Transcription Of The Will of Margarie Bobbett 1591

by

Amy Harris

 

April 17, 2006

 

 

17 April 2006

12:30-2:00pm

 

Will of Margery Bobbett, Levington, Suffolk, 1591

 

People/Relationships Named in the will

Spouse: none listed

Children: Elizabeth Wardesman (wife of William Wardesman), William Bobbett

Grandchildren: Elizabeth Wardesman, Humphrey Bobbett, William Bobbett

Brother: Nicholas Fatter

Other: Thomas Mickelfield (landlord and a witness), Alice Punting (not stated), Margery Fatter (not stated), William Evardman (witness)

·        I have put names (and relationships) in bold

 

Transcription standards followed and unusual spellings defined

·        The writer sometimes used a superscript or postscript abbreviation mark, I have noted this with a use of “~” at the end of the word

·        If the writer used a standard abbreviation notation, I filled in the expected letters between brackets.  For example the symbol the looks like a “p” with a cross mark through its tail was an abbreviation for “per” “pre” and “par”.  In my transcription I have reinserted the vowel and the “r” in the brackets.  Also, when a “Willim” with a flourish at the end of the “m” signifying the absent letters have also been filled in. In abbreviated words that contained no abbreviation mark, I left it intact.  So, “condition” remains “condicon”

·        As was typical, when writing roman numerals the writer used a long “j” looking stroke to signify the last “i” I have followed this in the transcription so that four is rendered “iiij”

·        The probate note at the end is in Latin.  My Latin is rusty, but it gives the names of the executors who had the will proved: William Bobbett (who it calls her “natural” son; I know in the eighteenth-century “natural” sons and daughters meant illegitimate.  I think in this case it may be referring to him being her legitimate son, but you may want to check into it).  The date is 20 July 1591 (I am pretty sure).

·        From the Oxford English Dictionary (OED):

            Whethers: castrated rams

            Pillowbeer (pillow-bere): pillow case

            Posnett (posnet): A small metal pot or vessel for boiling, having a handle and three feet

           

 

 

1. In the name of god amen The xxiijth

2. daye of Aprill in the yeare of our Lorde god A thousand Five hundreth ninety one and

3. in the xxiijth yeare of the Reigne of our Soveraigne Ladye Elizabeth by the grace of

4. god of England France and Ireland Quene Defendor of the faithe etc. I Margery

5. Bobbett of Levington in the County of Suff~ and within the dioces of Norwiche ~ ~

6. Widowe being whelle of minde and of a good and perfecte remembrance Laude and praise

7. be given to Almighty god doe make ordayne and declare this my testament and Last will

8. in manner and forme following that is to saye First and principally I most Lowlye

9. and humblye commend my sowle into the handes of my Savyor and Redemer Jesu Christ

10. in whome and by the meritts of whose paynefull deathe and passion and his glorious resurreccon

11. and affencon.  I beleeve unfaynedly to be saved and to have free pardon and forgivenes of my

12. sinnes and to inheritt the kingdome of heaven. And as for my bodye I will it shalbe buryed ~

13. in the Churche yarde of Levington where it shall please god to take me to his mercye at ~

14. the descreacon of my execut hereafter named I tem I will that all suche debts and dutyes ~

15. as I owe of righte or in conscience be well and truly paide by my Execut hereafter named

16. Item I will give and bequeathe my tenement wherein John Yonges nowe inhabiteth with

17. the Landes thereunto belonging or apperteyning scituate lying and being in Levington

18. aforesaid unto Willi[a]m Wardesman and Elizabeth his wyfe and to the heires of her bodye ~ ~

19. lawfully begotten And for defaulte of suche yssue to remaine to William Bobbett my ~

20. sonne and to his heires for ever.  Item I will give and bequeathe to the saide Elizabeth

21. Wardesman my daughter And to Elizabeth her daughter my grandchilde foure weathers

22. foure ewes twoe Lambes and three yeering sheepe whiche are in the custodye and keeping of

23. Willi[ia]m Bobbett and putt forthe with hi[ss] to haves the whiche sheepe with halfe the proffitt

24. rising and growing of them I will shalbe parted betwene them parte and parte lyke  Item I

