Reynold Clapham

A Yeoman, both livestock and arable farming in Much Hadham, Herts. A 'black and red' sheep and bushell's of wheat were bequeathed in his will.

Sworn in as a Juror to the Manor Court of Hadham 21st March 1577,

buried at St. Andrew’s Church, Much Hadham 21st March 1582.

In his will Reynold bequeathed to the poor of Much Hadham the sum of 20 shillings which today would be valued at about £400. To his brother John and son Thomas £20 each and his daughters Mary and Judith £10 each, today about £8000 and £4000 respectively.[values calculated in 1996]

Will dated 26th January 1582, proved 26th April 1583 available from Chelmsford Record Office.

Here is a near complete transcription of Reynolds will of 1582/3 [Julian/Gregorian Calendar change in 1582] transcribed as it was written with a few explanations of some words. ..... means word unreadable or at the edge of the copy of the original parchment and cut off by the photocopier. (?) means doubt about the preceding word. The spelling and shortforms are as they appeared in the will and mostly you can quite easily work out what they are but spelling varied significantly in this era. The will would have been written by a scribe and/or legal representative whom is also one of the signatories to the will.

First the usual God fearing preamble to the will at that time - although he was obviously quite God fearing himself...

In the name of Godde Amen: the xxvijth [27th] daie [day] of Januarie in the xxvth yeare of the reigne of [our] Sowrigne [sovereign] ladie Elizabeth ..... grace of Godd Quene of England Fraunce & Ireland defender of ye faythe 1582 I Reynold Clapham of mutch haddham in the countie of Hirtford [Hertford] yeoman beinge sike [sick] in nevertheless whole of mynde and memorie thanks be unto Godd, doo & onstitute [institute] ordeine [ordain] and make this my ..... Testamente conteyninge in it my laste will in memmo and forme followinge that is to saie [say] firste I comende my soule into the moste m’c’full [merciful] handes of allmightie Godd; my executor redemer and spirituall comfrter [comforter] assuredlie [assuredly = certainly] belevinge that I am one of his chosen (?) children & so cleerly ..... from all synnes wronges, the bloude [blood] of Christe Jesus my onlie [only] saviorre that I hope undoubtedlie after this synfull lief ..... to reste wth him & be ptaken [partaking] of those unspeakable joyes wch he hath xmired (?) to all them verilie (?) believe in hym to hymme therefore with the [blot] father (?) and the holie ghost, one godd, of moste glorious mastie all prease [praise] glorye powere and domynuion nowe and for evermore amen.

....then there follows a very long legal preamble......and then the body of the will.....

......Itm [Item] I give to my brother Richard, my ..... gowen [gown] and a newe payre of showes [shoes], to James Clapham a blacke & red sheepe, to Reynold Become foure shepe to Stesacie (?) my godson one sheepe, to a poore godechilde I christened towe [two] shillinge, To Marie Shye (?) towe bushells of my beste wheate, To my Aunt Beaste Broere [?=Brewer] wert bushellz wheate (?), To my Aunte Peade towe bushells wheate, to Margerye Peade, to my cousin Brewere, to my cosin Michel, to my coasin Stankel (?) to my cosin Cullordaye unto evry of them one bushell of wheat., To my unkle Reade towe payre of showes and towe paire of weighte [white or heavy] stokinge., to my unkle Lawrhence towe bushell wheate and my best wollen ....., To Marie Michell fyve shillinge & one bushell of wheate, to be paid att & ordaine of marriedge., To my brother Duxford [I have not been able to identify this 'brother' Duxford although there is a flourish in front of the word which could have meant 'in Duxford'] and to Thomas Bushe eyther of them one bushell of wheate., and to John Plom & Robert Plom eyther of them a bushell of wheate. To John Rawlin & Agnes Jordaine and Nathaniel Peade, to evry of them fyve shillinge to be paid att theyre sevrall daies of theyr marraidge., To Mary Evett Jordaine fyve shillinge (?) to be paid wthin one monthe nexte after my decease. To John Volante one shepe. Itm I give toward the maintenance of ..... ..... in mutch hadeham I rented by the prsentments to be erected wen ..... PROVIDED allwaies and I will that yf any of my said daughters shall & even after demande my or any accompte for the issues (?) & pfitt of the instommerie (?) landes or (crossing out) tenements of myne executors or of any of the.......then follows a lot of legal jargon.......... in this my last will and testamente given or bequeathed Any debte ..... paid and any of my will expenses discharged I whollye gyve them to Elizabeth, my wief whom I make my sole and faythfull executrix of this my laste Testamente wth and upon theis condicions (crossing out) notwtstandynge followinge that is to saie that yf my sayd wief shall and wille wthin six daies nexte after my decease and before she shall take administration of any my goodes or chattells ...........

.....more legal jargon......then.....

.....And I appoynte the said James Moulton and the said John Clapham my deuasrendis (?) my supvisores [supervisors] to looke to ..... all upon that this my will & testament be pfromed in all thinges accordinge to ..... goodd mebringe (?)., And I give to the said James Moulton his paynes to be takeperein (? taken per herein) towe syllver spones., And I give to my said brother John Clapham for his paines ..... my beste blacke coate and a newe payre of gloves

The bottom of the parchment is folded slightly so the following is very indistinct...

[a signature or a signature against Reynold's mark - not sure] [..then...  witnesses]   Jamies Coun(?)  Thomas Barle (?) and William Strupton(?) Perch (?)

Note there were a number of cross marks down the edge of the will where crossings out and mistakes were made in the line of passage so it is safe to assume that Reynold was illiterate which was quite normal in those times.