In the name of God Amen the thirteenth day of March One thousand six hundred forty five I Ralph Strudwick of the citty of London Grocer being in perfect health and memory thanks be unto Almighty god doe make and ordaine this my last will and testament in writing in manner and forme following
And first I bequeath my soule into the hands of Almighty god my heavenly ffather and Creator assuredly believing that through his mercy and the alsxxxx meritts of his dearly beloved Sonne Christ Jesus my only Lord and Saviour that all my sinnes and transgressions are fully and absolutely forgiven and pardoned and that I shall inheritt everlasting joy and felicity in the kingdom of heaven Amen
And as touching my estate I will they be disposed of as followeth
Ffirst I give and bequeath unto my sister Mary Strudwicke in full satisfaction of her tenn pounds per annum given her per my ffather William Strudwicke shee not demanding it apon this Lande called Shipbourne in the parish of Greene in Sussex it being her annuity not after my decease to demand it I give her the sum of six hundred pounds of currant english money to be paid her by my Executore within six monethes after my departure of this life
Item I give and bequeath unto my brother John Strudwicke all that he oweth unto me and the statute I have against his Land all bonds bills deede or any other writing I have of his or concerning his Lande my will is shalbe delivered up unto him without paying any thing to my executore and also I give him forty pounds a yeare during his life for his maintenance to be paid him by my executor every six monethes twentie pounds of currant English money to be paid unto him or his assigne
Item I give and bequeath unto my brother Ffrancis Strudwicke the summ of fortie pounds a yeare during his naturall life to be paid to him or his assigne at every six monethes and after my decease
Item I give and bequeath to my Godson Thomas Knighton twenty pounde to be paid him when he shalbe eighteene yeares of age
Item I give and bequeath unto my partner Mr George Hadley and his good wife twenty pounds to buy either of tham a mourning suite
And also I give unto his five sonnes and two daughters every of them forty shillings a peece to buy each of them a ring
And also I give unto every journeyman in the house or trade forty shillings a peece
And to every prentice in the house twenty shillings
And to every maide servant twenty shillings a peece
And also I give to the poore of Saint Savoure Jexxxs parish forty shillings all to be paid of currant English money within one moneth after my decease by my executor
And also I doe herrby constitute and ordaine and make William Smith my brother in law and Alice his wife and Hester Strudwick my sister my true and lawfull Executor of this my last will and testament and Thomas Knighton my kinsman and Mr Humphrey Meredith Supervisore of the same hopeing and being confident that will see this my last will truly performed and my minde and will is that they and either of them shall have fifty pounds apeece of currant English money to be paid them by my Executor within one yeare after my decease hopeing they will helpe my Executor to settle their estate
And I doe constitute ordaine and make this my irrevocable last will and testament in witnesse whereof I have sett my hand and seale the day and the said yeare. Ralph Strudwicke
Sealed signed and published the presence of Henry Spencer Herne? Joseph Swetnam?
Probatum to Alice Smith, William Smith Hester Strudwicke 1646