John Cowley of Holwell 1576 Will and Inventory
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Archives, Wills and Inventories 1576/19
This will says it was made in 1577. Another copy has 1577 deleted and 1576 inserted and the probate copy says 1576. The 19th year of Elizabeth I means 1576/7
In the name of god Amen Thirde daye of the monthe of Marche the yeare of Lorde god 1577 and the 19 yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Ladye Elyzabeth Quene of Englande Frannce & Ierlande defender of the Christian faithe &c I Jhon Cowlye of Holwell beinge of whole mind & in good memory lauded be god, make & ordain this my present Testament contayninge therein my last will in maner & fourme that foloweth
First I bequeath & commende my soule to almighty god, & to my Saviour Jesus Christ and my bodye to be buryed in the South side of the churche of Abbekettelbe near unto my friendes &c
First I will that my goodes be set in three equall partes, the first part to my selfe And the Seconde part to my Wife Elyzabeth And the thirde parte to my Children beinge two John & Elyzabeth
It the overplus of my part which reameaneth when my debtes are paid & my body brought to the earthe I will & bequeath yt to my daughter except xls which I bequeath to my wife to the bringing upe of my Children
It I bequeath my Children to my wife to be brought upe till they be at age my wife finding sufficient suertyes to paye theame cominge at age
It I bequeath to my sonne Jhon my Lande with tenymentes & three draught beaste & Cart & the geares appurteyning & plowe & geares & so much sede as will sowe the … lands to be in full age to reseave it at xviii yeares of age
It if my Sonne Jhon depart this present worlde under age or not leaveinge yssue, my Lande to goe to my daughter Elyzabeth & she depart under age or not leaveing yssue, my lande to go to Ryc. Cowlyes eldest sonne & he to pay to Robart Cowlyes eldest sonne x li & to my wife other x li
It yf my wife be with Childe it to have my part of goodes, & my land to go to it accordingly and … my sone Jhon come to his lande him selffe the lande to be leaft unsown to com to the bare lande only, paing my wife x li as is afore saide
It I make my wife Elyzabeth my full exicutour of this my last will & testament And my Brother Robart Cowlye and Robart Moulton my supervisoures to have for theire paynes xiid a peece
It I geve to the poore manes boxe vid
It I will & geve to Ales Bruster my goddaughter iiiid
In witness Julyus Watsonn curat & Willym Smart & Robart Moulton & Robart Pawmer The Inventary of all the goodes both movable & unmovable of Jho Cowlye of Holwell in the parish of Abkethelbe prased the v day of March by these foure townes men Wyllyam Hurst Wyllyam Smart Jho Holwell & Robart Pawmer
In Primis his apparill | xs |
It founde in his purse | iis |
It x peare of shetes & two pelow beares & one boulster & two towels | xlvis viiid |
It two Coverledes & v yards of Ca.s… | xvis |
It iii Cofers with all the rest of the woden ware in the house | ixs |
It the brass & Pewter | xiiis iiiid |
It an Cupborde & a Cheare | vis viiid |
It iii kyne & a … & two … | vi li |
It xiiii shepe yong & oulde | iiii li iiiis |
It a Coult | iii li vis viiid |
It half the draught & Cart & geares & plow & geares & a lader | vi li vis viiid |
It two Swyn | viiis |
It the woode without the dores & plow & cart tymber | iiis iiiid |
It the Crope | v li |
It geese & henes | vs |
Suma tota | xxix li xviis iiiid |