Author Topic: 1587 will - I can hardly read any of it!  (Read 1565 times)

Offline cusdae

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1587 will - I can hardly read any of it!
« on: Monday 05 October 15 10:24 BST (UK) »
I know it is good etiquette to make a good stab at deciphering, before asking for help on the last bits, but I am making no sense of this at all. It is the will of James Bridges 1587 from Weobley in Herefordshire. I am particularly interested in family members and placenames.

In the name of God Amen I James Bridges[sick] in body but in perfect memory thanks to almighty God  make my last will and testament in manner and forme following. First I bequeath my [soul] to Almighty God and my bodye to be buried in this  ---- ---
Item I give unto the ------ ----- of Weobley twelve -----
Item  I give unto the poore of Weonley four pound in money
Item I give and bequeath to John my  ----- ----- and ----- ----
Item Also I will that --- ---- John shall  --- of my fam of --- during his natural life the --- of  ---- pound of --- English money.
Item I give unto Catherine my daughter one hindred marks of ---- English money to be paid unto her ny my -----  ---- within one year --- after my decease and



Offline Raybistre

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Re: 1587 will - I can hardly read any of it!
« Reply #1 on: Monday 05 October 15 14:40 BST (UK) »
Hi,
 James had sons John, William and James, daughters Margery Carpenter, Mary Crowe, grandchildren Katherine and James Carpenter, Anne and James Crowe.

transcribed some of the will below.

In the name of God Amen I James Bridges
sick in bodye but in perfect memorye  thanks to Almighty God  make my Last
Will and testament in manner and forme following. First I bequeath my soule to Almighty                                                                                                  God And my bodye to be buried in christen Buriall.  Item I give unto the parishe churche of                                                                                              Webley twelve pence. Item  I give unto the poore of Webley four pounds in money. Item
I doe give and bequeathe to John my  sonne foure oxen and foure kyen. Item also I will that                                                                                            my sonne John shall have ewse of my farme of Wellington during his naturall lyfe the some                                                                                          of seaven pounds of Currant Englishe money. Item I give unto Katherine my daughter one                                                                                            hundred marks of currant englishe money to be paid unto her by my Executo(r)or administra=                                                                                      tor within one year next after my decease and also twoe Fetherbeddes with theire furniture.                                                                                          Item I give unto William my sonne thirteen pounds six shillings eight pence of Lawfull                                                                                              money of England to be paid unto him within twoe yeares next after my decease. Item I                                                                                                    give unto my daughter Margery Carpenter twoe heifers of twoe years old and the                                                                                              ....... Item I give unto Katherine Carpenter  her daughter one yearling and to James her sonne one other                                                                                yearling. Item I give unto Marye Crowe my daughter one yonge bay mare of twoe yeares                                                                                            olde and the ...............


ran out of time sorry

atb
Ray

Offline Raybistre

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Re: 1587 will - I can hardly read any of it!
« Reply #2 on: Monday 05 October 15 14:41 BST (UK) »
Sorry formatting went wrong. The gaps should correspond to the line breaks in the will
Ray

Offline DebPat

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Re: 1587 will - I can hardly read any of it!
« Reply #3 on: Monday 05 October 15 15:21 BST (UK) »
not perfect sigh but might help.

In the name of God Amen I James Bridges[sick] in body but in perfect memory thanks to almighty God  make my last will and testament in manner and forme following. First I bequeath my [soul] to Almighty God and my bodye to be buried in christen burial
Item I give unto the Parish church of Weobley twelve pounds
Item  I give unto the poore of Weonley four pound in money
Item I do give and bequeath to John my  sonne foure oxen and four (cyen (another animal type maybe?)
Item Also I will that my sonne John shall  have use of my farm of Wellington during his natural life the some of  (fourty-- possibly? Monetary amount) pound of current English money.
Item I give unto Catherine my daughter one hundred marks of current English money to be paid unto her by my executor  administra-tor within one year next after my decease and  also feather beddes with their furniture
Item I give unto William My sonne thirteen pound six shilling. Eighte pound of lawfull money of England to be paid unto him within first year next after my decease
Item I give unto my daughter Margery carpenter first heiffers of five? Years (---) and the vantage?
Item I give unto catherine carpenter (her daughter) yearling and to james her sonne one other yearing.
Then I give unto Mary (Crowe) my daughter one young bay mare of five years and the vantage
Item I give unto Anne (Crone – Crowe?) her daughter six pounds thirteen shillings foure pound of lawfull English money to be paid unto her within three years after my decease
Item I do give unto Joane Brimell three pounds on money to be paid within one halfe year next after my decease
Item I do give unto robert bridges forty shillings in (----------_ of one bullock whiche he – to hunt of me
Item I do give unto jane wheethe three pounds six shillings eight pounds to be paid unto her within five (first) years next after my decease
Item I do give unto James Crowe my daughters sonne one heyfer of one yeare olde?
Item I do give unto Sibill wheethe three pounds in money in confid-----) of her for?ire
Item I give unto richard croner my daughters sonne one heyfer of one yeare olde
Item I do give unto Jame Bridges my sonne his soone all my shorpe? That be with John Bonern?
All the Rest of my goods and chattells movable and inmovable my will be my performed my debts paid and my funerall discharged
I give unto James my sonne whome I do make my sole executor
In Witness whereas to this my last will and testament I (----) my hande the  (day (sorry rubish at old numbers))  of October a thousand five hundrew eighty (-------) in the presence of those whose names are underwritten James Tomtyne, (writer) thomas Chyphan, John crowse, John bridges, harry brymell
Brunton, Binnington, in Cullercoats
Paterson, Anderson in Fifeshire
Vacher, Vatchers, Vatyers, (other various spellings) , in Dorsetshire
Marchams, in Oxfordshire / Berkshire (depending on date)


