I obtained a will copy from the National Archives, Kew. This I transcribed to the best of my ability and then summarised here.
JOHN SEYMOUR GENTLEMAN PROVED 1567
Asked for burial in Marlow Church if he died in the Marlow area. Poor householders of the town to be paid a total of 8 shillings to carry his body to the church and put him in the grave [Such a request is common in contemporary wills]. After his burial £3 in money and 40 shillings of wheat bread to be distributed to poor householders of Marlow. Also to the poor householders for 3 score years after his death 10 loads of wood and 5 bushells of wheat.
Wife Alice executor along with Henry Samsone. She was left all goods and chattels in their St Albans house. Samsone recievers money for his pains in being an executor.
Also Alice and testator's sister Julian [a common female name at time. Not usually given to boys] to have all goods not otherwise bequeathed to use for the good of his poor kindred or other poor people. John Godwin to advise them in this charity. He to receive 5 marks himself.
Alice got the occupation and profits from the testator's farm for 49 years if she did not marry again. She was to pay the rent for it to his landlord. If she did remarry then his sister Julian, a widow, and her son got the farm instead. The wood on the farm was to be used carefully.
Julian also received £10 plus for 40 years a yearly rental income worth 20 shillings from a little close "beyond the chapel" and the paled [fenced] ground "next ?Cuthber**? ?Close? in Marlow. This was rented out to John Elgerydge.
To William Hayes son of John Hayes, skinner of London, a mead with 1 acre of arable land lying in Marlow Field which the testator bought in a parcel of land formerly chantry lands. This property was then occupied by John Mathewes a tailor at a rent of 5 shillings a year. Also to William Hayes a garden ?plot? in Dean Lane [Dean Street] with two half acres of land in the Marlow Field, also formerly chantry lands, and also in occupation of John Mathewes for the rent of 5 shillings a year.
To Joan Hawkins now wife of Hawkins a baker of London a house with one acre of land at Marlow barkside [riverside where boats AKA barks pull up] which was also formerly chantry lands. The house was rented and lived in by Leonard ?Coakes? a bricklayer. After her death to her son John Hawkins who the will says was the testator's godson.
Thomas Sandes could have the lease of Marlow's parsonage house provided he refrained from charging testator's widow Alice tithes for that farm she was to have [the right to tithes would have come with the ownership of the property].
Timber to be given to the Bridgewardens for Marlow Bridge repairs but they must pay for it to be felled and carried away*. To be kept up for 60 years, as was an annuity for the maintenance of the bridge ditto.
Ellen wife of testator's late brother Thomas £5 and to Agnes her maid 40 shillings
To John Bee 5 marks, and to Thomas Sandes £5. Alice Birche 20 shillings. John Redinge.... To Clemens Swetifer 20...
Gown pared with fox to William Daye. Gown pared with furs to Richard Bowyer.
John Cartel of London, salter £5.
Joan Pyng daughter of John Pyng of St Albans a brass pot, two .... and 2 ewes
To Austen Oxe a ?mattress?, bolster , coverlet and a pair of ?sheets?, plus 20 shillings and 4 ewes.
The vicar of Marlow 20 shillings
To "my boy" [Youth employee] Edward £5 cash and "my second gelding". Servant Richard Lommys £3, 6 shillings and 8 pence. Ellen his wife's servant 20 shillings.
*Another member of the Seymour family had previously left a house and wharf in Marlow in trust, for the repairs of the bridge. This was however subject to Chancery proceedings.
This transcription by Charlotte Day.
© Marlow Ancestors. If reusing this work please credit this blog and link here. You are welcome to do so however.
To date this blog contains mention of approx:
3000
people from or associated with Marlow. (Dec 2021)
No comments:
Post a Comment