Description:

Documents

1.   Will: dated 19 September 1577 .
Requests to be buried in the parish church of 'Escley' [presumably Michaelchurch Escley]
Beneficiaries;
To 'the said church' for repairs, 2/- 
To wife, Margaret, 2 heifers, one 2 years old and the other a ear old , a one year old bull, a calf and thr[almost certainly 'three' but the end of the word lost in the fold of the book] mares & 2 kine.
To son, Jenkin and daughter Mauld, £10 with another £10 which is in the hands of the testator's brother Rees John Harry.
To eldest son, Phellip, all the messuage, tenements, meadows leasows etc. If Phelip dies without legitimate heir then the legacy passes to second son, John and if he too dies or fails to produce legitimate heirs to 3^rd son Jenkin.
To daughters Ivan and Katherine, 20 marks which are in the hands of Thomas Bromyche; that is £6 13 4d a piece.
To daughter, Jaen , £5 and £5 also to daughter Margaret.
To daughter, Alsen,[Alison] £5.
To son, John, 5 marks [£3  6  8d].        
To daughters, Alsen, Margaret and Jaen, 2 kine each.
To son, John, a cow.
To daughter, Maud, 'one cow now in the occupacion of Thomas Jeffrey'.
To son, Jenkin, 3 young beasts of a year old.
To son, John, 2 one yr old bullocks.
To Margaret Hoell, one 3 yr old horse.
To his 6 daughters, three score sheep - 10 each.
To daughters, Ivan, Katherine and Alsen, a calf each.
To Francis[?] Howell, one other calf.
All the corn in the barn to be used for the maintenance of the family and for planting the next crop. That crop too is to be used for family maintenance.
To daughter, Ivan, the best coverlet.
To eldest son, Phe, a pan and cupboard.
To daughter, Katherine, the best pot,
To daughters, Ivan, Katherine and Margaret, 4 pewter platters each.
To wife, Margaret, the best coffer.
'I will and bequeath the foure coffers wch I have be geven by myne executors unto my foure Eldest Daughters'
All such hay, straw and the fodder which I have shall be to find¹ [feed] all such cattle as are now 'upon my ground'.
All the testator's lands held in fee simple to eldest son, Phellip and his heirs for ever., but Phellip is to permit all the testator's children to have hold occupy and enjoy these lands held  by the testator both in fee simple and customary without let or intervention for five years after his death.

Executors: William Phe[llip] Harry, and Rees Harry, brothers of the testator, and his cousin David Mogas[?].

No mark or signature on this copy
 
Witnesses: None listed.
 
Date of probate: 22 October 1577

  2. Inventory: None.

Observations:

¹ An interesting usage of find which we see used today in the expression 'accommodation with all found ' meaning all bedding and meals.
The hand writing is somewhat difficult to decipher, especially the names of individuals.
The will is followed by a list of creditors and debtors . The list are reproduced below
                                               
Debts owing to the said testator

² Very difficult to read but most likely this is the £10 mentioned as owed in the will by Rees
John Harry, the testator's brother.
³ The 'Sir' was an honorary title given at this time to all clergy. John Gwyn was vicar of Clodock.

Debts owed by the said testator