John Smith of Nether Broughton 1578 Will

Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Archives, Leicestershire Wills and Probate Records 1579 page 7

In the name of god amen the xiiith daie of Auguste in the yere of our Lord god 1578 I John Smythe of Netherbrowghtonne in the countie of Leicester yeoman beynge sycke in bodye but whole of mynde and in good and perfect remembrance (Thanks be to god) make and ordaine this my Laste wyll and Testament in manner and forme following That is to saie

Fyrste I comende my soule unto allmightie god my maker and redemer and my bodie to be buryed in the Chancell or quere of the parishe churche of Browghton aforesaid

Alsoe I geve and bequethe unto Alice Smythe my wyffe the therde parte of my goods moveable and unmoveable

Alsoe I wyll that my wyffe shall have the one halfe of a closse in Hicklinge called Rempsonne closse duringe her natural lyffe

And I geve and bequethe unto Thomas Smythe my sonne alsoe in Hicklinge ii closure the one called Yepps… and the other called Towgood yerd which I wyll that my sonne Raphe Smythe shall make unto the foresayd Thomas Smythe his brother of the sayd ii closure before named a good & sufficient Dede by lawe to the sayd Thomas Smythe & his heyres male as the sayd Thomas Smythe and his learned councell shall devyse and for want of hym and his heyres males to retorne to the sayd Raphe Smythe againe and the heyres male of his bodye lawfullye begotten

And furthermore I wyll that the foresayd Thomas Smythe my sonne or his heyres shall not alienate sell nor charge anie parte or parcell of the sayd ii closure or parcell of grounde from the sayd Raphe Smythe or the heyres of the sayd Raphe

Alsoe I geve unto the sayd Thomas Smythe my sonne xl li

Itm I geve unto Margarett Smythe my dowghter xl li

Itm I geve unto Brigitt Smythe my dowghter xl li

Itm I geve unto Johanne Browne my dowghter x li

Itm I geve unto Andrewe Smythe the sonne of John Smythe x yewe shepe

Itm I geve unto xpofer Smythe the sonne of Richard Smythe x yewe shepe

Itm I geve unto John Smythe the sonne of Raphe Smythe x yewe shepe

Itm I geve unto Alice Browne the dowghter of Michaell Browne x shepe yewe

Itm I geve unto Eliz Smythe the dowghter of Thomas Smythe x yewe shepe

Itm I geve unto Johanne Howit my systers dowghter vi li xiiis iiiid to be payd her at the daie of her mariage

Itm I geve unto Edward Smythe my kinsman x ewe shepe and a hecfore calfe

The resydewe of my goods unbequeathed my wyves therd part beinge sett forthe and these my legacies performed and my funerall expenses dyschardged I geve unto my fowre sonnes John Smythe Richard Smythe Raphe Smythe and Willm Smythe to be equallie devyded amonge theym

And I make & ordaine John Smythe and Thomas Smythe my sonnes my full executors of this my last will & testament

I make and constitute Willm & Ric Smyth my sonnes the overseers of this my last will & testament desyring them for gods cause to see this my will fulfilled & thes my legacies performed & kept

In wyttnes hereof Jo: Smythe Willm Smythe Richard Smythe Raphe Smythe & Thomas Smythe

Probate Leicester 17 August 1579