Wills (ERO D/ACW2/164 Barth Church 1585)

23.11.1585 (Tuesday 23 November 1585)

document 2900786

in the name of god amen the 23.11.1585 etc I Barth Church of Earls Colne in the county of Essex being in health perfect in mind of good remembrance thanks be unto almighty god and my only saviour and redeemer jesus christ by whose bloodshedding for me and all the world my only trust is by earnest faith and belief to be saved and by none other and my body to be buried in the church or churchyard of Earls Colne aforesaid by my wife and children or otherwise whereas god shall be pleased to appoint according to the discretion of mine executors item I will that a sermon be made on the day of my burial and the preacher to have for his labour according to the discretion of my executors item I give and bequeath unto the poor people of Earls Colne aforesaid 40s to be given at their houses on the day of my burial or the next day after according to the discretion of mine executors item I give and bequeath to the reparations of the parish church of Earls Colne 6s8d and to the poor men's chest of the same parish 6s8d to be disposed by the churchward ens and collectors upon the needful reparations and poor aforesaid and not otherwise item I give unto Margt Wodde my servant sometime dwelling with me my kinswoman 3s4d also I give unto my godchildren Barth Lepingwell 20d and Jn Corksall 20d item I give and bequeath to my kinsman Jn Sicks in Colchester fletcher 3s4d item I give to Jn Sparrowe the elder Jn Sparrowe the younger Jn Layer and Robt Layer to every one of them to carry me to church 4d item I give and bequeath to my daughter's children Agnes Barrett and Mary Barrett and to Wm Barnard her son to every one of them 5marks of lawful money to be paid unto them by mine executors at their several ages of 21yr or at their days of marriage which first shall happen also I give unto the said Agnes Barrett one pair of clavichords which her uncle had at Coulchester item I give and bequeath unto my son's children Barth Church and Mary Church to each of them 5li of good and lawful money to be paid unto them by mine executors at their several ages of 21yr or at their days of marriage which first shall happen item I give to my daughter Rose Church my son Jn's wife 3li6s8d of lawful money item I give to my neighbour Robt Read's children five of them 5s amongst them item I give to Thos Polley's wife and to Robt Beriffe's wife my neighbours to each of them 3s4d and to mr Thos Paynes wife of Willerton 10s and to my brother in law Wm Bunnar 10s item I give and bequeath to my sister by law Agnes Bunnar who hath been a trusty and faithful servant unto me many years the trundle bedstead with the mat and lines thereto belonging and the featherbed and bolster which she doth use to lie on with the coverlet use to the same and 40s of lawful money which I do give her in reward item I give unto the said Agnes Bunnar my sister in law and to my brother in law Wm Bunnar their free quiet and peaceable dwelling during her life natural only in the tenantry wherein now Thos Chrispe dwelleth next unto my now dwelling house with the garden and backhouse thereto belonging and free liberty to fetch water at the well in such sort as hath been true accustomed so that my son Jn Church and his may have free liberty and passage to the privy and one other house next unto the backhouse wherein things necessary reparations do lie and so that the said sister and brother in law do discharge the rent and task when any shall be and keep it in sufficient reparations in tiling and daubing and do not let the same tenantry or any part thereof nor suffer any other person except their servant to dwell therein during her said life natural item I give and bequeath to Marge my daughter wife of Wm Barnard one posted bedstead carved with the tester and curtains belonging to the same of dornick paned the mat and lines a featherbed a bolster like unto the bed and a pillow two blankets and one other old blanket to lay next the bed and a pair of sheets and a pillowbere and the least coverlet of tapestry work item I do give unto the said Marge my daughter in pewter four porringers with ears four small brimmed saucers four dishes four platters marked with these letters M B al so I give to her a great salt cellar of pewter with a cover of the old fashion two latten candlesticks one old basin of pewter narrow brimmed one latten chafing dish one great latten chafer with a cover having a lion on the top and a hanging laver of latten with the iron work to hang it by also I give unto her a chair of turners work one old stool joined item I give unto the said Marge my daughter one little chest standing in the chamber next to the street with a compassed lid with lock and key with all such linen as is therein which was her mother's and all other things that is in it whatsoever item I give to her a pair of canvas sheets a coarse tablecloth a towel of canvas a little diaper napkin one other old napkin item I give unto her the sum of 20li of lawful ready money item concerning my tenements and lands first of all I give and bequeath unto my son Robt Church my tenement and garden called Scrivenors with