RUSSELL (Thomas, of the City of London, d. 1682, Grocer)

Copy of his will, in a neat hand, leaving to his wife Anne (née Duke) lands in Elmore and Barnwood, Glos., for life, and then to their unmarried only daughter, "it is my strict order" that any renewals of leases are to be at his wife's charge but in their daughter's name, the daughter is to get immediately "my Toft and piece of Ground ... in Little Distaff Lane" with the buildings on it, and "all my share in the good ship the Blessing & her Cargo now on a voyage to Guinea" which she is not to sell "till Mr. Thomas Deane my kinsman doth ... part with his share or the Proprietor[s] do make dividend or put her to sale", also to his wife the £1000 secured by a bond to his father-in-law on their marriage, to be found partly from selling a lease from the Bishop of Chichester "of three houses in Whites Alley near Chancery Lane", this in lieu of "her right to the third part of my Estate which perhaps she may otherwise claim by a Custom of the City of London", with the probate, 4 sides folio and 2 sides blank, London, 18th May - 5th August browned but very clear, blank margin of first side mended with old paper, guard strip on blank sixth side

Russell asks, if he dies in London, to be buried at St. Mildred, Bread Street, which is across Cannon Street along from Little Distaff Lane. The street was renamed Distaff Lane when the main line of the latter was absorbed by the widening of Cannon Street. The Bishop of Chichester for long rented his mansion on the west side of Chancery Lane to Lincoln's Inn, selling them the freehold in 1580. 'Chichester Rents' in Chancery Lane is also now part of the Inn.

Item Date:  1682

Stock No:  17639      £150

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