ABP/R13/138

Folio 122 - Thomas Welles of Luton, yeoman, made 8 June proved 27 Oct. 1557. His “Soule unto allmightie God my maker and Redymer to the blessed virgyne Marie and to all the celestiall company in heaven” and his burial to be in the church of Luton. To the high altar there for tithes forgotten 2s.; to the repairs of the church 20s.; to the mother church of Lincoln 2d.. To wife Elizabeth the messuage or farm where testator now dwells and the garden plot and all the lands belonging to the same, she to do all repairs, and she to have all other lands, pastures, as well freehold as copyhold for the term of her life, and on her death the properties to be sold by his executors or by such other indifferent men as the executors shall appoint, and the money arising from the sale to be divided between all his children then living Should any of his children be able to buy the said messuage after the death of Elizabeth, the price should be 20s. less that charged on any other. To daughter Elizabeth testator’s copyhold property called Brache Orchard with land and meadow with the appurtenances, after the death of testator’s widow, and she is to pay to each of her sisters a sum determined by the number of years remaining of the copyhold lease. To daughter Joane his indenture of lease from Mr. Banardston after the death of wife, for the remainder of the lease, paying to all her sisters then alive a certain sum, worked out from the value of the remaining years of the lease. Testator leaves the land which he bought being 15 acres to all his children, that is to say two and a half acres to each of them, after the death of his widow, the land to be divided by executors and 2 other honest indifferent men. Should daughter Elizabeth happen to die before his wife, then the copyholding left to her to go to daughter Agnes; and should daughter Joane die before her mother, then the lease left to her to remain to daughter Alis, both Agnes and Ales having to pay a certain sum (according to the years left in their leases) to the surviving children. To daughter Agnes £16. To daughter Joane £16. To daughter Marie £16. To daughter Audrey £16. These sums to be paid when they reach the age of 20 or when they marry, whichever is the sooner. The legacy of any child dying before marriage or attaining the age of 20 to be divided between the survivors. To his brother in law John Perott 40s..To Thomas [?]Bramtt/Braintt 6s. 8d.; To each of his 6 daughters a mattrass, a coverlet, a pair of blankets, a pair of sheets, a bolster and 3 pillows, and a cupboard at the age of 20, or before if they are married 40s. to be bestowed at his burial and 40s. at his month’s mind. To poor people in Luton 20s.. To servant Thomas Dickman 12d. To servant W. Boyle 12s. To each godchild 8d.. To his brother William his best coat. Wife to keep a mass and a dirige in church of Luton each year for the term of her life, giving each year 3s. 4d.. Residue to wife, executrix, and brother Robert Wells executor, he to have 20s.; and the supervisor to be John Gweyne clerk, vicar of Luton, he to have 20s.. Witnesses John Reyner, John Parrott, Thomas Welles, William Noris and Thomas Goodrige.

8 June - 27 October 1557

From: 1557 To: 1557

item

Welles, Thomas,
Welles, Elizabeth,
Welles, Joane,
Barnardston,
Welles, Agnes,
Welles, Alis,
Welles, Marie,
Welles, Audrey,
Perott, John,
Bramtt, Thomas,
Braintt, Thomas,
Dickman, Thomas,
Boyle, W.,
Welles, William,
Wells, Robert,
Gweyne, John,
Reyner, John,
Parrott, John,
Noris, William,
Goodrige, Thomas

Thomas will: Welles, yeoman, burial, CHURCH, tithes, money, Luton farms, DEATH, rentals, widow, MARRIAGE, household furnishings, household furniture, POVERTY, charity, servants, clothing, masses for the dead, clerk, vicar, LUTON, Lincoln