Will detail

Will of Richard Bishop of Sedlescombe

Date signed: 07 Apr 1617, Probate date: 03 Jun 1617

In the name of God Amen the seventh day of April in the years of the reign of our sovereign Lord James by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the faith viz: (NOTE2) of England France and Ireland the fifteenth and of Scotland the fiftieth and in the year of our Lord Saviour Christ according to the computation of England one thousand six hundred and seventeen I Richard Bishopp of Seliscombe in the county of Sussex yeoman sick in body but of good and perfect memory thanks be given to God therefore do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following And first and principally I commit and commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping assuredly through the merits of my Lord and saviour Christ Jesus to be everlastingly saved and my body to the earth be buried in the parish church of Seliscombe Item I give will and bequeath unto the poor people of the parish of Seliscombe aforesaid sixteen shillings and four pence to be paid and distributed unto them by my Executor at my funeral at his discretion Item I give will and bequeath unto John Bell parson of Seliscombe twenty shillings to be paid him by my Executor immediately after my decease Item I give will and bequeath unto my niece Elline Ballard forty pounds of current English money to be paid to her her heirs or assigns within two whole years after my decease Item I give will and bequeath unto my niece Elizabeth Baker one hundred and forty pounds of lawful English money to be paid to her her heirs or assigns within one whole year after my decease Item I give will and bequeath unto my niece Anne Peckham one hundred pounds of lawful English money to be paid to her her heirs or assigns within eighteen months after my decease Item I give will and bequeath unto my niece Marye Bishopp one hundred and forty pounds of lawful English money to be paid to her her heirs or assigns within one whole year after my decease Item I give will and bequeath unto my cousin William Langham and Bridgett his wife three score pounds of lawful English money to be paid to them or their assigns within twelve months after my decease Item I give will and bequeath unto my niece Sara Bishopp one hundred and forty pounds of lawful English money to be paid to her her heirs or assigns within a quarter of a year after my decease And I likewise give unto my said niece Sara Bishopp my salver major Item I give will and bequeath unto my two nieces Bridgett Langham and Sara Bishopp all my household stuff viz: (NOTE2) linen woollen brass pewter and wooden stuff (except bedsteads) (NOTE3) to be equally divided between them Item I give will and bequeath unto Marie Ballard Martha Ballard Elline Ballard Johne Ballard and Alice Ballard children of my said niece Elline Ballard to one and all of them ten pounds of lawful English money to be paid to them at their several ages of one and twenty years Item I give will and bequeath unto Ellene Baker Francis Baker Elizabeth Baker Bridgett Baker and Richard Baker children of my said niece Elizabeth Baker to each one of them ten pounds of lawful English money to be paid to them at their several ages of one and twenty years Item I give will and bequeath unto Marye Bishopp Elizabeth Bishopp and Richard Bishopp children of my nephew William Bishopp to each of them ten pounds to be paid to them at such times as they shall severally accomplish their ages of one and twenty years Item I give will and bequeath unto Elline Bishopp daughter of my said niece Marie Bishopp ten pounds of lawful money of England to be paid to her at her age of one and twenty years Item I give will and bequeath unto Elizabeth Peckham and Marie Peckham daughter of my said niece Anne Peckham to each of them ten pounds of lawful English money to be paid to them at their several ages of one and twenty years Item I give will and bequeath unto Barnewell Bishopp the reputed son of my nephew John Bishopp the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful English money to be paid him at his age of one and twenty years (if he so long lives) Item I give will and bequeath unto my cousins Richard Ballarde and his wife William Peckham and his wife France Baker and his wife William Langham and his wife John Bishopp and his wife William Forden and his wife Leonarde Bishopp Elizabeth wife of my nephew William Bishopp and my said niece Sara Bishopp to each of them a ring of gold of the true value of twenty shillings to be delivered them by my Executor hereunder named within six months after my decease Item I give will and bequeath unto my cousin Richard Bishopp the mercer and his wife to each of them a ring of gold of the true value of forty shillings to be delivered unto them within six months after my decease Item I give will and bequeath unto my cousin James Bishopp the elder five pounds of lawful English money to be paid to him within one whole year after my decease Item I give will and bequeath unto every of the children of the said James Bishopp fifty shillings a piece to be paid unto such of them as are twenty years of age at my decease within two years after my decease the legacies to the other of them to be paid to them at their several ages of one and twenty years Item I give will and bequeath unto my cousin Richard Bishopp of Battell the elder twenty shillings a year yearly during his life to be paid him quarterly by my Executor hereunder named by equal portions Item I give will and bequeath unto every of the four daughters of my said cousin Leonard Bishopp five pounds a piece to be paid within two years after my decease Item I give will and bequeath unto Richard Jorden son of my cousin William Jorden forty shillings to be paid unto him at his age of one and twenty years Item I give will and bequeath unto Anne Squire Marie Appes Anne Chattenden (NOTE4) Thomas Owen Mathew Chattenden and Richard Foster to each of them ten shillings to be paid within six months after my decease Item I give will and bequeath unto my sister Anne Squire and Marie Squire her daughter to each of them five pounds to be paid them within six months after my decease and if either of them die before the time of payment of the said sums the survivor to be heir of the deceased Item I give will and bequeath to Anne Chittenden (NOTE4) Mathew Chittenden and John Chittenden children of my cousin Elizabeth Chittenden the sum of twenty pounds to be paid and equally divided between them when they come to their several ages of one and twenty years Item I give will and bequeath unto my cousin Sara Chittenden wife of Edward Chittenden twelve pounds of current English money to be paid unto her her heirs or assigns within two years after my decease And hereby I forgive unto the said Edward Chittenden a due debt of eight pounds which he oweth me Item I give unto the two children of my cousin Bridgett Boorner twenty shillings a piece to be paid unto them at their several ages of one and twenty years Item I give unto the three children of my cousin George Squire twenty shillings a piece to be paid unto them at their several ages of one and twenty years Item I give will and bequeath unto my cousins Susan Squire Agnes Squire and Elizabeth Squire daughters of my brother Laurence Squire to each of them forty shillings to be paid to them their heirs or assigns within one whole year after my decease All the legacies aforesaid to be paid by my said nephew William Bishopp whom I make and ordain sole executor of this my last Will and Testament at such time and times and in such manner and form as they are before herein expressed and particularly set down and appointed to be paid And for the natural love and affection that I bear to my said nephew William Bishopp son of my brother John Bishopp and for and towards the paying of and discharging of my debts and legacies before expressed I do by this my last Will and Testament give will and bequeath unto my said nephew William Bishopp his heirs and assigns forever all my lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever situate and lying and being in the parish of Seliscombe Ewherst Catesfield and Uddimer in the County of Sussex and all other lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever within the Realm of England In witness whereof I have unto this my last Will and Testament set my hand and seal dated the day and year above written Richard Bishopp Sealed and subscribed in the presence of William Dawes John Shether William Skynner his mark William Leedes Thomas Frencham

