Will of Alderman John Copinger 1637

In nomine Patris  & Filii et Spiritus Sancti.  Amen.

I, John Coppinger of the City of Cork, Alderman, being whole and sound of body and mynde, doe make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, viz., First, I confesse my synnes, offences, and transgreson of the holly Lawes and commandments all loaden with wickedness and time, yet neveretheless having firm and fixed trust in his mercies who hath shed his most precious blood for me, I hope to be saved and will therefore say, pecavinus cum patribus nostris, injuste egimus, iniquitates fecimus, nostra peccata ne deleant nos, neque iniquitates nostras retribuas nobis.  Now finding myself of the age of four score years and above, finding myself also weakened in body although of sufficient and perfect wit and memory; and also knowing that our time is shortened and the day of our end draweth near, and that by our weakness we come to sundry sudden deaths and daily apparent dangers amongst our neighbours, &c., all which reasons persuade me to hasten and make this my last Will and Testament and say with the prophet, ne proficias nos Domine in Tempore senectutis nostrœ, etenim deficirent virtutes nostrœ, ne derelinquas nos Domine, I turn and call back my heart and soul from terrestial (sic.) things to celestial, from the world to God, from Satan to Jesus Christ, I believe in holy Catholic Church and all the rest of the articles of my faith, my burial I leave at Christ Church in the grave wherein my father and mother were  buried.  Item - I do make my eldest son Sir John Coppinger, Knyght, my trew and lawful Heir .  I forgive all the world and particularly him the said Sir John Coppinger the suits commenced by him against me without cause or any just ground; for I do protest before God and man, that thereby I was forced and compelled by duresse of imprisonment and commitment in the Castle of Dublin and restraint within the City of Dublin to my great grief and losses, to convey to the said Sir John and the Heirs male of his body lawfully begotten and to be begotten, my dwelling House and mansion messuage in Cork,^[6] with other messuages within Cork aforesaid; the fourth part of Gould's weir, the moors and meadows thereunto belonging, and many other lands, tenements, and hereditaments within the liberties of the said City of Cork and County thereof, as also each part and parcel of one messuage which I purchased from Patrick Sarsfield Fitz James, sometime in the possession of William Roche which I did intend to build and leave to my third son James Coppinger and the Heirs male of his body, my Will is that the same feoffment and concern shall stand in full force and effect according to the true meaning and effect therof, though I protest it had been better for the said Sir John not to enforce me thereunto.  Item - Whereas I have enfeoffed certain feoffs of Trust of certain Towns, Villages, Tenements, lands, and hereditaments within the County of Cork which I mortgaged from divers persons for several sums of money and that Interest to the use and behoof of my son Dominick Coppinger and the Heirs male of his body lawfully begotten and to be begotten, my Will is therefore that the said feoffs stand in full force and effect without any further construction or disadvantage to be taken thereunto according to this my simple disposition.  Item - Also whereas I have purchased several Lands, Tenements, and hereditaments in the name of my son James Coppinger and his Heirs for ever for several sums of money as by the several feoffments made thereof to the said James Coppinger and his Heirs more at large appeareth, my Will is likewise and so I bequeath the said Lands, Tenements, and hereditaments before expressed to the said James Coppinger and his Heirs for ever, according to the conditions and covenants therein expressed, saving only that if the said James Coppinger should die without Heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, that then the premises with the hereditaments shall revert to my second son Dominick Coppinger and the Heirs male of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten according to the true meaning and intent of the  said several covenants or deeds of feoffments without any farther construction or understanding to be had unto or taken thereunto to the contrary.  Item - My will is and so I bequeath unto my daughter Margaret Coppinger for her preferment in marriage the sum of Four hundred Pounds sterling, whereof part is already in the House, and what is not, the same to be made up of the first rents or moneys that come in and are to be received for me before any other person or persons receive any benefit of anything whatsoever; The disposal and care of my said Daughter I refer to my wife and to my Nephew Robert Coppinger and to my son Dominick, and if she should misbehave herself or commit any act that might discredit herself, then that my will concerning her particular to be meerly frustrate, void, and of no effect.  