Scope and Content
Reciting the Will of Sir Thomas Hatton of 10 July 1654 whereby he provided for the payment of £4,100 apiece to Mary Davies and others of his younger children from his personal estate with the overplus but with the condition that if any of his daughters marry before the age of 21 and without the consent of their mother, they should forfeit £1,000 of their portion. This £1,000 to be shared out among the other daughters, and the residue of the portion not to be paid to the daughter and husband, but his executors should dispose of it and pay the maintenance of the daughter out of the interest from the sum. After the daughter's death the money to be shared out among the other children. He also makes Dame Mary his widow, Henry Wynn, esquire, John Fountaine, esquire, and John Gell, esquire (afterwards Sir John Gell, knight) executors.
Whereas Mary Davies married John Davies without consent, the portion was reduced and put out to interest by Dame Mary Davies who is long since dead; after whose death Sir John Gell the only surviving executor renounced his executorship, and the executors of Dame Mary Hatton (William Boteler, esquire, Elizabeth his wife,; Thomas Buck, esquire and Elizabeth his wife) refusing to intermeddle in the personal estate of the late Sir Thomas Hatton, all administration of the estate granted to Sir Christopher Hatton, Mary Davies and Jane, late wife of Richard Orlebar late of Harrold, Bedfordshire, esquire deceased, being another daughter of Sir Thomas Hatton.
Reciting: High Court decree 25 June 25, 27 Charles II wherein Hatton Davies, John Davies, Thomas Davies and Christopher Davies and one William Davies (since deceased) and Elizabeth and Dorothy Davies infants, children of the said John Davies and Mary his wife, by John Tate their guardian and next friend as well for themselves as for other children born in future to Mary Davies were complainants against Sir Christopher Hatton, Richard Orlebar and Jane his wife, the said John Davies and Mary his wife, Sir John Gell, William Boteler and Elizabeth his wife and Thomas Buck defendants. It was decreed that the complainants and other children born to Mary Davies should benefit from their mother's dividend of £3,100 and any further dividends.
Whereas Dorothy Davies died and the said Anne Nodes and Charles Davies (since lately deceased) two other of the children of John and Mary were born since the making of the decree.
And whereas John Davies deceased purchased of Sir Thomas Allen (amongst other lands):
…a capital messuage or mansion house with appurtenances and other messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments in Goldington and in Ravensden, Renhold and Bedford in consideration of the sum of £4,107..10s and he took the conveyances of these in the name of William Farrer and Edward Farrer of Clements Inn, London, gentlemen, since deceased.
Reciting indenture of 9 July 32 Charles II between
i) William Boteler , esquire (since deceased), the said William and Edward Farrer,
ii) John Davies and Mary his wife,
iii) Sir Christopher Hatton by name of Christopher Hatton, esquire, Richard Orlebar, gentleman, and William Manly, gentleman, (both since deceased)
i) to iii) in consideration of 10s and other considerations with the interest therein mentioned, have with the consent of ii) released:
… a capital messuage or mansion house at Goldington sometime in the occupation of Nicholas Luke or assigns with appurtenances and divers other messuages, farms, lands etc. in Goldington, Ravensden, Renhold and Bedford, also 29 acres 3 roods of arable in Goldington then in the occupation of John Davies deceased for the use of John Davies for life and after his death to the use of Mary Davies in part of her joynture and satisfaction of her £3,100 after her death in trust for the children.
Whereas John Davies deceased, in his lifetime received from the personal estate of Sir Thomas Hatton the further sum of £450 which after the death of Mary Davies was to be shared among her children share and share alike.
Whereas William Davies died an infant under the age of 21 years without issue and Charles Davies (the youngest son of the said John and Mary Davies) was born after the making of the said indenture and the right and interest of the sum of £3,550 came into the hands of the other children.
Whereas the said John Davies deceased, for the preferment of the said Elizabeth Davies his daughter in marriage with Francis Ford (whom she afterwards married) did agree to advance them the sum of £500 in consideration of the marriage. Elizabeth and Francis accepted the £500 in satisfaction for the 7th part of £3,350 and by a deed poll of 21 February 1687 quitted all claims to further legacies etc.
Reciting indenture of 22 February 1693 between
i) Thomas Davies, clerk and one of the sons of John Davies by Mary his wife;
ii) Sir Christopher Hatton, John Davies senior, Hatton Davies, John Davies junior, Francis Ford and Elizabeth his wife;
iii) William Farrer and Francis Brace;
whereby i) in consideration of £100 paid by Farrer and 5s by Brace, and at the request of ii) has granted to iii) all Thomas's share in the sum of £3,550.
Reciting Will of John Davies deceased dated 28 December 1694 whereby after his death and that of his wife he wanted the mansion house at Goldington and all appurtenances sold for the security of £3,100 unto William Farrer and Edward Bourne and overplus. Since Davies had purchased the lands and premises in Goldington he had received from the estate late of Sir Thomas Hatton, over and above the £3,100 a further sum of £450 to be divided between the children of Mary Davies and John Davies. Edward Bourne and William Farrer to give the overplus money raised from the sale of the premises towards the security of £3,100. The residue of the money to be used for purchasing of lands to be conveyed to John Davies his grandson, eldest son of Hatton Davies, and the sums that Elizabeth Ford might claim for her part and share of the said £3,100 and £450, as soon as raised, should be paid to said daughter Ann (daughter of John Davies). William Farrer and Edward Bourne his executors.
