George TM Hooper - Last Will & Testament - 1698

The following Last Will and Testament for Geo. Hooper was found at the Family Records Centre in London, England (July 4, 1997). [Gale Nashold - no contact available.]

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN George Tm Hooper the thirteenth day of July Anno Domini one thousand six hundred ninety and eight I George Hooper the elder of Froom Sellwood in the county of Somerset Cardmaker being weak in body but of sound and - perfect mind and memory do hereby make and ordaine this my last - Will and Testament in manner and forme following Imprimis I - commit my soul to Almighty God And my body to the earth to be - buryed at the disc[retion] of my Executrix, hereinafter named Hom I give will devise and bequeath unto my loving wife Joane Hooper all my - Lands tenements and hereditaments Scituate lying and being in Westcombe in the parish of Batcombe in the county of Somerset To have and to hold to my said wife Joane her heirs and assigns forever Also I give and bequeath to my said wife Joane the Dwelling house which I now live in with the Garden Lands and appurtenantts thereto belonging and all other lands which I purchased of Mr Cabell To hold to her - my said wife Joane her Executors and Assigns sureing all the ressone(?) and remainder of the tor--- and estates whith I have therein Hom whereas my sonn George Hooper borrowed of me the summes of Seaventy five pounds eighteen shillings and four pence and the summe of forty five pounds I doe hereby give the same unto my said sonn George Hooper And also I give unto my said sonn George Hooper the farther summe of fifty pounds to be paid him by my Executrix - And also I give and bequeath unto my said Sonn George Hooper the tenement or dwelling house now in his possession with the appurtenets to hold to him his Executors and Assigns dureing all the Residue - and Remainder of the terme and Estate whith I have therin Hom I give to each of my said sonn George Hoopers children /to wit/ George Hooper Mary Hooper and Joane Hooper five pounds apeice Hom. I give to my son Hugh Hooper the summe of five pounds and to - each of his children /to wit/ John Hooper Joseph Hooper Benjamine Hooper Mary Hooper and George Hooper five pounds apiece Hom I give to each of my daughters /to wit/ Joane Rundell Susanna Allen - Elizabeth May Sarah Hooper and Racheall Cabell five pounds apiece Hom I give to my said daughter Elizabeth May's children /to wit/ - Elizabeth May William May Mary May and Joseph May five - pounds apiece Hom. I give to my Sonn in Law John Allens children /to wit/ Joane Allen Mary Allen John Allen and Joseph Allen five - pounds apiece Hom I give to each of my Sonn in Law ------ Dunn alt(?) ---- stones children to wit Susanna and William tenn pounds apiece Hom I give twenty pounds to be distributed and disposed of by my Executrix hereinafter named and her Assigns to charitablenses /to wit/ forty shillings per annum for tenn years Hom all the rest and residue of my goods tha heffs debts and credits whatsoever not before given and bequeathed I give and bequeath unto my said loving wife Joane Hooper whom I --- hereby make and ordaine my whole and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament in witnesse whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale the day and year above written And my will - and meaneing is that the Logaryes given my said Grandchildrens hall not be paid them till they attaine to their severall and respective ages of one and twenty yeares or their Severall and respective dayes - of marriage whith shall first happen George Hooper ^ signed sealed and published in the presence of us and attested by us in the presence of the said George Hooper the elder

Jo. Butt William

Sweetland Israell

Forward PROBATUM fuit humoi Testamentum apnd London coram ------ (continues in Latin)

In his Will, George the Elder described himself as a "Cardmaker". The primary industry of Somerset during his lifetime was Clothmaking from sheeps wool. Donald Sage describes Cardmaker as follows: CARDMAKER; Makes hand cards for carding the wool. (Two wooden hand boards from which a bed of nails protruded with which the women would tease the wool before spinning to make the mass of fibres lie at all angles for a stronger, softer spin.)

The following descriptions of Batcombe and Westcombe were found at the Public Library in Frome, England on 5 July 1997. Book entitled "Somersetshire Parishes" by Arthur L. Humphreys, London - 1905: Pgs.37/38 Batcombe (situated, as its name implies, in a narrow valley) In the road betwixt the towns of Frome and Bruton (nine miles from Frome) in the Whitestone Hundred. (Shepton Mallet Union). Pgs.771/772 Westcombe (-- hamlet containing thirty houses, lies a mile towards the west.)

More details can be found in the Somerset County Council - Library Services', "Local Studies Pack for the Parish of Batcombe".