The Will transcribed below is the key to the identity of the Lovelands who settled in New England around the middle of the 17th century. The testator was a successful hosier who lived in Norwich from about 1582 until his death sometime between 1647 and 1649. The Will is largely self-explanatory, showing that four of his sons, John, William, Jeremy and Robert were merchants connected with overseas trade while the fifth,Joseph, became Prebend of Norwich Cathedral.
John (the son) who had recently died at the date the Will was signed is almost certainly the husband of the Widow Loveland of Wethersfield, CT while Robert is most definitely the same person who witnessed a deed in Boston, Ma in 1645 and later became a resident of New London, CT. Further information about these children of John of Norwich can be found in an accompanying file.
The Will was proved in the Norwich Constituary Court, probate being granted to the testator's son-in-law Henry Negus, exceutor, on 10 April 1649. There is some confusion regarding the date of signature. Ms M.A.Farrow a professional family historian working in the 1930s calculated that the Will was signed on 20 June 1648. However, our reading of the Court's own copy (see below) suggests that the correct date was 23 June 1647. This is important since at the date of signature, the testator's son John Loveland (believed to be the Widow Loveland's late husband) was stated to be already dead, narrowing the timeframe in which the family emigrated to New England to 1646-7.
The Will is in a legible hand although poor microfilming and subsequent photocopying has rendered the occaisional word illegible. The following represents our best efforts at transcription.
In the name of god amen ye three and twentith day of June in the three and twentith year of ye raigne of our most gracious sovereign Lord Charles by the grace of God of england Scotland ffance Ireland king defender of ye faith _____
{Top of next page}
Ind. I John Loveland Cittizen and alderman of the Citty of Norwch (being weake in body but of good pfect remembrance (praised be Almighty God) doe hereby ffrustrate and revoakeall other and former wills by me heretofore made hereby doe make declare this to be my last will testamt in man(ne)r and form following. Imprimis before all things I Commend Committ my soule into ye mercifall hands of allmighty God my heavenly father Creator trusting assuredly Confidently yt by through ye _______ death and passion of jesus christ my sinnes are shall be freely foregiven me my body I Commit to ye earth from whence it came to be buryd in Christian buryall at ye discretion of my executors hereafter named as formy worldly estate w(hi)ch God of his gratious goodness hath lent me in this life I dispose thereof as followeth. Item I doe give unto the poor people of ye several p(ar)ishes of St John of Mathermarkett , St Andrew and St Michael of Muspoole and to ev(er)y of them six shillings eight pence apeece (I being Alderman of that Ward ). Item I do give to the poore people of ye p(ar)ishes of St Margaret St Lawrence in ye same Citty to eyther of them six shillings eight pence apeece. Also I do give bequeath unto the poore people of ye p(ar)ish of St Gregory wherein I dwell thirteen shillings fourpence. All w(hi)ch severall somes of money I will shall be given and distributed to the poore of ye severall p(ar)ishes aforesd at ye day of my buryall or w(i)thin one weeke following it eyther in money or bread at ye discretion of my executors. Item I doe give to the keep of the Lasyer house of St Benedict w(i)thout ye gates for ye only use of the poore w(hi)ch shall bee lyeing therein at ye tyme of my death six shillings eight pence to be likewise given and distributed at my buryall or w(i)thin a weeke after as aforesaid. Item I doe give bequeath unto Joseph Loveland my son and to his heires forever all yt my messuage with the houses tenem(en)ts shoppes sellers sollers Chambers backhouses yards gardens orchyards grounds and ______ _____ w(i)th ye app(oin)ments therefore belonging situate being in ye aforesaid p(ar)ish of St Gregory in Norwich aforesaid upon Condition yt he ye sd Joseph Loveland his heires executors adminstrators assigns shall well and truly content pay or cause to be contented and payed unto John Loveland my grandchilde late ye son of John Loveland my sonne deceased at his age of three and twenty years in or att Guildhall porch in Norwich aforesd the some of one hundred pounds of lawful english money in case my sd grandchild shall be then living(?) and for none paym(en)t thereof it shall may be lawfull to and for the sd John Loveland my said grandchild into the said premises to enter to receive take ye rents and p(ro)fitts thereof during until ye sd some of one hundred pounds shall be fully satisfied and paid provided always my meaninge is yt if ye sd Joseph Loveland his heires executors administrators or assigns shall content and pay or cause to be contented and payed unto ye said John Loveland my grandchilde the some of one
