Help with a will from 1617

[bishopsb]

I have a will of Leonard Bishop of Battle dated 1617 that I cannot decipher.  I'm not sure the problem is the early modern english but really the handwriting that is difficult for me.  Does anyone have experience with this? 

I have seen Bob Trease's transcriptions of Bishop wills on the Sussex OPC's page, does anyone know how to contact him? 

Thanks!!

[JAP]

Hello bishopsb,

The following RootsChat thread:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,234766.0.html
is a LEXICON of Genealogical Terms and Abbreviations.

If you go to that thread, and scroll down to Wills, you will find links to a number of threads about Wills with a reference to Old Writing in Wills which might help you.

It's rather fun reading old handwriting and it gets much easier with practice.  And there are lots of RootsChatters who are willing to help.

Regards,

JAP
PS: Here is an extract from the linked thread in the Lexicon re Old Writing in Wills:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/palaeography/

http://www.english.cam.ac.uk/ceres/ehoc/

http://www.scottishhandwriting.com/

and

http://www2.localaccess.com/marlowe/collier2.htm

http://www.jaydax.co.uk/genlinks/translatingsecretaryhand.htm

[bishopsb]

Thanks for your help, I've got the majority of it, just a few gaps left. 

Here are some other links I found while looking around, in case anyone else is looking for the same information:

http://www.rootsweb.com/~genepool/oldalpha.htm

http://www.iltrails.org/handwritingA-T.html

[JAP]

Hi bishopsb,

Do scan your 'gaps' and let us try our "skills" on them 

I like your further links!

You might like to suggest on:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,234767.0.html
that this thread should be added to the LEXICON.

JAP

[bishopsb]

O.k. First, sorry for the delay . . . somehow "translating" 17th century wills winds up at the bottom of one's "to do" pile! 

You will see my hangups in these files - for now my biggest problem is that on the second page, after the "probatum" section, I think "In the name of God amen" starts another person's will.  You will see reference to "my brother James Needham," and I don't see how James Needham could be Leonard Bishopp's brother. 

I am hoping to get the section regarding daughter Debora's inheritance dependent upon her marriage and approval of the marriage a bit clearer. 

Any input at all is appreciated! 

[bishopsb]

Here's the original

[JAP]

Hi bishopsb,

Just a quick response initially - to say that, yes, after the 'Probatum' paragraph, another Will begins.

It is the Will of Sir John Needham of Litchborough, Northamptonshire.

Here's an extract from:
http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/wdahs/Thornton/docs/tyrellinfo.html
At Litchborough, near Towcester, Northamptonshire, is an altar tomb with alabaster effigy of a knight in armour to Sir John Needham, and above this a wall monument records his death as 15 November 1618. The inscription reads: ‘Sr. John Needham late of Litchborough in the countie of Northampton Knight Marryed Elizabeth Watson one of the Daughters of Sr. Edward Watson of Rockingham Castle in the said countie Knight deceased. Shee erected this Monument for him the said Sr. John Needham Anno Domini 1633 after shee was married to Sr. Edward Tyrrell of Thornton in the Countie of Buck Knight and Baronett’.

JAP

[PrueM]

Hi bishopsb 

Your first gap reads "goode & (perfect mynde)"

I'm about to have lunch but I'll pop back later and see if I can get some of the rest of it 

Prue

[JAP]

Hi again bishopsb,

You seem to have most of it.

Here's the section about Debora as I read it - my additions don't add a lot to the meaning.
********************

Item I give and bequeath unto Debora one of my Daughters fyve pounds

of lawfull money of England provided allwayes that she my sayed Daughter Debora

shall and do marry with the consent and good liking of Edmond Haye gentleman my brother

in law and Goddard Foster gentleman Then my will and meaning ys  And then I doe

hereby give and bequeathe unto her my saied Daughter Debora fortie and five poundes mone(y)

to be payed unto her the saied Debora in the two(?) monethes next after the sayed Edmond Haye

and Goddard Foster shall give theire Consents unto the marriage of my saied Daughter

Debora  Item my will and meaning is that my Executor hereunder named shall give and allowe

unto my saied Daughter Debora the use benefitt and profitt of the saied fortie and five

poundes so long as she shall keep her selfe sole and unmaryed viz^de fower poundes per Ann(um) to be

payed unto her the saied Debora by my Executor hereunder named at the twoe usuall Feastes

or tearmes  in the yere that is to saye at the Feastes of the Annuntiacon (sic) of our blessed Ladie S^t

Marie the virgin and S^t Michael the Archangell by equall portions the first payment thereof

to begynne at the first of the saied Feasts which shall first happen next after my Decease.
********************

JAP