Will of Thomas Twesell or Twysell, of Kings Stanley, Worcestershire, 1544

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

This is a transcription of the register copy of the will of Thomas Twysell or Twesell of Kings Stanley, Worcestershire. Thomas drew up his will on 26 October 1544 and it was proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 4 March 1544/5. ^[1]

Transcription conventions used in this text:
Spelling, punctuation and line breaks are as per the original document.
The text was originally in one block of text. Paragraph breaks at change of bequest ("Item"), and 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 acceptable, and the handwriting legible.

Persons mentioned:

• Thomas Twesell of Kinges Stanley Testator
• Elizabeth my wyf
• Wyllyam Walker my brother in the lawe probably a fellow lawyer rather than a relation
• George Huntley of Standysh in the County of gloucestor gentilman
• John Emery of the city of worcestor Citizen
• John gorney of Brystoll
• Will[ia]m Lincoln of London Mercer
• John Woddall Secretory to the Kinges commissioners in the northe p[ar]tes
• Christofer (Xprofer) Mosse my servaunt four pounds, witness to will
• Sr Edward Baynton of Bromh[a]m
• John Twysell servant, four marks. Witness to will
• John Turner servant, four marks. Witness to will
• Jane Coke servant, five pounds
• Elizabeth gravener servant 20 shillings
• Thomas Mower of Payneswicke in the Countie of Gloucs carpintar forgiven debt
• william willinton of Barchestone besides Braylys in the Countie of warwick gentleman
• will[ia]m Huntley and his wiffe of Gloucester
• margarett Hall wyffe to John Halle of Wodchestre Woodchester, near Stroud
• Jone Byrde five pounds
• Tacy Fowler five pounds
• Agnes Hall five pounds
• margery hall five pounds
• younge John Hall six oxen and plough gear
• Richarde Hall six cows (kine)
• Robert wye of overlipiat Over Lippiatt, Gloucestershire
• Richard Fowler of  Stonehouse clothier £20
• Dorothee Hungerforde wief unto Sr Anthony Hungerford of Downeamney knight Down Ampney
• dorothee Smythe
• Thomas Stacy of London Mercer
• Thomasine Colier my goddaughter and daughter to Richard Colier of Kingstanley free mason
• Edward Twisell
• Thomas Chapman of Kingestanley forgiven debt
• william Twisell Tucker
• John Cornwall thelder maybe the same John Cornwall who was witness to will
• John harmer had the mill on Rye Mead on the River Frome
• John Emery witness to will

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[folio 183 recto]
In dei no[min]e amen the xxvj^th day of October in the yere of o[u]r lorde god a thousande five hundreth
fourty and foure and in the xxxvj^th yere of the raigne of our soveraigne lorde King Henry theight by
the grace of god king of England Frannce and Irelande Defendor of the faythe and in earth the supreme hedd
of the churche of England and also of Irelande I Thomas Twesell of Kinges Stanley aforesayd then
being of good and perfytt memory do make my testament and last wyll in maner and forme folowing Fyrst
I bequeathe my soule to allmighty god and my body to be buryed where yt shall please him

Item I give and
I bequeathe to Elizabeth my wyf two hundreth poundes sterling and all thimplements and stuff of houshold
what so ever kynde and form they be of being in my house of Kinges Stanley except and reserved all suche
stuff and implements given and bequethed to divers p[er]sonnes comprysed wythin this my testament And I give and
bequeathe to the said Elizabeth two cuppes wyth two covers gylt to drink ale in ^{[in margin And two cuppes w[ith] two covers gilt to drink wyne in]} Also I give and bequeathe        to the sayd Elizabeth a square lowe salt wyth a cover gilt A square lowe salt wyth a cover pounsed p[ar]cell
gylt. And I give and bequeath to the said Elizabeth the best dozen of spones and five olde spones. And I give
and bequeath to the said Elizabeth the best dozen of spones and five olde spones And I give and bequeath to the
sayd Elizabeth my woode and fewell and the corne and hey that ys in my house at the day of my deathe or
growing upon the grounde belonging to the house wherein I dwell.

Item I give and bequeathe to Wyllyam
Walker my brother in the lawe dwelling in an aley at the signe of the harrowe in granons strete in London
five poundes sterling And I give to the sayd Wyllyam a cupp wyth a cover gylt to drink wyne in. /

Item I give and
bequeathe unto George Huntley of Standysh in the County of gloucestor gentilman twenty m[ar]cks sterling
And I give and bequeathe to the sayd george my whystell of gold and I give and bequeathe to the sayd george
a Lowe square salt wyth a cover gylt and a cupp wyth a cover gylt to drynk ale in And I give and bequeth
to the sayd george a gowne of black chamlett garded wyth black velvett and furred throwe out wyth black
bodge A trussing bedde wyth fyve curtens a testor and a Celor of redd say a coverlet of redd say lyned
wyth canvas A fetherbedd wyth a bolster one payre of blanketts one payre of fyne shetes of two breads
and a half A pillowe wyth a bere A chayn of granada making./ A paynted chest of yron of flanders
making wyth the keyes p[er]teynyng to the same and the hanging of grene buckeram and blewe p[er]teynyng to
the chamber at the hall and a payre of lytle Anndyrions. A payre of tongs a fier shovell and a paire
of bellos:

