Jean de Coninck's Last Will and Testament
dated London, 8 May 1690

Jean de Coninck's Will
Source: National Archives in Britain - Public Record Office

As there is nothing more certain than death and nothing more uncertain than the power thereof, prudence doth require from us to dispose of things here on Earth whilst God gives us time thereof. Therefore, intending to undertake a dangerous voyage being uncertain whether it will please God that I should return in health and safety, enjoying by the grace of God my sound mind and understanding, I have thought good to leave before my departure this my last will and last testament to Almighty God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, my soul, praying Him to grant me mercy and to receive me after this life in his holy and eternal rest.

Secondly, as to the children which it hath pleased God to give me, I recommend them to His fatherly and merciful goodness, beseeching Him to be always their God and Saviour, granting them the favour to live in His fear to the end they may die in His grace for to partake the glory of the blessed Christ.

And with regard to the little estate I have left, and in particular the care and maintenance of my said children, I pray they be assisted by Mr. Jean Camin, my brother-in-law and my sister, his wife, to have the charity to take care of them, desiring them to be their guardians and permitting them to return to France at least when the religious reformation has been firmly reestablished there.

I give to my daughter Catherine her mother's necklace and to her sister Marthe the .... mother's .... which each of them chosen for the other. My assets in whatever part of the world they may be situated, I do divide them equally between them, exhorting them to live together in friendship and union, and to live fraternally, and above all things to fear God in professing with heart and mouth His holy Religion in which they are born and in which by the grace of God I am willing to die; to live respectful of their superiors and to those who shall take charge of their education to the end God may bless them in this life.

Finally I direct again .... John Camin and my sister, his wife, to charge themselves charitably with the Curatorship of my said children, Catherine and Martha; to dispose of them nothing they shall think too good for their welfare and salvation, excluding all others from the said burden, giving them power such as the burden of Guardianship requires it.

In testimony whereof I have signed this present at London the 8th of May 1690, John de Coninck.

Substantialiter exanslatum par Mr. Johan Jarobum 23 nar et norium Jonbriss

Jean de Coninck's death by drowning, when he stumbled into a canal at Rotterdam while on a lace-buying business trip to Brussels, took place in early August, 1690, when Catherine was 5 years old, and Marthe was 4.

(Will Proved...) The 2rd February 1692

Which day appeared John de Grave Law of St. Pitard Fauled wharfe, London, Lieutenant, and Mr. Triton Guipin of St. Binidirt Paulez Wharfe, London, merchant, who deposed by virtue of their oaths that they were very well acquainted with the handwriting and character of Mr. John de Coninck, deceased, and therefore do both of them declare that they were present when the Will on the other side was formed in the ... sometime after his death and therefore do verily believe that the same was also that of Mr. said Divas and writing Mr. De Gzau, Mr. Guepin die praet jurat coram Mr. Geo. Bramston, Sieur. [presumeably the witnesses to Jean de Coninck's signature...

Refusal of Jean Camin to Accept Guardianship


Jean Camin's notarized refusal to accept Guardianship of his two orphaned
nieces, Catherine ('Catin') and Marthe
Click to enlarge.

Today the 2nd of December 1690 appearing before me, Mr. Jean van Lodenstein, notary public, etc., Mr. Jean Camin, merchant of this city, known to me, who, having seen a copy of the last testament of the late Mr. Jean de Coninck, his brother-in-law, merchant living in London, made and signed by him at London on 8 May 1690 in which testament he bids the said monsieur present to take care of his children and wishes him to be their guardian, which the said Monsieur by signing this act absolutely refuses.

Considering that they live here in Rotterdam, it is impossible for them to be able to care for the children living at London, and that furthermore the laws of this country exclude the guardianship of persons domiciled at London, therefore this guardianship request cannot be fulfilled and said Monsieur requested me to act on this, which I cannot refuse him.

Thus made at Rotterdam in the presence of Nicolas and Gerard vander Ploug, witnesses to this request.

Signed:

J. Camin
J. van Lodenstein, Notary Public, 1690
G. vander Plough
N. vander Ploug

Source:
The Municipal Archive of Rotterdam
Hofdijk 651, 3032 CG Rotterdam
The Netherlands

[Since the Camin family effectively abandoned the orphans by refusing to take custody of them, the next logical guardian would be the late Jean de Coninck's half-brother, Robert Oursel Jr., who lived in London where the orphans were.]