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Will of Richard Knightley of Fawsley 1651

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Date: 1648 to 1651
Location: Fawsley, Northamptonshire, Englandmap
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Will of Richard Knightley of Fawsley written 25 January 1647/8,proved on 8 January 1650/1 granted to Richard Knightley the son, again granted on 18 July 1666 to Ann Knightley the relict of the son Richard Knightley in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in London. [1] Difficult to read copy.

Spelling, punctuation and line breaks are as per the register copy. ff is rendered as F. Abbreviations are expanded and additions and uncertain words noted in [square brackets]. Paragraph breaks (where added) and bold text for names are my own for ease of reading.

People in the will in the order that they appear:

  • Richard Knightley of Fausley (testator)
  • Richard Knightley late of Preston (predecessor, deceased)
  • Peter Coles
  • William
  • Jane Knightley (wife)
  • Deverux (son
  • Lucie (son)
  • Vallentine (son)
  • Mary (daughter)
  • Jane Gastirill (grandchild)
  • Richard Knightley the Sonne of Thomas Knightley (godson)
  • Richard Thompson (grandchild)
  • - Smith (sister)
  • Harry Gastrill
  • Children of Edward (brother)
  • Thomas (brother)
  • - Thompson (daughter)
  • Wall Acton & Jo: Acton
  • J? Hamilton
  • Mr Shugbrugh
  • Frances Loe
  • Mr Hawkins
  • Richard Knightley (son)
  • Samuell Knightley (brother)
  • Witnesses: Phillippe Parsons, William Feild, Edward Bagshawe
  • Ann, wife of Richard (daughter in law mentioned in 2nd probate act)

In the name of God Amen The
25th January Anno Domini 1647 in the 23 of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles by the grace of
God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the faith I Richard Knightley of Fausley
in the countie of northampton Esquire being of good and perfect health both of body and mind thanks be given
to God therefore considering that all men are Mortall and the house of death uncertaine doe ordaine constitute
and make this my last will and testament in manner and forme following That is to say First and above
all things I bequeath and commend my soule into the hands of Allmightie God my maker and Redeemer
being heartily Sorry and penitent for all my Sinns past yet assuredly trusting and relyeing upon the
mercies of God hopeing that for and through the merritts of his Sonne my Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ they shall bee for given mee. and not imputed unto and I accounted righteous by meanes of his
Righteousnes imputed to mee. And after my departure out of this world to bee received into Everlasting
happiness amongst the Elect of God: Item I acknowledge my body to bee Earth and that itt shall to
earth returne And I will that the same shall bee decently buried as the body of a Christian in the parish
Church of Fausley in the said countie of northam[p]ton according to the to Discretion of my Executor
Assuredly beleeveing that the same shall att the last day rise again, and then both in Soule and body I
shall [e[n]ioye] life Everlasting in happiness amongst the Elect, and chosen of God. And for the settlinge in
Order and disposing of Such Worldly things as God hath given unto mee Imprimis That Where as my
p[re]decessor Richard Knightley late of Preston Deceased did give to the poore of Preston one hundred
pounds, and Fifteen pounds that was given by Peter Coles for the poore of Preston both which Summes
remaining in my hands, and have Appointed William to pay out of that Tenement hee houlds of mee
Six pounds p[er] ann[u]m to be quarterly payd for the use of the poore of Preston to bee distributed amongst the
poorest of them att the Oversight of the Minister and the Overseers till such time there may bee [...]
taken in the buying some Land for the use of the poore to be Settled for ever upon them I doe bequeath
that my Executor make the [ii5£] [200£] to go ^to the benefitt of the poore and with the said 200£ to buy such
a preporc[i]on of Lands as that money shall purchase to be settled upon the poore for Ever. And Whereas
my Predecesso[rs] intending to Erect a free Schoole att Preston and to have charged itt out of the Lands of littell
Preston but that Land being otherwise disposed, and [I unwilling] th[a]t such a charitable worke should bee neglected and
fall to the ground And greate Preston beeing settled upon my [So...] and [...] wife that I cannot any way
charge itt therefor I bequeath 200£ to buy a preporc[i]on of Land for the maintenance of itt And shall desire
my sonne who is to enioy my estate that hee will Lay Downe soe much as will buy 20£ p[er] Ann[u]m that may
bee apporc[i]on for a Schoolemaster. to teach the poorest Children of the Towne And Whereas I stand
ingaged to pay many debts and every honest man ought to satisfie that my will is that First of all my
debts may bee satisfied and then Legacies. And Whereas I have an estate settled upon mee of Warwickshire
Lands that Were my Lord of Herefords and charged with the payment of Seaven of Thousand and Fiftie
pounds to mee if that money when itt comes to bee payd will not satisfie my debts and Legacies then itt is my
Will that they shall bee charged upon Fausley haveing reserved in my Self power to make a joyneture
of 500£ per Ann[u]m to my Wife Jane Knightley dureing her life and the rest excepte the two Pares[h] to
bee charged w[i]th debts and Legacies First I bequeath unto my wife Jane Knightley dureing her Life the
house att Fausley or soe much as shee shall desire [thereso] of with the Orchards gardens and the
Summer[to?]ft the Millfeild with the Mill [K...] w[i]th the Meadowes belonging unto itt and the Conditt[...]
feild w[i]th all the Meadowes belonging thereunto w[i]th aproporc[i]on of such goods as she shall like of
for her necessary use dureinge her life And after her death to my sonne, and for the newe feild w[i]th the
Meadowes and [Sterindon] w[i]th the meadowes they shall goe to the satisfieing of debts and Legacies if there
bee Occation. Item I give and bequeath to my Sonne Deverux a 1000£. Item I ^bequeath to my Sonne Vallentine
500£ pound ^Item I bequeath unto my Sonne Lucie 500£ Item I bequeath to my daughter Mary two Thousand
pounds to bee payd upon her marriage day if shee shall match her selfe w[i]th the consent

