Will of Austis [Anstis] Michell, Widow of Stockland, Dorset

Proved 1 December 1599

© Crown Copyright

PROB 11/94/478, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury

Transcribed by Kathleen Noye

[Will of Anstis Michell of Stockland, Dorset (now Devon)]

In the name of God Amen The thirde day of November in the Yeare of our Lord god A thousand ffyve hundred nyntie Eight: And in the ffortith yeare of the Raigne of our soveraigne Lady Queene Elizabeth by the grace of God of England ffraunce and Ireland defender of the fayth &c: I Anstis Michell of Stockeland in the Countie of Dorset wydowe, beinge sicke of bodie but hole of mynde and p[er]fecte Remembrannce thankes be gyven to god, Doe make this my last will and testament in manner and forme followinge (That is to saye, ffirst I gyve my soule to Almightie God, the Creator and Redeemer thereof, and my body to be buryed in ye Church of Stockland aforesaid; Item I gyve & bequeath to the poore of ye same p[ar]ishe of Stockland tenn shillinges of good english money, To be delyvered to the discrecon of my overseers hereunder named; Item I gyve to the poore in Chardstocke p[ar]ishe tenn shillinges of like money; Item I gyve and bequeath to the poore widow Savory in Chardstoke two shillinges of like money; Item I gyve and bequeath to the poore in the hospitall of St Margarett[es] at Honiton fyve shillinges of like money ; Item I gyve and bequeath to the poore in Buckerell p[ar]ishe Eight shillinges of like money : Item I gyve and bequeath towardes the re[storation?] of the Church of Buckerell two shillings of like money : Item I gyve and bequeath to Agnes Collyer my kinsewoman ffyve poundes of good Englishe money and my thirde best brasse pann ; Item I gyve and bequeath to Henry Collier sonne of the sayde Agnes Three poundes like money, and one bullocke of twelve moneth olde ; Item I gyve and bequeath to Richard Collier sonne of the saide Agnes Collier five shillinges of like money : Item I gyve and bequeath to John Collier sonne of the saide Agnes Collier five shillings of like money : Item I gyve and bequeath to my kynseman John Philp[e]s ffortie shillinges of like mony Item I gyve and bequeath to Anthony Philpes Ellis Phelpes and Winifred Phelpes to every of them fyve shillinges of like mony : Item I gyve and bequeath to Eln[er] Ven my syster one mylch Cowe, and my best gowne; Item I gyve and bequeath to Nicholas Flaake Antho: Flaake Will[ia]m Fla[a]ke and Ann Flaake Children of Nicholas Flaake of Sidforde in ye p[ar]ishe of Sidbery to every of them ffyve shillinges of like money ; Item I gyve and bequeath to Anstis Manfielde ffyve shillinges of like money ; Item I gyve and bequeath to Henry Bovett the sonne of Thomas Bovett ffyve shilling[es] of like money : Item I gyve & beque[a]th to John Amyn the sonne of John Amin of Kilmington ffive shilling[es] of like money : Item I gyve and bequeath to Joan Smyth the wife of John Smith of Trinashaies Tenn shillinges of like money Item I gyve and bequeath to John Michell the sonne of John Michell of Dallwood ffyve shillinges of like money Item I gyve and bequeath to Mante Burraw of payhembry fyve shilling[es] of like money Item I gyve and bequeath to John Michell the sonne of Will[ia]m Michell of Stokland aforesayde fyve shillinges of like money ; Item I gyve and bequeath to Joan Michell Thomas Michell and Agnes Michell Children of the saide William Michell, to every of them two shillinges of like money : Item I gyve and bequeath to Thamazine Michell daughter of the sayd Will[ia]m Michell one Ewe sheepe : Item I gyve and bequeath to Agnes Amin the daughter of William Amin of Kilmington one Ewe sheepe ; Item I gyve and bequeath to Gyles Michell of Kilmington ffyve shilling[es] of like money : Item I gyve and bequeath to Joan Gay the wife of Richard Gay of Collumpton tenn shilling[es] of like money : Item I gyve and bequeath to Anstis Spente fyve shillinges of like money : Item I gyve and bequeath to Anstis Olin[…] five shilling[es] of like money ; Item I gyve and bequeath to every of the Rest of my Godchildren (except theis herein named that haue somewhat gyven them twelve pence. Item I gyve and bequeath to my kynswoman Elizabeth Flaake of Sidforde tenn shillinges of like money : Item I gyve and bequeath to Henry Venn the sonne of John Venn of Payhembry tenn shilling[es] of like money ; Item I gyve and bequeath to John Hore of Lime [?] tenne shillinges of like money : Item I gyve and bequeath to Dorothea Pecke of Buckrell twentie shilling[es] of like money and my second best couerlett ; Item I gyve and bequeath to John Pecke the sonne of John Pecke of Buckerell late deceased ffourtie shillinges of like money and one sylver spoone and one Yoke borier Which Yoke borier and spoone is in the Custodye of Richard Perrett of Buckerell aforesayde : Item I gyve and bequeath to Thomas Voyser p[ar]ishe Clerke of Stokland aforesayd fyve shilling[es] of like money : My Will is that the foresayd Legacies shalbe paide Within half Yeare next after my decease. The rest of my good[es] and chattells not gyven nor bequeathed I gyve and bequeath to William Amin th'elder of Kilmington and Xpofer [Christopher] Pecke of Buckerell my kinsman Whom I make my Executors to be equallie devided betwene them ; And doe nominate and appointe Henry Smyth th'elder of Stokland and the forenamed John Pecke of Buckerell my overseers to see this my last will and Testament p[er]formed; And doe gyve to every of them for theire paines six shillinges Eight pence : witnes herevnto the sayd Henry Smith and Thomas Voysey : Debts owinge de sperat and sperate : Inprimis Peter Michell of Axmister Sonne of Thomas Michell of the same deceased oweth for the debte of the same Thomas ffortie shillinges, Whereof payde to Will[ia]m Annin Tenn shillinges ; Item Peter Holwill of Hennicke oweth Twentie shillinges. Item Anthony Phelp of Dunkswill [Dunkeswell] oweth Thirtie shillinges Whereof Tenne shillinges was forgyven ; Item Will[ia]m Annin of Kilmington oweth of his owne prop[er] debte the som[m]e of tenne shillinges ; Item Will[ia]m Michell of Stocklande oweth Eighteene pence: Item more one p[aire] of Worne Wheeles in the Custodie of John Michell of Dalwood worth by reporte of John Phelps Thirtie shillinges ; Item Richard Manninge of Stokland oweth ffyftie two shillinges ; Item Will[ia]m Michell of Stockland oweth six shilling[es] Eight pence : Certaine goodes gyven awaye by the said Anstis Michell w[hi]ch ar not sett downe vppon the Will by the testimony of Will[ia]m Annin and Elenor Venn wedow as followeth ; Inp[ri]mis gyven to Eln[or] Venn her best petticott, her best worsted Aporn [apron] one of her best kerchers [kerchiefs] ; Item gyven to Agnes Collier a gownes cloth of Russett and her petticoat With Chamlett Bodies [bodice] and her best White Apron ; Item gyven to Agnes Annin her best sylver pinn, and her best sylver caches and a kerther and a neckercher Item gyven to Will[ia]m Annins Wief her best kercher and her sylke Apron : Item gyven to Tomasyne Michell one sylver pinn and her less[er] payre of sylver tuches, one kercher one partlett and her worsted peticoate ; Item gyven to Thomazine Garlande her holydayes gowne ; Item gyven to Marie Rogers her peticoate with blacke bodies [bodice] , Item gyven to Agnes Bovett the Wife of Thomas Bovett a sylver Ringe, Item gyven to Joan Venn the wief of John Venn of Payhembry a girdle w[i]th sylver endes ; Item gyven to Will[ia]m Michell one paire of sheet[es] and pillaties [pillowcases] ; Item gyven to Henry Collyer sonne of Agnes Collyer one Coffer , Memorand[um] that after the makinge of the said Will, the saide Anastice Michell the Testatrix deceased beinge likewise in p[er]fecte memory did gyve and bequeath vnto Agnes Annine the daughter of Will[ia]m Annine of Kilmington aforesaide the some of fyve poundes of Lawfull money of Englande withe p[rese]nce and hearinge of Thomas Voysey and Will[ia]m Annin

