Baladre, widow of Yaakov ben Haninai: Girona, 1325
Baladre, widow of Yaakov ben Haninai
This will is part of the so-called "Girona Geniza," which is a collection of Hebrew documents which were preserved because they were reused as book bindings. Baladre's will was part of the binding of a notarial register belonging to the notary Berenguer Capella, and was identified by Idan Pérez of the National Library of Israel. The will exists as two pages of parchment written in a Hebrew Sephardic Semicursive script. The two-page will is not wholly complete; it lacks some material that went between the two pages, and also lacks a section that may have had witness signatures. Pérez notes that the will follows a known Hebrew testamentary formula (See Pérez, "The Testament...," 241 n. 81).<br /><br />Baladre, whose will demonstrates that she had significant assets, had two living sons, one from each of her marriages. She also had a daughter, Dolza. A third son, Haninai, seems to have predeceased his mother and left a minor son named Shelomo. Baladre's son with her second husband, an adult named Shelomo, is the executor, with the assistance of her nephew Yehoshua Ha-Levi. <br /><br />She takes great concern to support her grandson, the minor named Shelomo, who receives all of her "boilers and bronze syringes" as well as real estate in the form of a garden, whose boundaries are spelled out in the will. She names as tutor and guardian for the young Shelomo his mother, Boneta, the widow of her late son Haninai, spelling out that Boneta have "full power" along with the older Shelomo to control the assets Baladre leaves to the young boy. <br /><br />She leaves goods and money, including clothing, to her children. She notably bequeathes her synagogue seats to her daughter Dolza, son Shelomo, and grandson Shelomo in a bequest that seems to give ownership to the son and grandson, but lifetime usufruct of one seat to the daughter. Her son from her first marriage, Moshe, receives 100 sous, bedclothes, and some clothing. She also leaves money and clothing to her maid Astruga. Apparently a businesswoman of some sort, perhaps engaged in money lending, Baladre leaves funds that are owed to her in debt documents to her son and grandson. She also leaves 340 sous as charity for the poor. <br /><br /><span style="text-decoration:underline;">TRANSLATION:</span><br /><br /><p>(AHG: Gi 2, 72 <em>Hecodavant </em>5)</p>
<p>We, the undersigned witnesses, went to visit Ms. Bladre, widow of Rabbi Ya‘aqov son of Rabbi Haninai, who was sick and we found her lying in her bed. The words that came out of her mouth were coherent and she was in her sanity to answer yes when it was yes and not when it was not, just as a healthy person that walks through the market would. She said to us: Here I am sick and I fear to die of this disease, thus please be the witnesses of my testament which I</p>
<p>command in view of death. I separate for the poor 340 <em>sous</em> of <em>p</em><em>e</em><em>šitin </em>(simples) from the Barcelonan currency [common] in this city. This will be in any case of purchase or sale of the debt document worth 500 Barcelonan sous which pledged in front of me my son Rabbi Šelomoh and his wife Ms. Reina, as is [written] in the mentioned debt document. Here I designate treasurer of the aforementioned <em>Heqdeš</em> Rabbi Yehošua‘ ha-Levi, the son who bore my sister Ms. El[..]a to her husband Rabbi Šelomoh ha-Levi, son of Rabbi Yixhaq. And in relation to this matter I have separated the mentioned 340 <em>sous </em>for the poor. These will be paid in installments by my son, Rabbi Šelomoh aforesaid, from now until the next <em>Roš Hašanah</em>. The first installment will be of 30 <em>sous</em> of such currency which will be delivered [.] to the Rabbi Yehošua‘ ha-Levi aforesaid and distributed in the indicated time as deemed appropriate. And so it will be that my son, Rabbi Šelomoh aforesaid, will pay the installments to the Rabbi Yehošua‘ ha-Levi aforesaid. Rabbi Šelomoh aforesaid will pay from the aforementioned debt document 30 <em>sous </em>of the mentioned currency destined to the <em>Heqdeš</em>. This will be in the eve of <em>Roš Hašanah </em>each year until they have completed the 340 <em>sous </em>mentioned. My son, Rabbi Šelomoh aforesaid, will be present at the moment of the distribution with the aforementioned Rabbi Yehošua‘ ha-Levi, as long as my son will be in this city.</p>
<p>And I also grant and give from the aforementioned debt document for the benefit of my son, Rabbi Mošeh, which I gave birth to my first husband Rabbi Abraham Cabrit, 100 sous of such currency that will be charged from the aforementioned debt document after one year of my death.</p>
<p>Also I order my son, Rabbi Šlomoh aforesaid, to pay from the mentioned debt document one year after my death, 60 <em>sous </em>of the said currency and deliver to the hands of the aforesaid Rabbi Yehošua‘ ha-Levi in order to buy a gravestone to put over my tomb.</p>
<p>Also I order my heirs to give from my property to my son, Rabbi Mošeh aforesaid, 100</p>
<p><em>sous </em>of the said currency, who will take possession of them immediately after my death.</p>
<p>And I also order and give to my son, Rabbi Mošeh aforesaid, all the linen of my bed inwhich I lie, as it is. There is a bedspread and a mattress [..] and coverlet and bedsheet and [..].</p>
<p>And I also grant and give to my son, Rabbi Mošeh aforesaid, my new <em>Serval </em>of black brunet clothes.</p>
<p>And I also grant and give to Astruga, daughter of Ixaq Tensa, my maid, 10 <em>sous </em>of such currency, and she will take possession of them from my monetary goods immediately after my death.</p>
<p>Also I grant and give to her my middle <em>Serval </em>and my dark blue coat with the rabbit furs, and up to 10 <em>sous </em>of the said currency from another pledge I have. The rest of the attires I have, except the aforementioned clothes I have given, I grant and give to my daughter Ms. Dolça, wife of Ixaq Sardan. She will take possession of them immediately after my death. </p>
<p>Also I give and grant to my daughter Ms. Dolça, already mentioned, in order she can sit all the days of her life, and no more, the same seat that I have in the Synagogue of this city in the lower gallery of the women... </p>
<p>(AHG: Gi 2, 72 <em>Hecodarrere </em>9)</p>
<p>... the aforesaid Šelomoh, son of my son Rabbi Haninai, already mentioned, all boilers and bronze syringes I have, and all the garden that I possess at the limit of this region in the place called <em>ses Savaneres</em>, that I have in possession under property [...] door [...] and I [...] of it for that property, according to a known law, each year 10 <em>sous </em>of the said currency. And these are the boundaries of the garden: the Eastern boundary is the garden of the gentile Bernad Bobés, the Southern boundary is the garden of the gentile Jaqme of [...], the Western boundary is the garden of the gentile Grau Gorday and the Northern boundary is a public property.</p>
<p>And I also grant and give to my son Rabbi Šelomoh and the young Šelomoh, already mentioned,</p>
<p>the same seat mentioned above and marked with those signs. This is in the condition that [...] to my daughter the right to sit all the days of her life, and no more, in the mentioned seat marked with those signs. And I also order and give to the aforementioned Rabbi Šelomoh and to the young Šelomoh, son of my son, all the half that I Baladre possess of the three seats that are in the lower gallery of women in the same row that is sorted in a north-south direction and is bordering with the western wall of the gallery and [...] facing to the east and having its back to the west wall. To the right of these there is the seat of the representatives of Rabbi Šelomoh Bonafed and to the left there is the seat of the representatives of Rabbi Re’uben son of Rabbi Mošeh Qurtubí. The third on the right is the seat of the representatives of Rabbi Mošeh ha-Cohen son of Rabbi Binyamin and to his left there is the seat of Rabbi Yonah son of Rabbi Benveniste. The other half of these three seats was divided into inheritance, by virtue of my lord the elderly Rabbi Abraham Cabrit, between my son, the said Rabbi Mošeh, Rabbi Mošeh the son of Rabbi Šmu’el Cabrit</p>
