The will of Thomas Wills, mariner of Stepney - partly in Latin

[JustinL]

I would greatly appreciate some help in deciphering/interpreting part of the will of Thomas Wills, a mariner of Stepney.

The third line of the extract reads, 'the fourteenth yeare of the reigne of our Sovereign Lord Charles the second'. That would be 1674.

However, the fifth line states 'one thousand six hundred and sixty two'.

The last section in Latin - presumably referring to the probate award - appears to be dated 27 June 1683.

When was the will actually signed?

Justin

[BridgetM]

Charles was King of Scotland beginning 30 January 1649.  So the actual date of the will probably is 1662.

[horselydown86]

According to Wikipaedia, after the Restoration:

 "After 1660, all legal documents were dated as if he had succeeded his father as king in 1649."

ADDED:  I see another chap named Veale witnessed this will.

[JustinL]

That is very helpful indeed. Thank you both, very much.

I wonder when he actually died.

[Bookbox]

The last section in Latin - presumably referring to the probate award - appears to be dated 27 June 1683.

There is no probate because there was no executor. A grant of administration was issued instead ...

On the twenty-seventh day of the month of June in the year of the Lord one thousand six hundred and eighty-three, a commission was issued to Thomasina Wills, spinster, sister and principal legatee named in the will of Thomas Wills, deceased, having etc.,* to administer the goods, rights and credits of the said deceased according to the tenor and effect of the will of that same deceased; (she was) sworn on the Holy Evangelists of God, by power of commission, to well and faithfully administer the same, because no executor whatsoever was named in the same will. Examined.

    * = ‘having property above a certain value within the jurisdiction of this court’

[JustinL]

Thank you for the translation/explanation.

Justin