Admon: [Administration]

The eight & twentieth day of November Ano Dm [Ano Domini i.e. In the year of our Lord] 1640: I John LAWRENCE of Ffordington in the County of Dorset yeoman being sicke and weake in body, but of good and pfect [perfect]mynd and memorie (thanks be given to to Almighty God) doe make & ordaine this my present last Will & Testament in manner and forme followinge.

First and principally I commend my soule into the hands & manifolde mercies of Almighty God who of his ???? freoc grace hath redeemed the same by the pretensions blood death and passion of his son Jesus Christ.

And my body to the earth in full assured hope of a happy and joyful resurrection to ever lastinge life

Item: I give unto the church of Ffordington six shillings and eight pence and to the poore of the pish of Fordington fyve [five] shillings to be paid within one month after my decease to be distributed at my executors and Robert SEAGER shall see cause.

Item: I give to Agnes LAWRENCE my mother six pence

Item: I give to my brother William LAWRENCE six pence, and to every of his children five pence a peece [each].

Item: I give to my brother Robert LAWRENCE six pence and to every of his children six pence

Item: I give unto Amy LOCKE my daughter-in-law twelve pence, and to every of her children twelve pence a peece [each].

Item: I give unto Joane THORNE my daughter-in-law twelve pence, and toher child twelve pence.

Item: I give unto Robert BUGGE my sonne-in-law twelve pence, and to his sonne Robert twelve pence.

Item: I give unto Nicholas BUGGE my sonne-in-law five shillings

Item: I give unto Tomasine my daughter two shillings

All which Legacies are to be paid within one month of my decease if it be lawfully demanded

All the Rest of my goods chattles and debts and howsold [household] stuffe moveable and unmoveable whatsoever I give and duly bequeath unto Edythe my wyfe and to Richard LOCKE my sonne-in-law, for and during the natural lyfe of the aforesaid Edythe my wyfe, and after her decease to remain and to be distributed unto the children of Amy LOCKE my daughter-in-law, the childe of Joane THORNE my daughter-in-law, the sonne of Robert BUGGE my sonne-in-law, and to Nicholas BUGGE my sonne-in-law to be equally devided betwix them

And I doe likewise appoynt the aforesaid Edythe my wyfe, and the aforesaid Richard LOCKE my sonne-in-law to be my exectors of this my Last Will and Testament

And I doe request and appoynt Robte [Robert] SEAGER and Walter THORNE my sonne-in-law to be my Overseers to see my Will performed accordinge to my true meanning

In Witness whereof I have sett to my hand and seale the day and yeare first above written

John LAWRENCE

Signed sealed & acknowledged by the said John LAWRENCE to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of Richard LOCKE, Walter THORNE, Robert SEAGER

Genealogical Notes:-

(1) According to his Will John LAWRENCE a yeoman of Fordington had at least two brothers, William and Robert, and his mother Agnes LAWRENCE was still alive in 1640. A Maltster's licence was granted to Agnes Lawrence of Fordington at the Quarter Sessions held at Blandford between 8^th to 11^th Jan 1633.

John LAWRENCE's name appears in the casebook of Sir Francis Ashley JP a number of times. Firstly on 25th Feb 1626/7 when he is described as a husbandman of Fordington when he is bound over in the sum of £10 until the next assizes together with a number of other individuals living in Fordington. This was probably just to guarantee good behaviour on a number of individuals as the case does not appear at the subsequent quarter sessions. On 01 Jan 1632/3 another entry shows that John Lawrence described as a yeoman of Fordington together with [his brother] Robert Lawrence a cordwainer of Dorchester, were both granted a 'tipplers licence' allowing them to sell ale in Fordington. It also shows that the licence was renewed on 13th Dec 1634. Finally an entry dated 28th Sep 1634 refers to a George Gill a miller of Fordington being bound over in the sum of £20. With him is John Lawrence described as a husbandman of Fordington £10 and Thomas Churchill a baker of Fordington £10 all bound over to the next assizes for beating Adam Smith several times. Again nothing further appears to have happened.

From the above Will, John Lawrence is clearly married to Edith who survives him as does his daughter Tamasine. Parish burial registers for St George's church in Fordington have not survived for the period 1640-1663. John died in 1640/1 and would have been buried there. His mother is not mentioned in his brother William's Will written in 1645 and is therefore likely to have died prior to that date and also buried at Fordington.

(2) Link to a transcription of the Will of his brother William LAWRENCE (d.1646) also a Yeoman of Fordington. The executor of John's Will 'Robert SEAGER' is also Overseer of his bother William's Will in 1645/6.

(3) Robert LAWRENCE was a shoemaker by trade but also a respectable brewer with his brother John, and an alehouse keeper in Dorchester. Robert was elected and served as Constable of Dorchester twice, during the years 1622 and 1633. On 24th Sep 1630 he was appointed warden of the newly formed 'Company of Shoemakers and Skinners' by the Company of Freemen in Dorchester. He was also churchwarden of All Saints Parish several times and recorded as keeping an unusually orderly alehouse, his only discretion being in 1633 when he allowed boys from the Free School to drink there. He had at least two sons. Robert LAWRENCE Junior probably the eldest (living 1630) and Christopher LAWRENCE (1613-1667) who was born and educated at Dorchester progressing from the Free School to Oxford in 1631. Christopher became a Presbyterian Minister of some note after the Civil wars and died at Dorchester 15th May 1667 being buried at All Saints Church.

(4) Walter THORNE married Joane BUGG[E] at St Georges Church in Fordington on 3rd April 1638.