In addition to being a mariner. Bennett (Hodsoll) Freeman's father was a major supplier of planking and other wood products to the Royal Navy. John Hodsoll was given the use of the Navy's utility vessel George, a large barge, for carrying such products to the naval shipyards at Dartmouth.Hi He had his own wharf downstream and on the opposite side of the Thames. 21 In addition, he evidently was the John Hodsoll listed as an investor in the Virginia Colony (3rd Charter of 1612).
Will of John Hodsoll
of Cowfold, Sussex [Ex Kent]
Source: Prerogative Court of Canterbury 1617
Transcribed by Maureen Rawson
In the name of God Amen the first daye of August Anno Dm 1617 And in the yeares of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord James by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland defender of the faith etc the Fifteenth, And of Scotland the one and Fiftieth, I John Hodsoll of Cowfolde in the Countie of Sussex gentleman, being at this p’nte in good and perfect health mynde and memory laude and praist I therefore give unto Allmightie God, and consideringe with my self the mutability of this p’nte life and the Certeyntie of death and to the end I may be the better prepared and settled in my mynde whensoever it shall please God to call me out of this transitory life, I doe therefore by the permission of God make and declare this my p’nte Testament wherein is conteyned my last Will in manner and forme followinge That is to saye, First and above all thinges I commend my soule into the hands of Allmightie God hopeinge and assuredly beleiving through the death and passion of Jesus Christ to be saved and to have free remission and forgivenes of all my synnes, my body I comitt to the earth from whence it came to be buried in such decent manner as to the discretion of my Executors hereunder named or some of them shall seeme most meete, By whence I will that all such debts as in right and conscience I shall owe to any p’son or p’sons shall be well and truly paide or order taken for the same in due and convenient tyme after my decease
Item I give and bequeath to and amongst the poore people inhabitinge in the parish where it shall please God I shall be buried the somme of Fyve pounds of lawfull money of England to be paide them on the day of my buriall
Item I give and bequeath to and amongst the poore inhabitants of the parish of All St Barkinge in London and to and amongst the poore inhabitants of the parish of Stansted in the County of Kent And to and amongst the poore inhabitants of the parish of Ashe in the same County to everie of the said parishes for the releife of the poore Three pounds sterlinge a peece (if it so happen that I shall not be buried in any of the same parishes) And if it soe happen that I shall be buried in any of the said three parishes Then I give and bequeath only to the other two of the same parishes where I shall not be buried the summe of three pounds sterling apeece
Item I give and bequeath unto Faith Hodsoll my wellbeloved wife the somme of three hundred pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid in manner and forme following viz’t within one moneth next after my decease one hundred pounds therof And within sixe monethes next after my decease the other two hundred pounds, And I doe also give unto my said wife all such mares kyne and calves with all such hay corne fodder and provision of victualls for houshould as shalbe belonginge unto me at the tyme of my decease, And I will that my said wife shall freely enioye to her owne use all such leases plate and houshold stuffe as I had in preferment with her at the tyme of my late intermarriage with her with her weddinge ringe and one paire of Braceletts of goulde w’ch I lately gave her and one ringe of myne with a deathes heade lately belonginge to my first wife
More I give and bequeath unto the said Faith my wyfe the lease of the two houses or tenements with their appurtenances which I hould in Beerelane in London togeather with all my estate and interest of in and to the same shee payinge and performing the rent and covenants conteyned in the same lease, All w’ch said legacies before mentioned to be given to my said wife, I doe will and bequeath unto her upon Condicon that my said wife shall release and quite clayme unto my heires executors and assignes as well all such title of dower w’ch she hath or maye clayme or challenge of in or to any of my lands or tenements whatsoever as well freehold and coppyhold within the Realme of England as all such right and interest as she hath or may challenge to have of in or to all and any other of my goods and chattlells whatsoever (other then such as are by me to her given in and by this my last will and testament) And that she shall also become bounde to my Executors hereunder named in and by one obligation in due forme of lawe to be made sealed and delivered in the somme of Fyve hundred poundes of lawfull money of England with condition to discharge and save harmeles my said executors of from and concerninge the goods chattells and debts of all her late deceased husband against all p’son and p’sons and of and from all acco’ns suits costs charges judgements and demands whatsoever, concerning the same w'ch said Release and obligation if my said wife upon request and tender thereof to her to be made shall refuse to seale unto my said Executors
