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Will of Willyam Manfield, Husbandman of Stockland, Dorset

Proved 12 May 1598

© Crown Copyright

PROB 11/91/383, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury

Transcribed by Kathleen Noye

[Will of William Manfeild of Stockland, Dorset (now Devon)]

In the name of God Amen The fourtenth daie of Marche Anno Domini One thousand ffiue hundreth nynetie eight, and in the ffortith yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne ladye Queene Elizabeth by the grace of god of England ffrance, and Ireland Queene Defender of the ffaythe &c: I Willyam Manfeild of Stockland in the County of Dorsett husbandman being sicke of bodye, but hole of mynde, and perfect remembrance thankes be geven to god do make this my last will and testament in manner and forme following, that is to saye / ffirste I geue my soule into the hands of Allmightie god the Creator, and redeemer thereof, and my bodie to be buried in the Churcheyard of Stockland aforesaid / Item I geue and bequeathe to the poore people of Stockland aforesayde, sixe shillings eight pence of good Englishe money / Item I geue and bequeathe to the poore people in Membery in the Countye of Devon Three shillings and fourepence to be dystributed vnto them by the dyscretion of my Ouerseers hereafter named. / Item I doo by this my last will and testament declare, That my will is, where there is an estate in reuercon [reversion] by coppie of Courtroll made by the ffermoes of the mannor of Memburye in the Countie of Devon vnto John Manfeylde, and James Manfeild my sonnes of and in one Tenement P[ar]cell of the said mannor nowe in the terme of Willm Manfeyld aforenamed. / To haue and to houlde the Reuercon, and Tenement aforenamed to the same John and James for terme of their lyues, and to either of them longest living successiuely According to the Custome of the said mannor , when after the deathe surrender, or forfeyture of the said Willm Manfeyld it shall happen, or otherwyse the first, or next reuercon that shall channce to come to the Lords handes: / Item my will is that my said sonne John Manffeylde shall haue the fferme [farm] of the said tenemt and receaue take and haue all manner benefytts, proffittes, and Comoddityes therof in as ample, and large maner and forme, as I haue, or by anie maner of maye or meane ought to haue, of and to the said tenement, The estate whiche is made therof to the said John and James as aforesaid onelie excepted. / Item I geue and bequeath vnto Henry Manfeyld my sonne ffortye poundes of good englishe money to be payde vnto him the sayd Henry within one whole yeare next after my decease. / Item I geue and bequeathe vnto James Manfeyld my sonne ffortye poundes of lyke money to be payde vnto him the saide James when he shall come and be One and twentye yeares of age. / Item I geue and bequeath vnto Anstice Manfeylde my daughter ffortye poundes of lyke money to be paid vnto her the sayde Anstice within one haulf yeare next after my decease / Item I geue and beqeuathe vnto the sayde Anstice, One brasen panne, one pewter platter, one pewter porridger, And one pewter sawcer. / Item I geue and bequeathe vnto Alice Manfeyld my daughter ffortye poundes of lyke money when shee the sayde Alice shall come and be in the full age of ffyue and Twenty yeares. / Item I geue and bequeathe vnto the said Alice, One brasen Crocke, one pewter platter, one pewter porringer, one pewter sawcer. / Item I geue, and bequeathe vnto Bridgett Manfeyld my daughter ffortye poundes of lyke money to be payde vnto her the said Bridgett when shee shall come and be I nthe full age of ffyue and Twentye yeares. / Item I geue and bequeathe to the said Bridgett, one brasen panne, one pewter platter, one pewter porringer, one pewter sawcer. / my Will is that the said monyes shalbe payd sooner vnto the said James, Alice, and Anstice, yf my Ouerseers shall see that it be for their benefytt and proffytt. / Item my will is that yf anie of my said children shall channce to decease before they shall come and be to the full age and time aforewrytten, That then his, and her part so deceased shall equally be diuided among them that then shalbe living. / Item I geue and bequeathe vnto Jone Burrowes my daughter twentye pence of good englishe mony. / Item I geue and bequeathe vnto Rawlin Newebery my daughter, the biggest brasse panne that is nowe in her custodie, and one woodden trey that is nowe in her custodye. / Item I geue and bequeathe vnto my chilldrens chilldren to euery of them Three shillings foure pence a peece. / Item I geue and bequeathe vnto euery of my god chilldren sixe pence a peece. / The rest of my goods, and Chattelles not geven nor bequeathed, I geue and bequeathe vnto Willyam Manfeeld my sonne, whom I make my whole Executor to see this my last will and testament performed, and doo appointe Henry Smythe the ellder, and Walter Hackombe my Ouerseers, and doe geue to every of them for their paynes sixe shillings eight pence. / Witnes herevnto Henry Smithe, Walter Hackombe, John Newebery, and Thomas Voisey. / Detts owing vnto me the said Willyam Manfeyld, / Item Richard Burrowe of Luppitt in the Countie of Devon oweth ffyftie fyue poundes. /

Probatum fuit testamentum suprascriptum apud London Coram venerabili viro magistro Johanne Gibsonne legum Doctore Curie prerogatiue Cantuariensis magistro, Custode siue Commissario legitime constituto Duodecimo die mensis Maij Anno Domini millesimo Quingentesimo Nonagesimo Octavo Juramento Thome Iles notarij publici Procurator Willm Manfeyld filij et Executoris in huismodi testamento nominat: Cui comissa fuit Administratio Bonorum Jurium et Creditorum einsdem defuncti, de bene et fideliter administrando &c Jurat. / Ex

Translation: The above-written will was proved in London before the venerable Sir John Gibson Doctor of Law, Master, Keeper of Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, lawfully constituted, on the twelfth day of the month of May in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred ninety-eight, on oath before Thomas Iles Notary Public by William Manfeild son and executor named in the same will, to whom administration was granted of the goods, rights and credits of the same deceased, well and faithfully to administer [the same] etc. / Examined.