Description

1. Will dated 4 July 1642 .
Whereas the undermentioned owe the testator the sums shown:

David Thomas, gent, and David Price, £20
The said David Thomas and Philip John Thomas, £5.
John Powell, gent, and Thomas David, £20.
Thomas Prees and John Stallard, £20.
The said John Prees and Thomas Stallard [sic] £6 10s.
Thomas Delay, gent, £10.
Richard Whitney, gent, £20.
John Watson Maddy, £20.
Thomas Watkin, gent, £20
The said John Watkin Maddy, £7.
Oliver Hay, 30/-
John Powell of Trewerne, £6.
To daughters, Katheryne and Elizabeth, All the notes, bonds bills etc related to this money to be divided equally between them. Also 4 heifer calves, 'desiring my wife to hurd them up until they be three years old.'
To dear wife, [not named], 8 kine and a heifer for her lifetime then they are to go to the two daughters. Also to wife, other calves and all grain and corn both growing and in the barn and in the house.
Brass, pewter, bedding and linen to wife and daughters, half to the wife and half to the two daughters. Wife exhorted to maintain the daughters until they are 21 or married.
Also to his wife, the implements of husbandry, tableboards, bedsteads and other timber household stuff for her lifetime and then to the son and heir, James.
To son, James, all sheep and a mare.
To the poor, 5/- at the disposal of his son on the day of the funeral.
To the Minister of Michaelchurch Escley for forgotten tithes, 2/- and for church repairs, 4/
Son James to be residual legatee.

Executor: son, James Probert

Signed by testator.
.
Witnesses: William Delahay and Thomas Williams

Date of Probate: 18 February 1648 .

Observations

As this is taken from a copy of the will deposited at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury there are no supporting documents.
The unusual number of gents, and others owing £20 leads one to speculate whether these persons were preparing to join the forces of the Civil War and were purchasing their weapons and equipment.