25. will give and bequeathe to Humfrye Bobbett and Willi[a]m Bobbett the sonnes of William

26. Bobbett And to Elizabeth Wardesman the daughter of Willi[a]m Wardesman to eache of them

27. six pounds thirtene shillings and foure pence apeece to be paide by my execut at theire severall

28. ages of one and twenty yeares. And if it shall fortune either the saide Humfrye Bobbett or Willi[a]m

29. Bobbett to departe this present worlde before they shall accomplishe either of theire saide

30. ages of one and twenty yeares Then I will his parte so deceased to remaine to the other then

31. Living And the whiche saide money is to be received by my execut of Thomas Mickelfeilde my

32. Landlorde at the Feast of St Michaell Tharchangell whiche shalbe in the yeare of our Lorde god

33. 1593 to paye and discharge them withall. And the whiche money I will that my Execut shall

34. putt owte presently after the receipte so soone as he can or maye to some proffitt to theire

35. three severall uses. The whiche Lykewise I will he shall paye over to them at theire severall

36. ages of one and twenty yeares or to them that shalbe then living as aforesaid Item I will

37. give and bequeathe unto Humfrye Bobbett and Willi[a]m Bobbett my grandchildren to eache of ~

38. them a Brasse pott Item I will give and bequeathe unto Elizabeth Wardesman my grandchilde

39. a pewter charger the greatest brasse posnett and my painted cofer that is in the Chamber with ~

40. all that therein is and the Cubbord standing in the hall my litle posted Bedsted a Fetherbedd and my

41. best bolster. Item I will give and bequeathe to Elizabeth Wardesman my daughter my White Cofer ~

42. in the Parlor with all that therein is and the Cubborde standing in the hall. Item I give to William ~ ~

43. Wardesman a Busshell of wheate Item I give to Alice Punting a hutche standing in the Parlour ~

44. Item I gve to Margery Fatter a paire of sheets. Item I will give and bequeathe to my daughter

45. Elizabeth Wardesman Tenne pounds of good and Lawfull money of England to be paide at the Feast

46. of the Nativitye of our Lorde god next after my decease. Item I will give and bequeathe to ~ ~

47. Elizabeth Wardesman my daughter my best gowne my best petticoate my best table clothe one of ~

48. the best pillowbeeres and twoe other pillowbeeres Item I will give and bequeathe to Willi[a]m Bobbett

49. my sonne and to Elizabeth Wardesman my daughter all the residue of my brasse pewter bedding and

50. Lynnen unbequeathed to be equally parted betwene them parte and parte lyke. Item I give to the

51. poore people of Levington Five shillings And to the poore people of Buckelsham twenty pence All

52. the residue of my goods unbequeathed moveables and unmoveables whatsoever they be after my debts

53. paide my Funerall charge and expenses borne and this my Last will and testament performed fulfilled

54. and kepte I wholly give to William Bobbett my sonne whome I ordayne and make my sole and onely

55. executor to see this my Last will and testament fulfilled and kepte and Nicholas Fatter my brother

56. my supervisor to whome I give for his paynes to be taken herein tenne shillings And the saide Willi[a]m

57. Bobbett my sonne and my executor named to putt in bonde within one moneth next after my de[ar]ture

58. to my brother Nicholas Fatter my supervisor in Forty pounds for the true performing and ~

59. fulfilling of this my Last will and Testament Theis being witnesses Thomas Mickelfeild

60. Willi[a]m Evardman

 

 

Probatum fuit Testamentum suprascriptum apud London coram

juro Johanne Hone Legu[   ] doctore surrogate venerabilis viri [ma] Willi[a]m Lewyn Legum etiam

doctorus ad execcends officium Mag~a Custodis sue Commisaris Curie Prerogative Caut Fuine

deputat vecesimo die menso July Anno Dm~ Millimo Quingentesimo [ ]onagesimo Primo

Juramento [    ] Thome Iles notarii publici procuratoris Willi[a]m Bobbett filis naturalis et [     ]

dict defunct et executaris in h[uo]d testamento nominat C[  ] commissa fuit administraro~ etc.

de bene et fideli administrands etc Adsancta dei Evangelia Jurat.