<p>and Rabbi Mošeh the son Rabbi Yixhaq Cabrit. I have also given to my son the aforementioned</p>
<p>Rabbi Šelomoh and to the young Šelomoh, son of my son Rabbi Haninai already mentioned, two seats I own in the gallery of women. One is [on the row] that is sorted from north to south [...] in the eastern wall of the gallery. To the right there is the seat of the representatives of Rabbi [...] ha-Cohen son of Rabbi Šelomoh and to the left there is the mentioned seat of the representatives</p>
<p>of Rabbi [...] already mentioned. And the whole seat I have in the gallery of women in the same row sorted in an east-west direction and adjacent to the north wall of the gallery [....] to the South. After that, in the north wall, to the right, there is the seat of Rabbi Haninai son of Rabbi Šelomoh, son of Rabbi Me’ir [may his memory be for blessing] [...] seat of the mentioned Rabbi Yehošua‘ ha-Levi. </p>
<p>The rest of the goods I have [............] whether land, monetary assets, debt documents, whether movable property or property documents, I grant and give to distribute among my son, Rabbi Šelomoh and the young Šelomoh, son of my son Rabbi Haninai already mentioned, of which will take possession immediately after my death. </p>
<p>Here I nominate tutor and responsible for all the assets that I have left to the young Šelomoh, son of my son, already mentioned, to his mother Ms. Boneta, widow of my son, the mentioned Rabbi Haninai. I grant her full powers over all assets I have given as an inheritance to her son named above. Shall have full power, she and my son, the mentioned Rabbi Šelomoh, for [...] and deduct from the debtors and guarantors who are listed in my documents of debt, the entire fund of the loan, as well as the profit owed to me. They may also collect them at the deadlines and hand in notes and bills, general and private, without needing the permission of any court or person. All these things ordered before us Ms. Baladre in view of death.</p>
<p>And it has been that due to this disease, Ms. Baladre passed away; may life be with us and may comfort be with all Israel! All this happened before us on the third day of the month of Av of the year 5085 of the creation of the world, according to the reckoning that we follow here in the city of Ierunda, and we have written, we have signed and we have delivered it into the hands of Rabbi Šelomoh son of Rabbi Ya‘aqov already mentioned, and to the young Šelomoh son of Rabbi [Haninai].<br /><br />(Translation from Pérez, "The Testament of a Jewish Woman," 238-40.)<br /><br />For IMAGE and TRANSCRIPTION, see Pérez, relevant file pages attached. </p>
Girona, Spain
Arxiu Històric de Girona, Spain
AHG, Gi 2, 72 Hecodavant 5 and Gi 2, 72 Hecodarrere 9
Idan Pérez, "The Testament of a Jewish Woman..."
22 July 1325
Hebrew
Spain
Unknown: Fustat, 1006
Unknown
DETAILED DESCRIPTION FROM THE PRINCETON GENIZA PROJECT:<br /><br /><span>Deathbed declaration, AD 1006. ORC 7/10/86 [P]. The document is a deathbed declaration, made by a woman whose name is not preserved. The upper part of the document is missing, but the reconstruction, as proposed by Assaf, would be approximately as follows: "This is what happened before us, the undersigned witnesses, on the date of ... We entered the house of ... and found her sick in her bed, etc." The woman bequeaths one third of a compound owned by her in Qasr al-Sham' to the two synagogues, of the Palestinians and the Babylonians, in equal parts. One sixth of the compound is handed over to a certain Fa'iza, on the condition that she marries; if she dies unmarried, this sixth also would pass to the two synagogues, and not to any of Fa'iza's heirs. Another third of the compound is willed, in equal parts, to the testator's brother Sahlan and to Rayyisa, the daughter of her other brother, Ephraim. One twelfth of the compound has previously been sold to another niece of the testator's, Sutayt, the daughter of her sister Sayyida, for 14 Mu'izzi dinars. This sum was spent for timber, to be used for repairs in the compound. Another twelfth is to be sold, and the revenue (14 dinars) used to cover the expenditures for the transportation of the woman's body to Jerusalem and her burial there. (Information from Gil, Documents, pp. 119 #1))</span><br /><br />(<a href="https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/1704/">https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/1704/</a>)<br /><br />See above link for IMAGE and TRANSCRIPTION.
Fustat, Egypt
Taylor-Schechter Genizah Collection, University of Cambridge
T-S 16.115
Princeton Geniza Project:<br /><a href="https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/1704/">https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/1704/</a>
Moshe Gil, <em>Documents of the Jewish Pious Foundations from the Cairo Geniza</em> (Leiden: Brill, 1976), doc. 1, pp. 119-127.
1006
Princeton Geniza Project
Hebrew
Egypt
Cairo Geniza
Sitt al-Ahl, daughter of Abū l-Munā al-ʿAṭṭār al-Iskandarānī, wife of Abū Naṣr al-Ḥalabī al-Tājir: Fustat, 1143
Sitt al-Ahl, daughter of Abū l-Munā al-ʿAṭṭār al-Iskandarānī, wife of Abū Naṣr al-Ḥalabī al-Tājir
DETAILED DESCRIPTION FROM THE PRINCETON GENIZA PROJECT: <br /><br />Deathbed will of a rich woman, made during the absence of her husband. Location: Fustat. Dated: Wednesday, 26 Iyyar 1454 Seleucid, which is 13 April 1143 CE, under the reshut of Shemuel b. Ḥananya. Testator: Sitt al-Ahl bt. Abū l-Munā al-ʿAṭṭār al-Iskandarānī, the wife of Abū Naṣr al-Ḥalabī al-Tājir. Witnesses: Yosef b. Thābit ha-Levi; Shelomo b. Natan ha-Haver. "This remarkable deathbed declaration, on the one hand, shows the cosmopolitan character of Fustat: the daughter of a druggist called 'the Alexandrian' was married there to a merchant 'from Aleppo.' On the other hand, it betrays an extraordinary attachment of the testator to her paternal family and to local customs and concepts. The dying woman's husband was a tājir, or great merchant, who traveled far and was expected to be away from home for several years. He probably was on a business trip to India. She had a little boy (Mūsā) from a former marriage, who lived with her parents. As his guardian and her own executor she appointed a brother of her former husband (Abū Mūsā Hārūn/Aharon b. Yeshuʿa ha-Kohen). The main purport of the will was the legal protection of her parents, brother (Abū l-Surūr), and boy against her present husband and providing a sumptuous burial for herself. She wanted to have Muslim wailing women, presumably because the cries and shrieks of Jewish women exercising the same profession were not shrill enough for her taste. The most impressive detail is her wish to be buried together with 'one of her family' meaning her father, mother, or brother. To these she was attached by 'natural ties'; with her husband she was connected solely by a 'contract.'" There is also a clause about Sitt al-Ahl's female slave named Fūq and Fūq's daughter, who belongs to Sitt al-Ahl's mother. Sitt al-Ahl also intends for the daughter of her brother Abū l-Surūr to marry her son Mūsā. (Information in part from CUDL and mainly from Goitein's attached notes, where there is a full translation.)<br /><br />(<a href="https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/1112/">https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/1112/</a>)<br /><br />See above link for IMAGE and TRANSCRIPTION.<br /><br />TRANSLATION available through the Princeton Geniza Project: <a href="https://commons.princeton.edu/media/geniza/6C.1.4%20Mediterranean%20people_%20vol.%20I%20%2825-50%29/T-S%2013J3.3_2%20%28PGPID%201112%29.pdf">https://commons.princeton.edu/media/geniza/6C.1.4%20Mediterranean%20people_%20vol.%20I%20%2825-50%29/T-S%2013J3.3_2%20%28PGPID%201112%29.pdf</a>
Fustat, Egypt
Taylor-Schechter Genizah Collection, University of Cambridge
T-S 13J3.3
Princeton Geniza Project:<br /><a href="https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/1112/">https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/1112/</a>
S. D. Goitein, "Wills and Deathbed Declarations from the Cairo Geniza" (in Hebrew), <em>Sefunot</em> 8 (1964). Edition and translation at pp. 122-124.
