Richard Biddles 1652 of Scalford Will
National Archives PROB 11/224/128
In the name of God Amen the Thirteenth day of November in the yeare of our Lord Christ accordinge to the account used in England One Thousand Six hundred and Fiftie I Richard Bidles of Gould Smith grange within the Parish of Scalford in the County of Leicester gentleman beinge of good and perfect memorie praised be Allmightie God doe make and Ordaine this my last will and Testament in manner and forme Followinge That is to Say
First I give and bequeath my soule into the hands of Allmightie God my maker and Creator hopeinge assuredly through the onely merritts of Jesus Christ my onely Saviour and redeemer to be made partaker of life Everlastinge
And as for my body I Comend it to the Earth from whence it was made
And as for my manners lands Tenements goods and Chattells and worldly Estate which it hath pleased God of his mercy to lend me I give and dispose of them in manner and forme Followinge That is to say
First I give and bequeath unto the poore people of Scalford aforesaid the Sume of Six pounds thirteene shillings and Fowre pence of Lawfull money of England
Item I give and bequeath unto the poore people of Wikeham Melton Mowbray in the said County of Leicester the sume of Six pounds thirteene shillings and Fowre pence of like lawfull money of England
Item I give and bequeath unto the poore people of Wikeham and Cawdwell in the said County of Leicester the sume of Fortie shillings of like lawfull money of England
Item I give and bequeath unto the poore people of Thorpe Arnold in the said in the said [sic] County of Leicester the summe of Twenty shillings of like lawfull money of England
Item I give and bequeath unto the poore people of Waltham upon the Olds in the said County of Leicester the Sume of Twenty shillings of like lawfull money of England
Item I give and bequeath unto the poore people of Billesdon in the said County of Leicester the Sume of Six pounds thirteene Shillings and Fowre pence of lawfull money of England
Item I give and bequeath unto the poore people of Rolleston in the said County of Leicester the Sume of Three pounds of like lawfull money of England
Item I give and bequeath unto my Nephew George Shittlewood of Scalford aforesaid gentleman and Mary his now wife and to the heires of theire Two bodies Lawfully begotten or to be begotten And for default of such yssue to the right heires of the said George Shittlewood for ever All that my Mannor of Scalford aforesaid Called Calveleyes Mannor with the rights members and appurtenances thereof And alsoe all that my other Mannor of or in Scalford aforesaid Called Seagraves Mannor with the rights members and appurtenances thereof And alsoe all that Capitall messuage or Tenement with the appurtenances scituate and beinge in Scalford aforesaid Comonly Called the High Hall now in my owne occupacon Together with all houses buildings orchards gardens and backsides Closes and Comodities whatsoever to the said Capitall Messuage or Tenement belonginge And alsoe all those Five yard land of arrable meadow and pasture ground with th’appurtenances lyeinge and beinge within the feilds Liberties and precincts of Scalford aforesaid to the said Capitall Messuage or Tenement belonginge or therewithall now used and inioyed now alsoe in my owne Occupacon
Item I give and bequeath unto my Nephewe Keneline Shittlewood of Rolleston in the County of Leicester gentleman and to the heires of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten And for default of such yssue to the right heires of the said Keneline for ever All that Messuage or Tenement with the appurtenances scituate and beinge in Scalford aforesaid wherein one Thomas Welby doth now dwell togather with all houses buildings orchards gardens yeards backsides Closses and Comodities whatsoever to the said messuage or Tenement belonginge And alsoe all those three yeard land of arrable meadow and pasture ground with thappurtenances lyeinge and beinge the Feild Liberties of and precincts of Scalford aforesaid To the said messuage or Tenement belonginge or there withall now used and inioyed and nowe in the use of occupacon of him the said Thomas Welby And alsoe all that other messuage or Tenements with the appurtenances scituate and beinge in Scalford aforesaid wherein one William Knight doth now inhabitt And allsoe all those two yeard land of arrable meadow and pasture ground with thappurtence lyeinge and beinge within the feilds Liberties and precincts of Scalford aforesaid to the said last menconed messuage or Tenement belonginge or therewithall used and inioyed and now in the Tenure or occupacon of him the said William Knight
Item I give and bequeath unto my servant John Kirke and Izable his now wife for and dureinge the Terme of theire two naturall lifes and the longer liver of them all that Messuage Cottage or Tenement with thappurtenances scituate and beinge in Scalford aforesaid late in the occupaccon of John Knight and nowe in the Occupacon of the said George Shittlewood And alsoe all that one halfe yeard land of arrable meadow and pasture ground with thappurtenances lyeinge and beinge within the feilds liberties and precincts of Scalford aforesaid Some tymes heretofore belonginge to the said Messuage Tenement or Cottage or therewithall formerly used and Inioyed and nowe in my owne Occupacon yeildinge and payeinge therefore yearly dureinge the said Terme unto my said Nephew George Shittlewood his heires and Assignes the yearly rent of Tenn shillings of lawfull money of England and [sic] Two usuall Feasts or dayes in the yeare That is to say the Feast of thannuntiacon of the virgin Mary and Saint Michaell tharchangell be even and equall porcons And alsoe keepeinge the said Messuage Cottage or Tenement and all the houses buildings and fence thereunto belonginge in good repaire dureinge all the said Terme
