Will of Richard Staper, Merchant of London, 1608

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

This is a transcription of the register copy of the will of Richard Staper a merchant of the City of London. Richard wrote his will on 1 June 1601, and did not revise it before his death. It was proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 12 July 1608. ^[1] Richard was a member of the Levant Company and the East Indies Company, and he references an adventure in foreign parts which he has invested in.

Spelling, punctuation and line breaks are as per the original document.
Crossings through have been included Struck out
The text was originally in one block of text. Paragraph breaks at change of bequest (Item), and bold text are added for ease of reading.
ff has been rendered as F
Abbreviations and breviographs have been expanded in [square brackets]
The image quality was acceptable, and the handwriting readable.

Persons mentioned:

• my lovinge wife Deonys Staper Dionys Hewett or Hewitt, married in 1567 and mother of all their children
  • Hewitt [Hewett] Staper eldest son of Testator, living in 1601. Executor of Will
  • Rowland Staper second son of Testator, living in 1601
  • Richard Staper son of Testator, living in 1601
  • Joane Lete or Leate, daughter of Testator, living in 1601 and married to Nicholas Leate
• my sister Roweds twoe daughters Phillip and Christian
• Elizabeth Rowid living with Testator, relationship not stated
• my Aunt Ansell deceased gave a gift to Elizabeth Rowid
• William Turner my Unckle George Turner his sonne
• the Children of my Unckle John Turner
• William Turner my godsonne may be a son of John Turner
• my nephew Nicholas Staper
• my brother in lawe William Hewett
• my Brother in lawe Harry Hewett his five Children
• twoe children of my sister Holeman deceased
• Awdrey the mayden probably one of the two children of Sister Holeman
• my brother James Staper
• Juliuos Bemishe relationship not stated ? an apprentice or journeyman
• Nyc[holas] Peard current tenant
• John Egellston current tenant
• William Tonge Merchant current tenant
• John Warren current tenant
• my Late sonne in Lawe Robert Sandey Robert Sandey (still alive in 1601) was the widower of Testator's deceased daughter
• John Pashfeild deceased previous tenant
• my Sonne in Lawe James Altham widower of Testator's daughter Mary Staper
• my sonne in law Nic[holas] Lete married to Testator's Daughter Joane
• my Brother in lawe George Holeman probably the widower of "Sister Holeman deceased"
• my freinde Mr William Huborne
• my Daughter Althams foure Children seeing she is deceased Mary Staper's children
• Mr Robert Dowe realtionship not stated

[folio 120 recto]
In the name of God: Amen: the first daie of
June Anno One thousand sixt hundred and one And in the three and fortith yeare of the
Reigne of our Soveraigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England
Fraunce and Ireland Defender of the Faithe &c I Richard Staper Cittizen and
Clothworker of London being in good health and in perfect memorie, Laude and praise be
therefore to Almightie god Doe make and ordaine this mt present Testament conteyninge
herin my Last Will in manner and forme followinge (that is to saie) First and principallie
I give and bequeathe my Soule to Almightie god my maker Saviour and Redeemer, Trusting
and nothinge doubtinge by that for his infinite mercyes sake sett fourthe in the precious bloud
of his dearlie beloved Sonne Jesus Christ our onelie Saviour and Redeemer he will receave
my Soule into his glorie and place it in the Company of heavenlie Angells and blessed
Saintes which god grant me for his mercyes sake Amen And concerninge my bodie I give
over the same commending it to the earthe to be buryed in the parishe Church of St Martins
Owtwitch where I am a parishioner under my Father's stone uppon which I will there be
a memorie made both of my Father and me and a newe stone layed by the appointment of my
Executor. Item First my will and minde is that all such debtes and duties as I owe of righte

[folio 120 verso]
and conscience to any person or persons be well and trewlie paide by my Executor, and after my debtes paide
and my funeralls performed I will that all my goodes chattells and debtes be devided into three equall partes
of which the one equall third part therof I give and bequeath to my lovinge wife Deonys Staper for
her reasonable parte and portion of all my saide goodes and Chattells whatsoever One other third part
thereof I give and bequeath to and amonge my Children Hewit Staper Rowland Staper Richard Stap[er]
and Joane Lete equallie to be devided and parted amonge them part and part like notwithstanding any
former advansment by me made to any of them before my decease And if any of them happen to die or dep[ar]te
this worlde before my decease then the parte of him or her deceased to be devided amonge the rest surviving

The third and last part of my said goodes Chattells &c I reserve to my selfe and to my Executor
for the performance of such legacies as herafter I give and bequeath