[In margin] It[e]m I giue & bequeath to John Salter the sonne of Elianor Venn of Payhembry xs [10 shillings] of like money

[In margin] It[e]m yarne at the wea[ ] given to Henry Collier and Richard Collier sonnes of Agnes Collier Probatum fuit Testamentum suprascriptum apud London coram Mag[iste]ro Daniele Dun legum doctore Surrogato Venerabilis viri m[agiste]ri Johannis Gibson legum etiam doctoris Curie prerogative Cant[uariensis] m[agiste]ri Custodis sive Comissarij l[egi]time constituti primo die mensis Decembris Anno d[omi]ni millesimo quinqentesimo nonagesimo nono ; Juramento m[agiste]ri Joh[ann]is Theker not[ar]ij publici procuris Willim[o] Annyn sen[ior] et xpoferi Pecke Executor[es] in h[uius]mod[i] testamento no[m]i[n]atorum Quibus Comissa fuit Administraco &c De bene &c : Ad Sancta dei Evangelia Jurat . Ex[aminat]

Translation: The above-written will was proved in London before Mr Daniel Dun, Doctor of Law, surrogate of the venerable Sir John Gibson, also Doctor of Law, Master, Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, lawfully constituted, on the first day of the month of December in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred ninety-nine, sworn before Mr John Theker Notary Public by William Annyn Senior and Christopher Pecke, executors named in the same will, to which it was granted administration etc. [of all and singular the goods, rights and credits of the said deceased], well etc. [and faithfully to administer the same], sworn on the Holy Gospels. Examined.

[According to the National Archives converter, found at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency/ 2 shillings in 1599 would have been worth about £10.06 in 2005; 5 shillings would have been worth about £25.16; and £3 would have been worth about £234.27]