| Will of John Sewall 24 May 1504 transcribed from ERO D/ACR 1/84/1
Transcription by Elaine Barker April 2022
Abstract
In this 1504 will, John Sewall, a labourer of West Mersea makes the usual Pre-Reformation wishes to commend his soul to St. Mary and all the saints. He requests he be buried in the churchyard of St Peter and Paul at West Mersea.
He wishes his house, Stock House, to be sold by Walter Gylot and William Comyn. His wife, Dyanys, is to receive all the proceeds and his goods in order to care for his children until they are of age. He wishes alms to be paid for the benefit of his soul after all his debts are paid.
He appoints his wife executrix and the will is witnessed by John Woodward, priest, Lewes Dyker, Clement Gytte and others.
Test[amentu]m Joh[ann]is Sewall de westm[er]sey
In the name of god amen the iiij day of the monyth of may
the yer[e] of our[e] lorde god Ml VC & iiijer [1504] y John Sewall of westm[er]sey
in the Counte of Essex laborer make my testame[n]t & laste
will in this man[er] First y bequeth my sowle to god to his
blyssyd moder and lady saynt mari & to all the saynt[es] in hevy[n]
my body to be buryed in the chirchyard of petyr & paule
in the towne a forsaide Also y will that my tene[men]t callyd
Stokhowse w[i]t[h] the p[er]ten[a]nc[es] besold by the syght of water
Gyler [Note 1] & willia[m] Comyn of the saide mersey & my dett[es] paide
therto and my ten[emen]t that y y dwelin w[i]t[h] the p[er]ten[a]nc[es] & all
myn other good[es] meveable & unmeveable y gyve & bequeth
to dyanys my wif whom y make myn Executrix to fynde
my childre tell they be of lawfull age to helpe them self
& to pay my dett[es] if the forsaid tene[men]t be not sufficient
& also to dispose for my sowle of her constyens [conscience] date the
day & yer[e] & place above wrytyn Thes witnes John wod
ward prest lewes dyker Cleme[n]t Gytte & other
Note 1: probably Walter Gylot whose will was registered in 1504
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