(new page}
hundred pounds according to sd(?) time(?) Conditionall deed of ffeoffemt Indented made by me unto the sd Joseph Loveland for payment thereof then my gift of one hundred pounds before herein and hereby to the said John Loveland my grandchild by me given bequeathed shalbe not(?) only frustrate voide to all intents and p(ur)poses Anything before in this my last will conteyned to ye Contrery in any wise not withstanding. Item I give and bequeath unto the said John Loveland my grandchild and to his heires forever all yt my messuage or tenem(en)t Farm house together with all other ye houses yards gardens pounds with the appointments wtsoever thereto belonginge situate(?) lying beinge in Heigham within the county of the said Citty of Norwich together with all ye ______ tanninge _______ in any the yards houses thereto belonging _______ _______gear things belonging to ye tannery ____ in ye same messuage or tenement houses yards whichever of right to me belonging my will and meaninge is yt ye John Loveland my grandchilde shall enter into and have ye last recited messuage premisses Imediately from after my decease for and towards his livelyhood in _________ and __________. Item I give and bequeath to Jeremy Loveland my sone and to his heires forever all that my messuage or tenement together with all the houses gardens orchyards lands and grounds wt severall with yt appointments thereunto belonging scituate lyinge being in Wymondham in the county of Norfolk w(hi)ch I purchased and bought of my brother in law John Symends. Item I doe give and bequeath unto Agnes Brett my daughter and to her heires forward all yt my messuage or tenem(en)t together with ye yards gardens orchyards grounds wtsoever therto belonging with ye appointments scituate lyinge being in the p(ar)ish of St Lawrence within the said Citty and I doe also give bequeath unto her ye sd Agnes Brett the some of one hundred pounds of lawful english money to be paid to her the said Agnes Brett her executors or assigns by my sd executors hereafter named within six months next after my death p(ro)vided(?) nevertheless and my will and meaning is yt if my sd daughter shall fortune to dep(ar)t this life before ye sd one hundred pounds shall grow due to be payed to her as aforesd then my will meaning is I doe give and devise the same one hundred pounds to and amongst the children of my said daughter Agnes Brett or to soe many of them as shalbe remaining at the tyme when ye aforesd hundred pounds shalbe due payable as aforesaid and to be equally divided amongst them by my sd Executors. Item I do give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Negus the wife of Henry Negus and to her heires forward all that my messuage or tenemt with the yards gardens and grounds thereto belonging
{next page}
with the appointments which I lately p(ur)chased of Alderman Shipdham deceased scituate lying and being in the parish of St Saviour within the said Citty of Norwich. Item I do also give and bequeath unto my sd daughter Mary Negus ye some of two hundred pounds of lawful english money to be payed unto her or to her sd husband Henry Negus there executors or assigns by my sd executors within one yeare next after my decease but my will and meaning is yt if my sd daughter Mary and her sd husband Henry Negus shall both of them fortune to depart this life before ye sd two hundred pounds shall grow due to be paid then I doe give and devise the same two hundred pounds to and amongst ye children of my said daughter Mary Negus unto soe many of them as shalbe livinge at such time as the sd two hundred pounds shalbe come due to be payed to be equally divided amongst them by my sd executors. Item I give and bequeath unto Robert Loveland my sone ye sum of one hundred pounds of lawful english money to be paid unto him ye sd Robert his executors or assigns by my sd executors within one yeare next after my decease but my will and meaning is yt if my said sone Robert Loveland shall fortune to depart this life before ye sdd some of one hundred pounds to him given as aforesd shall grow due to be payed or otherwise shall not return from beyond ye seas come to the sd Citty of Norwich within one yeare next ensuing after my decease then I give and devise the same one hundred pounds to my sd daughters Agnes Brett and Mary Negus their executors or assigns at such time as ye same one hundred pounds shall come due to be paid to be equally divided between them for in liew in respect to my sone Robert standeth nor in debted unto them severally in great somes(?). Item I do give and bequeath unto my sone Robert Loveland all my estate right and interest which is remaining and due to me from Spain upon his account and also one hundred dozen