Henry Norris, 1717

Note: The pagination may not be correct and translated or doubtful wording may not be indicated.

70     Michael 1717
In the name of God, amen. I Henry Norris, Vicar of KK Michael, 
being sick and weak in body, but of sound and perfect memory 
(praise be therefore given to God) do make this my last will 
and testament in manner following. 
First and principally, I commend my soul to Almighty God my 
Creator, assuredly believing that through the merits and 
passion of my Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, I shall obtain 
the full and free remission of all my sins, and my body I 
commit to the earth, to be decently interred in KK Michael 
Church in my first wife’s grave. 
And as concerning my worldly estate, with which God has 
blessed me, I do dispose of the same by this my last will, 
as is hereafter expressed. I give and bequeath to the poor of
KK Michael parish 2 bowls of barley, which the wardens are 
to see distributed, and one bowl of barley or of meal in 
like manner to the poor of KK Arbory. 
Item, I bequeath to my dear and faithful wife all my rings, 
my riding horse, and a choice cow as legacy, desiring she 
may leave at her death the ring I usually wear to my son Henry. 
Item, I settle and estate as an inheritance forever upon my
son Henry my half of all my Estate of Largybreck, vizt., 
of houses and lands, as well quarter land as intack. And I 
do also leave the said Henry half the crop of corn, half 
the team of oxen, and half of all the husbandry gears, 
i.e., plow gears, parts, carrs, ladders, straddles, plows, 
harrows, pitchforks, spades, grapes, or any other instrument 
belonging to the working of the land. 
Item, I leave him all my guns, a dozen of sheep and a dozen 
of lambs, that is to say, 6 ewe and 6 tup lambs, with half a
dozen of goats and the like number of kids. To my son 
Henry I do also leave the silver bowl bequeathed to him 
by his grandmother which bowl by the said grandmother’s 
will is to go as an heirloom, according to the usage of 
the Country. And I do hereby solemnly require and charge my
son Henry aforesaid as he shall expect the blessing of 
God to behave himself with all becoming duty and tenderness 
to his mother and with brotherly affection and kindness 
to his sister Mary in hops and prospect of which behavior 
of his I earnestly desire my wife will by her last will 
or othr Deed of Settlement convey to my said son Henry 
the other half of the houses and lands of Largybreck (as I
have done my moiety xxx the same) obliging him to pay xxx 
a reasonable consideration to her or her xxxx xxxx xxxx 
xxds shall indexxxx xxxx xxxx children to inherit xxxx 
xxxx xxxx mortgage the said houses or lands, bur (in case 
of faxxxx xxxx of my children) the same is hereby left 
and bequeathed to the Church of KK Michael as a glebe 
for ever, namely my half of the houses and lands of
Largybreck, and my wife has given her free consent that 
in that case the other half is to go to the said
pious and charitable use, unless it be by her disposed 
of (as before mentioned) for a certain consideration to 
my son Henry. And if the said whole Estate shall so descent 
to the Incumbent of KK Michael, he shall be obliged to 
pay yearly out of the same the sum of forty shillings into the
hands of the Lord Bishop for the time being, or his 
order, to be laid out, by the advice and assistance
of the said Vicar & Wardens towards buying books for 
and clothing such poor children as his xxx
the Vicar and Wardens shall think if sufficient to clothe, 
with a shirt, shoes and stockings, coat, waistcoat & 
breeches two neckcloths & a little round cap like a 
bonnet with H.N. set on their backs. And these children 
are to be kept to school closely until they can read 
distinctly and are fit to go to a trade. And in 
consideration of the parish school Master’s care of 
them there is besides the above forty shillings for 
the sue of the children themselves, to be allowed of 
the Estate to the said School Master a cow’s grazing 
yearly and the hay of one daymoth of meadowing, provided 
always that if but one half of the premises descent 
to the Incumbent of KK Michael, he is not chargeable
with more than one half of the encumbrances before 
mentioned. 
Lastly, I do nominate and appoint my dear and loving 
wife and my daughter Mary my true and lawful Executrices 
of all the rest of my goods moveable and immoveable 
whatsoever, revoking all other wills by me heretofore 
made. And ratifying this and none other as my last 
will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto 
set my hand and seal this 17th day of January Anno Domini 1717. 

Memo, before the signing of this will, I declare my 
son Henry in respect of the large legacies here left 
him, is to be fully paid and satisfied for what may 
be due to him by the death of his own mother, nor is 
he to call any goods his own either within or without, 
excepting the legacies now left him, and one ox, which 
is wholly his own.
[signed, with seal] Henry Norris. 
Witnesses: 
Thomas Sodor & Man, 
William Walker, 
Thomas xxxx,

The executrices sworn in Court in form of Law. 
Pledges xxxxxx. 

July the 29th 1718:
We whose names are subscribed, Thomas Cannell 
the father, & Henry Norris the uncle of Christian
Cannell Executrix of her mother Frances Cannell 
als Norris deceased, do hereby acknowledge to be
fully paid and satisfied the sixteen pound 
seventeen shillings due from the late Mr. Henry Norris
Vicar of KK Michael deceased, And we do hereby 
forever acquit and discharge the said Mr.Norris 
his Executors for the said sum and for all other 
accounts reckonings and demands by the said
Frances CAnnell’s contract or by the death of 
her mother, or upon any other account whatsoever
due or owing to the said Frances from her father 
aforesaid, as witness our subscriptions at Ballaugh
the year and day above written. 
[signed] Tho Cannell, 
Henry Norris. 
In presence of, Wm Walker,
Cha: Watleworth. 

November the 7th 1718: 
Capt James Christian of Milntown enters a claim against
the Executors of the Revd. Mr. Henry Norris for the sum 
of eleven shillings and eight pence, and
craves the Law