13 April 1143
Princeton Geniza Project
Judeo-Arabic
Egypt
Cairo Geniza
Unknown: Egypt, c. 1100
Unknown
This Geniza document is missing both the beginning and end of the will, and thus the testator's name is unknown, as is the exact date. It is written in Judeo-Arabic by the well-known court clerk and scribe Halfon ben Menashe, who was active between 1100 and 1138 CE. <br /><br />DESCRIPTION FROM THE PRINCETON GENIZA PROJECT: <br /><br />Will in which a woman is donating a house for religious and charitable purposes while she stayed in an apartment she had acquired. Written by Ḥalfon b. Menashshe (ca. 1100-1138). (Information from Mediterranean Society, III, p. 327)<br /><br />(<a href="https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/4229/">https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/4229/</a>)<br /><br />See above link for IMAGE and TRANSCRIPTION.
Egypt
Taylor-Schechter Genizah Collection, University of Cambridge
T-S NS 184.57
Princeton Geniza Project:<br />https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/4229/
c . 1100
Princeton Geniza Project
Judeo-Arabic
Egypt
Cairo Geniza
Unknown: Egypt, c. 1100
Unknown
This woman's will was recorded by the well-known court clerk and scribe Halfon ben Menashe, who was active from 1100 to 1138 CE. It is written in Judeo-Arabic. <br /><br />DESCRIPTION FROM THE PRINCETON GENIZA PROJECT: <br /><br />Will of a woman. In the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe. She gives 1/2 dinar to her sister Mukhaddara bt. Khalaf if she is still alive. She gives 1/2 dinar to her cousin Abū l-Khayr, the son of her paternal uncle Kathīr al-Naḥḥal (the beekeeper), who lives in New Cairo. She leaves six dinars for eventualities (nawāʾib). Many details specified about her desired clothing for burial. (Information in part from Goitein's note cards.)<br /><br />(<a href="https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/7302/">https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/7302/</a>)<br /><br />See above link for IMAGE.
Egypt
Taylor-Schechter Genizah Collection, University of Cambridge
T-S 12.636
Princeton Geniza Project: <a href="https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/7302/">https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/7302/</a>
c. 1100
Princeton Geniza Project
Judeo-Arabic
Egypt
Cairo Geniza
Sitt al-Dallal, daughter of R. Hananel: Egypt, 1230
Sitt al-Dallal, daughter of R. Hananel
Sitt al-Dallal's will functions as a manumission writ for an enslaved woman. This is a common use of wills across the medieval Mediterranean, though less common for Jews in Christian Europe (since Jews could not keep Christian slaves). <br /><br />DESCRIPTION FROM PRINCETON GENIZA PROJECT:<br /><br /><span>Deathbed will in which Sitt al-Dallāl bt. R’ Ḥananel (n’e) endows the enslaved woman who took care of her through illness with freedom (and likely other objects/property in the missing half of this document). Dated 1230 CE under the authority of Avraham b. Moshe Maimonides. Document produced in the home of her son R’ ʿElazar b. R’ Evyatar, who likely inherits property from his mother in the missing part of the document. RR <br /><br />For transcription and Hebrew description, see Rivlin, Inheritance and Wills, #60, pp. 395-396.</span><br /><br />(<a href="https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/8361/">https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/8361/</a>)<br /><br />SEE LINK ABOVE FOR IMAGE.
Egypt
Taylor-Schechter Genizah Collection, University of Cambridge
T-S Misc.25.107
Princeton Geniza Project: <a href="https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/8361/">https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/8361/</a>
Rivlin, <em>Inheritance and Wills</em>, doc. 60.
1230
Princeton Geniza Project
Judeo-Arabic
Cairo Geniza
Egypt
Sittuna, daughter of Avraham the Parnas: Egypt, undated
Sittuna, daughter of Avraham the Parnas
FROM THE PRINCETON GENIZA PROJECT: <br />Fragment of a will of the teacher Sittuna bat Avraham the parnas. She leaves a property to the son of her sister's daughter, who will pay her funeral expenses out of the income of this property, and her personal belongings to her sister's daughter. (Information from Goitein's index cards) <br /><br />(<a href="https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/4157/">https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/4157/</a>) <br /><br />SEE ABOVE LINK FOR IMAGE AND TRANSCRIPTION
Egypt
Taylor-Schechter Genizah Collection, University of Cambridge
T-S AS 148.18
<a href="https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/4157/">https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/4157/</a>
Undated
Princeton Geniza Project
Judeo-Arabic
Cairo Geniza
Egypt
Francisca Coronel, wife of Juan Dinis: Pontevedra, 1608
Francisca Coronel, wife of Juan Dinis
Francisca Coronel, wife of Juan Dinis, was the daughter of Hector Coronel and Beatriz Alvarez, New Christians and residents of Salvatierra (Galicia). Francisca's mother Beatriz Alvarez, already a widow , was condemned as a Judaizer by the Santiago de Compostela Inquisition in 1617.
Francisca Coronel married Juan Dinis, a merchant, in Salvatierra on 10 June 1588. Juan Dinis was a direct descendant of Mestre Thomaz da Victoria rabbi of the Jewish community of Barcelos (Portugal) and his wife Ouro Velludo, and thus a relative of Martha Dinis and Antonia Saraiva, whose wills are also in this collection. Francisca belonged to the Coronel family, an important converso lineage whose members would emigrate to the Spanish Indies as well as to the Jewish communities of Venice, Amsterdam and Hamburg.
