Will of Thomas Mason of Worcester, 1602

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

This is a transcription of the original will of Thomas Mason of the City of Worcester, Worcestershire, England. Thomas made his will dated 25 February in the "three and fortieth year" of the reign of Queen Elizabeth which is 1600/1 when he was "sick in bodie" but was unrevised until Thomas' death nearly two years later. The will was drawn up for him by the same person who wrote out the inventory of Thomas' possessions on "the last of January 1602" which was 31 January 1602/3. This was exhibited when the will was proved at the Consistory Court of the Diocese of Worcester on 11 February 1602/3. ^[1] The inventory has also been transcribed below, the original was not given a folio number so has been numbered Inventory page 1 etc.

Transcription conventions used in this text:
Spelling, punctuation and line breaks are as per the original document.
Unusually, there were paragraph breaks at change of bequest ("Item") which have been preserved.
Bold text for names have been added for ease of reading.
Where present, ff has been rendered as F, and the old letter Thorn has been rendered as th.
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 good, and the handwriting readable but with many archaic spellings.

Persons mentioned:

• Thomas Mason of the Cittie of Worcester Testator
• my Father William Mason, tanner of the City of Worcester, buried in the College churchyard.
• Elnor my wyfe wife of Testator
• my fatheres lawes Streete Francis Streete, the third husband of Margaret Danckes. Margaret had been married to William Mason as her first husband. Margaret may have either been Testator's mother or step-mother.
• my bro William Pooler Testator's half brother. Margaret Danckes had been married to William Pooler as her second husband. Testator mentions all four of his Pooler step-siblings in his will.
• my brother hughe pooler Testator's half brother.
• my sister Susanes Testator's half sister born Susan Pooler, married to William Bulson of Bewdley
• my sister Elizabeth pooler Testator's half sister
• Richard: Ingmathorp: witness to the will
• William Tomes witness to the will
• Frances Brome witness to the will

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[folio 114 recto]
In the Name of god Amen I Thomas Mason of the Cittie of Worcester beinge sick in bodie but
in perfitt memory thanckes be to god therefore Doe make this my Last will and Testament As folloeth
I Committ my soule in to the handes of Allmightie god my Creator and Redemer by whome And
thoroughe whome I Truste to be saved And my bodie I do Committ to the earth from whence hitt
Came And to be buried in the Coledge Churchyarde As neare to my Father As I Can be
Laide

It[e]m I geve And bequeth unto Elnor my wyfe the some of fiftie poundes of Currant money
wiche is In my fatheres lawes Streetes hand And further more In consideration of the fayth
full Love I beare unto her I geve And bequeth unto her All of my goodes and Chattles
moveveable and unmoveable my detes being Discharged

It[em] I geve to my bro William Pooler - v^s It[em] I geve to my hewghe brother hughe pooler - v^s
It[em] I geve to my sister Susanes - v^s It[em] I geve to my sister Elizabeth pooler - v^s
wiche twentie shillinges my will is that my wyfe shall paye out of the goods wiche before I have
geven unto her

It[em] I Doe make my wellbeloved wyfe my sole Executrixe of this my Last will And
Testament and In wittnes hereof I have sett hereunto sett to my hand Seale
this present 25th of february And in three and Fortith yeare of the Reigne of our Sovereign
Ladie Elizabeth by the grace of god Quene of England France And Ireland
Defendor of the Faith

Thomas Mason [seal]

Wittnes unto this will
Richard: Ingmathorp:
William Tomes
Frances Brome

[folio 114 verso] Probate [in Latin] This will was proved at Worcester the eleventh days of February AD 1602 before the Venerable Master William Wode Doctor of Laws vicar Administration given to the Widow and Executrix named in this will etc Having first sworn etc and exhibited an inventory totalling £16 6s 8d

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Inventorie taken the Last of January 1602
of all the goodes Chattles Implements hushold
stufe of Thomas Mason Deceased by John
Webley Francis Brome William Tomes

Imprimis in the halle on table Bord w[i]th a frame
one Lyttle presse one Joyned forme iij Joyned
stoles vij viij Chushinges ^[2] one benche to smale
Joyned stalles one whaynscott Cubbord to
Chayares - xxvj ^s [illegible]

Sources

1. ↑ Will of Thomas Mason of Worcester 1602 A calendar of wills and administrations preserved in the Consistory Court of the Bishop of Worcester ed EA Fry (1904)
   1602 folio 114 will and inventory of Mason, Thomas, Worcester Internet Archive
   Original documents held at the Worcestershire County Archives, Worcester, Worcestershire, England.
   Images available to view at a Family History Centre Film #008226515 image 486 - 489 Accessed 28 June 2022
2. ↑ cushions