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Will of John HOFFMAN of Wootton Will 12 Aug 1675   Probate 29 Apr 1676
Source: OHC no. W.I. 34/1/2 Contributed by: Pat Crutch Go to Translation Go to Transcript
Summary.
... I John Hoffman ... [pastor of Wootton] ... Name Relationship [Comments] or Major Bequests John HOFFMAN   Wootton Ruth HOFFMAN Wife (Exec) Samuel HOFFMAN Son [with unnamed wife legatee] Ruth HOFFMAN Daughter [no surname given] Benjamin HOFFMAN Son King HOFFMAN Son [with unnamed wife legatee - and see Note] John BAILY Son-in-law Fringford Thomas FERRARS? Cousin Betty? FERRARS? Cousin Mary FERRARS? Cousin Mr BIGAR Seller of property Richard TEMPLER Sr Witness Jonathan WHETON Witness Oath: 29 Apr 1676 ... Ruth Hoffman the Executrix ... before me Nicholas Vilett ... Probate: 29 Apr 1676 ... Ruth Hoffman the relict ...
Transcriber's and Editor's Notes
This (German) parson wrote his entire (long) preamble in Latin. The editor has no intention of even trying to translate it, since it appears to be no more than an extended version of the usual crawling to his God. His wife's forename is not mentioned in the will, but appears in the Probate note. KING usually being a surname, "my son King" would usually mean a son-in-law, but in the next clause he makes a point of BAILY being a son-in-law, so it is possible that here "King" is a forename. Users should be aware of the problem. A full Inventory apparently exists at OHC, but is not included.
Translated and paragraphed. with some of the standard preamble and "legalese" removed. Go to Glossary
... I John Hoffman ... [pastor of Wootton] ... My body ... is to be interred in the chancel of the church of Wootton. God Almighty bless England and the Palatinate in Germany my dear native country ... My wife is to enjoy my house and land etc (which I bought from Mr Bigar) for life, and also the rent for my land on the west end of Wootton, which I gave to my son Samuel on that condition. After my wife's decease my daughter Ruth and my son Benjamin are to have [the Bigar house and land] and the household goods, and the survivor of them is to have the whole for him or herself and heirs forever. I give my son Benjamin my study of books, my clothes and £100. I give my son Samuel and his wife 10s apiece I give my son King and his wife 10s apiece. I give my son-in-law Mr John Baily, Minister of Fringford, £20. I give my three cousins Thomas, Betty? and Mary Ferrars? 20s apiece. I give the poor of Long Combe 20s. I give the poor of Stonesfield 20s. I give the poor of Wootton £10 to be disposed for their benefit as the churchwardens and overseers of the poor think best. I give all the rest of my goods and chattels, corn and money due to me for tithes to my wife, whom I make sole Executrix. I appoint my son Benjamin to assist his mother in the probation and execution of my will, and in her name to demand any debts due to me for tithes up to the day of my death, to deliver to her. Witnesses Richard Templer Sr; Jonathan Wheton Oath: 29 Apr 1676 ... Ruth Hoffman the Executrix ... before me Nicholas Vilett ... Probate: 29 Apr 1676 ... Ruth Hoffman the relict ...
As transcribed from a copy of the original document. Original line- and page-breaks are preserved as far as possible.
Ultimum Testamentum Johannis Hoffman S.T.B. Wotteniensium? in Agro Oxoniensi pastoris. In nomine sacrosanctae et individuae Trinitatis. Amen. 1. Ego Johannes Hoffman animo, mente et memoria sanus et integer per Dei gratiam, volo ut hoc sit ultimum voluntatis mea elegium? et Testamentum. Inprimis et ante omnia toto pectore gratias ago? Deo meo, quod me miserrimum peccatorem a patria exulantem, organon? caelestis suae gratiae effecit, quodque? mihi clementer largitus est, ut non modo ellum esse verum Deum et quem misit Jesum Christum ipsus agnoscerem, sed etiam ut in pastoratu meo alios ad salutarem ipsius agnitionem ad? [crease damage] ........................ meae instabit? et nunc et tunc Animam meum? [crease damage] ....... com'endo? caelesti patri meo, a quo illam prius accepi, et aeterno atque? Unigenito eius Filio servatori meo Jesu Christo, qui pretioso suo sanguine pro omnibus peccatis meis plenissime satisfecit, meque? ab omni potestate diaboli liberavit: Spiritus insuper sancto, qui gratia sua per veram fidem me sanctificavit ad vitam aeternam: Eundem fidissimum Deum meum supplex quotidie oro, ut me in vera fide, constanti spe et fiducia misericordiae suae conservare velit? ad ultimum vitae meae terminum, et faciet etiam, sicuti promisit: Timorem [Jerem. 32: 40] meum dabo in corde eorum, ut non recedant a me. Amen. 2. My body I com'itt to the earth, dust to dust to be interred in the Chancell of the Church of Wotton, there to rest till the glorious morning of the Resurrection of our bodies, in the which it shall by vertue of Christ's Resurrection rise to be reunited to my soul, and to be ever with my Lord Jesus, whom I have loved, whom I have preached, and in whom I have believed. For I know that my Redeemer liveth. Jesu fac me participem Re= surrectionis sanctorum tuorum. Amen. God Almighty blesse England, and the Palatinate in Germany my dear native country, and preserve the gospel in both Nations. Amen. 3. That litle of the world, which God hath graciously given me, I dispose thus; Inprimis my house and land I bought of Mr Bigar with the appurtenances therof, my wife is to enjoy during hir life, as also the rent for my land on the westend of Wotton, which I gave to my son Samuell upon that condition. Item my will is, that my daughter Ruth, and hir brother Benjamin shall enjoy the said house and land I bought of Mr Bigar, and the houshold goods after my wifes decease, and the longer liver of them two to have all for himself & his heires for ever. Item I give to my son Benjamin my study of bookes and my cloathes. Item I give to my son Benjamin xxxxxxxx one hundred pounds Item I give to my son Samuell & his wife ten shillings apiece Item I give to my son King and his wife ten shillings apiece. Item I give to my son in law Mr John Baily Minister of Frinchford 20 pounds. Item I give to my 3 cousins Ferrars? Thomas, Betty? & Mary 20s apiece. Item I give to the poor of Longcomb twenty shillings. Item I give to the poor of Stunsfield twenty shillings. Item I give to the poor of Wotton ten pounds to be disposed for their benefit as the churchwardens & overseers of the poor shall judge best. All the rest of my goods and chattells corn and monies due to me for tithes not before disposed of, I bequeath and give to my wife, whom hereby I make the sole Exectutisse? of this my last will. Lastly I appoint my son Benjamin to assist his mother in the probation and execution of my will, and in hir name to demand such debts as are due to me for tithes to the Day of my Death xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx to deliver to his mother. This I have written, subscribed and sealed this 12 of August 1675 Witnesse and in the presence of Rich: Templer seinor Jonathan Wheton 29 Aprill 1676 Ruth Hoffman Ex'trix in hoc T'nto no'i'at' jurata? erat coram me Nic: Vilett Surr' Probat' &c vicesimo nono die mensis Apri's Anno D'ni Millesimo sexcen'mo septuag'mo sexto coram ......... [.....................................................................] .......... Ruth Hoffman R'l'cae &c .................. [....................................................]