Henry Steel of Ab Kettleby 1708 Will and Inventory
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Archives PR/T/1798/89
In the Name of God Amen I Henry Steele of Ab Kettleby in the County of Leicester Yeoman being in good health of Body and of Sound and perfect Mind and Memory (praised be God for the same) calling to Mind the certainty of death and the uncertainty of these transitory things do make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following (That is to say)
First & principally I commend my Soule into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hopeing to obtaine remission of all my Sinns and to inherit Eternal Life thro the meritts death and passion of his Sonn my Saviour Jesus Christ And my Body I committ to the Earth to be decently interr’d at the discrecon of my Executor hereafter named And as touching the disposicon of my temporal Estate which God hath blessed me with I give and dispose thereof as followeth
Imprimis All that close of pasture or ground enclosed commonly called or knowne by the name of Fishpoole Close & scituate lying & being within the libertyes of Ab Kettleby aforesaid I give & bequeath unto Elizabeth Steel daughter of my Brother Ambrose Steele late of the Burrough of Leicester decd for and during the terme of her Natural Life and from & after her decease then to the heirs of the body of the said Elizabeth Steele lawfully begotten or to be begotten for ever
And for default of such issue Then To my Cousin William Freckingham of Frisby on the Wreake in the County of Leicester Yeoman if then living & to his heirs for ever & if dead Then to his right heires for ever
Yet nevertheless my mind & will is And I give the said Close to the said Elizabeth Steel & to the heires of her body lawfully to be begotten as aforesaid upon this express Condicon That the said Elizabeth Steel and her heires shall give a release within one month after my decease to the said William Freckingham or his heirs under her or their hands & Seales sealed & delivered in the presence of three or more Credible witnesses [almost whole line missing in fold] which she or they or any of them may have against me or my heires for any matter or thing whatsoever from the beginning of the world to this day
All other my lands Tenements & hereditaments whatsoever in possession revercon remainder or expectancy I give to my Cousin William Freckingham & his heirs for ever
I give to the poor of the parish of Ab Kettleby aforesaid fifty shillings
I give to the poor of Statherne fifty shillings
I give to the two Sonns of my Cousin Mary Christian tenn shillings apeice
I give to my Cousin Mary Freckingham five pounds
I give to my Cousin John Stubly twenty Shillings
I give to my Cousin Elizabeth Garret twenty shillings
I give to my Cousin Matthew Freckingham Tenn pounds
I give to my Cousin Ann Stokes Twenty Shillings
I give to my Cousin Alice Castledine Thirty Shillings
I give to the widdow of my Cousin Ambrose Stubbley deceased Twenty shillings
I give to my Cousin Ann Freckingham Senior & my Cousin Ann Marshall twenty shillings apeice per anno during their lives
All the rest & residue of my Estate Goods & Chattells whatsoever I give & bequeath unto my said Cousin William Freckingham whom I make my full & Sole Executor of this my last Will & Testament hereby revockeing all other Wills by me formerly made (my Debts & Funerall expences by my Executor being first paid & discharged)
In wittness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & Seale the twelfth day of May in the Fourth yeare of the Reigne of our Sovereign Lady Anne by the Grace of God Queene over England & Annoq Dni 1705
Henry Steele his mark
Signed sealed published & declared to be the last will & Testament of the within named Henry Steele by the within named Henry Steele after the words (for ever) was inserted or interlined in line the thirteenth & after the words (or his heirs) were interlined in line the eighteenth in the presence of
Elias Wallin
Thomas Howes
Thomas Davys
Probate 19 January 1708/9
PR/I/115/100
November the 21st 1709
A True and parfect Inventory of all The goods and Chattles of Henry Steel of Abkettelbey in The County of Licester yeoman deceased November The Sixteenth Annoq Domini 1708
| £ | s | d | |
| Purse and apparill | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Bed and The beding belonging to it | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Chisst | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| One bond | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Money upon simpel contract | 3 | 10 | 0 |
| Reddy money | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Totall | 23 | 15 | 0 |
Apprised by us
William Bishop
John Blanckly