Reference
R6/14/11/2
Title
Copy will
Date free text
7 February 1680 [1681]
Production date
From: 1681 To: 1684
Scope and Content
Copy will of Matthew Watts senior of Cople, yeoman ”being not well in health”:
- revoking all former wills;
- to his daughter Elizabeth Beach and her husband a bequest of £50 “which will make up that which he hath formerly received £200”;
- to his grandson Thomas Watts a bequest of £100 when he reached 21;
- to his granddaughters Anne, Mary and Elizabeth Watts bequests of £50 each when reaching 21;
- to his daughter Elizabeth Beach a bequest of £50 within six months of his death;
- to his grandson Mathew Wild a bequest of the testator’s gold ring with his name engraved on it;
- to his cousins Luke and Susan Watts bequests of 20 shillings to each;
- to the poor of Cople a bequest of 20 shillings at his burial;
- to his only son Mathew a bequest of all his bonds, bills and money due to him;
- to his son Mathew a devise of his real estate and a bequest of the residue of his personal estate until his son (testator’s grandson) Mathew became 21, when he was to have half “excepting such household as his father brought from Park Lane”; if Mathew the son died before Mathew the grandson was 21, then his mother should take her husband’s half part until the grandson was 21 when he would receive both halves, allowing his mother £5 per annum “and her diet” or £10 per annum “and live where she please”; if Mathew the grandson died before 21 his eldest brother should succeed, for want of male heirs, then his sisters should succeed equally; if both parents died before Mathew the grandson was 21 then the overseers to take care of him and the estate until he was 21;
- appointing his son Mathew as executor;
- appointing his son-in-law William Wilde of Yelden, his son-in-law William Beech of Wilshamstead, his cousin Else Wooddam of Bletsoe and grandson Mathew Wilde of Yelden as overseers;
- “These are to testifie that William Beech hath receaved in part of the fifty pound that I gave him in this my last will the full and just some of thirty pound”;
- “September ye 9. 1682 These are to certify that William Beech hath received in part of ye £50 that I gave him in this my last Will £30. I have only one Bond for five pound which is not my own Money but Money that is to put forth on of Skelton’s Boys an apprentis which is to be done so soon as the Boy is fitting to be put forth an aprentis”.
- probate of 13 May 1684
Level of description
item