Then I will that all and every the legacies and bequests by me to her given in and by this my last will and Testament shall cease and be utterly voyde and my said Executors shall not be charged with the payment thereof
Itm I doe release and discharge my sonne in law William Scates of those Eight and Thirtie pounds and tenn shillings of lawfull money of England w’ch he oweth me
Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Scates my daughter wife of the said William the somme of one hundred pounds of lawfull money of England to be payed unto her within one yeare next after my decease (if she the same Elizabeth shalbe then livinge)
And if she the said Elizabeth shall happen to dye or dep’te this p’nte life before the same one hundred pounds shall growe due unto her accordinge to the true meaning of this my last will then I will that the same one hundred pounds shall remayne and come unto such child and children as my said daughter Elizabeth shall here after happen to have equally amongst them to be devided p’te and porron alike to be delivered to their father or his Executors for the use of the said children with in one yeare next after my decease (so as he doe give accompt therefore and sufficient securitie to my executors for the payment thereof unto the said children or the survivor of them vix’t to every one an equall p’te thereof when they shall accomplish there severall age and ages of twentie and one yeares or be married
And if my said daughter Elizabeth shall happen to decease without any children then I give the same one hundred pounds unto her said husband William Scates
Item I give and bequeath unto my cozen John Scates my godsonne sonne of my said daughter Elizabeth the somme of one hundred pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid unto his said father and the said Elizabeth his wife or the survivor of them within two yeares next after my decease, my Executors takinge their acquittance for the receipt thereof and they puttinge in good securitie to the liking of my said executors for the payment thereof unto their said sonne at his age of twenty and one yeares,
And if the said John Scate shall happen to dye or dep’te this life before he shall accomplish his said age of Twentie and one yeares then I will that the same one hundred pounds shall remayne and come to such other child and children as my said daughter shall hereafter happen to have equally amongst them to be divided p’te and porcon alike
And if my said daughter shall hereafter happen to have none other child or children then I will that the same one hundred pounds shall remayne and come unto the said Elizabeth Scates my daughter
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Anne Sheffeild wife of Thomas Sheffeild the somme of three hundred pounds of lawfull money of England to be payed unto her within one yeare next after my decease (if shee the said Anne shall be then livinge)
And in case the said Anne Sheffeild my daughter shall happen to dye or dep’te this pre’te life before the same three hundred pounds shall growe due and payable unto her accordinge to the true meaninge of this my last will then I will that the same Three hundred pounds shall remayne and come to and amongst such child and children as my said daughter shall hereafter happen to have To be delivered to their said father or his Executors for the use of the said children within one yeare next after my decease (so as he doe give a receipt therefore and sufficient security to the liking of my brother Thomas Hodsoll for the payment thereof unto the said children or the survivor of them viz’t to every of them an equall part thereof when they shall accomplish their several age and ages of Twentie and one yeares or be married
And if my said daughter shall happen to have no children then I give the same three hundred pounds unto her said husband Thomas Sheffeild
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Bennett Freeman wife of Edmund Freeman the younger the somme of one hundred pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid unto her within one yeare next after my decease
Item I give unto my said son in lawe Edmund Freeman the somme of forty shillings to make him a ringe
Item I give and bequeath unto Katherine Hodsoll and Christian Hodsoll my daughters to either of them Fyve hundred pounds of lawfull money of England a peece to be payed unto them at their severall ages of Twenty yeares or dayes of marriages first hapininge