TRANSCRIPTION<br /><br /><table><tbody><tr><td width="471">
<p><strong>Will of Francisca Coronel, Pontevedra, 1608</strong></p>
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<p>Sepan quantos esta carta de manda y testam[en]to ult[im]a y post[re]ra voluntad vieren ~ como yo françisca coronel ~ muger de Ju[a]n dinis ~ mercader vez[in]o desta villa estando en cama y enferma dela enfermedad q[u]e n[uestr]o S[eño]r fue servido de me dar ~ y estando en todo mi juizio y entendimy[en]to natural creyendo como creo ~ todo lo que tiene y cree la s[an]ta madre yglesia de roma ~ en cuya creençia y fee protesto morir y vivir ~ como buena y fiel cristiana ~ y encomendando como encomiendo ~ mi anima ~ a mi señor Jesu cristo que la compro y redimio Cor su preçiosa sangre ~ pa[ra] que no entre con ella en su riguroso Juizio ~ sino como señor de misericordia ~ aya della misericordia ~ y le de su s[an]ta gloria ~ para donde la crio ~ y a la serinissima Reyna de los angeles ~ que sea mi abogada y intercessora ~ con el glorioso san Jaçinto y mas sanctos de su corte çelestial ~ q[ue] sean mis intercessores y abogados ~ delante de su divina magestad ~ ordeno mi manda y testam[en]to en la forma y man[er]a sig[uen]te ~</p>
<p>Primeram[en]te mando que mis carnes ~ sean amortajadas en el habito del s[eño]r sancto domingo . y sea sepultadas en la mi capilla del s[eño]r san Jaçinto y se pague de limosna ~ por el habito lo acostumbrado ~</p>
<p>Yten mando al clerigo . o frayle que me tubiere por la mano ~ q[uan]do muriere y guiare mi anima . un ducado . por una sola vez . de limosna para q[ue] ruege a n[uest]ro s[eño]r por mi ~</p>
<p>Yten mando ~ se dee de offrenda ~ con mi cuerpo . doze ducados . los seis ducados al convento de sancto domingo . y los seis ducados a la parrochia de san Bar[tolom]e donde soy feligresa</p>
<p>[125]</p>
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<p>por una sola vez ~ y no mas ~</p>
<p>Yten mando . que se de limosna . y se digan las missas ~ y vigilias y cabo de año y ponga la sera ~ que a mis complidores . les pareçiere en cuyo alvedrio lo dexo todo ~</p>
<p>Yten mando . a la sancta cruzada y redencion ~ de cautivos dos reales asemade . y con ellos les ~ aparto de mis bienes ~</p>
<p>Yten m[an]do que para mi entierro se llamen las cruzes y clerigos . de las parrochias y del monast[eri]o del s[eño]r san Fran[cisc]o y todas las cofradias de que soy cofrada ~ yo y mi marido.</p>
<p>Yten quiero y es mi voluntad . que la fundacion de la capilla del s[eño]r san Jaçinto que el d[ic]ho mi marido y P[edr]o dinis ~ su herm[an]o ~ [h]an fundado en el monast[eri]o del s[eño]r sancto domingo . y confirmo y apruebo . la escript[ur]a de fundaçion q[ue] los sobre d[ic]hos [h]an [h]echo . y otorgado . con el Prior y convento del d[ic]ho monasterio . y man[do] se compren . de mis b[ien]es y de mi marido ~ Renta ~ de que se pague ~ la p[ar]te que a mi y el d[ic]ho mi marido nos toca pa[ra] dezir las missas q[ue] son cada año dies ducados ~</p>
<p>Yten digo que por q[uan]to tenemos yo y el d[ic]ho mi marido ~ seis hijas legitimas ~ y conviene remediarlas . quiero y es mi voluntad ~ que las d[ic]has mis hijas y cada una dellas ~</p>
<p>[125v]</p>
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<p>lleven de mis b[ien]es por via de mejora de terçio y quinto demas de sus legitimas . trezientos ducados . los quales quiero y es mi voluntad ~ que les sirvan para parte de la dote que el d[ic]ho mi marido les hubiere de dar ~ o para parte de la dote que se les hubiere de dar entrando en religion . y es mi voluntad ~ que muriendo las d[ic]has mis hijas o qual q[uier]a dellas ~ antes de mudar estado ~ de casada ~ o religiossa . y menor de veinte cinco años no lleben . la d[ic]ha mejora ~ ni della puedan disponer sino fuere en favor de sus hijos legi[tim]os ~</p>
<p>Yten dexo por mi cumplidor testamentario al d[ic]ho J[u]an dinis mi marido ~ y a pedro dinis . y el doctor Thomas dinis mis hermanos ~ a los quales encargo . cumplan esta mi manda y testam[en]to de mis b[ien]es sin daño de los suyos y para ello les doy poder cumplido como yo mesmo lo tengo.</p>
<p>+ Mando q[ue] lo que debe Simon Cardoso q[ue] le presto el d[ic]ho mi marido del dinero q[ue] tiene [h]echa obligacion y de lo mas q[ue] se lo quiten y no le pidan nada y le den de mas una saya y una Ropa de mi cuerpo</p>
<p>Iten mando que el d[ic]ho J[u]an dinis mi marido ~ de las Ropas de mi persona ~ [h]aga ~ bien por mi anima y de las que le paresçiere y en todo lo demas me rremitto a su amistad ~ para que [h]aga bien por mi anima ~</p>
<p>Yten mando que despues ~ de cumplida esta mi m[an]da y testam[en]to ~ en lo remanesçiente de mis b[ien]es ~ sean y dexo por mis universales hered[er]os ~ a Thomas beatris ~</p>
<p>[126]</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="471">
<p>graçia ~ Jaçinta ~ agustina ~ maria ~ clara ~ bentura ~ miguel ~ J[u]an ~ mis hijos legit[im]os y del d[ic]ho J[u]an dinis ~ mi marido . pa[ra] que partan y dividan ~ los d[ic]hos b[ien]es q[ue] fincaren despues de complido este mi testam[en]to por hygoales ~ partes . y quiero ~ que este sea mi testam[en]to y ultima y postrimera ~ voluntad ~ y si no valiere por m[an]da valga por codicilo . y por la via q[ue] mejor [h]aya lugar de derecho ~ y dende ag[or]a ~ anullo ~ y Revoco ~ otras quales quiera mandas ~ y escripturas q[ue] en contrario deste mi testam[en]to hubiere otorgado y solo quiero que esta balga ~ y ansi la otorgo y ruego al doctor Thomas Dinis ~ lo firme aqui de su n[ombr]e ~</p>
<p> </p>
<p>El Doctor</p>
<p>Dinis</p>
<p>[126v]</p>
</td>
</tr></tbody></table>
[Transcribed by Ignacio Chuecas Saldías]
Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain
Archivo Histórico Provincial de Pontevedra, Galicia
Archivo Histórico Provincial de Pontevedra, Galicia, Caja 1010, Testamentos, 1608, fols. 125r-126v.
<span>See also: Juan Juega Puig, </span><em>Los Dinís, un linaje judeoconverso en la Pontevedra de los siglos XVI y XVII.<span> </span></em><span>A Coruña: Ediciós do Castro, 2004.</span>
1608
Ignacio Chuecas Saldías
Images by Familysearch.com, provided by Ignacio Chuecas Saldías
Spanish
Spain
Isabel Lopez, widow of Enrique Mendez: Pontevedra, 1608
Isabel Lopez, widow of Enrique Mendez
Isabel López was a native of Padrendo on the border between Galicia and Portugal. Around 1585, she married Enrique Méndez, a university graduate and lawyer who was a native of Monção, Kingdom of Portugal. Both were New Christians and both were related to the most important converso families in Galicia and northern Portugal.
Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain
Archivo Histórico Provincial de Pontevedra, Galicia
Archivo Histórico Provincial de Pontevedra, Galicia, Caja 1010, Testamentos, 1608, fols. 119-121v
19 June 1608
Ignacio Chuecas Saldías
Images by Familysearch.com, provided by Ignacio Chuecas Saldías
Spanish
Spain
Antonia Saraiva, wife of Antonio Dinis: Pontevedra, 1608
Antonia Saraiva, wife of Antonio Dinis: Pontevedra, 1608
This is the codicil to the will of Antonia Saraiva. Around 1560, Antonia Saraiva married her relative, the doctor Antonio Dinis, both New Christians born in Barcelos (kingdom of Portugal) and living in Pontevedra (Galicia). She was the daughter of Thomaz Nunes, the elder, and his wife Marqueza Cardozo, and granddaughter of master Thomaz de Victoria, last rabbi of Barcelos. As such, she and her husband were both related to Martha Dinis, whose will is also in this collection. Many relatives of the testator (such as Martha) were prosecuted by the Inquisition or emigrated to the Jewish-Portuguese communities of the free lands.