I give and bequeath to John Emery of the city of worcestor Citizen twenty pounds sterling
And I give and bequeath unto the sayd John twenty poundes percell of lxxvij^Li which John gorney
of Brystoll oweth unto me over and besids the twenty poundes before bequethed. A cupp wyth a cover gilt
to drynk wyne in A trussing bedde wyth a testor and a Celor and fyve curteyns of redd say. A coverlette of
redd say lyned wyth canvas one paire of fyne shetes of two breades and a half. Apayre of wollen blankets

[folio 183 verso]
A pillowe wyth a bere. A fetherbed wyth a bolster a chayne of granada making. And I give and bequeathe to the
sayd John a dublett of tawney chamlett. A dublett of purple saten. A dublett of russett lukes velvett a Jacket
of black velvet lyned wyth black cotton. A Jackett of black chamlett lyned wyth cotton. A Jackett of tawney
chamlett lyned wyth cotton A Jerkyn of tawny satten furyed wyth lybberts. A Jerkyn of black chamlett facyd
wyth martyns throts. A gowne of black clothe furred wyth cony. A gowne of black clothe lyned wyth black
damaske and all my sherts bonetts and other my rayment perteynyng to my body for working dayes And
I give and bequeathe unto the sayd John two table clothes of my seccond diaper my table napkyns of Diaper
and a towell of the same diaper and work.

I give and bequeathe to Will[ia]m Lincoln of London Mercer dwelling
behinde Blackwall hall ten poundes sterling whiche the sayd Willyam owethe unto me as yt appereth by his
obligitory.

Item I give and bequeathe to the sayd John Woddall Secretory to the Kinges commissioners in the
northe p[ar]ties my crosse of gold whiche is in value worthe xix ^Li xvi ^s which crosse I wyll that Chr[rist]ofer Mosse
my servaunt cary unto him in to york shire.

I give and bequeath unto S^r Edward Baynton of Bromh[a]m
in the County of Wiltesh. knight A bason of silver wyth an ewer p[ar]cell gilt three standing bolles wyth a
cover p[ar]cell gilt two quarte potts of silver p[ar]cell gilt and a dozen of silver trenchers. And in case that yt plese
god to call me to his mercy before the decease of the sayd Edward Baynton Then I doe acquyte release and
forgive the sayd S^r Edward Baynton one hundreth poundes which he doth owe unto me as yt apperethe
by his obligatory bering date the xxiiij^th daye of Marche Anno xxxiij^o Regis henri octavi.

I give and bequeath
unto my houshold servants condicionally that the sayd servants be in my service at the day of my deathe or els
my said Legacy to be voide that is to say to John Twysell foure marks to John Turner foure marks to Xpofer ^[2]Mosse foure
poundes to Jane Coke fyve poundes and to Elizabeth gravener twentie shillinges /

I geve and Bequeth unto Thomas Mower
of Payneswicke in the Countie of Gloucs carpintar fourtie shillinges whiche he oweth me by an obligation and that I
have remytted unto hym /

I give and bequeth unto william willinton of Barchestone besides Braylys in the Countie of
warwick gentleman a gowne of russetts woursted garded w[i]t[h] black velvett and furred thorrowghe out in black budge
And I give and bequeth unto the saide William a cupp w[i]t[h] a cover gilte to drinke wyne yn

I geve and bequeth to will[ia]m
Huntley and his wiffe lyving at the making of this my testament a trussing bedd w[i]t[h] a testor and a Celor and fyve curteynes
of redd say a Coverlett of redd say lyned w[i]t[h] canvas one paire of fyne sheetes of two bredthes and a haulfe a payre of
wollen blancketts a pillowe of downe w[i]t[h] beare a fetherbedd w[i]t[h] a bolster. And I give and bequeth to the saide william huntley
and to his first wiffe a Cupp w[i]t[h] a cover gilte to drink ale yn. And I give and bequeth to the saide william huntley
of gloucester a gowne of black clothe furred thorroughe out w[i]t[h] foyne pootts a dublet of crymson velvett a Jerkynn
of black satten furred w[i]t[h] av[er]tones backs ^[3] and a jackett of tawney lukes velvett

Item I geve and bequeth unto margarett
Hall wyffe to John Halle of Wodchestre a trussing bedde w[i]t[h] a testor and a Celor and fyve curteynes of redd say a coverlett
of redd say lyned w[i]t[h] canvas a payre of fyne sheates of two bredthes and a haulfe a payre of woollen blanckettes a
pillowe of downe withe a bere a fetherbedd w[i]t[h] a boulster one table clothe of my seconde dyaper a towell of the
same dyap[er] viij table napkynnes of the same dyaper

