William Bickerstaff of Long Clawson 1616 Will
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Archives PR/I/239/35
In the name of god Amen I William Bickarstaffe of Claxton in the Countie of Leceister laborer this xvith of March 1616 beeing sicke of bodie but of good & perfect memorye (praysed bee god) doe make this my last will & testament in manner followinge
Imprimis I bequeeve my soule to god that gave yt and my Body to bee buried in the church yard of Claxton aforesayed
Itm I bequeeve and give my house with the backside thereunto adioyninge and all the apportinances there unto belonginge to my eldest daughter Alice Bickarstafe and to her heires for ever, to enter to the halfe thereof, at the descease of mee, and to the whole att her mothers discease In Consideration whereof my will is that shee the saied Alice & Isabell my wife shall paye unto my sonne Robert Bickarstaffe v li of Lawfull money of Englande, for his Legacies, at the age of 21tie yeares And also that the foresaied Alice & her mother together, shall paye to her syster Isabell Bickarstaffe v li at the age of 21tie yeares
They rest of all my goodes unbequeaved I give unto my loveinge wife Isabell Bickarstaffe and to Alice my daughter and also I give unto them, my house & backside with theire apportinances, to my wife the one halfe during her natural life
And my will is that my daughter Alice enter to the whole at her mothers discease as aforesaied whom both I make ioyntly executrices of this my last will & testament to see my debts & legacies payed & my body brought honestly brought to the ground
Lastly I make Mr Wright & Thomas Hickling overseers of this my last will & testament Confirmeing the same, with my hand & seale, the daye & yeare first above written
Testes sunt
Thomas Wright scriptor
Averye Robinsonn
William Manchester his marke
Probate Melton Mowbray 16 January 1617