Item - I do hereby likewise confirm the writing or deed of Assignment lately made by me to my son Dominick of the Lands therein contained according to the intent and meaning of the said deeds of Assignment as the former Deed thereof named to me in as ample and large a manner as if the same and every part thereof was and is made over to me.  Item - I do hereby likewise will, bequeath, and confirm unto my son Thomas Coppinger the lands of Croaghe and the mortgadge thereof with all the rents and benefits of the same according to the effect of the writings past and perfected thereof unto him by my Lord Roche in as full and ample a manner as the same is contained therein.  Item - I do likewise Will, leave, and bequeath to my son Thomas Copinger aforesaid the Castle, Town, and Lands of Dowyne and Cahirrowe which I have in mortgage of several sums of money in as large and ample manner as the same was past and perfected to him the said Thomas formerly.  Item - Also I leave and bequeath to my son Edmond Copinger the Town and Lands of Kyleny, Cahirrowe, Awlloorde, and the two Cowle J Kyeranes which I have in mortgage of several sums of money, as by the several conveyances thereof severally made and perfected to the said Edmond may appear.  Item -Also I leave and bequeath to the said Edmond Coppinger, his heirs male for ever, the messuage or tenement which I purchased from Galwey chief of the name, with all appurtenances thereunto belonging.  Item - I do likewise will, bequeath, and confirm unto my son Francis Coppinger, the Four Hundred Pounds sterling, lately delivered to my sone-in-law Mr. Sarsfield, for which Christopher Walter assigned over to him the articles of the said lands mortgaged to him by the said Sarsfield, and that  in as full and ample manner as if contained in the deed of assignment thereof, together also with the sum of Forty Pounds sterling due to me by way of mortgage from Richard fitz William Barry uppon the lands of Templeboadane in Barrymore.  Item - I do likewise will, leave, and bequeath unto my wife Catherine Coppinger alias Roche all the third part of all my lands, goods, and estate whatsoever and do confirm the estate or gift formerly made to her concerning all my chattels, corn, plate, jewels, and all goods whatsoever contained in the said deed of gift, and do likewise leave and bequeath unto her during her natural life the messuages wherein John Rosamond and others live in from Street to Wall, and do enjoin my son Sir John Coppinger upon my blessing not to molest or trouble her herein or in anything else she ought to have.  Item - I leave and bequeath to my son Dominick Coppinger the Town and Lands of Ardekuoeg which I have from Mr. MacRobiston for Three Hundred Pounds sterling, and also the messuages of Henry Verdon which I have in mortgage of Three Hundred Pounds sterling as by the several writing may appear with all the arrearages due out of the said lands and messuages.  I doe also leave and bequeath to the said Dominick the Twenty Pound mortgage due to me upon part of John Gould Fitz Patrick deceased's messuage, if the same be not formerly disposed to any other of my children.  Item - I do leave and bequeath to my nephew Sir Walter Coppinger, Knight, four peeces of gould.  Item - I leave and bequeath to my cossen Mr. Recorder two pieces of gould.  Item - I leave and bequeath to my sister Ellis Coppinger twenty shillings sterling, and do freely release her the silver cup which she had from me before.  Item - I do leave and bequeath to my son in law Mr. Thomas Sarsfield forty shillings sterling.  Item - I do leave and bequeath to my son Dominick Copinger the mortgage due to me upon Dominick Tyrry, Alderman's house with all the arrears due and unpaid thereout, and also the mortgage due upon David Tyrry Aldrm lande with the arrears thereof.  Item - I do leave and bequeath to my Daughter Joane apice of twenty to make her a gould ring.  Item - I do leave and bequeath the Land and Tenements of Tullagh which I have in Mortgage of a Hundred Pounds sterling from my Brother in Law David Roche to my son Edmond Coppinger and to his Heirs male for ever.  Item - Also my will is and I do hereby nominate, appoint, and ordaine that my Nephew Sir Walter Coppinger and my Wiffe shall be executors of this my last Will and Testament and to oversee my funeral expenses, legacies, debts to be paid, and to receive all other my debts, rent duties, and arrearages, reservation had to my debts not paid, and do hereby revoke, recall, and disannul any former Will or Wills by me heretofore at any time made, allowing and ordaining this my last Will and Testament in manner and form as aforesaid, and hereby willing that the same shall stand, remain, and be in form of Codicil and in the best form and effect that may be lawful, if it may not stand in the form of a solemn and legal will. Witness that this is my last Will and Testament I have hereunto put my hand and seale the Sexte day of December  A. D.  1637, in the presence of the severall Witnesses hereunder named and thereto by me called

JOHN COPPINGER

Patrick Gallwey 
Robert Coppinger
John Gould.