TRANSCRIPTION
Codicil of Antonia Saravia 7-IX-1608
Codicilo
En la villa de pontev[edr]a A siete dias del mes de sep[tiembr]e de myll e seis cientos y ocho años delante de mi escribano y te[stigo]s ynfraescritos Ant[oni]a Sar[avi]a biuda que finco del L[icencia]do Antonio dinis medico que presente estaba ~ dentro de sus casa de morada acostada en una cama con todo su juy[ci]o sano y entendimj[ent]o natural aun que con poca salud corporal temjendo y confesando la santa ffe catolica ~ debaxo de cuyos presetos y mandamjentos protesto bibir y morir y con Rezelo de la muerte y por salbar su anima ~ digo que por quanto Ella antes de ag[or]a y en vida de d[ic]ho su marido abian echo y ordenado y otorgado su [te]stamento y ultima boluntad conformados uno con el otro ~ por delante de gaspar cabral [e]ss[crivan]o que fue del num[e]ro desta villa ~ al qual dixo se referia y [que por] que su boluntad ~ hera de lo corregir quitar añadir y emendar en alg[una]s cosas siendo nes[esari]o ~ por tanto que ella por bia de codiçilo codiciliando ~ o en aquella man[er]a que mejor podia y abia lugar de de[rech]o ~ y no alterando el d[ic]ho su [te]stamento salbo e[n] las cossas que aqui se aran mençion y en lo demas quedando En su fuerza y bigor y Ratificandolo p[ara] q[ue] balga en juizio y f[uer]a del ~ mandaba E m[an]do y declaro lo sig[uen]te ~ que por quanto Ella tiene a graçia dinis su hija biuda que finco del L[icencia]do albares abogado con muchas hixas E hixos y en gran nesçesidad sin Remedio si no el de nuestro s[eño]r por la bia E Remedio que puede y de d[erech]o aya lugar e por via de mex[or]a [y] la m[aner]a que pueda baler ~ le mandaba y mando ademas de la legitima que ubo y a de aber ~ çien d[ucad]os en din[er]o de contado ~ p[ara] Remedio de sus hixas y de su horfandad que la tiene muy gr[an]de ~ lo qual todo dixo que mandaba corregia y emendaba en el di[ch]o su [te]stamento por bia de codiçilio condoçiliando p[ara] que como tal y en aquella man[er]a que mejor de de[rech]o ubiese Lugar [ilegible] en ju[ici]o E fu[er]a del quedando como dixo quedaba el d[ic]ho su [te]stamento en su fuerza y balga y ansi lo otorgo ante mi el ess[criban]o en cuyo registro por q[ue] no sabia firmar rogo a su t[estig]o lo aga por ella de su n[ombr]e siendo tes[tigo]s di[eg]o ff[ernand]ez blandon e R[odrig]o suarez [100]
E gonzalo de [ilegible] ve[cino]s de la d[ic]ha billa e yo es[criban]o doi ffee conozco a la otorg[ant]e y al parecer [e]staba en su juy[ci]o natural.
Firmas
[100v]
[Transcribed by Ignacio Chuecas Saldías]
Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain
Archivo Histórico Provincial de Pontevedra, Galicia
Archivo Histórico Provincial de Pontevedra, Galicia, Caja 1010, Testamentos, 1608, fols. 100-100v
See also: Juan Juega Puig, <em>Los Dinís, un linaje judeoconverso en la Pontevedra de los siglos XVI y XVII. </em>A Coruña: Ediciós do Castro, 2004.
7 September 1608
Ignacio Chuecas Saldías
Images by Familysearch.com, provided by Ignacio Chuecas Saldías
Spanish
Spain
Elena de Saa, wife of Jorge Blandón: Pontevedra, 1607
Elena de Saa, wife of Jorge Blandón
This is a fragment of the will of Elena de Saa, a native of Barcelos (kingdom of Portugal). She had married her relative, the merchant Jorge Blandón, in 1590. They were both New Christians, descendants of the Jews converted in Barcelos during the general conversion of 1496. She was the daughter of Diego Pérez and Leonor López. Notably, Elena's sister Isabel de Saa had married Diego Fernández Blandón, Jorge’s father in 1582, evidence of the marital endogamy that was typical of New Christians.
Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain
Archivo Histórico Provincial de Pontevedra, Galicia
Archivo Histórico Provincial de Pontevedra, Galicia, Caja 1010, Testamentos, 1603, fols. 69-69v
1607
Ignacio Chuecas Saldías
Images by Familysearch.com, provided by Ignacio Chuecas Saldías
Spanish
Spain
Martha Dinis, widow of Enrique Pereira: Pontevedra, 1603.
Martha Dinis, widow of Enrique Pereira
<p>In 1582, in Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain, Martha Dinis married the <em>licenciado</em> and merchant Enrique Pereira. She was the daughter of the <em>licenciado</em> Paulo Núñez de Vitoria and his wife Isabel Thomas. All of these people were new Christians, natives of Barcelos (Portugal) and descendants of Mestre Thomaz de Vitoria, the last rabbi of that community. She was related to Antonia Saraiva, wife of Antonio Dinis, whose codicil is also in this collection. <br /><br />Convicted by the Inquisition, Martha Dinis died before she could be punished, and was burned in effigy by the Santiago de Compostela Inquisition in 1620. It is very rare to come across such a document as this testament belonging to Martha because usually people condemned by the Inquisition would not have a will. <br /><br /></p>
TRANSCRIPTION<br /><br /><table><tbody><tr><td width="471">
<p>Jn dej nomjne amen sepan quantos esta carta de ma[n]da y testamento ultima y postrjmera voluntad viere[n] como yo martha dinjs biuda muger que finque del L[icencia]do Enrrique Perejra mj marjdo ~ estando enferma de enfermedad q[ue] dios nuestro s[eñ]or fue servido de darme y sana del entendjmjento ordeno mj manda y testam[en]to en la forma y manera siguente</p>
<p>Primeram[en]te ~ confieso la sancta fee catholica de la sancta iglesia Romana y como tal profesto bivjr y morir y creo lo q[ue] la d[ic]ha sancta iglesia cree y confiesa ~ y pido a mj s[eñ]or Jesu cristo q[ue] redjmjo mj alma por su sa[n]gre de passio[n] en el arbol de la vera cruz tenga por bien de salvarme y a la gloriosa virgen sancta Marja ruego y a todos los sa[n]tos y sanctas de la corte celestial. pidan a su divina mag[es]tad use comigo de mjsericordia ~ y quiera salvar mj alma.</p>
<p>~ Jtem mando q[ue] si dios fuere servido de llevarme desta prese[n]te vida q[ue] mjs carnes sea[n] sepultadas e[n] el monasterio de s[an]t[o] fran[cis]co desta villa en la sepultura q[ue] yo y my marjdo allj tenemos y sino en la de mjs padres ~ o junto a ella si uvjere algu[n] impedjme[n]to ~ Jten q[ue] mj cuerpo vaya vestido en el habito de la s[eño]ra sancta clara el qual pido desde ahora co[n] jntencio[n] de gozar de las gracias y jndulgencias otorgadas a la sagrada religio[n] de la d[ic]ha sancta ~ y q[ue] este habito se pida a clara Dinjs mj prima monja profesa en el conve[n]to de la s[eño]ra sancta clara desta villa y se le de otro nuevo conforme ella lo pidiere</p>
