In the Name of God Amen. The six and Twentieth day of September in the yeare of our Lord God one Thousand six hundred and Twentie and one I Richard Britten of Yardley Gubbion within the parish of Potterspurie in the County of Northampton Labourer being sicke in bodie but of good and perfect remembrance land and praise bee to Allmightie God, doe make and ordaine this my presente Testament declaring herein my last Will in manner and forme following That is to say first I commend my soule unto Almightie God my maker, and to his onelie sonne Jesus Christ my Redeemer fullie trustinge and verlie beleiving that throughe the merritts death and passion of my lord and onelie Saviour Jesus Christ I shall be saved, and my bodie to bee buried in the Churchyard of Potterspurie aforesaid Itm I bequeath to the mother Church of Peterburgh iiijd Item I geve and bequeath to my sonne Edward Grissen Britten two shepe and the summe of foure pounds of lawfull money of England to bee put forth to his best use by my sonnin law Roger Browne from the feast of St Michaell the Archangell which shalbe in the yeare of our Lord God One Thousand Six hundred Twentie and Two until the said Edward shalbe of the age of Twentie and one yeares and then to bee paid to him with all the encrease thereof by my said sonnin law his executors or assignes, all which said summe of foure pounds is now delivered in trust to the said Roger Browne to the use aforesaid, and my Will is that hee ye said Roger to have the use thereof to his owne proper use gratis for one whole yeare now next following. Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth, Two sheepe, my Cupboard in the hall foure pewter platters, the bedstedd whereon I now lye, by best Coverlett, a pillow and a boulster, ij paire of sheets and a blanket. all which my will is that Maudlin my wife shall have in keepinge until my said daughter Elizabeth shalbe of the age of Twentie and one yeares or until the day of hir marriage which of them shall first happen. And I doe give and bequeath moreover unto to my foresaide daughter Elizabeth the summe of six pounds of lawfull money of England to bee put forth to hir best use by my said sonnin law Roger Browne from the said feast of St Michael the Archangell which shalbe in the yeare of our Lord God 1622 untill said Elizabeth shalbe of the age of Twentie and one yeares or the day of hir marriage which of them shall first happen, and then to bee paid to hir with all the encrease thereof by the said Roger Browne his executors or assigns all which said somme of six pounds is now delivered in trust to the said Roger to the use of hir the said Elizabeth and hee the said Roger to have the use hereof to his owne proper use gratis for one whole yeare now next following And my will is that if eyther the said Edward or Elizabeth shall happen to die before they accomplish the said age of twentie and one yeares, or before that time bee not married then his or hir portion so dyinge shallbe due to be paid the Survivor of them at their said age or day of marriage which shall first happen. Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Abigall Browne and to hir three Children two sheepe a peece Item I give and bequeath to my sonnin law Roger Browne my grey mare Itm I give and bequeath to my sonne Thomas Britten my browne Cowe, a blanquett a paire of sheets all my wearing apparel, halfe of my fleeze wooll, one quarter of Barley and Two bushels of Malte. And I give to his foure Children two sheepe a peece. Itm I give and bequeath to Maudlin my wife the house and holmestedd wherein I now dwell together with the land there perteyining which I now have with their appurtenances for and during so long as shee kepeth hirself my widdow. Itm I give and bequeath to my said sonne Thomas the one halfe part of all such debts somme and sommes of money what soever which is due and owing unto mee of any person or persons by specialtie or otherwise howsoever. And I give and bequeath to Maudlin my wife the other halfe part of all such debts somme and sommes of money what soever which is due and owing unto mee of any person or persons by specialtie or otherwise howsoever And I give and bequeath unto Maudlin my wife all the rest of my household stuffe and implements of household linen woollen beddinge naparie, and all other my goods and Chattles whatsoever not before in theis partes by mee given nor bequeathed. And I doe make and ordaine and appointe my said wife Maudlin and my said sonne Thomas to bee the executors of this my last will and Testament. And I doe desire my said sonin law Roger Browne to bee the overseer of this my last will and Testament. Theis persons being present and witnesses there unto Paul Boughton Roger Browne Richard Church
Probate xxvj June 1624
Inventory value £25 14s 10d |