Item I give and bequeath
to be distributed to poore people at the daie of my buriall or shortlie after at the discretion of my
Executor and Overseers the Somme of Twentie poundes Item I give and bequeath to threescore
and fower poore men threescore and fower gownes of Clothe of eight shillinges the yarde of w[hi]ch
fortie of them to be given to poore men of the Company of Clothworkers wherein I require
that none be given or delivered to any for freindshipp, but onelie to such as be aged poore and
such as have most neede by the appointment of the M[aste]r and Wardens of the same Companie
and for the rest of the same gownes soe many to be given to poore men of the parishe where I
dwell and the rest at the discretion of my Executor and Overseers or some of them hopinge
they will give them where most neede is

Item I give and bequeath to Christes Hospitall the
some of Twentie poundes to St Thomas Hospitall tenn poundes and to Bridewell towardes
the settinge the poore one worke there the Somme of Twenty poundes Item I give and bequeath
to the poore prisoners in the prisons of the twoe Comters Ludgate Nwegate, the Kinges
bench the Marshalsea the White Lyon, the Clincke in Southwarke and the gatehouse of
Westminster to each of them fortie shillinges a peece to be paide each of them by tenn shillings
a quarter next after my decease Item I given and bequeath to the poore mens boxes of St
Martens Owtwitch, St Pulkers, St Gyles without Creplegate, St Mary Overs St
Georges, St Saviours, St Olaves, St Buttolphes without Bishopsgate and Aldgate
Shoreditch and Whitechappell to each of them fortie shillinges the peece.

Item I give and
bequeath to the Church wardens and Parson of St Martyns Owtwich towardes the building
of certaine shoppes over the East ende of the same Church to the end the same Church may
have somwhat comminge in to maintaine the repairac[i]ons of the same Church the some of twenty
poundes I saie twentie poundes so the same shoppes be builded within five yeares after my
decease otherwise this my guifte to be void And then the same twentie poundes to be paide
the Companie of Clothworkers to be distributed to the poore of the saide Companie at the
discretion of the M[aste]r Wardens and sixe of the Assistance at the leaste of the saide Company

Item I give and bequeath to the saide Company of Clothworkers the Some of one hundred
and tenn poundes uppon Condic[i]on they shall give to five poore men of the saide Company for
ever of my guifte to such as be aged and past work the some of Twentie shillinges a peece
to each of them about fourteene daies before Christmas and I will and appoint to be given
to every one of the livery of the saide Company which shall come to my buriall twoe Cakes
and twoe bunnes of spice breade, and the like to such M[aste]rs of the Hospitalls as shall come
to my buriall and to such other spicebreade to be alsoe given as my Executor and Overseers
shall thinke meete for that I will have noe drinkinge made before the goinge to Churche
as is now used.

Item I give and bequeath to my sister Roweds twoe daughters Phillip and
Christian to each of them a black gowne and Twentie poundes a peece and to every of
the Children they or either of them shall have at my decease Five poundes a peece
to be paide at their age of One and twentie yeares or at their marriage.

Item I give and
bequeath to Elizabeth Rowid dwelling with me yf she be unmarryed at my decease for
my guifte and for any thinge in my hand of hers ^by of the guifte of my Aunt Ansell deceased
or otherwise the somme of one hundred poundes to be paide at her age of One and twentye

[folio 121 recto]
yeares or daie of marriage but if she be marryed at my decease then this guifte to be voide and in liewe thereof
I give her and her husband to eache of them a blacke gowne and to her in money Twenty poundes. Item I
give to William Turner my Unckle George Turner his sonne a blacke Cloake and in money Fiftye
shillinges and to eache of his Children Five poundes a peece Item I give and bequeath to each
one of the Children of my Unckle John Turner halfe a dozen of spoones of Fiftie shillinges &
to William Turner my godsonne a black gowne

Item, I give and bequeath to my nephew Nicholas
Staper a black gowne and tenn poundes Item I give and bequeathe to my brother in lawe Will[ia]m
Hewett three yardes of Cloath for a Cloake and a Ringe of Three poundes. Item I give and bequeath
to my Brother in lawe Harry Hewett his five Children to each of them five pounds to be paide
at their age of One and twentye yeares or daie of marriage

Item I give and bequeath to my
daughter Joane Lete a Chaine of golde of five and twentie pounde, and a Ringe of golde with a
deathes heade of twoe pound to the ende she shall weare the same for my sake, and to everie one
of my daughters and sonnes Children which they have or shall have at my decease to each of them
the somme of Twenty poundes to be paide at their age of one and twentye yeares or daies of
marriage, and I will likewise there be a Ringe made with a deathes heade of the value of Fourtie
shillinges and given to my wife. Item I give to twoe children of my sister Holeman
deceased to each of them Tenn pounde a peece and to Awdrey the mayden a Ringe of golde with a
Deathes heade of Fortie shillinges price.