<p>~ Jten en lo q[ue] toca a çera y mjsas y ljmosnas sean aquellas q[ue] pareciere a mjs co[n]plidores ~ con q[ue] sea a la menor costa q[ue] pueda ser. attento q[ue] dexo çinco hijos todos pobres y sin padre y una hija donzella por casar ~ y q[ue] no se les pida q[ue] gasten mas de lo q[ue] ellos ordenare[n] y dixeren.</p>
<p>Jten mando se llame[n] las cruzes de las parrochias y de los [4]</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="471">
<p>los conventos y las cofradias en [q]ue yo y el d[ic]ho mj marjdo estamos metidos y se les de la limosna acostumbrada ~</p>
<p>~ Jten mejoro y he por mejorada ~ en el terçio y remane[n]te del quinto de todos mjs bienes muebles y de raiz ~ a Jsabel mj hija y del d[ic]ho mj marjdo ~ con tal condicio[n] q[he] ella no se case sin co[n]sentimjento de sus abuelos syendo bivos . y siendo muertos sea de co[n]sentimy[en]to de sus tios. y de Paulo mj hijo y su hermano y si ella se morjere antes de casada ~ q[ue] la tal mejora ve[n]ga a los mas hermanos q[ue] al tie[m]po fueren vivos ~ de manera q[ue] partan ygoalme[n]te uno u otros ~ y señalo la d[ic]ha mejora a la d[ic]ha mj hija en las casas e[n] q[ue] vivo q[ue] me diero[n] el L[icencia]do Victorja y Jsabel thomas dinjs mjs padre y madre ~ de q[ue] paso la donacio[n] ante Ju[a]n de barbeyto escri[ba]no del nu[mer]o desta villa ~ y mando al d[ic]ho Paulo nuñez mj hijo ~ sob pena de my bendiçio[n] q[ue] aco[n]pañe a la d[ic]ha mi hija y sus hermanos ~ y no se case hasta q[ue] ella sea casada y remediada y a los mas sys hermanos los ayude y favoresca y ponga e[n] estado ~</p>
<p>~ Jten dexo por tutores y curadores de los d[ic]hos mjs hijos al d[ic]ho L[icencia]do victoria mj padre y a hieronjmo sarabia y sant Ju[a]n nuñez de victoria y Bachiller Marçial sarabja mjs hermanos y al d[ic]ho Paulo nuñez mj hijo y a cada uno dellos jn solidum o como a ellos les pareçiere dividir la d[ic]ha tutela y curadorja pa[ra] q[ue] la admjnistre[n] haziendo recue[n]to y jmve[n]tarjo de mjs bienes. y ruego a Salvador sarabia y a felipe nuñez mjs hermanos los ayude[n] como buenos hermanos ~ y ansy mjsmo los encargo a Ant[oni]o perejra mj cuñado.</p>
<p>~ Jten dexo a victorja dinjs mj hermana diez du[cad]os para lucto. y le ruego me p[er]done pues sabe mjs necesidades y trabajos</p>
<p>~ y en quanto a lo q[ue] tengo y me debe[n] ~ y yo devo lo remjto al d[ic]ho L[icencia]do victorja mj padre y a los d[ic]hos hieronjmo sarabia [4v]</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="471">
<p>y felipe nuñez mjs hermanos pa[ra] q[ue] ellos haga[n] la cuenta por mj.</p>
<p>~ Jten dexo por mjs co[n]plidores a los dichos mis padre y hermanos y a cada uno dellos jn solidum. y les doy poder cu[n]plido pa[ra] q[ue] de mjs bienes y sin daño de los suyos cu[n]pla[n] est mj manda ~ y testame[n]to ~</p>
<p>~ y ansy cumplido en lo mas remanecie[n]te de mjs bienes despues de sacada la d[ic]ha mejora q[ue] hago a la d[ic]ha Jsabel mj hija ~ dexo por mjs univ[er]sales herederos a los dichos mjs hijos y del d[ic]ho mj marjdo q[ue] son Paulo ~ nuñez ~ Jsabel ~ hieronjmo ~ Thomas ~ Antonjo ~ pa[ra] q[ue] partan los d[ic]hos mjs bienes co[n] la bendiçio[n] de dios y mja y les encargo sea[n] virtuosos ~ y amigos de dios y Jmiten la virtud y bondad de su padre ~ y ayude[n] a casar a la d[ic]ha su hermana y obedesca[n] a sus abuelos y tios y el menor al mayor como hijos de bendiçio[n] ~ q[ue] yo fio en la divina mjsericordia q[ue] por ser hijos de tan bue[n] padre los ha de favorecer y ayudar ~ y q[ue] no les [ha] lugar de faltar syendo ellos tales quales deven ~ y esta doy por manda y testam[en]to ultima y pstrjmera voluntad ~ y q[ue] si no valiere por testame[n]to valga por codicilo ~ y si no por ultima voluntad . y revoco y anulo otros quales quier testam[en]tos y codicilos q[ue] antes de ahora aja hecho e quiero q[ue] valgan sino este q[ue] ahora hago y aparto a todas los mas mjs deudas . y rede[n]cio[n] de captivos y otros quales quier q[ue] q[ue] pretendan tener derecho a mjs bienes co[n] cinco sueldos de buena moneda . y mando al hospital desta villa una quarterola de azeite por una vez ~</p>
<p>~ Jten mando q[ue] demas de la soldada q[ue] devo a catalina mj criada ~ de q[ue] se hara cue[n]ta co[n] ella . le den mjs cu[n]plidores de mjs vestidos ~ o en din[er]o ~ aquello q[ue] les pareçiere por q[ue] ruege a dios por mi anjma ~ diez <span style="text-decoration:line-through;">ducados pa[ra] un lucto</span></p>
<p>~ Jten digo q[ue] el L[icencia]do sarabia mj tio q[ue] dios tenga en el çielo me mando por su testame[n]to çincue[n]ta du[cad]os ~ y Madalena coronel mj cuñada [la] muger de hieronjmo sarabia mj hermano [5]</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="471">
<p>defuncta me mando otros çie[n]t du[cad]os mando se cobren de sus herederos ~ co[n] todo buen termjno de manera que no aya en ello escandalo.</p>
<p>~ Jten mando a felipe nuñez le buelva[n] quatrocie[n]tos reales por q[ue] me devia cincu[en]ta du[cad]os y me pago estos quatrocie[n]tos reales mando se le buelvan y le quito lo demas q[ue] me restava a dever a cu[n]plimy[en]to de los d[ic]hos cincu[en]ta du[cad]os ~ y esta doy por mj manda y por no saber firmar ruego a Antolin martinez lo firme por mj testigos Pascual de Paz ~ Manuel alvarez Enrrique dinjs ~ y Fran[cis]co dinjs hijos de Antonjo de chaves y todos vezinos y moradores en la villa de Ponte[ved]ra ~</p>
<p>Jten mando a Jsabel sanches mj prjma cincu[en]ta reales a disposisio[n] de mjs cu[n]plidores ~ testigos los de suso q[he] fue fecho y otorgado en la d[ic]ha villa e[n] quatro de agosto del año del nacimjento de nuestro s[eñ]or Jesu cristo de mjl y seiscientos y tres ~ y yo escriv[an]o doy fee q[ue] conosco a la d[ic]ha otorgante ~ y q[ue] estava e[n] su seso y juizio natural por q[ue] conocio a los dichos t[estig]os y a my escriv[an]o y nos no[n]bro por nuestros no[n]bres ~ no vale lo testado o dezi diez ducados para un lucto ~</p>
<p>Firmas</p>
<p>[5v]</p>
</td>
</tr></tbody></table>
[Transcribed by Ignacio Chuecas Saldías]
Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain
Archivo Histórico Provincial de Pontevedra, Galicia
Archivo Histórico Provincial de Pontevedra, Galicia, Caja 1010, Testamentos, 1603, fols. 3-5v
See also: Juan Juega Puig, <em>Los Dinís, un linaje judeoconverso en la Pontevedra de los siglos XVI y XVII. </em>A Coruña: Ediciós do Castro, 2004.
