11-0053-87_ThomasFletewood_1570
This is the last will and testament of me THOMAS FLETEWOOD of the Vache in the county of Bucks Esquire the 14th day of February AD1569 and in the twelfth year of the reign of our most [ ] sovereign lady Elizabeth by the grace of God of England France and Ireland queen defender of the faith etc being in perfect memory for the which (and with all of their good manifold and merciful benefits) I do give most hearty thanks unto my Lord God; and I do most heartily beseech Almighty God for his Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour his [ ] that he would vouchsafe to take my body and soul unto his everlasting mercy and that I may be partaker of the joyful resurrection which he hath prepared for his [ ] before all worlds in the blood of his dear son Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer and upon his cross I do lay all my sins and offences utterly eschewing all my known works as unprofitable to salvation, and I do bequeath my body to be buried at the appointment of my executor without any funeral pomp; and as concerning the state of all my lands I will that my desire thereof shall stand and be in all things according to the covenants contained in a pair of indentures made between me the said Thomas of the one part and my assured friend Gilbert Gerrard Esquire and others of the other part bearing date the 24th day of June in the sixth year of the reign of our said sovereign lady the one part of which indentures doth remain with the said Gilbert Gerrard and the other part with my wife. ITEM; I will that all such debts and duties as I do owe of right or conscience to any person or persons be well and truly contented and paid by my executor; and after my debts and legacies paid and my funeral expenses performed I will and bequeath to WILLIAM FLETEWOOD my son one annuity or yearly rent of forty marks sterling for and towards the keeping of him to his living for and during the term of twelve whole years next after my death to be paid to him and his assigns by my executor yearly at the feasts of the Annunciation of our Lady and Saint Michael the Archangel by even portions out of the profits and revenues of my manor of Ealeston and Heskyn with their members in the County of Lancaster and if my said son William do marry by the consent of his mother within the said term of xii years then I will that the payment of the said annuity of xL marks shall cease and that then the said William from the day of his marriage shall have the occupation of my manor house and demesnes of Ealeston and Huskyn with all profits and commodities thereunto belonging without paying anything for the same demesnes and house to my executors during the said term of xii years. ITEM; I will and bequeath to my said son William all my household stuff timber and bricks with other building stuff whatsoever now remaining at Heskyn in the county of Lancs upon condition that he shall bestow the same building stuff upon the building of the same house [ ] as convenient time as may be after my decease. ITEM; I will and bequeath to EDMONDE my son one annuity of xL payable out of Rassall Grange for certain years yet to come by John Allen and his assigns and also the term of ten years in the same Grange to begin immediately after the end of the said John Allen’s lease and also the lease of Tyminsbanke in the said county of Lancs which several leases and terms of years and the annuity of xL aforesaid the executor of my brother ROBERT FLETEWOOD do hold to my use; and I will that after my decease the the executor of my said brother shall stand possessed thereof to the use of my said son Edmonde provided always if the said Edmonde my son depart out of this mortal life before he shall come to the full age of 30 years that then the said annuity of ten pounds and the said several leases and terms of years shall wholly remain to EDWARD my son. ITEM; I will to my said son Edmonde all my bricks and timber now remaining at [ ] in the said county of Lancs upon condition that he bestow the same within ten years next after my death in and upon the building and repairing of the houses at [the Pole] aforesaid and not elsewhere. ITEM; I will and bequeath to William, Edward, THOMAS, FRANCIS, GEORGE, HENRY and MICHAEL my sons fifty pounds apiece to be paid to them when they shall accomplish their several ages of 21 years. ITEM; I will and bequeath to DOROTHY, ANNE, BRIGYTT and JOYCE my daughters three hundred pounds apiece to be paid to [each] of them when they shall accomplish their several ages of 21 years or else be married [ ]. ITEM; if my wife be with child at the ti8me of my death then I will and bequeath to the said child two hundred pounds to be paid to the same child when it shall accomplish the full age of twenty years or else be married and if it happen the abovesaid William Edward Thomas George Henry Michael Dorothy Anne Brigett Joyce or the child which my wife shall then go withal to depart this mortal life before he she or they shall accomplish his or her ful age of xxi years or else be married then I will his part of her part so deceasing to the others of them surviving and any of them to be others’ heir thereof. ITEM; I will and bequeath to THOMAS FLETEWOOD my son the moiety and one half of one full and whole part of all and singular gifts grants privileges and livings granted to me my heirs and assigns by William Humffrey Seamaster of the Mynte within the Town of London and one Christopher Swette strainger by virtue of the [ ] to them thereof made concerning liberty for funding of the Calawyn Stone with the use thereof and also for the making of all kinds and sorts of battery castwork wire of [Labten] Iron and Steel and I will unto my said Thomas all my stock of money remaining with the company of the said battery works to him to hold the said moiety and one half of the said privileges and battery works to the said Thomas Fletewood my son and to his heirs and assigns forever. ITEM; I will and bequeath to the said Thomas Fletewood my son all my household stuff brewing vessels and all other implements of household remaining and being at the Vache