nuncupative will of Avice Leeson
Note :- the will was said to have been heard on 8 Dec 1598 by William griffith, Avice was buried on December 10 1598 at Abthorpe but the will was not administed by Jane until 8 May 1590
The late will nuncupative of Avice Leeson widdowe late of Abthorpe als Apthorpe in the countie of Northampton widdowe deceased. Anno one thousand ffyve hundred ninety eight Avice Leeson memorand that on the eighte daie of December last past before the date hereof, one Avice Leeson of Abthorpe als Apthorpe in the dioces of Peterborough in the countie of Northampton deceased
sent for me Willm Griffith minister there and at my comeng I mooved the said Avice by the instigation of one Arthur Leeson her sonne And othere women then present whose names are underwrytten to dispose and sett in order her tempall goods and possessions. Shee answered and said shee had don yt allreadie The said Arthur Leeson hearing theis wordes in the agony of his spirytt as it seemed unto us desired her to bestowe some of that land belonging to her farme uppon him for his better maynetemin. Shee answered him I hve no land to give you, I paste it awaie allreadie to your Sister, whose money paide for the taking of yt. He answered againe, Mother it lieth in your handes to geve me all of it please you, she answered, by God but is not, if it were I wold not doo yt. Then he cryed out bytterlie and desired her to geve him those bande which she hadd of him and of his brother Thomas. She answered no by my faithe you shall have none of them, your sister shall have them, ffor if you should have them you would go to lawe with her Therefore they shall remaine with her to roole both you and him. One of the women named Elizabeth Adson what shall your sonne Arthur have then. She answered what he canno gett by lawe ffor by that course he hathe undon me and himself allreadye. the said Avice taking respite proceeded in this sorte. Your sister will geve you sixe poundes thirteen shillings fourpence yearelie during her estate now in the ffarme upon your good behaviour towards her and on this condicon that you willbe contented with the said some, and be at quiett without further molesing her by comencing anie sute against her. But if you doo she shall paie you none. Also your sister will paie to eache one of yor children Anthony and John Leeson sixe poundes a peece ffurther whereas I have two kine of myne owne, thone in mine owne keeping the other in my sonne Arthur his keeping which I boughte of my rent receaved since the conveyance made unto my daughter Jane The propertie whereof, I will shall remaine in Jane my daughter, leaste they should be sould to paie my sonnes dette, but the comodytie of them to redemd unto my said sonne Arthur for the space of sixe years And after the expiration of the said sixe yeares I will that they shall be imployed to the best use toward the bringing uppe in learning of the said Anthony and John. After this at the request of some one standing by The said Avice desired her daughter Jane to geve the said Arthur twoo loades of haie towarde the wyntering of those two kyne. Lastly the said Avice desired her daughter Jane to bestowe a brasse pott opon her daughter in lawe Helen Leeson, one partlett and aporne and a cloake, two payre of sheets of Arthures two sonnes , which were presentlie delyvered.
Wee whose names are underwrytten wille readye yf need require to instefie upon our othes this that is here sett donne to be true. Dated at Abthorpe aforesaid the thirtieth daie of Apryll aforesaid anno domini one thousand ffyve hundred nynetie nyne. Anoqr regin mur Regnia Quadrigesimo primio by me Willm Griffith minister there.
Agnes Bott the marke of Elizabeth Adson the marke of Alice Knight the marke of Amie Smithe
Octavio die mennis Maii Anno domium milesimo Quingentesinio nonagesimo nono emanavit [?] comissio Jane Leeson filia naturali of Amie are [?] defuncte, ad administrand bona, Jura, at credita insdem [?] defuncto mxta tenerens ultmie volintat nuncupative hinnsuedi [?]
quod dra defuncta [millu?] in eadem nominanit executorem de bene et fidelites adminisvririd [?] in persona Thomas Iles notary public procuraton fri 3 Jurat
Note :- No part of the Honor was granted away in Henry VIII's time but after his death some was granted away either in fee or with a reserved quit rent. This must have applied to the farm that the Leesons owned as they paid a fee farm rent, receipt at NRO dated circ 1626 showed Jane Leeson paying the fee farm rent, this may be the payment Jane had made to which her mother referred in her will.
In 1693 Humphrey Gore paid half year rent of £4..18..0 for Leeson land at Abthorpe to HM the Queen dowager.
This charge was later removed:-
NRO YZ 3559 14 March 1720 release of fee farm rents including 9..17..4 for Abthorpe lands.