Whereas Francis Brace purchased from William Farrer and Thomas Davies: all share and portions for the said Thomas Davies in respect of the sums of £3,100 and £450.
Whereas Charles Davies died sometime since under the age of 21 (letters of administration to Mary Davies his mother) his share of the £3,100 and the £450 went to his mother and his brothers and sisters Hatton, John, Christopher, Thomas, and Anne and also to Francis Ford in right of his wife Elizabeth.
Whereas Mary Davies, Hatton, John, Christopher and Thomas Davies sold their shares to Francis Brace.
Whereas Hatton, John and Christopher Davies have mortgaged their shares and Mary Davies has agreed to purchase same.
Whereas Mary Davies has prevailed with Sir Christopher Hatton several messuages, closes and lands, part of the trust estate granted to Sir Christopher and Richard Orlebar should be sold, and some accordingly were, part to Thomas Halsey, esquire for £650, and part to John Whitbread and Richard Watford both of Goldington, yeomen for £961..8s..6d, which added together make up the full 7th shares of John, Christopher and Hatton Davies.
Whereas Francis Brace is lately dead and the shares purchased by him have been inherited by Francis Brace, esquire his second son.
Whereas Mary Davies has for the immediate support of her daughter Ann, and in order to better educate her children (she being now left a widow and in need of money for that purpose) has consented for more money to be raised (£203..14s) from the sale of arable lands, being part of the trust estates vested in Sir Christopher Hatton and William Farrer, by the sale of the land to James Wiffin. The money to be paid to Ann Nodes, the daughter of Mary Davies.
Now this indenture witnesseth that:
i) to ii) in consideration of the sum of £203..14s
… all those several pieces of arable and leys containing together 24 acres 1 rood lying dispersed in common fields of Goldington now or late in tenure or occupation of John Sugars and James Wiffin or undertenants as set out in the terrier below being part of the trust estates settled on William Farrer and Sir Christopher Hatton (in trust to be sold after death of Mary Davies) and all appurtenances, all which premises are now in occupation of James Wiffin after a one-year lease bearing yesterday's date.
Warranty against Mary Davies, Ann Nodes, Sir Christopher Hatton and Farrer.
Terrier:
in Windmill Field
…5 acres called Mill Piece abutting N. on St Neots highway and S. on Sir William Gostwick's meadow; land of Sir William Gostwick E., land of John Whitbread W.
…2 acres on Bryer Hill abutting N. on a headland of the said Mrs Davies and S. on land of Mr Brace, land of Mr Brace W. and land of Mr Beecher E.
in the River Field
…1 acre on the backside abutting E. on land of Mr Hillersdon, W. on Madame Davies close, land of Mr Hillersdon N. and Mr Haselden S.
…1 acre in Ree Furlong abutting E. on the Lotts, W. on land of said Mrs Davies, land of Henry Watson N. and Mr Beecher S.
…½ acre on same furlong abutting to the Lotts E., land of Mr Beecher W., land of Thomas Clayton N, Mr Beecher S.
…1 acre in Cross Piece, a headland of Mr Beechers N. and one other part of his headlands S., land of Mr Beecher W. and Mr Brace E.
…2 lands being headland and fallow containing 1 acre lying on Newnham Leys furlong, land of the Dean N., Mr Paradine S., abutting E. on land of Mr Beecher and W. on the Kings highway there
..1½ acres abutting N. on a headland of said Mrs Davies, lying at the Towns End, abutting on land of the Dean S., land of Mr Paradine W., land of Mrs Davies E.
…1 acre in every Years land abutting to the highway there E., a place called the Loe W., land of Mr Paradine N. and S.
…2 roods in same furlong abutting on the highway W., on Mr Beechers close, land of Mr Beecher S., John Whitbread N.
In Church Field
…2½ acres on Bedford way furlong abutting on Bedford way there S., Green Ditch N., land of Thomas Clayton E. and Philip Negus W.
…3 roods on same furlong abutting on the highway S., N. on green ditch, land of Thomas Clayton E. and Mr Beecher W.
…½ acre in same furlong, land of Mr Paradine E., Mr Beecher W., abutting as before in the last one
…2 acres being Long Lands going through 2 furlongs abutting on Green Ditch S., a headland of Mr Odell's N., the Town Land E. and Mr Paradine W.
…2 acres on Green Ditch furlong, abutting S. on Mr Beechers close, and N. on land of John Shepard, land of Mr Beecher E., and Mr Paradine W.
…1 acre on Putnoe Street furlong abutting to Church Way S., Putnoe Street N., Mr Hillersdon E., John Whitbread W.
…1 acre in same furlong, land of John Whitbread E., Mr Haselden W., abutting as last before
Tags for seals of i) with signatures
Witnesses to sealing: Timothy Sutton, Benjamin Browne, Thomas Edwards, Francis Wingfield, Thomas Walford, G Arnald
Receipt for £203..14s paid by James Wiffin