Description:

Documents:
1 Will 1 March1582 [This will is the complete version of the partial document copied at BR1581/1 vol 2. which is only a small part of the complete document].
  He requests his body be buried in the parish church of Clodock .
Beneficiaries:
To the cathedral church of St Davids , 12d.
For forgotten tithes, 12d.
To his son and heir, John Griffith, 'the tenement and mansion house in wch I now dwell' with all the barns , buildings, lands and etc. with their appurtenances in the parish of Clodock as it descended to the testator from his father. Also to John, 'one close called Tric Kay, my new mill with half an acre of land in the aforesaid parish of Clodock'. Not withstanding the latter bequest son John is to allow base son, George Griffith, to 'occupy and enjoy' the lands in Olchon [that is in Llanveynoe] which the testator held 'by indenture made by Rowland Vaughan and Elizabeth his wife' and John is to assign the land to George for the term of his, John's, life 'as he has faithfully promised'.
To George, all the testator's other tenements, messuages and land etc. in Olchon which were recently purchased from Hoell John David and Thomas ap John Thomas ap Richard, the freehold land to George and his heirs and the copyhold lands to Georges's executors and assigns for and during the unexpired portion of the lease. George is also to have the 13 kine and stock of cattle with calves 'which [unreadable word] I have upon the said land in the tenure, maintenance and occupation of Simon Hugh'.
To his executors for the payment of debts, the next 3 years profits of the testator's 'lease for years' of the tithes for lambs and wool for Clodock and Michaelchurch granted by Sir Nicholas Arnold, knight. Thereafter for the term of the lease the profits are assigned to George.
If George dies then his legacies are to pas to son Marcus Griffith and his heirs and assigns. And should Markus die the legacies are to pass to base son Harry and his heirs and assigns.
Not withstanding the above provisions base son, Harry, to have all the tenements massuages, lands etc as well freehold, copyhold and indenture lands lately purchased of Sir Nicholas Arnold, knight, William Cicill, esquire, William Thomas William, gent, Rowling Griffith and Jenn[?] ap David ap Jenn^tt [?] lying in the parishes of Clodock, Walterstone and Old Castle. The freehold lands to be held by Harry and his heirs for ever and the copyhold lands to be held by him and his assigns according to the custom of the manor of Llantony. Should Harry die without issue the freehold lands are to pass to George and again should George die childless it is to pass to Marcus and George is to ensure that at his death he is to make Marcus his assign for the copyhold lands.
To son and heir, John, 'the last 6 years rent reserved upon the lease assignment by me made and granted of the ester [Easter] money of the vicarage of Clodock to Sir John Gwin clerk which vicarage before this time of the said John, clerk, vicar of Clodock foresaid. And this next first six years rent reserved upon the assignment I give to my executors towards the payment of my debts'
'Also I do except the glebe lands there and the xl^s [40/-] yearly reserved upon a lease for years by me made unto my cousin, David Thomas of [the] parcel of the tithes of Clodock  which glebe lands and parcels rent I give unto my son Marcus and his assigns during the term and years contained in my lease by which I hold the premises.'
To son, Marcus, the tenement and lands which were lately purchased from William William Thomas and his mother. If Marcus dies without heirs then it is to pass to George or if George has died then to base son Harry. This last legacy notwithstanding, wife Margery is to have the use occupation and possession of the said tenement and land until Marcus reaches 21, provided 'she keep herself chaste and sole'. Also to wife, Margery, again as she stays 'chaste and sole' the Bury barn and the tithe thereof for the remaining years only to be used for the upbringing of her children for which the testator is the father. Paying the rent for it of £3  3  4d to Sir Nicholas Arnold.
To wife Margery, 8 kine, 4 oxen, 20 sheep, which mare she chooses, one feather bed and one flockbed with their appurtenances.
Provided Gwenllian vch Nichas [Nicholas?], niece, follows the advice and counsel of his executors in respect of her marriage she is to have £6  3  4d and a flockbed with appurtenances to be paid and delivered to her on her marriage.
To son, Harry, one feather bed with appurtenances standing in the parlour, with a cupboard there standing, being the best cupboard.
To son, John, one feather bed with appurtenances, the less of the 2 pans four platters, the grey gelding and 2 oxen   
The executors are instructed to pay all debts and legacies out of the lands and leases as quickly as possible as they can be levied upon the lands and leases listed as follow:
First, of my said lands in Olchon yearly until the said debts be paid, £12
Of the meadow called the Gwyrlodd, 21/8d yearly
Of the lease of lambs and wool , £8 yearly.
'Of Craswall and that part of the tithe that my cousin David Thomas holdeth of me by lease 40/- '
The executors are also to take the following legacies out of the lands and leases.
To base daughter, Elinor, if she follows the advice of the executors over her marriage, £30 to be paid in marriage,  with 'interest thereof from the time of levying until her marriage' [presumably they were expected to extract the sum sooner rather than later to obtain a worthwhile sum of interest]. Should she fail to accede to their advice then the money is to be divided between the 3 sons, Harry, George and Marcus.
Similarly for daughter, Jaen [Jane], £30 on like conditions.
The testator advises he has fourscore and three pounds [£83] six shillings and 8d  laid out in mortgage on the lands of Thomas John Thomas  ap Richard, lying in Olchon, and leaves the said mortgage lands to son George. If the lands are redeemed by Thomas or his heirs then George is to have the mortgage money less £20 which he is to give Harry to help him build his new house.
To daughter Margaret, £10, to be paid by the executors and levied out of the ground and Barn bequeathed to his wife for the maintenance of the children.
All the rest of his goods cattle and household stuff is bequeathed to his five younger children viz Harry, George, Marcus, Elinor and Jane and to be equally divided between them . Nevertheless wife, Margery, as long as she remains 'chaste and sole' is to have the use possession and management of the cattle and stuff until the children reach an age of discretion.           
The rent and profits from his lands and lease in the Fwthogge [Fwddog an area just outside the Ewyas Lacy hundred lying to the west] for the next 3 years to be levied by the executors between paying debts and afterwards the rest of the term of years to pass to son Harrie and his assigns..
  To 'Cousin David Thomas, and to his heirs and executors as much tithe wool lambs & calves as shall be due during the years contained in my lease thereof.
The executors are directed that his wife is not to receive any of the rents or profits from his land which have been bequeathed to Harrie and George, they are to have the money and put it toward the boy's upbringing and education until they reach 21 when the boys   get the income themselves.   
On condition that Thomas John Thomas ap Richard 'doe seale and delivr an assignement of the lands in Olchon called Ellis Lloids land to George my sonne, I give unto Thomas John Thomas ap Richard xx^ty [20] lambs to be delivered unto him x [10] this yeare & x[10]   the next yeare'. 

