BASS (John, d. 1698, Salt Refiner, of Woodbridge, Suffolk)

Fine Official Copy of his Will of 22nd January 1698 (1697 old style), leaving to his son Jonathan his dwelling in Woodbridge, with the Salthouse, two brick warehouses and a woodhouse, also his quay in Woodbridge with its warehouses and coalyard, and the utensils for refining salt, to his son Samuel property including a shipyard and dock, and two smiths' forges, to Benjamin the dwelling and salthouse etc. in Manningtree (Essex), now occupied by Jonathan, "with two panns, tubs and utensils", property in Mendlesham to his wife Mary, the bequests to his daughters Mary, Sarah and Abiga[i]l include shares in ships, Masters Samuel Parker, Samuel Goldsbury and Robert Cole and the 'Pellican Hoy', Jonathan and Samuel also receive 1/8 each of the Meeting House and yard at Woodbridge, Jonathan to get "the front pew I sett in" and Samuel the one behind (reserved to Mr. Wilson and his wife for life), also twelve gowns of 20s or a guinea each, to 12 poor widows or single women,with the attached Grant of Probate in Latin with translation, saying that "We, Thomas", Thomas TENISON, 1636-1715, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1694, "make known that ... before ... Sir Richard Raines ... Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, there was proved ... the Will of John Bass late of Woodbridge", explaining that since Bass had assets in more than one diocese, the Court was the only one competent to handle the will at all stages, and not "any other Judge inferior to ourselves", and granting the administration to his widow, signed 'Thomas Welham, Deputy Registrar', the copy of the Will 1 side 28½" x 32", fine large lettering at the beginning, the Grant of Probate 6½" x 7" attached to its foot by the tab, all on vellum, with the court's papered seal, London, 11th April impression of court's seal visible in outline only

The legacies also include annuities of £14 p.a. each to Sarah and Abigail, secured on two sums of £100 "which I payd into the Exchequrer ... in the yeare 1693 ... on the Million fund". Rates were high then - the bank of England was launched in 1694 on a capital of £1,200,000 paying 10% p.a.

Item Date:  1698

Stock No:  16636      £145

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