This is a transcript of the will of Thomas Speed, of Poulton, Cheshire, dated 30 November 1602. The last part of the will is damaged and mostly illegible.[1] His will was proved at Chester in 1603.[2]
Transcript
In the name of God amen the last Daie of November in the yeare of our Lord god One thousand Six hundred and two and in the Five and fourtieth [year?] of the raigne of our sov’aigne Ladye Elizabeth by the grace of god Queene of England Fraunce and Ireland Defendor of the faith &c […] I Thomas [Speed?] of Pulton of the Countie of Chester yeoman Doe ordaine and make this my testament and last will in manner and forme followinge
That is to saie First principally I geve and comend my soule into the handes of Almightie god my Creator and Redeemer trusting and beleevinge that through the [Death and?] passion of my onlie saviour Jesus Christ I have and shall have full and free remission and forgevenes of all my synnes and after this transitorie lyffe ended lyfe ioye ev'lastinge in the Kingdome of heaven wch never shall have end And I will my body to the earth to be buried within the pishe Churche of Pulforde where yt shalbe thought fit and convenient by my executors
And for those goodes wherwth god hath endowed me I give and bequeathe as followth viz I will and my mynd is that Katheryne Speed my loving wief shall have and enioye all the tenemt in Pulton wherin I now Dwell wth all thappurtennces thereunto belonginge wch I hould by Lease for xiiijen yeres yet to come or therabouts and that she maie have preave[?] receave and take the pffytts therof to her onlie use and behoost duringe the terme and space of Sixe yeares next after my Decease She yelding paying and Doinge therfore such rents Duties and services [as?] are Due and have bene accustomed to be paid and Donne to the Lord of the Fee. And uppon the xpiracon of the Sixe yeares Then my will is that she yeld unto Richard Speed my eldest sonne the one moitie of the said tenant reserving thother half or moitie unto her self duringe all the residue of the yeares wch I have therof and uppon the determinacon of my whole yeares my said weif and eldest sonne to ioyne together for the new taking of a further lease and to enioye yt equally betwixt them if yt please god my said weif Doe live soe long
It[e]m I will and my mynd is that Richard Speed my said eldest sonne shall have and enioye all my estate and interest of and in those Landes wthin the Countie of Denbigh wch I hould by Lease from the Queenes Matie he permitting and suffering his mother to enioye the same for xls[?] yearlie to be paide to him as ys lymytted unto her by aformer will made by my brother in lawe David Johnes if she will hold the same otherwise uppon her refusall the same to be at his disposicon
It[e]m I bequeath unto my brother Henrie Speed apaire of Rund[?] hose the third pair next to my best and ablew Coate next to my best I give and bequeath unto John Speed my best Jerkin and apaire of hose and also I give and bequeath unto him a heifar Calfe to be deliv'ed unto him at any time wthin three yeares next after my Decease I give and bequeath unto Nicholas Speed my second sonne Tenn shillinges in money
It[e]m I give and bequeath unto Katherine Speed my Daughter for her p’ferment in marriage such a porcon of goodes as uppon her dutifull [behaviour?] towardes her mother and brother Richard Speed shalbe by them thought fytt convenient
It[e]m I give and bequeath unto Jane my Daughter now by the name of Jane Barker Tenn shillinges in money
It[e]m I give and bequeath unto Dorithe Speed the Daughter of David Speed one heyfa[?]
It[e]m I give and bequeath unto David the sonne of Edward Thomas a Bullocke now in the keeping of my sonne in lawe Edward Thomas
It[e]m I give and bequeath for and towardes the repacons[?] of the pishe Church of Pulford iijs iiijd
It[e]m I leave unto ev’y one of my godchildren xijd a peece
It[e]m to the poore people of the same pishe vjs viijd It[e]m I give and bequeath unto Dortie my Daughter the wief of John Manl[…]n x[…]d in money […]
It[e]m [give] and bequeath unto my sonne Richard Speed my seale ring of gold
All the rest of my goodes and Chattles unbequeathed […] moveable and [..]ble my Debts [...] paid and my funerall expenses DIschardged I will and bequeath them unto my loving wief Katherine Speed [...] and to [...] best [...] ordeine and appoint Katherine Speed my [...]anley my sonne [in lawe?] ov'seer of [...]herof I have [...]
Sources
- ↑ Cheshire Wills And Probate (FindMyPast.com : accessed 25 Jun 2021) database entry for Thomas Speed, residence Pulton, probate year 1603.
- ↑ J P Earwakter, An Index to the Wills and Inventories Now Preserved in the Court of Probate, at Chester. From A.D. 1545 to 1620, 1879, page 181 (Google Books : accessed 29 Jun 2021)