11-0101-708_NicholasVenables-Andover_1602
In the name of God Amen I NICHOLAS VENABLES of Andover in the County of Southton gentleman sick in body but of whole and perfect memory (thanks be given to God) this second day of January one thousand six hundred and two [2/1/1602/3] and in the five and fortieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God Queen of England France and Ireland defender of the faith etc., do make my last will and testament in manner and form following: first I give and bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God in sure hope to arrive at the general day of judgement unto everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord and my body to be buried in the Church of Andover in the low chancel by the Communion Tablewhere I will my grave to be covered with a fair stone wherein my name and arms and the day of the burial shall be engraved. ITEM; I give to six poor people of the town of Andover six black coats of coarse cloth to be distributed by the order of JOANE my wife and RICHARD my son; and to four of my servants four mourning coats; and to the other poor people of Andover ten bushels of wheat and six pounds thirteen shillings four pence to be given unto such as my said wife and son Richard shall appoint and nominate. ITEM; I give and bequeath to the poor people of Walberton in the County of Sussex seven bushels of wheat to be given them immediately after my decease. ITEM; I give and bequeath unto JOANE VENABLES my wife the sum of twenty pounds yearly of current English money during her life to be paid unto her at four usual feasts of the year; that is to say at the feasts of Saint Michael the Archangel, the Nativity of our Lord God, the Annunciation of our Blessed Lady, and the feast of Saint John Baptist by equal and even proportions; also I give and bequeath unto the said Joane Venables my wife all that the pasronage of Walberton in the County of Sussex withall the tithes profits and emoluments thereunto belonging for and during the natural life of the said Joane Venables. ITEM; I give and bequeath unto the said RICHARD VENABLES my son my estate and term of years of the Chantry of our Blessed Lady in Andover with all arable lands meadows pastures and other the appurtenances thereunto belonging to him and the heirs of his body; and for lack of such issue to the heirs me the said Nicholas Venables; provided always that the said Joane my wife so long as she keeps herself sole and a widow shall have the use and occupation of the Chantry of Andover aforesaid with arables meadows pastures feedings and other the appurtenances thereunto belonging yielding and paying unto the said Richard Venables and his assigns should or ought to pay to the College of Winchester as by indenture of lease thereof to me made more at large appeareth discharging all other duties issuing out of the premises; also I give and bequeath unto the said Joane Venables my wife the fourth part of my household stuff and of all my cattell within the town and parish of Andover indifferently to be divided by Mr Walter Wright, Mr Peter Noyes of Andover, and Mr William Moore of East Titherly or two of them; and also the twelve acres of wheat now sown in the said Chantry land, the which gift and bequest of the said twenty pounds yearly and the said parsonage of Walberton and also the occupation of the Chantry aforesaid with all and singular other the premises by this my last will and testament given and bequeathed to the said Joane Venables my wife is and shall be upon those conditions that the said Joane my wife do not claim to have any dower of those lands mentioned and set down in a pair of indentures made between me the said Nicholas Venables of the one party and Richard Brooke of Whitchurch gentleman on the other party bearing date the ninth day of October in the five and fortieth year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth [9/10/1602] and also upon condition that the said Joane my wife do suffer my son Richard quietly to enjoy my copyhold in the Wyeld [Weald] of Sussex during her widowhood; also my will is that Joane my wife have her chamber over the parlour and her diet with my son Richard Venables in the parsonage house of Andover during the term of years therein to come. ITEM; I give and bequeath unto JOHN VENABLES my son my lease and term of years of the demesnes and manor of Rapley with all manner of stock and store as well within door as without and the stock thereupon which I had from the College of Winchester to have and to hold during the term of years therein to come if the said John Venables shall so long live; also I give and bequeath unto my son Richard Venables my farm and parsonage in Andover with all arrable lands meadows pastures tithes profits and emoluments thereunto belonging to the said Richard and his heirs; and for lack of such heirs to the right heirs of me the said Nicholas Venables; also I give and bequeath to the said Richard Venables my lease and term of years which I have from the Town of Andover of eight and thirty acres of arable land be it more or less and also the lease of the tenements in Andover which I hold of the College of Winchester unto the said Richard and his heirs; and for lack of such issue to the right heirs of me the said Nicholas Venables; also I give and bequeath to Richard Venables my said son all my lands tenements and hereditaments in Hancton and Felsam in the County of Sussex and in Dummer and Nidever in the County of Southton or elsewhere in the County of Southton to him and his heirs males for ever. ITEM; I give unto my sister RICKMAN twenty shillings and to her three daughters twenty shillings apiece. ITEM; I give unto NICHOLAS VENABLES the son of EDWARD VENABLES twenty shillings. ITEM; I give unto my sister SYMMES ten shillings. ITEM; I give unto Michael Bold forty shillings. ITEM; I give unto Joane Cox the sum of twenty pounds to be paid unto her at the day of her marriage of when she shall accomplish the age of twenty and one years. ITEM; I give unto my niece BARBARA VENABLES twenty pounds to be paid unto her when she shall be twenty years old or be married. ITEM; I give unto my servant Thomas Johnson twenty shillings and to Thomas Berne and John Parker five shillings apiece and to every other of my servants twenty pence apiece. ITEM; I give to the Church of Andover to have my grave made in the lower Chancel ten shillinigs. ITEM; I give to the Trinity Church in Winchester twelve pence. ITEM: I give to my daughter LYNE six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence. ITEM; I give unto my daughter JOANE MOORE six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence. ITEM; I give unto my daughter ELIZABETH AYLIFF six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence. ITEM: I give unto Joane Venables my wife, my son John Venables, my son Richard Venables, William Moore, Elynor Lyne and Richard Ailliff to every of them a mourning cloak and to every of the wives a mourning gown to be paid by my executors. The residue of all my gods debts cattells and chattels I give and bequeath unto my son Richard Venables whom I make and ordain my sole executor of this my last will and testament; also I ordain and make my overseers of this my last will and testament William Moore Richard Ailliff and Thomas Edmondes gent; and I give to every of them for their pains ten shillings apiece. In witness whereof to this my last will and testament I have set my hand and seal the day and year above written Nicholas Venables; witnesses James Samborne vicar, Alexander Twylth, Henry Proctor scriptor, Augustine Temount and others Walter Wright, Peter Noyes
Proved 3rd February 1602/3 by Richard Venables (natural son and executor)
Comments or questions are welcome.