The will of Bridget Robinson
October 28, 1643

In the name of the Lord, Amen.  By the contents of this present public instrument be it known to all whom it may concern, that, on this, the 28^th day of October of the year 1643, about four o’clock in the afternoon, appeared in person before me, Jacob Franssz. Van Merwen, notary public, admitted by the Provincial Court of Holland, on the nomination of the Honorable Gentlemen of the Court of the city of Leyden, residing in the aforesaid city, and before the hereinafter mentioned witnesses, the honorable Brechgen [Bridget] Alexanders d[aughter], widow of D. Johannes Robbens of blessed memory, when living pastor of the English congregation within this city, dwelling here in the Engelse Poort, being of sound body, able to walk and stand, in full possession and exercise of her mind, senses and memory, as far as outwardly appears, who, considering the common weakness and frailty of the life of mortal man on this earth, who passes as a shadow, and is wholly subject unto the common guilt of nature, namely death, and nothing being more uncertain than the time and hour thereof, therefore being desirous to anticipate the uncertain hour of death by way of a testamentary disposition, and therefore not wishing to depart this earth, without previous disposal of her earthly possessions, graciously granted unto her by the Almighty, has of her own free inclination and will, as she publicly declared, without inducement or misleading of anyone, whomsoever, first committing her immortal soul into the gracious and merciful hands of God Almighty, her Creator and Savior, and her body to a Christian burial in the earth, revoking and canceling by these presents, all and such wills, codicils or testaments heretofore made, executed and drawn up by her, not willing or desiring that these should be followed or executed in any point whatsoever, disposing anew, has first and before all bequeathed, given and ordered, as she does by these presents, to Jan and Maria, both children of D. Johannes Robbens, doctor medicinae, residing in England, her son, each a silver spoon.  Furthermore to Maria and Martha, both children of Brechgen [Bridget] Robbens, her daughter, also each a silver spoon, besides, to the wife of Isaac Robbens, her son, residing in New England, the long cloak and skirt of black cloth of appearer, also to Dr. Johannes Robbens, her son aforesaid, the Rhemish Testament.  Furthermore, she, appearer and testator, declares, she bequeathes and gives in advance by these presents to Isaac Robbens, her son aforesaid, and to Veer [Fear] Robbens, her daughter, each a sum of forty guilders of XL groots Flemish a piece, and this in equalization and adjustment of an equal sum, which Brechgen [Bridget] Robbens, also her daughter, has enjoyed from her, the appearer and testator, out of the legacy of her father.  Moreover only to Veer [Fear] Robbens aforesaid the silver cup of her, the appearer, together with all the furniture and household goods, with everything appertaining thereto, which she, the appearer, has bought or made in the last four years before this date, and whatever she may buy or make after this day till her death.  Being the opinion and wish of appearer, that her heirs shall believe her daughter Veer [Fear] Robbens on her simple word and evidence, what and how much furniture and household goods shall have been made and bought by her, the appearer and testator, during the last four years and after this date till her, the appearer’s death, without compelling her daughter to confirm this by oath, expressly forbidding this, and discharging her aforesaid daughter therefrom.  And lastly, she, appearer and testator, bequeathes in advance and in addition to Brechgen [Bridget] and Veer [Fear] Robbens, her daughters aforesaid, all the clothes, both linen and woolen, which she has for her personal use and convenience, except the long cloak and skirt of black cloth, herefore given to the wife of Isaac Robbens, her son.  Furthermore she, appearer and testator aforesaid, declares that Dr. Johannes Robbens, her son has already enjoyed and received, in the form of properties in land and goods lying in England and money provided him, much more from her late husband, than her other three children can receive or enjoy from her, appearer and testator.  Being therefore the express will, opinion and wish of appearer that he, Dr. Johannes Robbens, her son, shall surrender all claims upon her estate, and not participate in it, without drawing or enjoying anything further, small or great.  The appearer and testator aforesaid declares and institutes, by these presents, her son, or in case of his prior death, his child or children to be her private coheir in all goods aforesaid, which he has received and enjoyed.
[And if he, her son, or in case of his prior death, his children, are not satisfied with this, her disposition, but should act or try to act against it in any way, she, appearer, above-mentioned, declared it to be her opinion and wish, that he, her son, or in case of his prior death, his children, shall be required to bring into the common estate of the appearer, all and such goods as he, her son, has enjoyed of her the testator or of her husband of blessed memory, which having been done, he, her son, or in case of his prior death, his children, shall participate in all the properties of the entire estate (the legacies and grants in advance having been subtracted), as well as her, the appearer’s other children, instituting by these presents him, her son, or in case of his prior death, his children (in this case anew disposing) in a just fourth part of her estate and goods, which she will leave behind].
And of all the other goods which she, appearer and testator above-mentioned shall vacate and leave behind at the time of her death, she, appearer and testator, declare to have made, named and instituted as her only and sole heirs, as she does by these presents, Isaac Robbens, above-mentioned, her son, with Brechgen [Bridget] and Veer [Fear] Robbens, her two daughters, each a just third part, and in case of their prior death or of any one of them, their respective child or children, which shall be left behind, by representation and this in the place of their parents, previously deceased.  All of which she, appearer and testator, abovenamed, said and declared to be her last and final testament, which she orders and wishes to have full force and effect, whether as solemn testament, codicil, fideicommis, gift for reason of death, or any other donations or dispositions, and as may be most suitable in a last will, notwithstanding some faults or omissions.  She, appearer and testator, desires, with lawful stipulation to that end committed to my hands as a notary and a public person, bearing cognizance of all the aforesaid, that his be made and executed as a public instrument, in one or more copies of the usual form.  This done, drawn up and executed within the abovenamed city of Leyden, at my, the notary’s house and office, here on the Langebrugge, opposite the Wolsteech.  Present Steven Buttervelt, bookseller, and Jan Meester, sayworker, asked and called for this purpose, with me, the notary, as trustworthy witnesses, who declared they know the appearer well and that she is the person hereinbefore named and mentioned.

Bridget Robinson
Steven Butturveldt
Jan Meester

Which I certify
J. F. Van Merwen, not. Pub. scripsit
1643
(Protocol of Notary J. F. van Merwen, No. 541, instrument 131. – City archives, at Leyden.  The instrument measures 31 x 20 c.M.)

From : Three Unknown Documents concerning the Pilgrim Fathers in Holland by A. Eekhof.  The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, 1920.

www.pilgrimhall.org