Thomas Stevens
Prerogative Court of Canterbury will made: 10th &
12th December 1638
Probate Date: 30th January 1638/9
Proved by Anne Stevens, widow of the testator and Francis Clober
National Archive Catalogue reference: PROB 11/179
The original document is in the custody of the National
Archives
Transcript
In the name of god Amen. I Thomas Stevens of Heath
and Reach in the parrishe of Layton Bussard in the County of Bedford
yeoman beinge sick in bodie but in perfecte memory praised be god
doe make this my last will and testament in manner and forme followinge,
First I bequeath my soule to Allmightie god my maker and to Jesus
Christ my Redeemer hopinge assuredly through the Merrittes of his
death and passion to be made p[ar]taker of everlastinge glory And
as for my worldly goodes that the lord hath lente me as followeth
Item I give to Francis Seare, Francis Welles, William Brewer, and
John Ashwell and theire executors and administrators, twentie poundes
to be imploied to the use of the poore of Layghton forev[er], Item
I give to Richard Meade John Hopkins my tennant William Stevens
and John Brackley and theire executors and administrators twenty
poundes to be imployed to the use of the Poore of Sulbury forev[er],
Item I give to the Poore of Heath and reach fortie shillinges to
be distributed amongst them within a fortnight after my decease,
Item I give to my Cosen Constance Lawe tenn poundes, and the peece
of woollen cloth that is att the fulling mill and alsoe my greate
bible, Item I give to my Cosen Jane Lawe fortie shillinges to
be paied to C[o]nstance and Jane within six monethes after my death
Item I give to Agnis Clober; Marie Clober, and Francis Clober the
children of Francis Clober tenn poundes apeece to be paied to them
within six monethes after my death, Item I give to George Felce
the sonne of William Felce tenn poundes to bee paied him within
six monethes after my decease, Item I give to Margery Emerton my
mayde five poundes to be paied her within six monethes after my
decease, Item I give to Joseph Felce my prentice five markes to
be paied him within three monethes after my death, Item I give
to Humfrey Felce Forty shillinges to be paied him within three
monethes after my decease Item I give to Abraham Hannell my god
sonne the twoe yeares rent of the twentie pound that his Father
oweth me Item whereas S[i]r John Saunders doth owe unto me the
some of fiefty poundes I doe hereby give and dispospe the said
some of Fieftie poundes unto Elizabeth Lawe the daughter of Constance
Lawe, and doe hereby desire the said S[i]r John Saunders to pay
the said some within twoe monethes nexte after my decease, Item
I give to Humfery Felce the sonne of Humfery one black ewe sheepe
within one weeke after my decease, Item I give to William Felce
the sonne of William fortie shillinges to be paied him within three
monethes after my death, And whereas there is in the handes of
Henry Borne of Wingrave the some of Fieftie poundes owinge and
due unto me, I doe hereby give to Marie Borne \the/ daughter of
Barnard Borne late of London deceased the said Fieftie pondes,
which I doe appointe to be paied unto her within three monethes
after my decease, Whereas Henry Symons owed me fieftie poundes
for which Mr. Edmond Bolsworth standeth bound and hath duly
paied me fower poundes
ayeare for the interest thereof nowe accordinge to my former promise
to him I give to the said Edmond thertie poundes of the said debte,
and the other twentie poundes my will is he shall pay unto the
aforesaid Francis Seare, Frances Welles, William Bruer, and John
Ashwell to the use of the Poore of Layghton as aforesaid, Item
I give to Richard Meade the younger my godsonn my Costlett and
pike and all the furniture thereunto belonginge to be deilv[er]ed
unto him within one weeke after my death; Item I give to Amy my
loving wife tenn poundes to buy her mourninge app[er]ell, Item
I doe give to Frances Welles, Richard Meade, John Ashwell, George
Felce, Edward Hannell, Humfry Felce to either of them a silver
spoone ingraven with an appostle to carry one to church, All the
rest of my goodes and chattelles unbequeathed, I give and bequeth
to Amy my welbeloved wife and to Francis Clober whome I doe make
my executors to p[er]forme this my last will and testament, and
I doe intreate my cosen Richard Meade and Edward Hannell to be
Overseers to see this will p[er]formed. In witnes whereof I have
hereunto put my hand and seale the tenth day of December in the
yeare of our lord god one thousand six hundred thirtie eight, Thomas
Stevens, Sealed signed and published in the p[re]sence of us John
Welles Jun[ior], Thomas Hurlston, William Leech, /
Memorandum that this twelveth of December, 1638,
the said Thomas Stevens did publish and declare his will and meaninge
to be that the foresaid John Ashwell should not have the spoone
to him before devised nor be one to Carry him to Church but did
give the same spoone to Richard Theed and desire he should carry
him to church And alsoe that the said John Ashwell should not be
trusted in the disposinge of the twentie pound given to the Poore
of Laighton but that John Foster gent[leman] should be therein
intrusted in the said John Ashwell steede and that this should
be added as a Codecill, Witnes hereunto Edmond Boldsworth, William
Vaughan ./
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