11-0112-1025_ThomasLydall_1608
In the name of God Amen for as much as it is most certain that all men shall die though the time of death is to every man uncertain therefore I THOMAS LYDALL of Reading in the County of Berks gentleman affirming myself of the uncertainty of this my life and verily persuaded that it is my duty to prepare myself against that time lest otherwise I should be troubled with the disposing of my worldly goods a thing [] profit when I should principally and above all things prepare my mind heart and soul unto the heavenly Jerusalem where I hope everlasting to remain I do now this first day of March in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred and six being in good health and perfect memory thanks be given to Almighty God declare and make this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say first and before all things I commit myself unto Almighty God and to his mercy trusting without any doubt or mistrust that by his grace and the merits of Jesus Christ and by the virtue of his Passion and Resurrection I have and shall have remission of all my sins and resurrection and salvation of body and soul; and I now leave my body to the earth from whence I came to be buried and placed in Saint Lawrence Church or Chancel in Reading aforesaid; and as touching my lands and goods my will intent and meaning is to give and dispose my right and interest therein as follows that is to say first I will that MARGERY my wife shall have all the rents and profits of all my freehold land and tenements and hereditaments in the Town of Reading and elsewhere within the Realm of England for term of her nature all life (excepting the tenement wherein Thomas Chaundeler now dwells in Fryer Street in Reading) and after the decease of the said Margerie my wife then I will demise and give all my said lands tenements and hereditaments and the reversion and reversions thereof (except before excepted) unto my eldest son THOMAS LIDALL and to his heirs and assigns forever. ITEM; I further give and bequeath unto the said Thomas Lidall my son five hundred pounds in money to be paid him within twelve months next after my decease; and all that my stock and portion of goods and money whatsoever which I have in the adventure with the Company in the East Country [vrage]. ITEM; I devise give and bequeath unto my son RICHARD LYDALL five hundred pounds in money to be paid him within twelve months next after my decease. ITEM; I devise give and bequeath unto the said Richard Lydall my son all that my lease interest and term of years of the lands meadows and grounds which I have and hold of Mr Winchcombe in Henwicke and Thacam and all those my leases interests and terms of years which I have yet to come of and in my lands or tenements in Reading Englefield and Theale in the said County of Berks and every of them always provided that the said Margerie my wife shall have and take the rents and profits of all the said leases lands and tenements in Henwick Thacham Reading Englefield and Theale aforesaid from time to time so long as she shall live. ITEM; I further devise give and bequeath unto the said Richard Lydall my son all that my lease interest and term of years which I have or ought to have in Canowe Park in the County of Beds with all my rights interest and estate of in and to the said park and every part and parcel thereof. ITEM; I will that the said Thomas my son shall upon payment of thirty pounds restore to Thomas Jemott of Newberrie the house which I late had of him in Newberrie. ITEM; I give devise and bequeath unto my daughter MARIE LIDALL three hundred pounds in money and a silver bowl worth five pounds or else five pounds in money to be paid unto her within six months next after my decease or else at the day of her marriage which first shall happen. ITEM; I devise give and bequeath unto my daughter SARA LIDALL three hundred pounds in money and a silver bowl worth five pounds or five pounds in money in lieu thereof to be paid her within six months next after my decease or else at the day of her marriage which first shall happen. ITEM; I give unto my daughter ELIZABETH MAYOTT a hundred marks in money and to her daughter ELIZABETH a silver bowl. ITEM; I give unto my daughter ANNE KNIGHT a hundxred marks in money and to her son THOMAS KNIGHT a silver bowl. ITEM; I give unto my daughter JUDETH WINCHE a hundred marks in money and to her daughter JUDETH a silver bowl. ITEM: I give unto my daughter JANE KENRICKE a hundred marks in money and to her son THOMAS KENRICKE a silver bowl; all which legacies to my said four last-named daughters and to their children shall be paid within twelve months next after my decease. ITEM; I give unto my sister ISABELL LYDALL ten pounds in money to be paid unto my brother WILLIAM PICKTONNE towards the maintenance of my said sister; and I also discharge the said William Pickton of a bill of twenty pounds which he should pay my executors and I do will that my executors shall discharge him thereof because he shall the better keep