My (partial) transcript of the will is as follows, and I have added line numbers for ease of reference. The words I’m having trouble with follow. Aplogies for the very poor image quality. The originals were downloaded from the National Archives.
16. and forme following And I doe utterly renounce and make frustrate and
17. [word crossed through] voyde all other or former Will or Wills whatsoe[ver?] heretofore made by
18. mee Item I Gyve and bequeath to ^my^ welbeloved wife Elizabeth Stonyer the use &
19. Occupat[ i ]on of all my husbandry wares And all my Houshold goods of what
20. kinde or sort [soever?] they bee during her natural life (the said Elizabeth
21. making no wilfull wast[e] thereof [)] And after her decease I doe Gyve and be=
28. equally to bee divided between them The said Elizabeth Stonyer pay=
29. =inge for her [
] such tyme when she shall enjoy them unto my Sister
30. Elline Milnes ffoure pounds (if shee bee then lyvinge [)] And in case shee bee
34. shee shall enjoy her [
] of my said Hous[e]hold Goods shall pay unto her
35. brother William Dale and to her Sister Anne four pounds and concerninge
36. the rest and residue of all my Goods debts Cattels and Chattels Itt is my
37. will and minde that my debts [?e??cyes] and ffunerall expences shall bee
41. shee keepinge her [??le] and unmarryed but if she Marry then itt is my will
42. and ^minde^ that shee shall pay ffourty pounds unto my [
??] Thomas Stonyers [Children?]
43. of the Heyhill And to my Sister Elline Milnes her Children and to John
59. Wills and granting of Administracous lawfully Authorized By the Oath of
60. Elizabeth Stonyer the Relict of the said deceased and sole Executrix named
61. in the said will To whom was committed Administracou of all and singu=
49. them all And I [
] ordayne and make the said Elizabeth Stonyer my trusty
The words I am having difficulty with are these:
Line 20 Kinde of sort soever
Line 29 =inge for her [
]
Line 34 shee shall enjoy her [
]
Line 37 that my debts [?e??cyes]
Line 41 shee keepinge her [??le] and
Line 42 unto my [
??] Thomas Stonyers [Children?]
Line 49 And I [
] ordayne
Line 59 of Administracous lawfully
Line 61 committed Administracou of all
I would like some help to interpret the relationship of the Elizabeth Stonyer called a
kinswoman to Richard. I'm also assumimng in this context reference to
brethren implies brothers. Also, there is no mention of the property in the will. Does this imply Richard was not the landowner, but possibly only a tenant? Even so, would there not be a reference to this in the will as to how the tenancy is to be passed on?
