Beatrix Gresham

Will of Beatrice Gresham. 1603. In the Name of God. Amen. The 20th daie of Februarye 1603 I Beatrice Gresham of Tittesey Co. Surrey Widow being in health of bodye and of good and perfect remembrance thanks be to God therefore doe make institute and ordeine this for mv present testament and last will in manner and forme following. That ys to saie First I commend my soul unto Almightie God mine onelie Redeemer and Savior and my bodie to the earth to be buried within the Parish Church of Tittesey aforesaid in the same place where William Gresham Esq. my late husband was buryed or in some other convenient place thereto adjoyninge. Next I will that all such debts and duties as I doe owe to any person of right or in conscience shalbe well and trulie satisfied and paied by mine Executors here- after named within short time after my decease. Item I give towardes the reparaciong of the Parish Church of Tittesey aforesaid six poandes thirteen shiliinges and four pence. Item I give to the poore people which shall he at my boriall 20 marks of lawixill money of England and a dinner at the charge of my sayde Executors. Item I give to Dame Elizabeth the now wief of Sir William Gresham K^ my eldest Sonne Ten Pounds of lawfull money of England to make her a ringe with in remembrance of mee and one Trunk standing in my bed chamber with all the Lynnen therein beinge and likewise one Chest standing under the said Tmnck. Item I bequeath to John Michell Esq*^ my sonne in lawe other Ten Poundes for the like purpose as before. Item I will to Mary his Wief my loving Daughter two Dishes of Silver three Silver Boles graven with two Silver Spoons gilt one deepe Bowie of Silver with a Cover latelie made and one Chest standing by my bedde heade with all the linnen therein. Item I bequeath to Dame Cecilie now wief to Sir Henry Woodhowse K* my loving daughter yf she shall hereafber happen to be a wldowe and unmarried two Chests full of Lynnen with all the Lynnen therein contained whereof one is covered with redd leather and barred over with Iron and thother ys of waynscott to be safelye and trustilye kept by my said Executor and by him to be delivered unto her the said Cecilie when as she shall happen to be a widowe and not before. Item I give to Elizabeth the nowe daughter of the said Ladye Woodhowse Ten poundes yerelie to be payed at the Feasts of the- Annunciation and of S^ Michaell by equall porcions towards her preferment and better mainteynance untill the summe of one hundred poundes of lawfull English money shalbe paied and fulle satisfied. And also I bequeath unto the same Elizabeth daughter of the said Ladie Cecilie to be paied unto her at the daye of her marriage or when she shall accomplish the age of eightene yeres whichsoever shall first happen if she doe marrye or live to that age one hundred poundes more of like money. Item whereas Sir Henry Woodhowse K* by one recognizance or Writing obligatory dated 7 April 32 Eliz. made according to the Statute lately provided for the recovery of debts taken knowledged and sealed before Sir Christopher Wraye K^ Lord Chief Justice of England was and sa yet standeth holden and firmly bounden to me in the sum of fifteen hundred poundes of lawfull money payable as by writing obligatory more plainly appeareth with defeazance thereupon viz that if the said Sir Henry Woodhowse K^ or his Assigns at his or their proper costs and charges within a certain time therein limited should purchase an House and Landfl to the clere yerely value of 100 marks to be situate lying and being within the Countie of Norfolk to the use of Dame Cecilie for the terme of her lief and after her decease to the use of her eldest son and his heirs for ever, which said recognizance in default of performing the covenants and condicions therein contained is already forfeyted, notwithstanding my will ys that yf the said Sir Henry Woodhowse or his assigns shall within two yeres next ensueing my death purchase an howse or lands to the clere yearly value of 100 marks to be situate lying and being within the Countie of Norfolk to the use of Dame Cecilie for her lief and after her decease to the use of Raph and Arthur her two sonnes and their heires without fraud or coven, that then no advantage shall be taken by my Executors of the penaltie or forfeyture of the said Becognizance. But if no such purchase shall be made according to the tenor of this my Will, then my will ys that my Executoi*s shall and will effectualle pursue and according to the course of the lawes of this reabne procure and cause the said recognizance to be executed to the only use benefit and commoditie of Dame Cecilie and her children. Item I bequeath to Mr. Thomas Bell Rector or Parson of the Parish Church of Lymsfeld to preach at my funerall three poundes six shillings and eight pence. Item I will to John Giles my servant fortie poundes to be paied unto him within two yeres next after my decease. Provided alwaies that yf mine Executor hereafter named shall within one year next after my decease at his Costs and charges lawfulle assure or cause to be assured to the said John Giles one messuage or tenement and landes with the appurtenannces to the clere yerelie valne of fortie shillings to have and to hold to him the said John for and diiringe his natnrall lief to be discharged of all rents and other charges and incombrances that then the said legacye of fortie ponndes to him the said John Giles be Toyd and of none eflect. Item I give to Agnes Clampard my servant six ponndes thirtene shillings and fourpence, and to everye other of my maid servants dwelling with me at the time of my decease and having dwelt with me by the space of two yeres next before my death twentie shillings apeece over and above their wages. Item I beqneath to every manservant that shall dwell with me at my decease and having dwelt with me by the space of two yeres next before my decease to every of them twentie shillings apeece as aforesaid. Item I give and beqneath to Sir William Gresham K* my eldest Sonne one hundred ponndes of lawfull money of England to be paied him within one yere next after my decease yf he then shalbe lyvinge. The residue of all and singular my goodes chattells cattell plate Jewells readye money debts annuities bonds specialties and all other my thinges whatsoever not before herein willed or bequeathed my debts paied legacyes aforesaid performed and funeralls discharged fallie and wholye give and bequeath to my loving sonne Sir Thomas Gresham K' whome I make and ordeine sole and onelie executor of this my present Testament and last Will revokinge hereby all former Wills by me made. And Overseers hereof I doe institute and appoint my very and right honourable good friend John Lord Archbishopp of Canterburye whom I humblie beseech to see the same dulie and trulie performed according to my true meaning and the trust reposed in him, unto whome I bequeath for his grace's paines and travell to be taken thereabout the best horse that I shall have at the daie of my death and twentie nobles in good gold. In witnrs whereof I the said Beatrice Gresham to these presents have sett myne hand and scale in the presence of Thomas Collett - Raph Stacie - Thomas Colett Ju. The marke of Beatrice Gresham. Proved at London 2nd June 1604.

Beatrice Gresham. [Chancery Inquis. p.m. 2 Jac. 1., 2 Pt. No. 155.] Inquisition taken at Tunbri<^ 21 Aug. 2 Jac. I. (1604) upon the death of Beatrice Gresham, widow. The jurors say that she was seised in her demesne as of fee in the manor of Stangrave alias Edelmebridge, co. Kent, and in the rectory or church of Etonbridge with all the tithes and emoluments thereto belonging, of lands called Shots and Hams in Westerham, of a messuage called Lusted in Cowd- ham, Co. Kent, and Tattisfield, co. Surrey, of divers lands and woods called Rowholts in Chelsham, of Welcombes and Laurence in Colesden, of divers lands and tene- ments in Tittussie and Lymsfeld and of the manor or farm of Waldyngham, and of one messuage called Bolters in Lymsfield, co. Surr. (Indenture recited here.) The * Hospiciis. t Swinneaton. value as follows - Stangraye and rectory of Etonbridge 16Z. Shotts and Hames 408. Lasted 5/. Rowholtes bSs. 4d. Manor of Waldyngham lOl. Welcombes and Law- rence 50«. Bolters 4/. That said Beatrice died on 22 May last, that Sir William Gresham Kt. is her son and heir, and of the age of 48 and upwards.

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