This is a transcription of the register version of the will of Jane (Unknown) Bickley), Widow of Caxton. [1]
The will was written on 28 July 1656 and proved before the Judges for the Probate of Wills in London on 17 February 1657/8. This body managed Wills and Administrations during the Commonwealth instead of the Church of England's Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
Spelling, punctuation and line breaks are as per the register copy.
Capital F is rendered as F rather than ff.
Abbreviations are expanded in [square brackets].
Paragraph breaks and bold text for names are my own for ease of reading.
Persons named:
- my daughter Margarett now wife to Gilbert Cleter of London
- my daughter Thomasin now wife to John Powell of London
- my daughter Elizabeth now wife to Philip Jackson of Caxton, Cambridgeshire
- my daughter Jane: unmarried
- Grandchildren
- Francis Cleter
- Amie Cleter
- Ann Cleter
- John Powell
- Mary Powell
- Jane Powell
- my loveinge Brother Francis Bickly the elder of Darkstone Esqr Francis was Jane's brother-in-law and brother to Jane's deceased husband Robert. Executor of her will
- Witnesses:
- Henry Lilley Cler.
- Thomas Hudder.
In the name of God Amen
The eight and twentieth day of July in the yeare one Thousand six hundred
fiftie and sixe I Jane Bickley of Caxton in the County of Cambridge widowe
though sicke in body yet in perfect sence and memory (Blessed be god Doe make and
ordeyne this my last will and Testament in manner and forme followinge Imprimis
I commend my soul into the hands of God my mercifull father whose name be ever
blessed for the greate workes of his hands upon me viz: Creation redemption Justi=
=fication & sanctification and allsoe for the sure and certayne hope of eternall glori=
=fication It[em] I bequeath my body to the earth from whence it came to be buried orderly
and decently accordinge to the Discretion of my Executor
It[em] I give to my daughter
Margarett now wife to Gilbert Cleter Citizen of London one shillinge to be payd to her
upon demand within one moneth after my decease
It[em] I give to my daughter Thomasin
now wife to John Powell Citizen of London one shillinge to be payd to her upon demand
within one moneth after my decease
It[em] I give to my daughter Elizabeth now wife to
Philip Jackson of Caxton in the County of Cambridge one shillinge to be p[ai]d to her
upon demand by my Executor within one moneth after my decease
It[em] I give to my
daughter Jane the use of Fifty powndes to be put into the handes of my Executor
upon the fower and twentieth day of June next ensueinge to be payd to her yearely
and every yeare duringe her naturall life for and towards her mayntenance
It[em]
my will and pleasure is that after the Death of Jane my sayd daughter the fifty
powndes above mentioned shalbe given to my grandchildren the sonnes and daugh=
=ters of my daughters Margaret and Thomasyn by even and equall portions that
is to say To Francis Cleter son of Gilbert and Margarett Cleter eight pownds
sixe shillinges and eight pence To Amie Cleter daughter to the said Gilbert and
Margarett Eight poundes sixe shillinges and eight pence And to Ann Cleter
daughter to the said Gilbert and Margarett the sum of eight powndes sixe shil=
=linges and eight pence provided that if either of these shall depart this
naturall life before the Day of payment of the sayd Legacie my will is that the
survivor or survivors shall receive and enjoy the same fully and truely as if it
had bin otherwise given and bequeathed to him or them
It[em] my will is that the
other moyty or part of the fifty powndes ungiven and unbequeathed after the
decease of my daughter Jane shall be given to the sonnes and daughters of my daughter
Thomasyn wife to John Powell in manner followinge: viz: to John Powell their
sonne Eight pounds sixe shillings and eight pence To Mary Powell their
daughter Eight poundes sixe shillinges and eight pence To Jane their Daughter
the som of Eight powndes sixe shillinges and eight pence w[i]th the same provisoe
that if either the said parties depart this naturall life before the day of pay=
=ment of this my Legacie my will is that the Survivor or Survivors shall receave
and enjoy the same fully and truely as if it had bin otherwise given and bequea=
=thed to him or them
It[em] all my goods ungiven and unbequeathed I leave to the
disposeinge of my loveinge Brother Francis Bickly the elder of Darkstone Esqr
whome I hartlily desire to take upon him the care of Executorshippe for the
performance of this my will and Testament ///. The m[ar]ke of Jane Bickley./
Sealed and d[elivere]d in the presence of us to the use of the Executor. /// .
Henry Lilley Cler. /// Thomas Hudder. /// .
This will was proved at London before the Judges for probate of wills
and grantinge Adminstrations lawfullie authorised the seaventeenth
daye of February in the yeare of our Lord god (accordinge to the computa=
=tion of the Church of England) one Thousand Six hundred Fiftie Seaven.
By the oath of Francis Bickley the brother and sole Executor of the Decea=
=sed To whome Administration of all the goodes and Chattells of the said
Deceased was Comitted he beinge first legally sworne truly to Administer
the same. ///.
Sources
- ↑ Reference: PROB 11/275/239 Description: Will of Jane Bickley, Widow of Caxton Cambridgeshire Date: 17 February 1658 The National Archives online. Accessed 9 September 2021.