Scope and Content
"Furst I bequeth my soull unto Allmeghtie God to our lady sanct Mary And to all the holy compeny of heven", and burial in the churchyard of Elnestowe.
To her eldest son William Bolton a coffer which he desired of her, a brazen mortar, a little mash vat. To her son Thomas Bolton a new featherbed with a bolster, a pair of blankets (a better and a worse), 2 pillows, 2 pillowberes, a mattress, a coverlet, the best tester that is in the "gesse" [?guest] loft, the best pot, the best pan that "goth abrode", a chair, a folding table, a cupboard that stands in the hall next to the chimney, 4 platters, 4 pewter dishes, 2 saucers, 2 porringers, 3 pair of sheets (a pair of flaxen, a pair of tear of hemp, a pair of harden), a flaxen table cloth, a flaxen towel, 2 diaper napkins, a coffer that stands next the window in the parlour, 2 candlesticks (one of latten the other of pewter), a pair of small cobirons, a spit and a chafing dish, all of which household stuff testator gives him in payment of £3 13s. 4d. which he has demanded of her. Should Thomas not agree to take these goods instead of the money, then the household goods to remain in the hands of William Porter until he has been able to sell them, and then he is to pay Thomas the £3 13s. 4d..
To her cousin Richard Parweche a basin, a ewer, a diaper table cloth, a diaper towel, a bell candlestick "for a candelstike for a token of my good will and for his jentell kyndnes shewed to me and for his paynes intollerable that he take for my sake And though it pleseth God to take me at this present tyme yet I will desyre hem still to be [?] erneste in the same as his master, and he shall se cause And in so doinge I will And bequeth to hem for his paynes taking in that behalf the Forte, the other thre partes to be devydyt betwene my other thre children" that is to say William, Thomas and Elzabeth.
To testator's sister Parweche the little cap with the bound "grace" of velvet as a token of good will, and to her also a double rail.
To John Bolton a great brass pot, 2 platters, a fustian pillow, and to his brother and all his sisters, to every one a platter.
To Elesabeth Porter, her daughter's daughter, a brass pot, a brass pan, a featherbed with all that belongs to it, 2 platters, 2 pewter dishes, a flaxen board cloth, a flaxen towel, testator's best gold ring and her white bullock, all of which are to be given her on the day of her marriage, but should she die before then, the legacy is to go to the longest liver of her sisters. To Edmund Porter a ewe and a lamb. To testator's godson Robert Osmund a brass pot, a pair of harden sheets, a table, a coffer, a bedstead, 2 platters, 2 pewter dishes and a harden board cloth. To Agnes Porter a coffer and a ring both to be given her on the day of her marriage, and a pair of sheets. To Joan Porter 2 pair of sheets (one harden and one flaxen), a coffer, 2 platters, 2 pewter dishes and a candlestick. To Cristian Porter a posnet, a kettle, 2 pairs of sheets, 2 platters, 2 pewter dishes and a candlestick.
To the poor mens box 12d.
Residue to son William Porter who is to be sole executor.
Witnesses John Bysshoppe, curate, George Wauton, William Swenoo.