Reference
R6/19/3/12
Title
Probate of the will of Ambrose Whitbread the elder
Date free text
6 October 1656
Production date
From: 1647 To: 1656
Scope and Content
Probate of the will of Ambrose Whitbread the elder of Eversholt, yeoman on 20 June 1647 “being weak in body”
- devising to his son Ambrose the house in which he dwelt in Turrells End, Eversholt with: a close of pasture adjoining of three acres; a close called Potters of four acres; a close of pasture in Whites End of three acres with close of John Gregory E;
- devising to his son Ambrose the term of years remaining in: close in Church End abutting the highway; 4 acres of meadow in Church Mead; four acres in Eversholt 2 acres, 3 roods of which in Church Mead with meadow of Richard Gregory, son of George Gregory the elder E and meadow of John Burt W and ½ acre in Parsonage Meadow in Ford Mead on E and one rood in Parsonage Meadow with land of John Gregory E and W and one rood in Parsonage Meadow with meadow of John Gregory E and W and one rood in Parsonage Meadow with meadow of Edward Kingham E; two acres of arable in Stonehill Field with land of John Gregory E and John Burt E [sic];
- devising to his wife Elizabeth and son Edward a cottage with adjoining close in Hills End for 60 years after testator’s death provided Elizabeth claimed no dower and that neither she nor Edward cut down or took away any trees or wood from his lands but nourished the woods and maintained fences and hedges and the cottage itself;
- ordering that Elizabeth, within fourteen days of the testator’s death, release her dower and thirds to their son Ambrose in consideration of which he bequeathed to Elizabeth and Edward £6 per annum to be paid by Ambrose the son from the lands devised to him; on the death of one of them the survivor was to receive just 40/- per annum;
- bequeathing 12d to his daughter Elizabeth Gregory;
- bequeathing £60 to his daughter Ursula, half to be paid on her marriage and the other half one year following;
- bequeathing 10/- to Elizabeth Gregory his granddaughter, with 5/- to her brother William and sister Mary;
- bequeathing 20/- to the poor of Eversholt;
- bequeathing the residue of his personal estate to his son Ambrose whom he made sole executor;
- witnesses Thomas Arnall senior and Thomas Arnall junior;
- codicil of 15 September 1656 adding legacies: to his wife’s dowry 40/- per quarter or £8 per annum if she resigned her right in the house at Hills End and 40/- annuity; an additional £20 to Ursula to be paid within six months of the testator’s death; bequeathing to his wife and to Ursula five beasts and two bullocks “to be divided equally between them affording maintenance for them till Candlemas next; witnesses Thomas Dutton, Stephen Whitbread senior and Stephen Whitbread junior;
- probate affixed.
Level of description
item