Will of Robert Vernon of Audley, Staffordshire, 1609

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Audley, Staffordshire, England
Surname/tag: Vernon

This is a transcript of the will of Robert Vernon, shoemaker, of Audley, Staffordshire. His will was dated 8 February 1608/9 (6 James 1) and proved on 16 May 1609.

Paragraph breaks have been added to he transcript.

Transcript

In the name of god Amen the Eight daye of Februarie in the sixt yeare of the Raigne of o[u]r most gratious sov’eigne Lord James by the grace of god Kinge of Engeland Fraunce and Irelande defender of the faith &c. And of Scotlande the two and fowrtieth I Robt Vernon of Awdeley in the Cowntie off Staff shewmaker some what sicke in bodie yett nev’thelesse of good and pfecte memorie praysed begod doe ordayne constytute and mack this my Testament concerninge hearin]?] my last will in maner and forme followinge That ys to saye

first I gyve and bequeath my sowle in to the handes of Allmightie god and Crist Jesus my saviour and Redeemer by whose blodsheding I trust to be saved and my body to x’prum buriall in the pishe churchyard of Awdeley at the chancell end theare whear my mother lyeth

It[e]m I gyve and bequeath my howse whearin I dwell unto Kathearayne my wyfe Duringe the tearme of her lyfe kepinge her sealfe sowle and unmaried together ovth the kicthene and backside theirto belongeinge Exceptnge one heigh chamber on my parler wch I gyve and bequeth unto Willm my sonne for his prsent use and occupacon

It[e]m I gyve and bequeath unto Thoms my yongest sonne one bed wth all man’ of fourniture theirto belonginge wth rome in some one of my chambers for the tearme of his lyfe keepinge himself sowle and unmaried and after his marriage then to have but onely the said bedd And also I give and bequeath unto my said sonne Thoms one pyde cow beinge new mealche and now in my custodie and keepinge wch said cow my will ys shall Remayne and be to the use of my said wyfe his mother duringe her lyfe towards his maintaynnce and bringeinge up and that she maye change and alter the said cowe at her pleasure at any tyme leavinge him one as good at he decease Item I give and bequeath moreov’ to my said sonne Thomas tenne poundes of lawfull money of Englande to be paid him when he the said Thomas shall fullye accomplishe the age of one and twentie yeares either by my said sonne William or by my sonne Randall wheather of them shalbe in possession of my said howse at suche tyme as my said sonne Thomas shall accomplishe the said age of xxjtie yeares In consideracon whearof I gyve and bequeath my said howse together wth my kicthine gardube and backesayde wth all and singular theare apprtannces Immediatly from and after the marriage or decease of my said wyfe whether shall first happen) unto Willm my sonne and to the heires of his bodie lawfully begotten and for default of suche Issue then to Randall Vernon my Sonne and to the heires of his bodie lawfully begotten And for default of suche Issue then to Thomas Vernon my said sonne and to the heaires of his bodye lawfully begotten And for Default of suche Issue then to the Right heaires of mee the said Robt Vernon for ev[er]

It[em] I gyve and bequeathe unto Margreat Verno[n] my Dowghter Fyfteene poundes of lawfull money of Englande to be payed her when she the said Margarett shall accomplishe the age of one and twentie yeares if she wilbe Ruled and ordered in her mariage by myne Executors or by two of theim at the least

It[em] I gyve and bequeath unto Alice Vernon my Dowghter teenne poundes of good and lawfull money of Englande to be payed her when she shall in lyke wise[?] accomplishe the full age of xxjth yeares If shee in lyke sort wilbe Ruled and ordered by my said Executors or by two of them at the least

It[em] I gyve and bequeath unto Randall Vernon my sonne other Tenne poundes of lyke lawfull money of England to be payed him when he shall accomplishe the full age of one & twentie yeares All wch porcons and sumes of money I gyve and bequeath to theim and ev’ie of theim for and in the name of theire & ev’ie of their childes pt of my goodes

It[em] I gyve and bequeathe unto Robt Vernon my Eldest sonne Fyve shillinges of lawfull money of England for and in the name of his Childes pte of all my goodes

It[em] I gyve and bequeathe unto Elizabethe my Dowghter other Fyve shillinges of lawfull money of Englande for and in the name of her Childes pte of all my goodes

It[em] whereas I have three silver spoones I gyve & bequeath on of theim to Willim my sonne and one other to Margarett my Dowghter and the third to Alice my Dowghter

It[em] my legacies payd and my funerall Expences discharged and my foure youngest Childrenn kept and mayntayned at the ov’sight of my said wyfe I gyve and bequeath all the Rest of my goods chattells debts and catteles whatsoever unto Katherine my wyfe And of this my last will and testament I ordaine constitute and make Richard Vernon my brother pson of Hanburie Katherine my wyfe and Willm Verno my sonne my Trustie and lawfull Executors to see the same well and trulie pformed and Executed to the pleasure of god and accordinge to my true meaninge And I macke Thomas Rowleye my Brotherinlaw overseer to see the same pformed and executed as aforesaid

In witnes whearof to this my p’sent last will and Testament I the said Robt Vernon have put my hande & seale the daye and yeare first above written in the p’sence of thease whose names are under written and also my will ys that my Dowghter Margarett shall have my grea[…] pann after my said wyfes Decese and my Dowght Alice my best pott thease beinge witnesses
Thomas Wood
ELizabethe Wood Alice Vernon
Richard Garnitt wth others

Sources

• "Staffordshire, Dioceses Of Lichfield And Coventry Wills And Probate 1521-1860". Findmypast (accessed 29 May 2022). Robert Vernon, 1609, Audley.