist, whatever that term may mean. He suggests that Smith was "known to harbor suspected Royalists during the 1650s" and claims that after the Restoration he was a "'chief officer' in the London militia aimed at putting down Dissenting tumults."^[2]

Certainly, George Smith had good links to the court following the Restoration. Nevertheless, like many merchants during the Commonwealth period he had contact with Presbyterian merchants and with state officials. Charles Longland mentions his name in a letter to John Thurloe, dated June 22nd, 1657, that Mr. George Smith has received settlement from Thurloe for a payment initiated by Thurloe's agent, Charles Longland, in Livorno.^[3]

See Sir George Oxenden will
See Sir William Ryder will
See Sir William Vincent will

See Sir George Smith's house, Throgmorton Street, London

Transcription

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I Geo: Smith of London Knt. although sicke and weake in body nevertheless of perfect memory for the which I blesse God My Soule I bequeath into the hands of God my Maker father Sonne and Holy Ghost hoping through my Saviour Jesus Christ to receive free acceptance and pardon from my manifold Sinnes and infirmities, my Body I committ to the Earth to bee buried there wheresoever my Lot falls It is my earnest desire that I may bee interred very privately and positively not above 12 of my friends present (of which not one woman) the management of this I could heartily wish my worthy friend Sir Andrew King would undertake

ITEM I will and bequeath to my wife Dame Martha Smith according to the Laudable practice of the Citty of London a Third of my personal Estate Besides which I give her three hundred pounds Upon Condition shee freely submitts what by this my last Will and Testament shee is enjoyed hereto or else this Bequest is void

ITEM I will and ordaine my lo:(ving) daughter my sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament I say my daughter Katherine Smith to bee guided and governed by my worthy friends S:r Andrew King and John Rushworth Esquire whome I earnestly intreate to take that trouble upon them as Overseers of this my last Will and Testament in the execution thereof to each of my Overseers I give 20sh. a peece to buy them Mourning Besides this none shall have mourning given them But such is my owne household

ITEM I give and bequeath to my Loving Brother M:r Bin: Alan(?) (or Elan?) ^[4] the summe of One hundred pounds upon Condition that hee Surrender to my Executrix Katherine Smith All that Coppie Lande belonging to Blacknam which hee promist to her before hee went to Ostend but did not

ITEM I will and bequeath to my worthy friend Jno: Rushworth Esquire One Hundred pounds I say 100 l. and to his beloved wife One hundred pounds more

ITEM I give to my Servant Mr John Bigsby out of that affection I owe him One hundred pounds with 20 sh more to make him a Morning And I also freely forgive that 24 l:18 sh: 5 d he is indebted to mee

ITEM I give and bequeath to my worthy friend Sir: Andrew King Fifty pounds to buy a Ring to wear for my sake Item I give and bequeath to my faithfull friend Cap:t Millett the summe of Fifty pounds to honnest mr Peeter Cooke ^[5] three pounds to buy him a Ring To Charles Porter Esq Ten Pounds The same I bequeath to my Worthy friend Consul(?) Clarke I say Ten pounds to my aff:t. friend Jno. Fenn Esq ^[6] Tenn pounds to Capt. Geo: Cock 10li for a Ring

ITEM I give and bequeath to my dutiful and faithfull Servt. the summe of Two hundred pounds and charge my Executrix to be carefull of that shee wants for nothing whilst shee lives I meane my Srvt. ?Henry Chrish the breeding upp of my daughter Katherine Smith I leave to Worthy Madam Rushworth wishing Keate not to take it as a slight favour but to the contrary to studdy requitall to the thought and deed ^[7] To Dame Rebecca Vincent I bequeath Tenn pounds And to my Godsonn One hundred pounds I say to Charles Vincent at his age of 21 Whereas upon the marriage of my wife I had by her in Portion or Dower 50l per Ann. the other moeity I did purchase for her 2 Sisters my request is that my wife may peaceably returne her ½ parte and my Executrix the other All the Jewells and Pearles my wife hath hath bine presents with my owne money therefore I intreat that care may be taken that shee may not bee defrauded The councill and direction of my 2 Overseers I Intreat do the greatest difficulty of all, I meane my daughter Kate Smith

ITEM I give and bequeath to the Governors of Christ Church for the use of the poore Children there Fifty pounds

ITEM I give and bequeath to M:r ffrances Williamson ^[8] for the use of his Children Fower hundred pounds my debts being first paid in which I intreat Mr John Biggs to bee very expeditious in ?respect to that Legacy after my Death I doe not think it Convenient to continue House keeping (?) in Finsbury only for a short season which I leave to the wisdome of my Overseers IF my Daughter Katherine Smith should die without issue In such case I leave that Land at ??Blachnasse in Suffolk to the Eldest Sonne of John Rushworth Esquire then living for want of that Sonne to Mr Rushworth himselfe

