Scope and Content
"I give my soul into the hands of Almighty God …"
to the poor of Batttlesden, Toddington, Dunstable, Leighton, Stewkly, Drayton Parslow, Stoke Hammond, Hockliffe and Woburn, £5 each
to sister Katherine Byrche, annuity of £6..13s..4d from land in Stewkly
to sister Christian, wife of Gyste, clerk, annuity of £3..6s..8d from same
to nephew John Smyth, chaundler, £10
to the rest of sister Smythe's children (except Langley's wife) £66..13s..4d
to niece Elizabeth Freeman, £5
to Elizabeth Backwell, daughter of Barnaby Backwell, £30
to Barnaby Backwell, £10
to the children of Edward Cooke, £5 each
to the children of William Alexander, £5 each
to the children of John Cooke, £10 among them
to brother-in-law Nicholas Potts, esquire, his wife Elizabeth and son John, to brother John Pottes and his son Thomas, 20s each to buy rings
to each of Nicholas Potte's children, 10s
to sister Scolastica Foster and her daughter Mary, 40s
to brother Richard Crypps, £10 and to Richard's daughter, £10
to William Saunders and Elizabeth Sibley, £5 each
to servants Isabel and Elizabeth, 20s
to shepherd John and to George Studdes, servant, 10s each
small bequests to Henry Abbott, John Groome and wife, niece Elizabeth Cooke, and to godchildren
to wife profit of Oate close for life
to servant Thomas Saunders, messuage and land in Stewkly in occupation of Nicholls for 10 years, rent £6..13s..4d per annum. nephew Thomas Crypps is to confirm to him the copyhold thereof or pay compensation from testator's free land in Stewkly
to nephew Thomas Crypps all freehold land in Stewkly, and lease of Oate close, paying to executors £100
to nephew William Crypps, lands in "Oving", subject to annuity of £3..5s..8d to William Emerton, testator's servant, for 10 years
to George Foster and Giles Blowfield the manor of Wakes which he holds in trust
to Thomas Johnson, brother-in-law, and children, £10
to wife Joan "with whom I have lived almost full 40 years in love and peace", and step-sons Thomas and John Hillersdon, executors, residue
Overseers: Robert Porye and Reynold Horne
Witnesses: Thomas Crypps, Thomas Vinson, Thomas Saunders, Thomas Morris.