4 August 1603
Ignacio Chuecas Saldías
Images by Familysearch.com, provided by Ignacio Chuecas Saldías
Spanish
Spain
Portugal
Bárbara de França, widow of Lopo de Almeida: Barcelos, 1596
Bárbara de França, widow of Lopo de Almeida
New Christian (conversa) testator. Although she testated in Barcelos, Portugal, she owned one of the houses in the old Jewish quarter of Porto, Portugal, that later remained in the hands of New Christians families. It is the set of 30 houses surrounding the synagogue that are expressly mentioned by Imanuel Aboab in his <em>Nomologia</em> (1629).
Barcelos, Portugal
Arquivo Distrital do Porto, Portugal
Arquivo Distrital do Porto, 2° Livro das compras e vendas das casas em que se fundou este Mosteiro, 1394-02-14/1619-05-16, K/25/6/6-495.1
23 October 1596
Ignacio Chuecas Saldías
Portuguese
Portugal
Iberia
Marta Fernandes: Porto, 1575
Marta Fernandes
New Christian (conversa) testator. She owned one of the houses in the old Jewish quarter of Porto (Portugal) that later remained in the hands of New Christians families. It is the set of 30 houses surrounding the synagogue that are expressly mentioned by Imanuel Aboab in his <em>Nomologia</em> (1629).
Porto, Portugal
Arquivo Distrital do Porto, Portugal
Arquivo Distrital do Porto, 3° Livro das casas em que se fundou este Mosteiro, 1535-11-11/1634-07-10, K/25/6/6-495.2
19 May 1575
Ignacio Chuecas Saldías
Portuguese
Portugal
Iberia
Antonia Martínez, widow of Gonçalo Bras: Santiago de Compostela, 1566
Antonia Martínez, widow of Gonçalo Bras, silversmith
New Christian (conversa) testator. Although she testated in Galicia, Spain, she owned one of the houses in the old Jewish quarter of Porto, Portugal, that later remained in the hands of New Christians families. It is the set of 30 houses surrounding the synagogue that are expressly mentioned by Imanuel Aboab in his <em>Nomologia</em> (1629).
Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
Arquivo Distrital do Porto, Portugal
Arquivo Distrital do Porto, 2° Livro das compras e vendas das casas em que se fundou este Mosteiro, 1394-02-14/1619-05-16, K/25/6/6-495.1
28 September 1566
Ignacio Chuecas Saldías
Spanish
Portugal
Iberia
Spain
Brunetta, daughter of Marcutius: Padua 1535 (2/3)
Brunetta, daughter of Marcutius
This is the second of three wills made by Donna Brunetta in October and November 1535.
Padua
Archivio di Stato Padova, Notarile 4831, fols. 101v-103r
5 November 1535
David Malkiel
Latin
Italy
Venetian Empire
Gineta, wife of Cregutus Profachi: Marseille, 1413
Gineta, wife of Cregutus Profachi
NOTE: Gineta was among the wealthiest merchants in Marseille, and was married to an important leader in the Jewish community. For more on Gineta, see Juliette Sibon, <em>Les Juifs de Marseille au XIVe siècle</em> (Paris: Cerf, 2011). This will, however, does not appear in the book.
CII
Dictatus est in cartulario signato per O
In Christi nomine amen. Anno incarnationis eiusdem Millesimo CCCCmoterciodecimo die dominica decima octava mensis Novembris circa terciam. Notum sit et cetera quod ego Gineta uxor Creguti Profachi judea civis Massilie filiaque Durandi de Bedarida condam sana mente licet egra corpore et in mea tamen bona sana firma et valida existens? memoria et loquela gratia domini nostri Jhesu Christi. Volens et quamplurimum cu- pens testata descedere et de bonis meis omnibus iuribus atque rebus meis talis? ordinari ne post obitum meum inter meos successores ulla materia questionis valeat exoriri. Eapropter dum? michi licet facio condo et ordino ego dicta Gineta testatrix testa- mentum meum ultimum nuncupatum et meam ultimam voluntatem dispo- sitionem et ordinacionem meam ultimam nuncupativam bonorum meorum iurium omnium atque rerum in modum et per modum qui sequitur infrascriptum.
In primis enim et ante omniam recomendo ego dicta Gina testatrix animam meam corpusque meum altissimo creatori domino nostro Jhesu Christi et toti curie celesti.
Et eligo michi seu corpori meo misera- bili sepulturam quando me mori continge-rit in simiterio Montis Judaici.
Item lego ego dicta Gina testatrix cuili- bet scolarum Judeorum Massilie videlicet cui- libet ipsarum unam libram oley anno quolibet et perpetuo dandi cuilibet ipsarum scolarum pro quibus obligo omnia bona mea presencia et futura.
Item prelego et dari volo ego dicta Gineta testatrix octo pauperinis mulieribus judeis videlicet cuilibet ipsarum unam gonellam panni sarge valentem octo grossis pro canna semel ? non illas dari volo eisdem mulie-
/verso/ ribus per heredem meum infrascriptum per spacium quatuor annorum videlicet anno quolibet unam pro quibus obligo omnia bona mea presencia et futura.
Item lego et dari volo ego dicta testatrix elemosine Judeorum de Massilia videlicet unum lectum munitum unam mappam et unam longeriam novas quas dari volo per heredem meum infrascriptum pro quibus obligo omnia bona mea presencia et futura.
Item volo et ordino ego dicta Gina testatrix quod heres meus infrascriptus teneatur et debeat dari anno quolibet et perpetuo pau- peribus egentibus judeis unum pondus farine in pane cocto videlicet in festo vocato inter ebreos Anuqua pro quibus obligo omnia bona mea presencia et futura.
Item lego ego dicta Gineta testatrix Boniuci? Tamani? filiolo meo duos floreni auri semel solum? solvendos.
Item lego ego dicta testatrix Cregu- done de Mayranicis judee pro bonis servitiis per eam michi factis et in re- munerationem eorumdem unam chopam meam et unum cossetum meum quam et quem dari volo eidem per heredem meum infrascriptum.
Item lego ego dicta testatrix Gi- nete uxor _____________ judee amor dei unam chopam mea quam sibi dari volo per heredem meum infrascriptum.
In omnibus vero aliis bonis meis mobilibus et immobilibus iuribus ac- tionibus et rationis ac debitorum nominibus quecumque qualiacumque et quantacumque sint vel fuerint et quibuscumque nominibus nuncupentur
/recto/ Ciii seu etiam censciantur? presentibus et futuris michi heredem universalem et insolidum facio instituo et ordino ego dicta Gineta testatrix videlicet dilectum maritum meum Cregutum Profachi judeum et suos quem ore meo proprie nomino et appello.
Hoc autem est et cetera. Cassans et cetera. Hec solum? et cetera. Rogans et cetera. De quibus et cetera.
Actum Massilie in camera domus ipsius Creguti in qua iacebat in lecto gravata.