And after the decease of them the said John Kirke and Isable his wife I give and bequeath the said messuage Cottage or Tenement and one halfe yeard land with the appurtenances unto my said nephew George Shittlewood and his heires and assignes for ever
Item I give and bequeath unto my Servant Thomas Swingler for and dureinge the Terme of his naturall life All that Cottage or Tenement with thappurtenaces Scituate and beinge in Scalford aforesaid wherein my nephewe George Shittlewood doth nowe dwell And alsoe all those three arrable Lands lyeinge and beinge within the feilds of Scalford aforesaid to the said Cottage or Tenement belonginge or therewithall usually used and inioyed yeildinge and payeinge therefore yearly dureinge the said Terme unto my said nephew George Shittlewood his heires and Assignes the yearly rent of Tenn Shillings of lawfull money of England at the aforesaid two usuall Feasts by even and equall porcons And alsoe keepeinge the Cottage or Tenement and all the houses buildings and fences thereunto belonginge in good repaire dureinge all the said Terme And after the decease of the said Thomas Swinger [sic] I give and bequeath the said Cottage or Tenement and three arrable Lands with thappurtenances unto my said Nephewe George Shittlewood and his heires and Assignes for ever
Item I give and bequeath unto my Servant John Corner for and dureinge the Terme of his naturall life All that Cottage or Tenement with thappurtenances Scituate and beinge [“in” missing] Scalford aforesaid wherein one William Tyres doth nowe inhabitt yeildinge and payeinge therefore yearly dureinge the said Terme unto my said Nephewe Keneline Shittlewood his heires and Assignes the yearly rent of Six Shillings and Eight pence of lawfull money of England at the Feasts aforesaid by even and equall porcons And alsoe keepeinge the said Cottage or Tenement houses buildings and fences thereunto belonginge in good repaire dureinge all the said Terme And after the decease of the said John Corner I give and bequeath the said last menconed Cottage or Tenement with thappurtenances unto my said Nephewe Keneline Shittlewood and his heires and assignes for ever
Item I give and bequeath unto Bartholmew [sic] Hall for Terme of his life All that parte of a Cottage house with thappurtenances in Scalford aforesaid wherein the said Bartholmew Hall doth nowe inhabitt yeildinge and payeinge therefore yearly dureinge the said Terme unto my Servant Robert Flower and his assignes the yearly rent of Tenn shillings of lawfull money of England at the Feasts aforesaid by equall porcons and alsoe keepinge the said house in good repaire dureinge the said Terme and after the decease of the said Bartholmew Hall I give and bequeath the same parte of a Cottage house with thappurtenances unto my said Servant Robert Flower for and dureinge the Terme of his life yeildinge and payinge therefore yearly dureinge the said Terme unto my said Nephewe Keneline Shittlewood his heires and Assignes the yearly rent of Five Shillings at the Feasts aforesaid by equall porcons And alsoe keepeinge the said house in good repaire And after the decease of the said Robert I give and bequeath the said parte of a Cottage house with thappurtenances unto my said Nephew Keneline Shittlewood his heires and Assignes for ever
Item I [“give” missing] and bequeath unto my said Nephewe Keneline Shittlewood his heires and assignes for ever All that other parte of the said Cottage house with thappurtenances in Scalford aforesaid wherein one Thomas Dafte doth now inhabit
Item I give and bequeath unto my servant Henry Freeman for and dureinge the Terme of his natural life All that messuage or Tenement with thappurtenances scituate and beinge in Somersby [sic] in the aforesaid County of Leicester wherein one Thomas Trigge doth nowe dwell And alsoe all those lands Tenements meadowes pastures Closses and hereditaments whatsoever with thappurtenances lyeinge and beinge with within [sic] the Towne Liberties and precincts of Somerby aforesaid which I purchased to me and my heires of and from George Trigge thelder and George Trigge the younger yeildinge and payeinge therefore yearly dureinge the said Terme unto my said Two Nephewes George Shittlewood and Keneline Shittlewood theire heires and Assignes the yearly rent of Tenn Shillings of Tenn Shillings [marginal note “Sic &c”] of Lawfull money of England at the Feasts aforesaid by equall porcons and alsoe keepeinge the said last menconed Messuage or Tenement and alsoe all the houses buildings and fences thereunto belonginge in good repaire dureinge all the said Terme And after the decease of the said Henry Freeman I give and bequeath the said last menconed menconed [marginal note “Sic &c”] messuage or Tenement and all the said lands Tenements meadowes pastures Closses and heriditaments whatsoever with thappurtenances in Somerby aforesaid unto my said Two Nephewes George Shittlewood and Keneline Shittlewood theire heires and Assignes for ever
Item I give and bequeath Item I give and bequeath [sic] unto my said Servant Henry Freeman the bedd I most Comonly take my rest in & alsoe the Sume of Twenty pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid to him within Six moneths next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto my Nephewe William Shittlewood the Sume of Five pounds of lawfull money of England
