Archdeacon Will 1668 #23 Arbory of Mrs. Isabel Stevenson als Christian,

dated 17 October 1668, wife of Major General Richard Stevenson, Deputy Governor of the Isle of Man: "KK Arborie, October 17th 1668: In the name of God Amen. The last will and testament of Mrs. ISSABLE STEVENSONN ALS CHRISTIAN who first of all committed her soul to God and her bodie to Christian burial.
Item, disposed of her severall estate as followeth (and wished as witnesses to set downe in order what she delivered in words)
Item, She bequeathed to the poore fourtie shillings, and said that she thought there was fourty eight shillings whereof she bequeathed to the poore of the parish where she was borne to witt, KK Christ Leyz-aire) seven or eight shillings.
Item, She said that as concerninge her friends, they cannot expect that she should leave them any large legacies because of her great charge of CHILDREN; but accordinge to her abilitie bequeathed to them as followeth:
To her BROTHER MR. EDWARD CHRISTIAN 20s;
To her BROTHER MR. CHARLES CHRISTIAN 20s;
To her BROTHER MR. EWAN CHRISTIAN 20s;
To her SISTER MRS. ALICE SKELTON 20s;
To her SISTER MRS. MABLE CRIMBLE 20s; to be each of them a gould ringe to weare in remembrance of her.
Item, she bequeathed to her BROTHER IN LAW MR. SKELTON 10S.
Item, she bequeathed to her BROTHER IN LAW MR. ROGER CRIMBLE 10s.
Item, she bequeathed to her BROTHER IN LAW MR. HENRY LESQUIRE 10s.
Item, she bequeathed to her deere FATHER MR. JOHN CHRISTIAN Deemster a shirt cloath.
Item, She bequeathed to every one of her CHILDREN 22s apiece in gold & that it was with apapare[? apparel] about in her cabinet every ones name writt theron.
Item, she bequeathed to Mr. JOHN CRELLIN vicar 10s and to his wife 5s.
Item, she bequeathed to Mr. HARRY LOWCAY 10s.
Item, she bequeathed to ELIZ: FARGHER ALIS WHETSTON 5s.
Item, she bequeathed to ANN NELSONN 10s and a cloathcoate.
Item, in regard of the smallness of the wages of ANN and ISSABLE HINGLEY she left them both to the discrecion of her HUSBAND (Major General STEVENSONN, Deputy Governor of the Isle) to use and sett them out in marriage as he did see best.
Item, she bequeathed to her DAUGHTER MRS. MARY STEVENSONN her owne cabinet, and a jewell.
Item, she bequeathed to her DAUGHTER MRS. AMY STEVENSON her little cabinet. Item, she bequeathed and left all her goods and CHILDREN to her dear and loving HUSBAND MR. RICHARD STEVENSONN Major General, and constituted him upon that account her lawfull Executor; and required him as he shall answer God att the great and dreadfull day of judgment when an account is given for all that he will prove a faithful steward to her CHILDREN.

Test: Rho: Parre, John Crellin, jurati. Probatu est et Solvit 1s.

She bequeathed to MRS. MARY STANLEY ALIAS CHRISTIAN a ten shillings peece of gould with a blacke rubin; and bequeathed also to Mr. EWAN CHRISTIANa five shillings peece in silver. John Crellin, juratus.

THE EXECUTOR IS SWORN IN COURT according to Law and have given in pledges to secure the office Mr. Anthony Halsall & Jo: Norris. As for ye Invent for some resons is deferred till my Lord Bishop Court.

REVERED SIR: IT BEING A DUTY incumbent on me, have called to Mr. RICHD STEVENSON Major General for his WIFE Invent., who tould me that he had acquainted my Lord Bishop therewith in your presence & Mr. THOMPSONS, & that you were all satisfied, he giving in bond to secure the office but not resting myselfe satisfied, presumes (xxx my discharge) to crave, a line or two under my Lord Bishop xx or yours, to be recorded to free the office & lest there be any mistakes, have here inclosed, sent you a copie of her will to be shown to my Lord Bishop where it plainely appears, yt an Invent: is recorded. In the sixe line of her will it is said, yt her friends cannot expect any large legacies, because of her great charge of children: & xxxx in the conclusions of her will, she required her Executor as he shall answer God at the great and dreadfull day of judgment, when an account is given for all, that he will prove a faithfull steward to her CHILDREN; from wch two clauses I gather, that he is not to xxxx a steward of the legacies, but of the children's goods, & to be responsible for ym to her great charge of children: tho I offer ys to free xxxxx self, I shall submit to better judgment, & expect ye answer from my Lord Bishop speedily, least any of us be blaimed hereafter for neglects: I pray also call to Mr. Anthony Halsall & Mr. Tho: Norris for pledges for the forth coming of ye Invent of Ric---- Coward, wch is about 9 pounds 16 shillings 6 pence. Let me once more beseech you to be punctuall in all ys. It being ye office to rectifie wt is awanting herein upon my complaint, & therefore p------- this bouldnesse which proceeds from the real affection of, July ye 24th 1669, Sir, your assured friend & servant, Joh: Huddlestone.

You may shew the will to the Honorable Governor: for I promised to sent it him: but more proper to you. I am not well acquainted with your Lawes & customes of your Court as you xxxxx & therefore (though I doe not see ye necessity of Inventory in this) you may, & your friends of ye decease may find an Inventory to now since, as not to be omitted: & therefore you and to you act on ye Law, wch will be your only security. July 29, 69. J Sam[?] Sodor & Man.

[fpc: something strange here as during this period A W Moore has Bishop Barrow both Bishop and Governor !]

NOVMBER YE 12, 1669: HAVEINGE p---sed my Lord Bishop refference to ye Register xxxxx; wherein he require an Invent of your wife goods to be brought in if necessarie accordinge to ye Laws of ys Isle, & finding it requisite, in regard yt you are to be a faithful steward to your children concerines yt an Servant: is requisite for the discharge of the office: we therefore require our Register to call for an Invent to be recorded betwixt ys and the first of Januarie next sub poena xx jurris: J Harrison, Pat: Thompson, Tho: Parre. Xx have sent to Mr. STEVENSON for an Invent ys day by Mr. Crellin & also a coppie of my Lord Bishop reference & ye vicar general order there upon N: 21-69. Joh: Huddlestone.

November ye 11th 1669: ALICE STEVENSON & JOH: STEVENSON JUNIOR, Executors to yr FATHER JOH: STEVENSON, enters yr Claime against ye Executor of Mrs. Issable Stevenson for the sum of 4 pounds 2 shillings 8 pence due debt as they will make to appear & craveth tryall.

Feb ye 24th 1669[1669/70]: I do hereby obledge myselfe, that my now CHILDREN shall after my decease enjoy ye one halfe of all my goods whatsoever movable & unmovable and that we got therof shall, or may bee lawfull for me to dispose of, for, or to ye use of any other person or persons whatsoever though of never soe nere a relations provided yt I shall dispose of ye said goods of my children as they xxxx deliverie. RICHD STEVENSON.

FEB: YE 24, 1669[1669/70]: MAJOR RICHD STEVENSON having bonded himself as above expressed though not obliged thereto by his wives will (himselfe being constituted Executor) wee are very well satisfied with it, and his bonds already given in to discharge the office shall forever (with ye reasons & obligacion above written) to free him from ye trouble of bringing in an Inventory. John Harison, Pa: Thompson, Tho: Parre."