my said sister during her life. ITEM; I give to my sister JOANE KEENE ten pounds in money to be paid her within six months next after my decease. ITEM; I give unto my brother JOHN LYDALL a ring of gold worth three pounds or else three pounds in money and three yards of black cloth worth forty shillings to make him a cloak. ITEM; I give to my sister CROOKE a ring worth twenty shillings or else twenty shillings in money. ITEM; I give to my sister COSTERD a ring worth twenty shillings or else twenty shillings in money. ITEM; I give to my sister PICKTON a ring worth twenty shillings or else twenty shillings in money. ITEM; I forgive my brother in law RICHARD DREWE all the debts he oweth me upon bonds or otherwise and thereof I do discharge him and over and above I give him a ring worth twenty shilings or else twenty shillings in money. ITEM; I give to the vicar of Saint Lawrence Church at the time of my burial four yards of black cloth to make him a gown worth fifty shillings. ITEM; I will that there be provided and given six gowns to six poor men of the town of Reading worth twenty six shillings eight pence apiece to be worn by them which shall be therefore appointed by my overseers hereafter named. ITEM; I give to William Millett twenty shillings to William Jacob forty shillings to Thomas Clarkham forty shillings to James Tenche forty shillings and to Christopher Palmer twenty shillings. ITEM; I give to the poor people of Saint Lawrence parish forty shillings to the poor people of Saint Mary’s parish twenty shillings and to the poor people in Saint Gyles parish twentry shillings to be distributed amongst them the day of my burial by the discretion of the overseers of the poor for the time being. ITEM; I devise and give towards the reparations of Saint Lawrence church and of the seats and bells there for ever one annuity or yearly rent charge of ten shillings to be issuing payable and going forth of that my said messuage or tenement in Fryer Street in Reading aforesaid now in the tenure or occupation of the said Thomas Chaundler payable and to be paid yearly unto the churchwardens of the said church for the time being at two feasts in the year viz. at the feasts of Saint Michael the Archangel and the Annunciation of our Lady Saint Mary the Virgin by equal and even portions and for nonpayment thereof it shall be lawful for the churchwardens for the time being to enter and distrain and the distress to keep until they be paid. ITEM; I do further devise and give towards the maintenance of a preacher in Saint Lawrence Church aforesaid one other yearly rent charge of ten shillings to be yearly issuing payable and going forth of the said messuage or tenement for ever at the feasts of Saint Michael the Archangel and the Annunciation of our Lady Saint Mary the Virgin by equal portions and for not payment thereof it shall be lawful for the vicar and churchwardens or any of them for the time being to enter and distrain upon the said tenement and the distress to keep from time to time until they be paid the said yearly rent and the arrears thereof according to the true meaning of this my last will. ITEM; I devise and give all that my said messuage or tenement in Fryer Street aforesaid unto the Mayor and Burgesses of the said borough of Reading charged with the said yearly rents before mentioned to have and to hold the said messuage or tenement with the appurtenances charged with the rents aforesaid unto the said Mayor and Burgesses their successors and assigns forever upon this hope trust and confidence that the said Mayor and Burgesses and their successors shall and will from time to time forever allow and make sure the said several annuities or yearly rents before mentioned to be paid out of the said tenement and all so employ and bestow yearly the rest and residue of the rent and profit of the said tenement towards the relief of such poor people and fatherless children as shall be from time to time relieved and kept in the hospital in Reading aforesaid. ITEM; all the rest and residue of my goods chattels and debts whatsoever not bequeathed my debts being paid and these my legacies performed I give and bequeath to the said Margerie my wife whom I make full and sole executrix of this my last will and testament and overseers thereof I have appointed my sons in law Messrs THOMAS MAYOTT ROGER KNIGHT RICHARD WINCH and WILLIAM KENRICKE and for their pains therein to be taken I do give to every one of them a ring worth twenty shillings or else twenty shillings apiece in money to be bestowed in several rings for their several uses. In witness that this is my last will and testament I have to every sheet hereof set my name with my own hand in the presence of Wiliam WillmerScrivenorThomas Lydall and further it is my will and I do give unto my loving friend Mr Peter Palmer a ring of gold worth forty shillings and to his wife another ring of gold worth forty shillings – Thomas Lydall
Proved 10th December 1608 by Margerie (relict and executrix)
Comments or questions are welcome.