Reference
ABP/R12/62
Title
Folio 62 - Will of Agnes Potter, widow of Potton
Date free text
made 3 Apr. 1548, pr. 3 Oct. 1549
Production date
From: 1548 To: 1549
Scope and Content
Soul to Almighty God, and body to be buried in Potton churchyard. To every poor household in Potton 4d. and a bushel of malt to be distributed on the day of her burial.
Son Richard is to pay on behalf of his brother Robert to Master Acworth £8 to redeem and make void a conveyance (bargain and sale) of Robert's house and lands, which is to be done within 6 weeks of testator's death, and Robert is to be given another £8 at the next feast of Christmas. These payments are conditional. If Robert should die before the payments have been made then the unpaid amount shall be void and not to be paid. And if Robert does not deliver to Richard a general release and acquittance of all the barley and sheep bequeathed to Robert and Thomas Potter deceased by their deceased father, and of other debts in dispute between Robert and testator, and if Master George Acworth and Robert do not allow Richard and his assigns to occupy and enjoy the houses, lands, meadows, pastures (late Master Hayles, deceased, and before that of Margret Myles deceased) until Michaelmas twelvemonth, paying Robert only £4 at the same feast for the same occupation, and if Master George Acworth and Robert do not make sale and deliver to Richard a bond to be devised by a counsel learned in the law allowing Richard to occupy the lands, then the payment of the £16 to be void.
To Michael Potter 20 sheep and a bullock which his father is to give him at the age of 18 years. To William Potter 40s. to be paid him at Christmas next, and testator's gray gelding.
To testator's maid Elene a russet gown and a harden apron. To every of her servants serving out their term a "seme" of barley [seam= eight bushels of grain or malt] besides their wages.
To Thomas Hardye an acre of rye and an acre of barley. To Thomas George an acre of rye. To Robert Luter an acre of rye, an acre of barley, an acre of pease. To every godchild a bushel of malt.
To Agnes at Gotobeddes a red petticoat, a pair of harden sheets, a kerchief, and a harden apron. To "my watcheing woman" a white petticoat and a workingday coat and to her daughter an old red petticoat, a harden apron and a kerchief. To Sanders wife a "workedays" coat with white lining, a "naper" and a kerchief. To James Dycson a "come" [combe = a corn measure of 4 bushel or one sack] of malt and to his son William another combe of malt. To William Lynford a combe of malt. To Agnes Luter a pair of sheets and to Agnes Wright a harden apron, a flaxen apron and a kerchief.
Testator forgives Francis Godfray the debt of a quarter of barley of the 6 quarters which he had of her.
Should her son Robert or Master George Acworth at any time distrain testator's goods or in any way disturb Richard, then the payment of £16 is utterly void "for I do take God to Juge that I do not owe at this day to the same Robert nether shepe nor grane of his Father's gyfte nor no other mony for I have bought and payd them therfor".
Residue to son Richard Potter sole executor with Master Hone as supervisor, and to the latter 6s. 8d. for his work.
Witnesses William Hone gentleman, Thomas Reysley, John Byrte, Thomas Hardy, Richard Wright and Robert Sexworth
"per me Henricum Cole per me William' Hone, Johannem Burt, per me Nicholau' Smyth vicar' de Everton per me Walterum Cokk, per me Laurentium Draper Rectorem de [?]Hinger Hatley."
6s. 8d. to be bestowed yearly "be..en" years among the said poor people of Potton. To Richard Jon' a half acre of rye.
Level of description
item