Transcription of Last Will & Testament or advice on how to make it more readable

[peakoverload]

I've found the will of Richard Foster who died 1660 in Margaret Roding, Essex but the copy on Ancestry was practically unreadable because it looks like they've tried to clean it up. I managed to download the original from The National Archives and it's certainly 'noisier' and 'dirtier' but it is slightly more readable. Unfortunately it is only slightly more readable and I'm getting about one word in six at best and it's giving me a pounding headache trying to read it.

Whilst it would be incredible to get a proper transcript I'd settle for just knowing who is mentioned in the will and their relation to Richard as I'm tyring to work out if this is the will of Richard Foster the younger who was married to Ann and had 6 children (Ann, Richard, Elizabeth, William, Dionise and Elizabeth - after the first Elizabeth died) or whether it's of his father Richard Foster who was married to Jane Baden and had 4 children (Elizabeth, Richard the younger, John and Thomas).

For about 6 generations the same names for parents and children were constantly used, for example there are 6 Richard Fosters known by various names such as Younger, Senior, Junior and Elder and it makes working out who is who a bit of a nightmare!

Any help or advice on how to enhance the text to make it readable would be hugely appreciated.

[Lyrael]

I can see a couple mentions of a son Thomas, son John, Grandchild Richard (son of John), Grandchild William (son of Richard) and Grandchild Ann (daughter of Richard).  So I'm thinking the latter?  I mean, the older.

[goldie61]

It says:-

In the name of God Amen
The twelveth day of Novemeber in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hun-
-dred and nine I Richard Foster thelder of Margarett ........... 

Can't quite make out the name of the place as it goes too pixelated to see clearly when you zoom in.

I suggest you crop, say, the first quarter or third of the image of the will, and post that first.
It's best to try and get the file size as near to 500kbs as possible - that's the maximum size you can post on this site for any one image.
You image is 400kms for the whole thing - that's why it pixelates and is not very clear to read.

[goldie61]

4th line of second page

Richard Foster and his heires To have and to hold till such time as Richard
Foster my grandchild the sonne of my sonne John Foster deceased shall accomp-
lish his full age of one and twentie yeares

he is bequeathing his 'messauge and Tenement' (end of first section)

In default of Richard (grandson) having any 'issue',
he leaves it to -
Line 13

William Foster the sonne of my sonne Richard

He bequeathes another messuage, plus a 'close', to his son Thomas.
For want of issue of Thomas, these go the aforesaid William, son of his son Richard.

Thomas has to pay his (the testator's) grand child Anne foster, daughter of his son Richard, fortie pounds, and to grandson William twenty pounds.
Remainder of goods and chattells to his son Richard.
Son Thomas sole executor

If you want a full transcription, it's not too difficult to read, but would be much easier cropped into smaller sections.

[Vance Mead]

Can't quite make out the name of the place

It's Margaret Rothing in the county of Essex.

[peakoverload]

Thank you so much for all you've done. This has confirmed who I thought it was which is great. Sorry for not replying sooner but the flu has got the better of me today. When I'm feeling more up to it I'll try reposting the images in sections to make them more readable.

Thanks again for your hard work.