Will of John Sedgwick

Will of John SEDGWICK + notes ~ 1638 From Genealogical Gleanings In England p. 47, 48. JOHN SEDGWICKE, of the parish of St. Savior’s, Southwark, in county Surrey, brewer, 27 November, 1638, proved 5 December, 1638, by Martha Sedgwicke, widow and executrix. To be buried in the parish church of St. Savior’s. To wife Martha two thousand pounds of money and certain personal property at my house at Barnes in county Surrey, late in the occupation of Mr. Hubland deceeased. To my mother Elizabeth Sedgwicke, of Woburn in the county of Bedford, widow, the sum of five hundred pounds in money within one year after my decease. But if she die before the expiration of said year, then two hundred and fifty pounds of that money to be given to my wife and the other two hundred and fifty pounds to be at the disposal and ordering of my said mother to such of her children as she shall think most meet, at her own will and pleasure. To my sister Mary Houghton, now wife of Robert Houghton, and their daughter Marth, my god-daughter, the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds within one year, &c. To my brother William Sedgwicke, minister of Farnam, near Bishops Starford, fifty pounds within one year, &c. “Item I give and remitt to my loving brother Robert Sedgwicke, of Charlestowne in new England Thirtie and eight pounds whichh hee oweth mee by bill and fourty shillings to buy him a ring.” To my father and mother in law, Edward and Joan Wicke, of Leighton in the county of Bedford, the sum of five pounds each; to sister Joan Wicke ten pounds; to brothers Matthew, Mark and Thomas Wicke ten pounds apiece; and to brother Luke Wicke thrity pounds; all within one year after my decease. To my friend and brother Nicholas Crisp, citizen and girdler of London, ten pounds, and to his wife Sarah Crisp, ten pounds within one year, &c. To the poor of the parish of Woburn in the County of Bedford, the sum of twenty pounds, &c., it being the parish in which I was born. To the poor of the Liberty of the upper ground, on the Bankeside, in the parish of St. Saviors, ten pounds. To ten poor godly ministers of God’s word the sumof forty pounds, to be distributed at the discretion of my overseers. To Mr. Nicholas Morton, minster of the parish of St. Saviors, forty shillings to preach my funeral sermon. To Mr. James Archer, minster also of the said parish, forty shillings. To my servant Nathaniel Barrow five pounds. To my Uncle Stephen Sedgwicke, brewer, five pounds. Wife Martha to be executrix, and kinsmen and friends Edward Wicke, Stephen Sedgwicke, Nicholas Crisp and Robert Houghton to be overseers.

Lee, 181.

[Robert Sedgwick, named in this will as brother of the testator, was a prominent man in early New England history. It is noteworthy that Sarah Sedgwick, second wife of Gov. John Leverett (REG. XXXV. 348), who has been supposed to be a sister of Robert, is not mentioned here. Robert Sedgwick settled in Charlestown as early as 1636, was one of the founders of the Artillery Company in 1638, was chosen Major-General, the highest military office in the colony, May 26, 1652; went to England and was appointed by Cromwell commander of the expedition which captured in 1654 the French post in Acadia. He was sent as commissioner to Jamaica after the capture of that island (REG. ante, p. 24), where he died May 24 (Drake), or June 24 (Palfrey), 1656. His children were Samuel, Hannah, William and Robert (Wyman’s Charlestown). His widow Joanna became the second wife of Rev. Thomas Allen of Charlestown, whose first wife was Anna, widow of John Harvard founder of Harvard College. Descendants have been distinguished in literature and in civil and military life. - EDITOR.]