And I geve and bequeth unto Jone Byrde fyve poundes To
Tacy Fowler fyve poundes / To Agnes Hall fyve poundes / And to margery hall fyve poundes sterling / To younge
John Hall six of myne oxen w[i]t[h] all my plowgh gere to be delyvered when my wyffe breaketh upp housholde / And to
Richarde Hall six kyne to be delyvered likewise when my wyffe breaketh upp houholde And I bequeth to the said
margarett Hall a saulte pounsed w[i]t[h] a cover parcell gilte and a dosen of silver spoons w[i]t[h]out knoppes cowled amonges
the goldesmythes in London slyppes /

I give and bequeathe unto Robert wye of overlipiat ^[4] in the County of Glouc[ester]
Esquier tenne markes sterling / And I give and bequeathe unto the said Robert a cupp with a cover gilt
to drink ale in /

Item I give and bequeathe unto Richard Fowler of  Stonehouse clothier twenty poundes
sterling / And I give and bequathe unto the sayd Richard a cupp wth a cover gilt to drink ale in /.

I give
and bequeathe unto Dorothee Hungerforde wief unto S^r Anthony Hungerford of Downeamney ^[5] knight a cupp
with a cover gilt to drink wyne in./

I give and bequeath to dorothee Smythe fourty poundes sterling p[ar]cell
of an hundrethe and foure score poundes which Thomas Stacy of London Mercer oweth unto me /.

I give
and bequeathe unto Thomasine Colier my goddaughter and daughter to Richard Colier of Kingstanley free
mason twenty shillinges.

I remmitte unto Edward Twisell vij^Li ij^s iij^d as it appereth by two obligacions
if I dye, or els to pay it./

I doe remitte unto Thomas Chapman of Kingestanley his obligacion of fourty
shillinges if I dye before the day of payment / And if not I will that his obligac[i]on stand in his full strength
and vertue.

I remitte unto william Twisell Tucker fyve poundes vj^s viij^d p[ar]cell of a bill of  debt w[hi]ch
the sayd William oweth unto me if I dye before the day of payment of the same or els to pay it

I
give and bequeathe unto John Cornwall thelder my olde black clock ^[6] a jerkyn of chamlett a doublett
of chamlett whiche I do weare on the working dayes a bonnett and a Corse two paire of buskyns two
paire of showes two paire of overstocks of hoses and two paire of nither stocks /
I give and bequeth

[folio 184 recto] unto the parishoners of Kinge Stanley twenty poundes sterling for the making of two stony bridges with arches
and walled with stone above ^[7] thone at blackford ^[8] and thother at Rye mede by John harmers myll / Also I will that
all other my goods and cattelles where so ever they be within the realm of Englande and not given nor bequeathed
within this my testament and last will that all suche goodes and every p[ar]cell thereof shall remayne in my handes
unbequethed untyll the tyme and day of my decease and to be distributed to suche personne or p[er]sonnes as shall
to me seme best / But provided alweys that in case it please god to call for me so sodenly that I have no tyme
nor lesure to distribute and bequethe suche goodes and cattelles not bequethed in this my testament and last will
that I will and bequeathe all maner of suche goodes and cattelles one parte to be distributed to the marriages of
poore maydens the second parte to the poore people next dwelling aboute Kingestanley And the thyrde parte
in making of stony bridges and hygh wayes and the churche weyes aboute Kingestanley

In witness wherof
I the said Thomas Twisell to this my present testament have subscribed my name with myn[e] owne hand
the day and yere above writen this being witnes John Emery, John Twisell , John Turner Xpofer Mosse
By me Thomas Twesell

Memorand[um] that the sayd Thomas Twisell the said xxxi^th day of October after the making of his
said testament being of good and perfitt mynde and remembrannce willed Elizabeth Twisell his wief to have the
order and disposition of all his goodes and that she shuld paye the legacies conteined in his said testament / and to
doo all thinges concerned thexecucion of his sayd of his sayd testament and last will as his full and hole executrix / And
willed that no other shuld medle or have to doo wyth any parte of his good in the presence of Xpofer Mosse
John Turnor John Twisell and John Cornewall

Probate [in Latin] The will written above was proved at London the fourth day of March AD 1544. Christopher Mosse, John Turnor John Twisell and John Cornewall and Master Anthony Hust Notary Public appeared on behalf of Elizabeth Twisell the widow and executrix.

Sources

1. ↑ Will of Thomas Twisell 1544: "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: 30
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 5111 #892037 (accessed 8 September 2022)
2. ↑ Christopher
3. ↑ skins of very young lambs
4. ↑ Over Lippiatt
5. ↑ Down Ampney
6. ↑ Cloak ?
7. ↑ over the River Frome
8. ↑ Blakeford