Testes Franciscus Roppe notarius de Guilles Hugo Candorayi fusterius Poncius Romanilhi peyrerius Petrus Michaelis laborator Rauletus de Trienis aurifaber Guillelmus Chaberti laborator Monnetus Rostagni sabaterius
[Transcription by Daniel Lord Smail]
Marseille
Archives Départementales des Bouches-du-Rhône 351 E 166, 102r-103r
18 November 1413
Daniel Lord Smail
Latin
France
Sterella, wife of Boniaqui: Marseille, 1399
Sterella, wife of Boniaqui
TRANSCRIPTION: <br /><br />FF. In nomine domini amen. Notum sit et cetera anno<br /><p>domini Millesimo CCClxxxxviiii die vii mensis</p>
<p>Novembris circa terciam. Notum sit et cetera quod</p>
<p>cum nil sit certius morte quamvis eius</p>
<p>hora sit dubia et inserta idcirco</p>
<p>ego Sterella <span style="text-decoration:line-through;">filia</span> uxor Boni-</p>
<p>aqui de Albanea filiaque condam Cresqui</p>
<p>Susurloti et Belle condam coniugum</p>
<p>sana mente licet egra corpore et</p>
<p>in mea tamen bona sana firma et vali-</p>
<p>da existens memoria et loquela gratia domini</p>
<p>nostri Jhesu Christi volens et quamplurimum</p>
<p> </p>
<p>/28r/</p>
<p> </p>
<p>in recomendo ego dicta testatrix animam</p>
<p>meam altissimo creatori domino nostro Jhesu</p>
<p>Christi.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Et eligo michi cepulturam in simi-</p>
<p>terio in quo cepultati? sunt corpores?</p>
<p>liberorum meorum.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Item lego ego Profacho Cohen ju-</p>
<p>deo fratri meo pro omnibus iuribus sibi com-</p>
<p>petentis? in bonis <span style="text-decoration:line-through;">sua</span> meis scilicet</p>
<p>quinque solidis tantum?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Item lego Davineto Cohe fratri meo</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In omnibus bonis meis instituo michi</p>
<p>heredem videlicet dictum Boniaqui ma-</p>
<p>ritum meum et ad sui vitam tamen cum?</p>
<p>ipso mortuo volo omnia bona</p>
<p>mea reverti pleno iure scole</p>
<p>maioris Judeorum Massilie.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Item volo et ordino quod dictus maritus</p>
<p>meus possit et valeat de bonis</p>
<p>meis vendere pro suis alimentis</p>
<p>sine aliquali contradicunt.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Testes Bartholomeus Porquerii</p>
<p>Bartholomeus de Monte Calexo</p>
<p>Petrus Ricavo filius Raymundi</p>
<p>Pons Tacilis</p>
<p>Petrus Rostagni</p>
<p>Johannes Pinatelli<br /><br />[Transcription by Daniel Lord Smail]</p>
Marseille
Archives Départementales des Bouches-du-Rhône 351E 152, fols. 27v-28r
1 November 1399
Daniel Lord Smail
Latin
France
Khulla, daughter of Shabbat: Egypt, c. 1135
Khulla, daughter of Shabbat
This will is a copy of the original, and is recorded as part of a court register. The scribe is the well-known court clerk Halfon ben Menashe. (Note: The document at times refers to the testator as Khulla, and at times Kullat.)<br /><br />DETAILED DESCRIPTION FROM THE PRINCETON GENIZA PROJECT:<br /><br /><span>Copy of the will of Khulla bt. Shabbat in which she lists her assets (three different dārs held in partnership with her two sisters and one of their sons) and her intention to sell her ghulām (enslaved man) and split the proceeds as charity for Dammūh and burial expenses for the poor. The court tries to convince her that her charitable funds should be used to restore a bible codex (muṣḥaf) worth the same amount of money, but Khulla declines. The document also mentions: Yehuda Ibn al-Sofer (as the scribe of the original will), the daughter of Khulla’s brother Abū ʿAlī al-Kohen (as being owed 6 dinārs) and Yeshuʿa b. ʿEli ha-Kohen (as a witness). RR This is folio 1v in a bifolio of a court register in the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashse consisting of four pages and containing four court cases. Another folio is dated 1135 CE. For transcription see attached edition by Goitein, or see Rivlin, Inheritance and Wills, #47, pp. 371-373.<br /><br /></span>(<a href="https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/35194/">https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/35194/</a>)<br /><br />SEE ABOVE LINK FOR IMAGE.
Egypt
Taylor-Schechter Genizah Collection, University of Cambridge, TS 10 J 7, fol. 10c
T-S 10J7.10
Princeton Geniza Project: <a href="https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/35194/">https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/35194/</a>
Rivlin, <em>Inheritance and Wills</em>, doc. 47.
c. 1135
Princeton Geniza Project
Rachel Richman
Judeo-Arabic
Cairo Geniza
Egypt
Widow of Yefet b. Sabagh: Fustat, c. 1126
Widow of Yefet b. Sabagh
This widow, whose name remains unknown, appears in at least two dispositive documents, constituting three shelf-marks. That is to say, she testated an original will, which is in one piece. A revision exists as two fragments that have been re-joined by scholars. <br /><br />The original will was made at some point after 1100 CE, likely in 1126 (see below, next paragraph). It functions mostly as a corrective to a gift she had previously given. That is to say, she had given half of her house and the rest of her goods to a maidservant (apparently a freed woman named Nashu). And then, on her deathbed, she asks the maidservant to give an eighth of the house (i.e. a quarter of what she had received) to the widow's niece (her sister's daughter), named Najiyya.<br /><br />Two days before she dies, on 11 Iyyar 1126 CE, the widow revises the will again. In this codicil, Najiyya is promised the abovementioned part of the house, but only under the condition that Najiyya and her husband give up claims to any of the widow's other goods. A few other clauses appear here too, including a manumission. <br /><br />DESCRIPTION (OF THE ORIGINAL WILL ) FROM THE PRINCETON GENIZA PROJECT: <br /><br />Deathbed declaration in the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe, right upper corner. An old widow who had given her maidservant half of a house and the rest of her belongings asks her to renounce one eight of the share in the house, which she wishes to give to her sister's daughter, Najiya. (Information from Mediterranean Society, V, pp. 134, 442) <br /><br />(<a href="https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/2419/">https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/2419/</a>)<br /><br />See above link for IMAGE and TRANSCRIPTION.<br /><br />DESCRIPTION (OF THE REVISION) FROM THE PRINCETON GENIZA PROJECT: <br /><br /><span>This document consists of two fragments; the right side is document T-S 16.44 and the left side is document T-S 12.613, the break between the two documents is indicated in the transcription by /. Change of a will, signed by Ḥalfon b. Ghalib and Yefet b. Efrayim two days before the death of the testator, saying that Najiya receives part of a house from the dying sister of her mother on condition that she and her husband renounce all other claims on the estate. Another woman receives another part, and a man promises to marry her and never divorce her. Dated 1126. (Information from Goitein's index cards.) <br /><br />Alternate description: Part of a document regarding the changing of a will two days before the testator’s death, dated 11 Iyyar 1126 CE and in the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe ha-Levi. Najiyya is to receive part of a house from her dying maternal aunt on condition that she and her husband Abū Naṣr Mevasser ha-Levi renounce all other claims on the estate. A freed woman (Našū) will receive another part of the house. Yefet b. Ḥadīd is also released by the dying woman. Signed by Ḥalfon b. Ḡālib the cantor and Yefet b. Ephraim. (Information from CUDL.)</span><br /><br />(See <a href="https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/3188/">https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/3188/)</a><br /><br />See above link for IMAGE and TRANSCRIPTION
Fustat, Egypt
Elkan Nathan Adler Collection, Jewish Theological Seminary Library
ENA NS 16, fol. 11 (Original Will)
<span>Taylor-Schechter Genizah Collection, University of Cambridge</span>
T-S 16.44 1.35 and T-S 12.613 (join)
Princeton Geniza Project: https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/2419/
https://geniza.princeton.edu/en/documents/3188/
Weiss, <em>Legal Documents Written by the Court Clerk</em>…, 129; Goitein, "Dispositions," 160.
c. 1126
April 1126
Princeton Geniza Project
Rachel Richman
Judeo-Arabic
Formulae in Aramaic
Geniza