And if either of them happen to dye or dep’te this pre’te life before they shall accomplish their said age and ages of Twentie yeares or be married as aforesaid Then I will that the said porcons to them hereby given shall remayne to and amongst all my children that shall be then livinge pte and porcon alike
Item I give and bequeath unto my sister Joane Whitehaire the somme of forty pounds sterlinge
Item I give and bequeath unto my brother in lawe Richard Moorer the somme of fortie shillings and to his wife fortie shillings to make them ringes
Item I give and bequeath unto my friend John Drewry (Mr under God) of the Carvile called the Anne the somme of three pounds of lawfull English money
Item I give and bequeath unto my lovinge friends William Burrell and Edmund Freeman forty shillings sterlinge apeece to make them rings
Item I give and bequeath unto Mr Anthony Woolton preacher Forty shillings sterlinge
Item I give and bequeath unto my loving friend Richard Greene Scrivener the somme of forty shillings sterling
Item I give and bequeath unto Faith Bacon my wives daughter the some of thirtie three pounds sixe shillings and eight pence of lawfull English money upon condicon that shee doe joyne wth my said wife in the release or acquittance by her before mentioned to be made
Item I give and bequeath unto every one of my godchildren beinge of my kindred or aalyance or of the kindred or allyance of my late wife deceased tenne shillings sterlinge a peece
Item I give unto the widdowe Dallyn of Chigwell in Essex who nursed diverse Of my children three pounds six shillings and eight pence sterlinge in token of my good will
Itm I give unto my servant Cesar five pounds sterling
Itm I give and devise unto such child or children wherewith my said wife Faith nowe goeth or is with child of the rents and proffitts of my two leases of my tenements and wharffe at Ratcliffe in the County of Midd. w’ch I lately bought of Mr Heydon of Greenwich and the Lord Wentworth for and duringe the terme of one and twentie yeares to be reckoned and accompted from the daye of my decease (if the said child so longe shall live)
And if the said child shall be livinge at the end of the said one and twentie yeares then I will and devise unto the said child the lease and other writtings which I have concerning the said tenements and wharffe at Ratcliffe and all my severall estate interests terme and termes of yeares and demands of in and to the same
Item I give and bequeath unto my said child or children whereof my said wife is now with child the somme of one hundred poundes of lawfull English money to be paid unto such child or children when it or they shall accomplish the age of Twentie and one yeares or be married
And I will that the same one hundred pounds shall remayne in the hands of my Executors hereunder named untill the said child or children shall accomplish the said age of Twentie and one yeares or be married
And I will that my said wife shall have the bringinge upp of my said child or children wherewith shee nowe goeth, and receive and take of my executors the rents and proffitts of my said leases tenements and wharfe to the use of such child or children untill the same shall attayne to the age and ages of Twentie and one yeares or be married
And if it happen that my said wife is not with child or that this child or children shall dye or dep’te this life before the same shall attayne to the age of twentie and one yeares or be married That then in eyther of those cases I give and bequeath the said leases tenements and wharffe and all my estate and terme of yeares therein togeather wth the said one hundred pounds to my sonne John Hodsoll
Item I give the one moyetie or halfe pte of all my plate houshould stuffe and lynnen unto my sonne John Hodsoll and the other moyetie or halfe pte of all my said plate houshould stuffe and lynnen I give and bequeath unto and amongst all my daughters that shall be livinge at the tyme of my decease pte and porcon alike
Itm I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Anne Sheffeild all that my Tenement with the appurtenances situate and beinge in Ratcliffe in the County of Midd nowe or late in the occupacon of my tenant ... Baxster which I lately bought amongst others of Thomas Manley gent and all my estate interest terme of yeares and demand of in and to the same tenement she payinge from tyme to tyme the one moytie or halfe pte of the rent reserved upon the originall lease
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Scates the rents yssues and proffitts of all that my other tenement situate and beinge in Ratcliffe aforesaid nowe or late in the occupacon of my tenant ... Ricards to have and to hold unto my said daughter Elizabeth for and duringe the terme of her naturall life she payinge and discharging yearly duringe her life the somme of fifteen pence of lawfull English money beinge the one moytie or halfe pte of the rent reserved upon the originall lease