the appurtenances being freehold in Earls Colne which I lately purchased of Edm Turner of Halsted to him his heirs and assigns forever item I give unto the said Robt Church my son my croft of land sometime parcel of Barcrofte with the orchard and garden called Spriggs Garden adjoining to the said croft which I purchased of Gregory Garrade being copyhold in Earls Colne holden of the manor of the earldom there to him and to his heirs and assigns forever item I do give and bequeath unto my said son Robt Church all that my parcel of freehold meadow ground now being set with the others called Fabyans Meadow by ancient name Pitchards lying and being in Earls Colne aforesaid with all and singular the appurtenances to have and to hold to him his heirs and assigns forever also I do give and bequeath unto the said Robt Church those my two parcels of freehold meadow in marsh ground called or known by the name of Spriggs Marshe lying and being in Earls Colne aforesaid which I lately purchased of Jn Green of Halsted now in the occupation of Geo Potter with all and singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging to him and to his heirs and assigns forever item I so give and bequeath unto my said son Robt Church one croft of customary land in Earls Colne aforesaid holden of the manor of the earldom there adjoining unto the foresaid Spriggs Marshe called Little Barchcrofte alias Stulpe Crofte with all and singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging to him his heirs and assigns forever item I do give and bequeath unto my son Jn Church all those my other tenements and lands before unbequeathed or unappointed being copyhold lying in Earls Colne holden of the manor of the earldom there as of the late Priory of Colne aforesaid that is to say two parcels of fen ground one croft of arable ground adjoining to the same called Boultinghowse Fenne and Boultinghowse Crofte with one piece of waste ground taken out of the highway adjoining to the said fen holden of the manor of the Priorie aforesaid and one parcel of meadow called Little Bridgemans sometime parcel of other lands so called lying within the same fens with a way leading unto it between both the parcels of fen ground at the end of the said croft holden of the manor of the earldom aforesaid and also one croft of land called Sawyers holden of the foresaid manor of Colne Priorie also one little croft of land called Crosefeilde holden of the foresaid manor of the Priorie and also one other croft of land called Sandpitt holden of the said manor of the Priorie also my tenement in Colne Streat wherein I now dwell with the gardens orchard and croft of land adjoining to the same with all and singular the appurtenances and also one other tenement adjoining to the same called Prynce with the garden and other appurtenances belonging to the same holden of the foresaid manor of Colne Priorie to have and to hold these foresaid customary lands and tenements with all and singular their appurtenances before expressed to him and his heirs and assigns forever item I do give and bequeath unto the said Jn Church my son the lease with the years comprehended in the same of the part of meadow ground called Oxleys which I hold by indenture of the right honourable earl of Oxford and also the lease with the term of years of one tenement called Tylekell with the lands and appurtenances belonging to the same to have and enjoy the said leases during their whole term to him and his heirs and assigns item I will that the said Jn Church my son shall permit and suffer his aunt Agnes Bunnar my sister in law and his uncle Wm Bunnar my brother in law freely peaceably and quietly to have their dwelling in my tenantry adjoining unto my now dwelling according to my will as is before expressed item the residue of all other my goods movable and unmovable household stuff goods and all my chattels unbequeathed except certain household stuff goods and chattels which I have before given granted and confirmed by deed of gift in writing unto my son Robt Church as his own proper goods and possessions to his only use his heirs and assigns forever excepted also my debts whatsoever which are owing unto me and present money remaining in my custody I do give and bequeath them wholly unto my foresaid son Jn Church and the foresaid debts which are owing and present money remaining in my hands I do give and bequeath them unto the foresaid Robt Church my son whom I do ordain and make mine executors to see my body honestly buried my debts which I do owe to be paid and this my last will to be fulfilled with all other charges which shall belong unto the same to be paid and answered out of the same and the remained of the said debts which are owing to me and of the present money remaining in my custody to be equally distributed between themselves my said executors last of all I do ordain and make my friend and neighbour Robt Reade of Earls Colne aforesaid supervisor of this my last will and testament and he to have 10s for his pains in to witness whereof I the said Barth Church hath hereunto set my seal the day and year first above written in the presence of these witnesses Roger Harlakenden and Robt Reade