Will Summary Richard Sawyer of Great Marlow 1699

Transcription and summary by me of a will held at the National Archives, Kew. ©Marlow Ancestors. Reproduction of or quotation from this summary freely permitted and very welcome providing you credit this blog and link here.

I have transcribed dozens of wills from Marlow and will upload them as time permits.

RICHARD SAWYER OF MARLOW Basket maker. Will proven 1699, written 1698.

Says he sick and weak but of sound and perfect mind and memory.

Commends soul to God.

Loving wife Mary all goods, chattels and household stuff that was hers before marriage.

Daughter Jane Sawyer the featherbed, bedstead, brass, pewter and "kittles" [probably kettles- they were often left in wills of the time] that were her mother's before marriage.

Same to daughter Elizabeth Sawyer [so it seems they did not have the same mother].

To the two daughters jointly 9 acres of land in Cookham.

Residue of his goods, chattels and personal estate jointly to his wife and two daughters and his wife, all of whom are the executors of his will.

Witnessed by: John Gidley, Mary Kilbey, and Thomas Hobbs.

Notes:

Beds and bedding were expensive items often singled out to be given as gifts in wills.

John Gidley was a Presbyterian minister, which may suggest that Richard was of that bent. Thomas Hobbs the witness above also was witness to the will of John Gidley in 1711.