ITEM I gve and bequeath to my hon:ble friend Sir James Modyford 40 l. to the Lady Modyford I give 40s to that purpose to Madm. Slaning to that purpose 40s. I thought to have added to this Will many other Legacies but that my great distress will not permitt I may happily doe if something a part and add to my Will the Lord God fitt mee for the heavens where there [is] nothing but true Joye for evermore The Great God of Heaven blesse the King and Kingdome and give him true Councellors

This is my last Will and Testament Dated 31st May 1667 In the Nineteenth yeare of King Charles over England Scotland France and Ireland

SIR: GEO SMITH

Signed sealed published and declared to bee the last Will and Testament of Sr: Geo. Smith Kn:t. of London being contayned in three halfe Sheets of paper Each halfe sheet being signed and sealed with his owne hand and Seale In the presence of us  ?Anne (or Andrew) King Leonard Clark John Bigsby

PROBATUM (to Katherine Smith)

Commentary

Somewhat surprisingly, there is no mention of Sir William Ryder in Sir George Smith's will, despite their commercial relationship

Possible primary sources

TNA

C 6/142/119 Short title: Peirson v Smith. Plaintiffs: Thomas Peirson. Defendants: George Smith, Paul Priaulx, Martha Wood, Hugh Wood, Simon Wood, Lewis Wood and others. Subject: property in Bromley, Kent. Document type: bill, answer, replication. 1658
C 6/163/13 Short title: Brereton v Smith. Plaintiffs: Robert Brereton, Theophilus Brereton and Thomas Brereton. Defendants: Sir George Smith kt, Stephen Langham and Dame Rebecca Vincent. Subject: manor of Sonning, Berkshire. Document type: bill, two answers. 1663
C 10/488/141 Sir John Lewis baronet, Sir James Muddiford baronet, Sir George Smith knight, Sir George Oxendon knight, Thomas Hussey and others v Nicholas Millett, William Kennon, George Male, William Stevens, John North, Samuel Roberts and others: money matters, Middlesex. 1665
C 10/26/1 Robert Abdy, George Smith, William Vincent, Nathaniel Wyer, Thomas Bowyer, John Juxon and others v James Wych: money matters, Kent. Bill and motion 1658
C 10/54/7 Robert Abdy, George Smith, Edward Kempe and others v James Wych: money matters. Answer 1659

PROB 11/395 Ent 1-46 Will of John Bigsbie or Bigsby, Brewer of London 25 February 1689 (match to Sir George Smith's servant, mentioned in Smith's will, is somewhat doubtful)

Keele University

1. ↑ Sir George Smith's will is dated May 31st 1667 and proved July 6th 1667
2. ↑ Steven C. A. Pincus, Protestantism and Patriotism: Ideologies and the Making of English Foreign Policy, 1650-1668 (Cambridge, 1996), fn. 16, pp- 242-243
3. ↑ 22nd June 1657, Letter from Mr. Longland, agent at Leghorne, to secretary Thurloe, Thomas Birch, A collection of the State Papers of John Thurloe, vol. 6: January 1657 - March 1658, p. 113, 22nd June 1657, Letter from Mr. Longland, agent at Leghorne, to secretary Thurloe
4. ↑ UNLIKELY MATCHED RECORD: Will of Benjamin Albyn, Merchant of London 02 June 1676 PROB 11/352 Bence Quire Numbers: 109 - 158 pp. 3 PDF. See also: INVENTORY RELATED TO 1676 WILL: UK NA: Piece details: PROB 4/11649 [PRPB 4 = Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Other Probate Jurisdictions: Engrossed Inventories Exhibited from 1660]: Scope and Content: Albyn, Benjamin, of Little St. Hellens, London, esq.: Covering Dates: 1679 15 May (1676): Former Reference: 1676W; WIFE? Will of Elizabeth Albyn, Widow of London 28 June 1700 PROB 11/458 Noel Quire Numbers: 163 - 196 pp. 4 PDF
5. ↑ The manuscript does appear to say “Cooke”, but I do wonder if itis not a legal copyist error at the time since I know that Peter Cooze was known to Sir George Smith and was regarded as honest. SEE: Will of Peter Cooze, Mariner of Stepney, Middlesex 08 March 1669 PROB 11/329
6. ↑ John Fenn (or a member of kin) probably married Katherine Smith, Sir George Smith’s daughter, shortly after his death. SEE: "Yo:e hearty Serv:t S:r George Smith is dead. His friends reporte him worth 20000:ll but ye more moderate say it was but 11000:ll his daughter hath married Al:d Fen ..." (LETTER FROM HENRY OXINDEN (SIC) TO GO: [1667]: ff. 47-51)
7. ↑ I can only conclude that Sir George Smith has fallen out with his wife, or that she is ill and incapable of handling the estate as executrix or “raising” her daughter
8. ↑ WILD GUESS MATCHED RECORD: Will of Francis Williamson of Inner Temple London 04 February 1668PROB 11/326 Hone Quire Numbers: 1 – 57 pp. 2 PDF
9. ↑ Special collections and archives, Keele University: Polstead Hall, Suffolk: A handlist, http://www.keele.ac.uk/media/keeleuniversity/academicservices/library/specialcollections/Polstead.pdf