Item I doe forgive to my brother James Staper all such
debts as he ought me a Christmas Anno One Thousand Sixe hundred which is a good round some
of money but alwaies I reserve the Lease of his house which I paied him for a twoe yeares
past notwithstandinge that he dwelles in the same And I give him and his wife to each of them
a black gowne and a Ringe of Fortie shillinges a peece.

Item I give to Juliuos Bemishe
a black gowne and to every of my apprentices I give a yeares service a black Cloake and in
money fortie shillinges, and every of my maide servantes a blacke gowne and fortie shillinges

Item I give and bequeathe to my sonne Hewitt Staper and to his heires for ever all that
my greate howse wherein I dwell with the twoe tenementes adioyinge in the tenure of Nyc:
Peard and John Egellston with all the appurtenannces whatsoever perteyninge to the same
wainscotted as nowe it is, and alsoe a Certaine rome over the grounde and so upward now
lyinge to the Tenement wherin William Tonge Marchannt or John Warren now dwelleth
which Tenement I soulde my Late sonne in Lawe Robert Sandey and reserved the same roome
to be taken into my howse to make it quadrante at an end of a Certaine Lease made of the
same Tenement to one John Pashfeild deceased whereof some foure or five yeares is
yett to come at the end whereof I doe appointe my Sonne Hewitt to take the same roome
from the saide Tenement I soulde the saide Robert Sandey and to lay the same to the house
wherein Nic: Peard now dwelleth for the buildinge upp whereof to be layed to the
saide Tenement I give and bequeath to my saide sonne Hewitt Staper the somme of
twoe hundred poundes, but if he doe not take the same and builde it to the saide Nic:
Peardes house within twoe yeares after the endinge of the saide lease made to John
Pashfeild then the saide guifte of Twoe hundred poundes to be voide to the saide Hewitt
and then I give the same Twoe hundred poundes to my sonne Rowland and Richard
to each of them a hundred poundes thereof

And I will and my minde is that my wife
have convenient roomes for her dwellinge in my saide greate howse but as for all the
warehowses Sellers Countinge howses and suchlike I appointe her to medde w[i]th
noe part of them but to leave them whollie to our Sonne Hewitt Staper with such
other convenient roomes as she may spare hopinge she wilbe a comfort to our saide
Children and of this my Testament and Last will I make and ordaine Hewitt Staper
my Lovinge and eldest Sonne my full and wholle Executor, and for want of him or in
his abscence my second Sonne Rowland Staper, and for want of him or in his abscence
my sonne Richard Staper, And Overseers of he same I make my Sonne in Lawe
James Altham and Nic: Lete and my late Sonne in lawe Robert Sandey and my

[folio 121 verso']
Brother in lawe George Holeman to whome I give and bequeath to each of them for
their Counsell and assistance to the perfect fulfillinge of all the premisses tenn pounds
a peece, and to each of them and their wives Black gownes, and if my late Sonne in
lawe Robert Sandey doe by any meanes hinder the takinge in of the saide voide roome
from the howse wherein Tonge dwelles to laye to the Tenement where Peard
dwelles, or doe by any meanes whatsoever gett away the saide roome from my Sonne
then I revoke the saide guifte of Tenn poundes given him as aforesaid besides I saie
he doth not performe the parte of a freinde with me but my truste is he will not
deceave me. I give and bequeath to my freinde Mr William Huborne a black gowne
and fiftye shillinges for a Ringe

Item I give and bequeath to my Sonnes Rowland
and Richard to each of them a hundred poundes, And forsomuch as I have divers
adventures to come in which is in Forren Countries or on the Seas therefore
I doe lymitt twoe yeares time to paie my legacies The rest of all my goodes &c
not bequeathed I give and bequeath to my three sonnes Hewitt Rowland and Richard
equallie to be reparted amonge them and so I make a finall ende. Revokinge all
other Testamentes heretofore made for and concerninge the premisses In witnes
whereof I have written all the same with my owne hand whereunto I have
subscribed my name and sealled it with my Sealle the daie and yeare above
written and soe I desier god to have mercy uppon me Amen per me Richard
Staper.

Item I give and bequeath to my Daughter Althams foure Children
seeing she is deceased to each of them Five and twentie poundes which is amonge
them all one hundred poundes to be paide at their full ages or daies of marriage
Item I give to Mr Robert Dowe a blacke gowne and a Ringe of Three poundes
with a Deathes head.

[In Latin] The testament written above was proved in London before the Venerable Edmund Pope Doctor of Laws, surrogate to the Venerable John Benet knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, constituted on the twelfth day of July AD 1608 to Hewitt Staper the natural and legal son of the said deceased and executor named in this testament

Sources

1. ↑ Will of Richard Staper 1608: "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: 112
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 5111 #1010547 (accessed 12 April 2022)
   Will of Richi Staper of London, granted probate on 12 Jul 1608. Died Abt 1608.