Executors: cousin, David Thomas, son John Griffith and John David ap John, the elder, son in law. All their decisions regarding the children are to be unanimous. 

No indication on copy of testator's signature or mark.

Witnesses: 'At the of reading, publishing & sealing of this will'
   William Cycill , esquire, Hoell Watkin, gent, John Gwyn, cleark, Sugman John Thomas Prichard,   Harrie ohn, lluis 
  W^m Parrie, W^m Price W^m John, Symon Hare, Hoell W^m Bannor, Harrie Griffith, Harrie Thomas, Richard W^m  
  Prichard, John Butts.     

Date of Probate: 22 August 1582

2. Inventory: undated; not summed [but comes to £138  9s]. No appraisers listed.

Observations:

The documents include a bond with John ap Gr[rubbed beyond reading but almost certainly Griffith ] of Clodock, gent and Richard Johns of the same. No surety given. Although the dates differ there are two NLW references that refer to the same will, and this summary has been extracted from a copy of the complete will at BR/1582/73 vol 2 and a copy of the last portion of the will to be found at   BR/1581/1 vol 2. Griffith Harry was clearly an important and wealthy man.
  The debtors and creditors lists and the inventory are reproduced below.

Debts due upon the Testator to be paid to the persons subscribed

Debts due to the testator to be valued of the persons subscribed

                                    Inventory