Transcribed by:

Bob Trease.

Precis supplied by transcriber:

To the poor of Sedlescombe:-

16 shillings and 4 pence

To John Bell, parson of Sedlescombe:-

20 shillings

To Ellen Ballard, niece:-

£40 payable within 2 years

To Elizabeth Baker, niece:-

£140 payable within 1 year

To Anne Peckham, niece:-

£100 payable within 18 months

To Mary Bishop, niece:-

£140 payable within 1 year

To William Langham cousin and his wife Bridget:-

£60 payable within 12 months

To Sarah Bishop, niece:-

£140 payable within a quarter of a year plus silver salver

Half share with Bridget Langham of all household linen woollen brass and pewter (except bedsteads)

To Bridget Langham, niece:-

Half share with Sarah Bishop of all household linen woollen brass and pewter (except bedsteads)

To Mary, Martha, Ellen, John, Alice, children of Ellen Ballard, niece:-

£10 each when 21

To Ellen, Frances, Elizabeth, Bridget, Richard children of Elizabeth Baker, niece:-

£10 each when 21

To Mary, Elizabeth, Richard children of William Bishop, nephew:-

£10 each when 21

To Ellen Bishop daughter of niece Mary Bishop:-

£10 when 21,br> To Elizabeth and Mary daughter of niece Ann Peckham:-

£10 when 21

To Barnewell Bishop reputed son of nephew John:-

£100 when 21

To Richard Ballard & wife, Francis Baker and wife, William Langham and wife, John Bishop and wife, William Peckham & wife, William Forden and wife, Leonard Bishop, Elizabeth Bishop wife of nephew William & Sarah Bishop niece:-

Each a 20 shilling gold ring

To Richard Bishop, the mercer & his wife:-

A 40 shilling gold ring within 6 months

To cousin James Bishop the elder:-

£5 within 6 months

To each of the children of cousin James Bishop the elder:-

Fifty shillings when they reach twenty one or within two years to those who are already 20

To cousin Richard Bishop of Battle the elder:-

20 shillings a year for life to be paid quarterly

To the 4 daughters of cousin Leonard Bishop:-

£5 each within 2 years

To Richard Jordan son of cousin William Jordan:-

40 shillings when 21

To Anne Squire, Mary Apps, Anne Chattenden, Thomas Owen, Matthew Chattenden & Richard Foster:-

Ten shillings payable within 6 months

To sister Ann Squire and Mary Squire her daughter:-

£5 each within 6 months (if one die before payment then the other to inherit their £5)

To Anne Chattenden, Matthew Chattenden, & John Chattenden, children of my cousin Elizabeth Chattenden:-

£20 to be divided between them when 21

To cousin Sarah Chattenden wife of Edward Chattenden:-

£12 within 2 years

£8 debt of Edward’s to be written off

To the 2 children of Bridget Borner cousin:-

20 shillings each at age 21

To the 3 children of George Squire cousin:-

20 shillings each at age 21

To Susan Squire, Agnes Squire, & Elizabeth Squire daughters of brother Lawrence Squire:-

20 shillings each at age 21

To William Bishop son of my brother John Bishop:-

All my property in Sedlescombe, Ewhust, Catsfield and Udimore

Executor:

William Bishop, nephew

Witnesses:

William Dawes, John Sheather, William Skinner, William Leeds, Thomas Frencham

Notes about this will:

The will was transcribed from a scanned PCC copy by Bob Trease on 11 July 2006 using modern English spelling to aid comprehension. All names of villages and people retain the original spelling in the will.

NOTE 1 In 1883 E.A.W.Dunkin recorded that a floorstone by the tower door in Sedlescombe Church bore the following inscription “HERE LYETH BURIED THE BODIE OF RICHARD BISSHOP SONNE OF WILLIAM BISSHOPP WHO DEPTED THIS MORTAL LIFE THE 12 DAY OF MAYE IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST 1617”. That floorstone no longer appears in the church.

NOTE 2 The word in the will is “vizt” – this appears to be a contraction of Latin word “videlicet” now usually abbreviated to viz and meaning “that is to say”

NOTE 3 The word in the will is “beddstedles”. This word appears in other contemporary wills and appears to mean bedsteads. It does not appear in the Oxford English Dictionary

NOTE 4 Anne Chattenden surname spelt with “a” here and “i” later – “i” appears the more common spelling

Source:

Unknown.

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