Widdiall, Hertfordshire - died 1678

Created 21 Nov 1678

In the name of God Amen the one and twentieth day of November for the year of our Lord One Thousand six hundred seventie and eight and in the thirtieth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord Charles the second by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King defender of the faith I Anne Slatholme of Widdiall in the Countie of Hertford Widd being of sound mind and perfect memorie praysed be god yet considering the frailtie of this mortall life and that the time of health is the most proper and fitting season to prepare for Death Doe make this my last will and testament in manner and forme following

And first & principally I commend my soul into the hands of God that give it expecting free remission of all my sinns through the alone meritts death and passion of my Lord & saviour Jesus Christ & my bodie I committ unto the earth from whence it was taken to be buried in Christian buriall att the discretion of my executors hereafter named

Item I give unto the poore of the towne of Buntingford in the said Countie of Hertford the sum of twentie shillings to be laid out in bread & distributed amongst them upon the day of my funerall

Item I give and bequeath unto Susanah Arnell my servant for her good and faithful service all that messuage or Tenem’t scituated being in Buntingford adioyning(?) to my owne dwelling house and now in the tenn’t or occupation of Richard Tunn duering the terme of her naturall life and after the decease of the said Susanah Arnall then to George Cage son of Thornton Cage of Great Hormead gent

Item I give and bequeath unto Ralph Taylor of Layston gent and to John Edridge of Aspeden ^Yeoman^ All my messuage Lands meadows pastures and hereditam’ts as well copihold as ffreehold whatsoever & wheresoever scituate lyeing & being within the parrishesand feilds of Widdiall Aspenden & Layston in the said Countie of Hertford that is to say the Messuage or Tenam’t in Buntingford Street wherein I now dwell w’th a garden on the backside thereof & all houses out houses yards edifices and buildings thereunto belonging

Alsoe a barne or straw house att the lower end of the said yard sumtime a cottage or Tenam’t late purchased by my latte husband William Slatholme Doctor of Phisick of one Richard Rawling and Elinor his wife And

alsoe one close of Land pasture and wood ground called new close(?) containing by estimation nine acres be the same more or lesse Also one pightell(?) of pasture containing by estimate one acre also eight ^severall^ pieces of arrable and pasture lyeing in downhall field contayning by estimation twentie and four acres be the same more or lesse

Also one acre more lyeing upon Ripseydoill(?) and all other my messuages lands and tenements whatsoever scituate lyeing and being in the Countie of Hertford To have and to hold to them and their heirs forever to the uses intents and purposes hereafter in and by this my will is limited and declared that is to say to the use and behoofe of George Cage sonn of Thornton Cage of Great Hormead in the Countie of Hertford gent when he shall come to the age of one and twentie years And then to him and his heirs for ever provided always my intent & meaning is that my executors hereafter mentioned as also the said George Cage his heirs execute and assigns ^and to every of them^ unto whome the said messuages lands and tenants shall desend and come according to this my will and testament shall out of the rents and profitts(?) of the same pay or cause to be payed unto my Brother John Cage or his assigns the sum of six pounds of lawful money of England yearley and every yeare during the terme of his natural life att the two feast of St Michaell the archangell and the Anunciation of our blessed Lady Mary the virgin by equall portions and my last will further is that in case the said Anuitie or any part thereof be unpayed by the space of six dayes after any of the said feasts then it shall and may be lawful to and for the said John Cage and his assigns to enter upon the said messuages lands and premisses above mentioned

(added and witnesses later…

and also four acres of coppey hold land lyeing in a certaine feild called lower hill which I have already surrenderd to the use of my will unto the said George Cage and his heirs forever)

Witnessed: John Skegge
Will Skegge
Geo. Bullen

Signed: Anne Slatholme

… end of addition)

or any part thereof and distraine and the distresse there taken to detaine and keep untill he be thereof fully satisfied and payed

Item I give and bequeath unto my nephew Thorton Cage the sum of one shilling of Lawful money of England

Item I give unto Joane Wheeler of Layston Widd the sum of five shillings of Lawful money of

England Item I give unto Samuell Brookbanks my servant the sum of Tenn shillings of Lawful money of England

Item all the rest of my goods and chattles Readey money and debts whatsoever I give and bequeath to Ralph Taylor gent and to John Eldridge yeoman whom I ordaine nominate and appoint Executors of this my last will and Testament And for their paines and care I give unto each of them the sum of five pounds apeece yearley and every yeare untill my heir above mentioned shall come to the full age of one and twentie years my legacies being paid and my ffunerall expenses discharged And all the over pluss unbequeathed of my rents goods & chattels to be imployed by my executors aforesaid for the good ^and benefitt^ and advantage of my heir aforesaid as they shall think fitting In witness whereof Revoking all former and other wills I have hereunto sett my hand and seal the day and year first above written

Sealed and …. By the testator In the presences of

Witnessed: John Skegge
Will Skegge
Geo. Bullen Signed: Anne Slatholme

View scanned originals: at the Essex Archive