George Catt Transcribed will: 1589/90

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Last will and testament of George Catt of Rotherfield (1520-1590)
From East Sussex Record Office, PBT 1/1/8/391^[1]
Transcribed by Dave Roberts with corrections by Colin Hewitt.

In the name of God Amen the twenty sixth day of January in the twenty seventh year of the reign of our most gracious sovereign lady Elizabeth by the grace of God of England France and Ireland queen defender of the faith etc I George Catt of Rotherfield in the county of Sussex yeoman being of good and fit mind and memory laud and praise be unto God therefore do make and ordain this my present testament concerning herein my last will in manner and form as followeth firstly I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God my maker redeemer and only saviour trusting to have salvation through Jesus Christ and my body to be buried in the churchyard of Rotherfield above said Item I give unto the poor people of Rotherfield before said twelve pence to be given them at my burial Item I give and bequeath unto Aglentine my wife for term of her life all my freehold lands and house and housing in Rotherfield above said which is not already given by deed unto my son Nicholas Catt to the intent and upon condition that she shall not claim any third portion of the said piece of free lands already given by deed unto the said Nicholas Catt but shall in her widowhood clearly remit and release unto the said Nicholas Catt his heirs and assigns all her rightful interest that she then shall have or anything to claim or have in the said piece of land with the appertenances by reason of her marriage unto me and in case my said wife then refuses so to do and not so release that then my will is that my said wife shall disposess of so much of the half part of the house and piece of land given unto her by this my will and the third part cometh unto which she claimeth out of the foresaid pieces of land already given unto my son Nicholas Catt by deed Item my will is that after the decease of Aglentyne my wife that the said half part of the house and housing and foresaid piece of land given unto her for term of her life shall remain unto Nicholas Catt my son and to his heirs forever on this condition namely that the said Nicholas Catt his heirs executors or assigns shall pay or cause to be paid unto my son Thomas Catt his heirs or assigns the sum of twenty pounds and unto George Catt my son his heirs or assigns likewise twenty pounds and unto Ellen Catt my daughter her heirs or assigns the sum of ten pounds and unto Agnes Catt my daughter her heirs or assigns the sum of ten pounds in manner and form followeth that is to say unto my son Thomas Catt his heirs or assigns six pounds thirteen shillings and fourpence of current English money within the first year next after my decease likewise within the second year next after my decease other six pounds thirteen shillings and fourpence and also within the third year next after my decease other six pounds thirteen shilling and fourpence of current English money in full payment of the former sum of twenty pounds given unto the said Thomas by this my will Item unto George Catt my son his heirs or assigns within the fourth year next after my decease six pounds thirteen shillings and fourpence of current English money and within the fifth year next after my decease unto the said George his heirs or assigns other six pounds thirteen shillings and fourpence of lawful English money and also within the sixth year next after my decease unto the said George or his assigns other six pounds thirteen shillings and fourpence of good and lawful money of England in full payment of the said sum of twenty pounds given unto him by this my will Item unto my daughters Ellen and Agnes and unto either of them their heirs or assigns three pounds six shillings and eight pence apiece within the seventh year next after my decease and unto the Ellen and Agnes and unto either of them their heirs or assigns within the eighth year next after my decease other three pounds six shillings and eight pence apiece of lawful money of England and likewise unto the said Ellen and Agnes unto either of them their heirs or assigns within the ninth year next after my decease likewise three pounds six shillings and eight pence apiece of good and lawful money of England in full payment of the foresaid sum of ten pounds given unto them by this my will Item my will is that my wife shall pay and discharge my son Nicholas of the lords rent due to be paid for her half part before received at all times during her natural life Item my will is that my said wife shall bear and find all needful reparations to be done on the half part of the house given unto her at all times during her natural life Item I give unto my son Nicholas my greatest chest the residue of all my household stuff and moveables whatsoever ungiven I give unto Aglentyne my wife whom I make my sole executrix of this my last will and testament and she to pay my debts I ordain Richard Kente the younger of Rotherfield my faithful overseer of this my present will and testament and he to have three shillings and fourpence for his labour in witness whereof I have delivered this with my own hand in the presence of Thomas Catt Absolom Catt Isaac Alchorne and George Amhurst curate John Catt

Research Notes

Dates
date of will: 26 January 1584/85 (the 27th year of the reign of Elizabeth I)
grant of probate: 19 Jan 1590/91

People mentioned in the will;

1. George Catt of Rotherfield, yeoman
2. Aglentyne Catt, his wife and sole executrix; half house and land to be passed onto Nicholas
3. Nicholas Catt, son; already given some land and gets half of what's left now and the last half after his mother dies
4. Thomas Catt, son; gets twenty pounds over three years, years 1-3
5. George Catt, son; gets twenty pounds over three years, years 4-6
6. Ellen Catt, daughter; gets ten pounds over three years, years 7-9
7. Agnes Catt, daughter; gets ten pounds over three years, years 7-9
8. Richard Kente, the younger of Rotherfield, appointed overseer, paid 3s 4d (I think this is the husband of Aglintine the daughter as established from her mother's will)
9. Thomas Catt, witness. Is this also his son?
10. Absolon Catt, witness
11. Isaac Alchorne, witness
12. George Amhurst, witness
13. John Catt, curate. Is this George Catt's son?

No mention of Aglintine(Eglantyne) Catt his daughter, although her husband, Richard Kente is made overseer, but she is mentioned in her mother's will in 1593.

Nicholas Catt seems to be the favoured son, presumably the eldest.

Sources

1. ↑ George Catt of Rotherfield, yeoman; registered will with grant of probate (1590); Probate records 1518-1858; PBT 1/1/8/391; [1] Accessed 14 Jan 2019.