and Risborowe (Risborough) at the time of my death upon condition that he shall permit and suffer BRIGETT my dear wife and his natural mother quietly to occupy and enjoy the same during her natural life provided always that if the said Brigett my wife do marry after my decease then I will that my said son Thomas shall upon her marriage had and solemnised and after he shall be of the full age of 21 years have and enjoy the [ ] part of all the said household stuff brewing vessels only excepted and the other [ ] part after the decease of his said mother as is before in this will declared without let or interruption of my said wife or of any other person or persons whatsoever. ITEM; I give and bequeath to Dame Margaret Northe widow sometime the wife of Andrew Francis [ ] late of London Clothworker deceased one annuity or yearly rent of twenty pounds sterling to be paid to her at the feasts of the Annunciation of our Lady and Saint Michael the Archangel or within one month next after either of the said feasts by even portions out of my manor of Ealeston and Heskyn with their members in the county of Lancs by my executor or the survivors of them for and during the natural life of the said Dame Margaret in consideration that I stand and am bound in conscience to pay 20 pounds yearly to the said Dame Margaret during her life out of certain lands in Hitchin in the county of Hertford and certain lands in the Barbickyn (Barbican) in the Parish of St Giles without Cripplegate in London. ITEM; I give to the Queen’s Majesty two hundred pounds sterling to be paid to her Highness within four years next after my death in the receipt of her exchequer in consideration that her Highness will then rather grant the preferment of the wardship of my son or sons to my wife if any of them shall be found ward after my decease and if none of my said children be found ward then I give the same 200 pounds to her Majesty towards the suppressing of rebels and maintenance of God’s true religion now by her highness set forth within the Church of England. ITEM; I give and bequeath twenty pounds sterling to the relief of the poor [ ] of Oxford possessing God’s true religion now set forth in the foresaid Church of England. ITEM; I give to the poor people households witin Enleston and Heskyn in the county of Lancs 6 pounds and to the poor people within Saint Giles Chalfount [Chalfont St Giles] in the county of Bucks 4 pounds. ITEM; I give bequeath and assign to my executors all those my manors lands tenements and hereditaments set lying and being in Northbreckolith Bispham Chormett and Rogerholme with their appurtenances in the county of Lancs and also my Grange of Rossall otherwise called Russall Grainge and all my lands tenements and hereditaments in the tenure of John Allen or his assigns in the parish of Pulton in the county of Lancs and also all that my capital messuage called the Pele of Hilton otherwise called the Hawlie of Wiche Eves with the appurtenances and all my lands tenements and hereditaments set lying and being in the towns of Mother Hilton Tildesley and Asterley in the said county of Lancs for term of five years next ensuing the day of my death with those issues and profits of the same for and towards the performing of this my last will and testament; and also I give bequeath and assign to my executors all those my manors of Great Laton Great Marton Great Bispham Enleston Heskyn and Lostock in the said county of Lancs and also all those my messuages lands tenements and hereditaments with their appurtenances set lying and being in Great Laton Great Marton Great Bispham Enleston Heskyn Lostock Pole Warbreck Norcross Hamelton Stanall Holmes Elleswick Blackwode Standishe Worthington Wrightington Mawdesley Curedon Walton in the Dale the Lee and Pulton with the advowsons of the vicarage there for the term opf twelve years next ensuing the day of my death with those issues and profits of the same manors lands tenements and hereditaments towards the fulfilling executing paying and satisfying of all my debts legacies and annuities by me given and appointed in this my last will and testament or otherwise in all points according to my true meaning. ITEM; I give to my daughter DORMER xxL sterling to be paid to her within four years next after my decease. ITEM; I give to every of my household servants both men and women twenty shillings apiece now dwelling with me at the Vache. ITEM; I give to Peter Nelson my servant in consideration of service by him done and to be done one annuity of his iiiid yearly during the term of twelve years next ensuing my decease to be paid to him by mny executors out of my manors of Enleston and Heskyn. ITEM; of this my present last will and testament I ordain and make Brigitt my true and loving wife my sole executor and to the said Brigitt my wife I give and bequeath all the residue of my goods cattels and debts my debts being paid and all my legacies in this my last will and testament performed according to the true meaning of this my said last will. ITEM; I ordain and make Gilbert Gerrard Attorney General, my brother JOHN FLETEWOOD, Myles Sands Esquire, and my nephew WILLIAM FLETEWOOD Esquire my overseers and I give to every of them for their pains and good aiding and counsel to be given to my said wife in the executing of this my last will five pounds. ITEM; I desire my said wife even as I put my trust in her and as she will answer at the day of judgement that she will do her best to see my said children brought up in virtue and learning and to see them well bestowed in marriage when it shall please God to provide any for them; and I will that all my said children shall be ordered by my said executrix in all things upon my blessing. In witness whereof I the said Thomas Fletewood the father have subscribed my name and put my seal to this my last will and testament the day and year first above written published in the presence of us Roger Grave, John Yardley, Henry Heyrbn, the signs of John Hawatt and Robert Hodford – Thomas Fletewood –
Proved 15th February 1570/71 by Brigitt, relict and executrix
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