Item I give [“and” missing] bequeath unto Andrewe [sic] Shittlewood (eldest daughter of my said Nephewe William Shittlewood) the Sume of one hundred and Fiftie pounds of like lawfull money of England to be paid to her within six Moneths next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto Judith (second daughter of my said Nephewe William Shittlewood) the Sume of Fiftie pounds of like lawfull money of England to be paid to her likewise within Six moneths next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto my Couzen Edward Bidles the Sume of Tenn pounds of like lawfull money of England to be paid to him within one yeare next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto my Couzen Allice Bidls widdowe the sume of Five pounds of like lawfull money of England to be paid to her within one yeare next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto Margarrett Whitehead and Mary Whitehead daughters of Peter Whitehead gentleman the Sume of Five pounds of like lawfull money of England to be paid and devided equally betwixt them within one yeare next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto my Couzen Mary Greene daughter of my Couzen Richard Greene of Wiken in the County of Warwicke Esquire the Sume of one hundred pounds of like lawfull money of England to be paid to her within one yeare next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto my God Children William Gilbert Eldest Sonne of my loveinge Freind Robert Gilbert of Melton Mowbray in the said County of Leicester gentleman the Sume of Tenn pounds of like lawfull English money to be paid to him within one yeare next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto the Two Children nowe borne of my Couzen William Sharpe Esquire the Sume of Twenty pounds apeece of like lawfull money of England to be paid to them and put forth for theire best advantage within one yeare next after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto my said sonne [sic] William Sharpe Twenty Shillings to buy him a ringe for my Sake
Item I give and bequeath unto my said Couzen Richard Greene and to the said Robert Gilbert Twenty Shillings apeice to buy them Rings for my sake
Item I give and bequeath unto my Couzen Mr Thomas Hasterigge and Master John Maior Twenty shillings appeice to buy them Rings for my sake
Item I give and bequeath unto my Loveinge Friend Gregorie Julian of Hose Twenty Shillings to buy him a ringe
Item I give and bequeath unto the second sonne of the said George [sic, both Gregory and George indexed] Julian Fortie Shillinge
Item I give and bequeath unto William Cole Clerke who now lives with me the Sume of Five pounds of lawfull money of England
Item I give and bequeath unto my brother in Lawe Mr Walter Holbech twenty shillings to buy him a Ringe for my sake
Item I give and bequeath unto John Way…ead Clerke twenty shillings to buy him a ringe for my sake
Item I give and bequeath unto every one of my God Children Five shillings
Item I give and bequeath unto my loveinge freind Mr John Hooker Twenty shillings to buy him a ringe
Item I give and bequeath unto the younger brother of my said Couzen Edward Bidles Five pounds to be paid to him at his age of one and Twenty years
Item I give unto my Servant John Ruddell [?] Fortie shillings
Item I give and bequeath unto my servant Margarett Swingler the Sume of Tenn pounds of lawfull money of England
Item I give and bequeath unto my servant Anne Burbagge Fortie shillings
Item I give and bequeath unto my servant Elizabeth Tyers Twenty shillings
Item I give and bequeath unto my servant Thomas Moore Fortie shillings
Item I give and bequeath unto widdowe Tallis late wife of John Tallis deceased Fortie shillings
Item I give and bequeath unto my servant Margarett Horseley Twenty shillings
Item I give unto my Couzen Mrs Hartopp Twenty shillings to buy her a ringe for my sake
Item I give and bequeath unto Mr Edward Goodman who lives with me Twenty shillinge to buy him a ringe for my sake
Item I give unto Christopher Cole Clerke and my Couzen Henry Greene Twenty [“shillings” missing] apeice to buy them rings for my sake
The rest of my lands leases goods Chattells and Creditts whatsoever unbequeathed me Debts legacies and Funerall Expences beinge paid and discharged I give and bequeath unto my said Nephews George Shittlewood and Keneline Shittlewood whome I make and appoint my full and Joynt Executors of this my last will and Tenement [sic] Revokeinge all former wills by me heretofore made
And I doe hereby nominate and appoint my said Couzen Richard Greene and my said Loveinge Freind Robert Gilbert to be Supervisours of this my last will and Testament And I doe hereby give to each of them Tenn pounds of lawfull money of England for theire paines to see this my will performed and to advise my Executors therein
In Witnesse whereof I the said Richard Bidles have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day and yeare First above written
Richard Biddles
Signed sealed and published as the last will and Testament of the within named Richard Bidles the day and yeare within written in the presence of use
William Cole
Edward Morisson
Edward Warde
Signum Johannes Greene
Richard Freeman
This will was proved at London before the right Wor: Sir Nathaniell Brent Knight Doctor of Lawes and master or keeper of the Prerogative Court lawfully Constituted the Eight day of July in the yeare of our Lord God One Thousand six hundred Fiftie Two by the Oath of George Shittlewood and Keneline Shittlewood Nephewes to the said deceased and Joynt Executors named in the said will To whom was Comitted Administracon of all and Singuler the goods Chattels and Debts of the said Deceased they beinge First legallie Sworne (by Comission well and truly to Administer the same)
