Will of Johan Dowsinge of Hingham, widow, 1555

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

This is a transcription of the register copy of the will of Johan Dowsinge, a widow of Hingham, Norfolk, England. Johan (or Joan) wrote her will on 12 December 1546 and it was proved on 9 January 1555/6 at the Consistory Court of the Diocese of Norwich. ^[1] The parish registers do not survive for Hingham before 1600, so we only know that Johan was deceased before this date, but not how long before this date. Her executor Walter Percher (or Picher) had survived long enough to prove the will personally.

Transcription conventions used in this text:
Spelling, punctuation and line breaks are as per the original document.
The text was originally in one block of text. Paragraph breaks at change of bequest ("Item"), and bold text for names have been added for ease of reading.
ff has been rendered as F.
Abbreviations and breviographs have been expanded in [square brackets].
Additions and margin notes, where they occur, have been added where indicated in the text.
Crossings through, where they occur, have been included Struck out.
The image quality was very good, and the handwriting readable.

Persons mentioned:

• Johan Dowsinge of Hingham, widow Testator. Wishes to be buried at Hingham.
• Walter Percher of Hengham Executor and primary legatee of the will. Still alive in January 1555/6.
• John Fitlinge my sonne in lawe bought land from Testator's husband Thomas, still owes Testator money for the said purchase. Wife of John Fitlinge not mentioned.
• Thomas Dowsinge late my husbande
• Alexander Fassett pri[e]st Probably the minister at Hingham. Witness to the will.
• John Moore Witness to the will.
• John Barnewell Witness to the will.

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[folio 234 recto]
In the name of god amen
The twelf daye of the moneth of De=
cember In the yere of our lorde god a
thowsande five hundreth and xLvj ^tie and
in the yere of the reigne of Henrye the
eight by the grace of god kinge of
Englande Fraunce and Irelande
Defendor of the faieth and in earth supreme
hedde of the church of Englande and
Irelande ^[2] I Johan Dowsinge of Hing
ham in the countie of Norff and with
in the dioces of Norwich wedowe beinge

[folio 234 verso]
in good and holl mynde thancks be unto
god make this my testament and last
will in manner and forme folowinge
First I bequeath my Sowle unto
allmightie god trustinge to have the
fruicon ^[3] of his glorious presens enioying
the celestiall companye in heaven and
my Bodie to be buried in the church
yarde of Hengham aforesaid

Item
I will that at the daye of my buriall
seaven Daye and thirtie daye and
earth ^[4] Dayes my Executors shall
Dispose in almes unto the poore people
such sommes of money as the same
my Executor or the assignes of him
shall thincke expedient

Item I give
and bequeath unto Walter Percher
of Hengham aforesaid all my goods
and cattelles as well reall and personall
of what name or qualitie soever thei
or enye of them be of in whos hands
or possession so ever thei be whether
thei or anye of them be cominge unto
me as a Debte or anye otherewise to
houlde to the same Waltar and his
assignes forever and I the saied Johan
Doe make and ordeyne the same Waltar
my sole Executor of this my present
Testament and last will he payinge
all such Debts as I doo owe to anye p[er]son
or parsons Furthermore I will that
the same Waltar as my sole Executor
of this my present testament and last
will and his assignes shall have receyve
opteyne ^[5] and take all such sommes of
money as is Dewe and owinge by John
Fitlinge my sonne in lawe for the
purchasse of all those lands tenements
and hereditaments which the same
John latelie purchassed of Thomas

[folio 235 recto]
Dowsinge late my husbande nowe deceassed
in as large manner and forme as I my
self the saied Johan owe and shoulde
have opteyne receyve and take all those
same Sommes of money by thactaritie
strength forme and effect of this testa=
ment and last will of the same Thomas
Dowsinge yf god sholde suffer me to
have naturall liffe untill the laste
Daye of payment of all those same
Sommes of money

In witnes whereof
to this my present Testament and
last will I have sette my Seale the
Daye and yere abovesaied./ Thies beinge
present and witness[e]s of the same Alexander
Fassett prist John Moore and John
Barnewell

Probate [from the Latin] This will was proved at Norwich before Master Michael Dunnynge, Doctor of Laws, principal official of the Consistory Court of Norwich on the ninth day of January AD 1555 and administration of the good &c granted to the Executor named in this will.

Sources

1. ↑ Will of Johan Dowsinge of Hingham, Widow 1555 Diocese of Norwich Consistory Court, NCC will register Beeles folio 234B. Norfolk Record Office, Norwich, Norfolk, England Images on Family Search accessed 21 May 2022
2. ↑ The scribe has omitted the Regnal Year
3. ↑ fruition
4. ↑ Sould this be each rather than earth?
5. ↑ obtain