[Page 2]
of her Mother and my Sonne and to 5[0?]£ per Annum allowed her till shee shall marry
Item I bequeath to my grandchild Jane Gastirill a hundred pounds Item I bequeath to my two God
Sonnes Richard Knightley the Sonne of Thomas Knightley of Bifeild and unto my Grandchild
Richard Thompson Tenn pounds apeece. To every workman that belongs to my worke [5s]
apeece to every Sheapheard 20s apeece To my Sister Smith 20£ To Harry Gastrill 10£. to my brother
Edwardes Chilldren 5£ apeece to my brother Thomas the like To my Daughter Thompson 20£ To
Wall Acton 40s. To Jo: Acton 40s. to J[..] Hamilton 20£. To every Servant 5£ except those
yjay I have given by this Will. To Mr Shugbrugh to by him anagg 20£. Item I give and
bequeath to the poore of Everdon five pounds to bee distributed amongst the poorest people
there Item I bequeath to the Towne of Badbie five pounds to bee distributed amongst the poore
people there item I give and bequeath unto the poore of Bifeild five pounds to bee distributed
amongst them Item I give and bequeath to Frances Loe Forty pounds Item I give and bequeath
unto the poore of Charlton Twenty shillings Item I give and bequeath to Mr Hawkins as
for that Solicite my wifes business as occac[i]on[e]s [...] fall out Item that I make my Sonne
Richard Knightley Sole executor to Execute this my last will and testament and my
three brothers Samuell Knightley Edward Knightley and Thomas Knightley over
seers of my Will and I give them 20£ apeece Richard Knightley Signed Sealed
and published as the last Will and Testament of the sayd Richard Knightley the tenth
day of September Anno Dominj 1650 att w[hi]ch time the said Richard Knightley
did give to his sonne Vallentine above named by Way of Addic[i]on to his former Legacie
the summe of five hundred pounds In the presence of Phillippe Parsons William
Feild Edward Bagshawe

[Probate, see header]

Sources

  1. Will: "England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858"
    The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 215
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 5111 #180623 (accessed 9 October 2023)
    Will of Richardi Knightley, granted probate on 8-Jan-1651.




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