of hose or soe many as John Cutter sent to Malligoe forme to Richard Besbitche. Item I do give and bequeath unto John Corke my grandchilde the sonne of Edmund Corke of Norwich Mercer ye some of five twenty pounds to be paid unto the sd John Corke when he shall attaine to the age of one twenty years by my executors. Item I give and bequeath unto Sara Corke my grandchild and daughter of ye sd Edmund Corke my sone in law the some of five and twenty pounds of current english money to be paid likewise by my executors when she shall obtain to ye full age of eighteen years. I doe give and bequeath to my sone in law John Ffreeman Alderman of Norwich aforesaid forty shillings for a remembrance . Item I doe give and bequeath unto his fower children my grandchildren which hee had by my daughter to
{next page}
every of them forty shillings to be paid by my executors. Item I doe give and bequeath to Mary Loveland my grandchilde the daughter of Willm Loveland my sone late deceased ye some of tenne pounds lawful english money to be paid to her ye sd Mary Loveland her executors or assigns within one yeare next after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto my three grandchildren John Puckle Mary Puckle and Matthew Baker to every of them tenn pounds apeece of like money of england to be paid unto every of them severally by my executors w(i)thin one year next after my decease but my will and meaning is that if any of my sd grandchildren Mary Baker or Matthew Baker or eyther of them both shall fortune to depart this life before ye severall somes of ten pounds apeece shall grow due to be paid then I do give and devise eyther of the sd ten pounds to and amongst ye children or her or them the sd Mary or Matthew which shall be soe depart this life as aforesaid ye children eyther of them to onely there mothers tenn pounds in severall parts equally to be divided amongst them by my sd executors at such time as ye sa,e shalbe due to be paid. Item I doe give and bequeath unto the wife of George Sherpington my brother in law five pound of like money to be paid unto her or her sd husband George Sherpington there executors or assigns w(i)thin six months next after my decease. Item I dow give and bequeath unto Judeth Sherpington Suzan Sherpington daughters of ye sd George Sherpington to eyther of them forty shillings apeece to be paid by my executors . Item I doe give and bequeath unto ye new(?) wife of John Brocke late ye wife of Jeremy G_____sedye some of three pounds to buy her a ringe for rememberance if she shall be living at the time of my death. Item I give bequeath will devise all my good plate lyninge woolinge(?) houshold stufe implements of houshold stuff of kinde ____ in ___ many bonds onely excepted reserved to my executors to amongst my children w(hi)ch shall be livinge at ye tyme of my death to my grandchilde John Loveland in equal p(ar)ts p(or)tions to be had and made but if it shall happen yt Agnes Brett my daughter shall happen to depart this life before me then my will mind is yt yt share part or portion of my good plate lyninge woolings(?) houshold stufe w(hi)ch should have come to her if she had been living at ye tyme of my death ye same share or portion to be devided given to amongst ye children of ye sd Agnes Brett my daughter. Item I give and bequeath unto Joseph Loveland ye some ye some {sic} of one hundred pounds of lawfull money of england to be paid unto him or his assigns by my other executor hereafter named w(i)thin six months next after my decease upon Condition yt hee ye sd Joseph Loveland doe not possesse himselfe or medle with any part or parcell of ye overplus(?) of my personall estate which shall remaine after all my debts and legacies be paid but yt he suffer(?) ye same every parte thereof to be remaine unto Henry Negus and Mary his wife ye children of ye sd Henry Mary doe hereby make ordaine noiate(?) appoint ye sd Joseph Loveland my sonne ye sd Henry Negus my sonne in law to be my executors of this my
{last page}
last will testam(en)t they taking my debts mayinge my debts legacies herein by me given bequeathed to pay ye funerall charges to see my body decently brought to ye earth to be buryed in Christian buryall in ye p(ar)ish Church of St Gregory aforesd decerning(?) yt this my last will testam(en)t may be truely instly(?) performed according to good Consience my trust reposed in my executors In witness whereof I have to this my last will testament ___ all former wills being written in three sheets of pap(er) to every of them have set my hand upon ye day yeare first above written sealed published and delivered in the presence of Samuell _____ Anne Stalworthye, Lionell Girlinge
(Signed) John Loveland
Probate granted at Norwich to Henry Negus executor 10 April 1649.
Doug Murphy
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Last modified: Monday, 19-Apr-1999 00:00:02 MDT