I have a copy (this is a transcript) of a Will my ancestor made in 1671 which is a fascinating read but I'm confused by the final line:
"If any be not thanken that person or persons shall have none. "
We've always assumed it was maybe a dig at someone he was fueding with, but perhaps it has some legal meaning or is a quote. It would solve a family mystery if anyone can provide some insight!
William Clarke is a small footnote in Isaac Newton's history as he provided lodgings for him when he was attending school in Grantham.
The obvious meaning for this in a will is to explicitly state that anyone who is not mentioned as getting anything will get nothing, i.e. the second cousin twice removed can't come forward and say that William Clarke MEANT to give her something, but forgot to mention her.
Perhaps something similar would be the legal anecdote about the man who stated in his will " and for my first wife Cynthia, who I said I would mention in my will: Hi, Cynthia!". It may seem only a joke, but it actually would serve to keep Cynthia from claiming that she'd been left out as an oversight, because she is actually mentioned in the will.