WG785

Probate of will of Robert Bell, Bedford, esquire. To be buried in St Mary's. To son Robert Bell (under 25): numerous properties in north Bedfordshire, and personal legacies. [Details given]

17 Aug 1682, proved 20 May 1685

From: 1682 To: 1685

Details of numerous properties and personal legacies: To son Robert Bell: - all that messuage or farmhouse in Wilden and land, now or late in the tenure of Edward Pallady; - messuage or farmhouse and closes in Ravensden, in the occupation of William Meyes; - wood in Clapham lately purchased of Mr Rands, since deceased, now or late in the tenure of William Meyes; - messuage or inn in Bedford St Paul, in the tenure of William Woodward, called Half Moon, sometime the inheritance of Thomas Crofts, from whom purchased by testator; - messuage or inn in Bedford St Paul called the Dolphin, now or late in the tenure of Thomas Church, and purchased by testator of John Perratt; - messuages, cottages or tenements in Bedford St Mary, now or late in the several occupations of Henry Clarke, William Negus, George Leedes, purchased by testator of William Yeomans, deceased; - messuage in Bedford St Mary called Red Lion, now or late in the occupation of Elizabeth Spencer, and purchased by testator of William Church; - messuage or farmhouse and land in Harrowden, in Cardington, now or late in the occupation of widow Nunn; - 2 messuages in Wilstead and land now or late in the occupation of widow Cooch and purchased of Thomas Cooch; - 3 1/2 acres meadow in Cardington (High Meadow) in own occupation, purchased of Thomas Franklin, gentleman; - farmhouse and land in Keysoe, purchased of Mr Palmer, now in the occupation of Thomas Shefford; - also 7 acres 1 rood arable in Cardington in the Mother Field which had been wrongly described in previous settlement on son dated 27/28 June 1682. To two maid servants Bridget Newman and Hannah Wallis, £4 each; To kinswoman Lettice, wife of Mathew Hobbs, 20 shillings per annum for life; To Joseph, son of Mathew Hobbs, £10 at age 21; To kinswoman Mary Seyares of Leighton Buzzard, £20; To kinswoman Ann King of Huntingdon, widow, 20 shillings for a ring; To kinsman John Clerke, London, £15 when made a freeman of London; To Mary, sister of John Clerke, £5 at age 21; To Mary, wife of Robert Rance, Biggleswade, 20 shillings per annum for life; To Robert, son of Robert Rance senior, £20; To Mary, daughter of Robert Rance senior, £5; To each manservant, 5 shillings. To son Robert: - bed, bedding and furniture in chamber over hall of house where I dwell, 5 pair flaxen sheets, 1 pair Holland sheets, 6 silver spoons, 4 dozen napkins, 5 table cloths, 2 boulsters, 2 pillows, 2 pillow beres. To poor of Bedford St Mary and St Paul, £4 each. To poor of St Johns, St Peters, St Cuthberts, 40 shillings each. Codicil made 20 September 1683 To friends and kinsmen, Robert Stevenson of London, parker, and John Wagstaffe, London, silkman, £600 to be held in trust for son Richard Bell.

item

Bell, Robert,
Pallady, Edward,
Meyes, William,
Rands,
Woodward, William,
Crofts, Thomas,
Church, Thomas,
Perratt, John,
Clarke, Henry,
Negus, William,
Leedes, George,
Yeomans, William,
Spencer, Elizabeth,
Church, William,
Nunn,
Cooch, Thomas,
Franklin, Thomas,
Palmer,
Shefford, Thomas,
Newman, Bridget,
Wallis, Hannah,
Hobbs, Lettice,
Hobbs, Mathew,
Hobbs, Joseph,
Seyares, Mary,
King, Ann,
Clerke, John,
Clerke, Mary,
Rance, Mary,
Rance, Robert,
Stevenson, Robert,
Wagstaffe, John,
Bell, Richard

will, Bedford Half Moon, Bedford Dolphin, High Street, Bedford Red Lion, St.Mary, gentleman, Cardington fields, maidservant, parker, silkman, BEDFORD, WILDEN, RAVENSDEN, CLAPHAM, St. Paul Bedford, St. Mary Bedford, Eastcotts Harrowden, CARDINGTON, Wilstead, KEYSOE, Huntingdon, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, London, BIGGLESWADE