Offline cusdae

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Re: 1587 will - I can hardly read any of it!
« Reply #4 on: Monday 05 October 15 15:45 BST (UK) »
Ray and DebPat,
Many thanks indeed for this. I am amazed at how quickly and clearly you can make sense of this. It is a skill I shall try to develop!
One other newbie question. The National Archives system is down for maintenance today but from memory someone has tagged this will with a note that an earlier will is held at 'hro'. I have searched Herefordshire Record Office and can find no bridges wills earlier than 1671, What else could 'hro' be referring to?

Offline DebPat

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Re: 1587 will - I can hardly read any of it!
« Reply #5 on: Monday 05 October 15 17:57 BST (UK) »
Hampshire Records office? Winchester had a large court so saw a lot of Will issues for proving etc.

So chances are it is Hampshire Records office.
Brunton, Binnington, in Cullercoats
Paterson, Anderson in Fifeshire
Vacher, Vatchers, Vatyers, (other various spellings) , in Dorsetshire
Marchams, in Oxfordshire / Berkshire (depending on date)

Offline Raybistre

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Re: 1587 will - I can hardly read any of it!
« Reply #6 on: Monday 05 October 15 20:42 BST (UK) »
Kyen
Word Origin and History for kine Expand. n. archaic plural of cow, a double plural (cf. children) or genitive plural of Middle English kye "cows," from Old English cy (genitive cyna), plural of cu "cow."

Offline Bookbox

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Re: 1587 will - I can hardly read any of it!
« Reply #7 on: Monday 05 October 15 20:51 BST (UK) »
A few more suggestions. I hope you can fit them in the right places above.

I've ignored minor spelling differences with the transcript in reply #3, but please note the distinction between pounds and pence.

===========
Item I give unto the parrishe churche of
Webley twelve pence ...

... to John my sonne foure oxen and four kyen (= cows)

... my sonne John shall have owte (= out) of my farme of Wellington during his natural lyfe the som(m)e
of seaven pounds of Currant Englishe money

... Katherine my daughter ...

Item I give unto William my sonne thirtene pounds six shillings eighte pence

... to be paid unto him within twoe yeares ...

... Margery Carpenter twoe heiffers of twoe yeares olde ...

... unto Anne Crowe her daughter six pounds thirtene shillings foure pence

Item I doe give unto Robert Bridges Forty shillings in considerac(i)on of one bullock whiche he is to have of me

 ... unto Jane Wheethe three pounds six shillings eight pence to be paide unto her within twoe yeares

... unto Sibill Wheethe ... in considerac(i)on
of her service

Richard Crowe my daughters sonne ...

... all my sheepe that be with John Bowen

goods and Cattells moveable and unmoveable my Will being
performed

In Wittnes whereof to this my Last will and testament I putte
my hande the xxjth (= 21st) of October A thousand five hundred Eighty seaven in the presence of those whose names are underwritten James Tomkyns writer Thomas Shepham John
Crowe John Bridges Harry Brymell

(ADDED - Apologies, I now see there is some duplication with Raybistre's transcription above  :) )
===========

Finally, it would be most surprising if a will relating to an estate in Herefordshire were held at the Hampshire Record Office. I suggest you email Herefordshire Archives and ask them, despite not being able to find an online reference.

Offline DebPat

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Re: 1587 will - I can hardly read any of it!
« Reply #8 on: Monday 05 October 15 22:40 BST (UK) »
Ah Bookbox you are amazing. Your quiet correct as usual with the "Pence" :)

And my spelling in general is terrible.. :S Dyslexia is a drag. However autocorrect works wonders for general typing.. not so good for ye olde english. :S If i have the time when i transcribe i correct it but it takes me forever. Figured in this case the OPs main interest was names.. So due to lack of time i gave the scuffed boots version rather then the polished one. :)

Apologies.

Deb x
Brunton, Binnington, in Cullercoats
Paterson, Anderson in Fifeshire
Vacher, Vatchers, Vatyers, (other various spellings) , in Dorsetshire
Marchams, in Oxfordshire / Berkshire (depending on date)