1494 Will of Alys Northwood of Thanet

[Wayne N]

Here is my attempt at the transcription of Alys Northwood's 1494 Will (first page only) from Thanet, Kent. I think the names are correct. The name Cecilia Colner is said to be the daughter, according the Alys's husband's Will, although I haven't attempted the transcription of his Will yet.

I'm having trouble with a few of the words and some monetary values that are highlighted in the image below. Also if anything else is incorrect then any suggestions are very much appreciated.

Thanks, Wayne


In the name of God A(men) vehit XXI daye of Octobr(e) the ye(a)re of the resurreccion of our Lord Jhesu(s) C(h)rist M CCCCLlXXXXIIIJ, I Alys Northwood the wedowe of Richard Northwood late of the p(ar)isshe of Seint Pete(r) in the Isle of Thanett of (w)hole & p(er)fecte mynde thus makyng my testament & last wille.

First I beque(a)the my soule to almyghty god and to owr Lady Seynt Mary & to all the holy company of hevyn, my body to be buryed in the churche yard ther(e).

Also I beque(a)th to the high aulter iij d. to e(a)che lyght in the said churche which I am suste..? of iij d.

It(e)m to the said church warde(ns) .. s?  iiij d.

It(e)m I beque(a)th to ev(er)y order of frea(r)s? in the Cite of Canterbury iij s?  iiij d.

It(e)m to the ordyr of frea(r)ys? in the towne of Sandwiche iij s?  iiij d.

Also to e(a)che of my godchildren iij d

It(e)m I beque(a)th to John Northwo(o)d my sonn one payer of she(e)ts & blanket, two pewte(r) plates, one panne & stopyn.

It(e)m I beque(a)the to e(a)che of the children of the said John Northwood one be(a)ryng she(e)pe.

It(e)m I beque(a)the to Colett Northwo(o)d my secunde gown

Also I beque(a)th to Cecili(a) Colner my best gowne, best ho(o)d & a kertill, one clo(a)ke, two payers [of] she(e)ts, my best cov(er)lett, one undercloth, one blankett, one craniser?, one harnes(s) gyrdell, one payer be(a)ds of awmber, two pewte(r) dysshes & four be(a)ryng she(e)pe

Also I beque(a)th to Symon Northwood one bras(s) potte, one basyn, one bo(a)rdclothe, one she(e)te, two pewte(r) dysshes, two silve(r) spo(o)nys & a materas.

It(e)m I beque(a)th to the childr(en) of the said Symon a be(a)ryng she(e)pe.

It(e)m I beque(a)th to Denys Edward one blewe gowne.

It(e)m to Cristyne Northwo(o)d one kyrtell of bla(c)k & a petyco(a)te.

It(e)m I beque(a)th to Marg(ar)ett Howlett my best petyco(a)te & a hoode.

It(e)m I beque(a)th to Margarett Northwood my fe(a)therbed & one cov(er)lett.

It(e)m I beque(a)th to e(a)che of the childr(en) of Richard Northwood one be(a)ryng she(e)pe, the residues of all my stuff of hall chambre and ….?

It(e)m I beque(a)th to Richard Northwo(o)d and the Richard shall paye  ther(e)for X s. to my executo(r)s the residue ...ch? of all my goodes & cat(t)ells after my dece(a)s(e)

[Vance Mead]

In the name of God so behit
the incarnation of our Lord
high auter (altar)
which I am suster of (she’s a member of parish guilds)
freris (friars)
traunser(?)
kechyn
residue truly(?) of all

The money amounts are 3s 4d (40 pence or 1/4 mark), or 6s 8d (80 pence or 1/2 mark)

[Wayne N]

Thank you kindly Vance 

[Vance Mead]

That one word could be a variant of traunsom, with the meaning of bed curtain.


https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/middle-english-dictionary/dictionary?utf8=✓&search_field=hnf&q=traunsom

[Wayne N]

That one word could be a variant of traunsom, with the meaning of bed curtain.

That first letter had me confused with a capital C, which is instead a T.

I’m still familiarising myself with some of this early script and phrasing.

Thank you again Vance, this is great

[horselydown86]

I'm inclined to think the last word in the clip might be dettis = debts.

Presumably the following page has answered the question.

I also think it is truly in the same line.

[Vance Mead]

I was interested in the bit the beginning, "In the name of God so behit". So be it looks like a translation of Amen. i don't think I've ever seen that in a will.

[Wayne N]

I'm inclined to think the last word in the clip might be dettis = debts.

Presumably the following page has answered the question.

I also think it is truly in the same line.

I hadn't looked at the second page till now.

Thank you, horselydown86 , debts would be correct (instead of decease). Thank you for confirming truly.

[Wayne N]

I was interested in the bit the beginning, "In the name of God so behit". So be it looks like a translation of Amen. i don't think I've ever seen that in a will.

A portion of the Wills from Thanet, Kent, were recorded as "Regd. copy wills..." in the catalogue entries of FamilySearch.

When looking through the records at their research centre, some of these 'copy' Wills were in Latin and others in English on the same pages and presumably rewritten, since the pages looked in good condition. In contrast to another set of wills from the same parish and period, written by a different hand and were in very poor condition.