And I will that the lease of my said two tenements shall remayne in the handes of my Executors hereunder named duringe the life of my said daughter Elizabeth and that either of my said daughters shall have copyes of the same originall lease and after the decease of my said daughter Elizabeth I give the said tenement nowe in the occupacon of my said tenant Ricard and all my estate interest and terme of yeares then to come therein unto my sonne John Hodsoll
Itm I doe acquite and release unto my nephew John Hodsoll sonne of my late brother Robert Hodsoll all such some and somes of money as he oweth me upon a statute wch he did heretofore acknowledge unto me, and I will that the said statute shall be delivered him to be cancelled
The rest and residue of all and singular my goods and chattells debts and other my worldly substance whatsoever herein not given nor bequeathed I fully and wholy give and bequeath unto my said sonne John Hodsoll
And I doe make my brother John Gratwicke of Jarvyce in the parish of Cowfoulde in the County of Sussex yeoman and my said sonne in lawe Thomas Sheffeild Executors of this my last will and testament in trust, neverthelesse and to and for the onlye use and benefitt of all my said children, To which intent and for their paynes therein to be taken I give and bequeath unto either of my said Executors the somme of Twenty pounds of lawfull English money a peece they renouncing all such benefitt as by lawe or otherwise they may have or take to their owne use or uses as or by the execucon of my said will other then only of and for such legacies as are by me to them or either of them hereby given or bequeathed
And as concerning all my lands and tenements whatsoever freehold and coppyhold I will and devise the same in manner and forme following that is to saye
First I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Scates my daughter and her heires for ever all that orchard with the appurtenances beinge coppyhould land and holden of the Mannor of Barking in the County of Essex nowe in the tenure or occupacon of William Scates her husband or of his assignes and wch was lately surrendered unto me by Peter Davis and his wife
Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne John Hodsoll and his heires for ever all those my lands tenements and hereditaments pcell of the farme called Bakers sett lying and beinge in the parish of Stansted in the County of Kent sometymes the lands of my father John Hodsoll deceased and wch to me descended and came by and after the decease of my late brother Henry Hodsoll
And also all that my lands and tenements sett lying and beinge in the parish of Stansted in the County of Kent wch I lately bought and purchased of Mr Broughton Merchantaylor
And also those my lands tenements and hereditaments called or knowne by the name of Longe Dowsetts sett lying and beinge in the parish of West Greenstead in the Countie of Sussex
And I doe hereby revoke and disalowe of all former wills and bequeath by me in any wise heretofore made and this to stand for and as my last will and testament
In Witness whereof to this my present testament and last will conteyninge wth this sheete fourteene sheetes of pa..? I the said John Hodsoll have sett my hand and seale dated the daye and yeares first above written - John Hodsoll - Sealed and published by the said John Hodsoll the testator the day and yeare first above written in the presence of us
Richard Greene Ser - William Fellgate and Rob. Kitchen servant to the same Ser
And since published in the presence of us
William Comber Ockenden Cowper Andrewe Smyth Jo Robts
Memorandum that whereas my daughter Katherine doth stande in my will for Five hundred pounds it is so that I have payd her one hundred pounds and have given my bonde for one other hundred pounds more which my meaninge is shall bee parte of the said five hundred pounds sette downe in my will
Also my daughter Bennett stands in my will for one hundred pounds My will is that she shall have one hundred pounds more paid her by my Executors besides that which is in my will
Also my will is that John Gratwicke of Jervis in Cowfolde shall be one of my executors with my sonne Sheffeild to the use of my sonne John Hodsoll according to my will And all that trust which I had committed to my brother Thomas Hodsoll I doe nowe committ unto the said John Gratwicke
Also my will is that my said brother Thomas Hodsoll shall onely receive his legacy and have no further to doe with my will, but that the said John Gratwicke shall stand Executor in his name together with my sonne Sheffeild as is aforesaid
And that this shall be annexed to my said will as a parcell thereof
In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hande the xvijth day of November 1617 By me John Hodsoll Signed in the presence of us
Andrewe Smyth Ockenden Cowper Jo Robts and Peter Burdin his marke with others
William Comber
Probate (in latin) 26 November 1617 to Thomas Sheffeild and John Gratwicke
