PA-OLD-CHESTER-L Archives

From: "Chandler Eavenson" <>
Subject: Will of Ralph Eavenson, 1665, Cheshire, England
Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 12:36:15 -0400

Thomas Eavenson (1653-1726) who arrived in Chester Co., PA in
1687 was the son of Ralph and Ciceley Orton Eavenson of Burland,
Acton Parish, Cheshire, England. The family Bible which Thomas
brought with him to America showed that Ralph and Ciceley were
married 12 Sep 1650, that Thomas and his first wife Hannah
Woodward were married 25 Jun 1677 and that Ralph died 6 May 1665.
The following is a transcription of the Will of Ralph Eavenson,
shown in Acton Parish records as Radulphus:

"In the name of God Amen, the 29th of Aprile in the year of our
Lord 1665, I Raph Eavenson of Burland in the county of Chester,
yeoman, being sick and weake in body, but in good and perfect
memory praised be God for same, doe now make this my last will
and testament in manor and forme followinge.

"First and principally I commit my soule into the hands of
Allmighty God my Creator through the merritts and for the
mediaton of Jesus Christ my glorified redeemer to inherritt
eternall life and my bodie I comitt to the earth from whence
it was taken to be buried in comly and decente manor, And for
those outward things which the Lord hath bestowed upon mee for
a tyme I doe dispose of as hereafter followeth.

"First I doe devise and my will and minde is that my dearly
beloved wife Cyley Eavenson shall have my whole estate reall
and personall carefully keepinge and maintayninge my three
children Thomas Mary and Sarah Eavenson with sufficiente meate
and drinke learnings and all other things necessary and
convenient for them untill Thomas sonne of the said Raph come
to the age of one and twenty years, and then my will and minde
is and I doe devise that when my D sonne shall come to the age
of 21 years he shall have hold and enjoy the moitye or one
halfe of my whole messuage and tenement equally to bee divided
betweixte him and my D wife payinge and discharging unto his
two sisters Mary and Sarah tenn pounds apeece within two yers
nexte after his entrance and payinge and discharginge halfe of
all lays duties and taxacions whatsoever, and allso my will
and minde is that my said sonne Thomas shall at the decease of
his mother pay more unto his said sisters the summe of twenty
pounds equally to bee devided betwixt them soe soone as the
said Thomas shall enjoy the whole estate, and further my will
and minde is that my wife shall pays out of my whole estate
reall and personall 6 lbs pounds for the benifitt and behoofe
of my two daughters Mary and Sarah until my sonne attaine unto
the age of 21 years my will and minde is that my sonne Thomas
shall have my best payre of bedsteeds and my longtable with
formes belonginge to it cubboard and highboard for heirloomes
to the house and alsoe my will and minde is that my espoused
shall pay and discharge my debts out of my personall estate.

"Lastly I doe constitute and ordaine my wellbeloved wife
executrix and my wellbeloved friend John Shenton parish clearke
of Acton and my wellbeloved neighbor and kinsman George
Davenport my trew and lawfull executors of this my last will
and testament makinge voyde all former wills heretofore by mee
made in witness whereof to this my last will and testament I
have put my hand and seale the day and year aforesaid.

"Signed sealed published and delivered in presence of
Raphe Eavenson
R Richard Davenport
I John Moorehis"

Notes: A 1635 seating chart of St. Mary's Chancel at Acton
shows Thomas Evanson, Edward Woodward and William Davenport
occupying one pew, William and Randle Orton in other pews,
John Shenton in another, and several Mainwarings in others.
In the family record section of the Ralph Eavenson Bible was
an entry showing the death of a Lady Mannering. Mannering is
the way the name Mainwaring is often pronouced in England.

Chandler Eavenson

This thread:

• Will of Ralph Eavenson, 1665, Cheshire, England by "Chandler Eavenson" <>