Richard Smith of Nether Broughton 1613 Will
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Archives PR/I/236/124
This will has a fairly large area of water damage in the centre
In the name of god amen the twentieth daye of Januarye in the yeare of our lorde god (1612) I Richarde Smythe of Neather Broughton in the Countie of Leicester yeoman beinge weake of bodye, but in good and perfect memorye (the lorde be praysed therefore) doe make and ordeine this my laste will and Testament in manner and Fourme followeinge (That is to say)
First and pryncipallie I Comend and betake by Soule to allmyghtie god my maker and Redemer And my bodie I Comitt to the earthe from whence it came to be buryed in the parishe Churche yearde of Broughton aforesaied
And I geeve unto xptofer Smythe my eldest Sonne the sume of Sixe shillings & eighte pence to the use and purpose hereafter named, that is to say, my full mynde and will ys That the saied xpofer Smythe his heires Executors or Assignes shall yearlie Distribute and bestowe upon fouer of the poorest inhabitants of the towne of Broughton aforesaied viiid of good and lawfull moneye of Englande at or before the Feaste Daye of St Thomas the Appostle forevermore
And allso geeve unto the poore inhabitants of the townes of … … and Brentingbie the some of Sixe shillinges and eight pence to be Distributed Amongst them within one hallfe yeare after the daye of my death
Itm I geeve and bequeathe unto my two god children Thomas Browne and Joan … unto eache of them …
Itm I geeve and bequeathe unto Elizabethe my wieffe and to her Assignes All this my messuage … … wherein I nowe … … … … buyldings orcheardes gardens and backsides Togeather with the Arrrable Landes … … … … comon of pasture easements proffittes and advantages whatsoever to the saied messuage or Tenement belonging … … … … … thappurtenances for and dureinge the tearme of her naturall lieffe And after her decease then I do give and bequeath unto … … … … Close called the Lasterde… Close withe the Cottage house therin standing … … John … … … … … Dureinge the tearme of fortie yeares from and after the decease of Elizabethe my wieffe
Also I geeve and bequeathe unto Luke Smythe one other of my sonnes one other of my Closes Called the bridge Close unto him the … … … … and Assignes for and Dureinge the tearme of fortie yeares from and after the decease of Elizabeth my wieffe
Itm I geeve and bequeathe unto Willm Smythe one other of my sonnes my litle Close call the pease Close for and dureinge the tearme of his naturall lieffe Provided allwaies that the said John Smythe, Luke Smythe and Willm Smythe theire Executors or Assignes shall not nor in the … let, sett over, sell allien or mortgage the saied bastearde Close, bridge Close or pease Close or anye of them or anye parte of them or anye of them unto anye person or persons except it be unto my eldest Sonne xpofer Smythe or else … Brother …
Itm I geeve and bequeathe unto my eldest sonne xpofer Smythe and to the heires males of his bodie lawfullie yshewing Imediatelie from and After the death of Elizabeth my wieffe All this my messuage or Tenemente aforenamed with all the houses buyldings orchards gardens and backesides Togeather with the Arrable lands leas meadows ande other my Closes unbequeathed pastures feedings Comons and comon of pasture easements profitts & advantages whatsoever to the saied messuage or Tenemente belongeinge or appurteyninge with all and singler there appurtenances for and dureinge the tearme of his naturall lieffe Provided allso and my full mynde and will ys that if Susans nowe wife to my aforenamed sonne xpofer Doe survive and over live him the saied xpofer her husband that then she the saied Susans shall have and enioye the saied messuage houses buyldings lands arrrable leas meadowes and all other the premisses aforenamed … whiche are geven and bequeathed unto the saied xpofer her husband and to her assignes for and Dureinge her wyddowhood and noe longer but after her marryage shall have yearlie paied unto her out of the messuage and lands afore named fyve pounds of lawful moneye of England dureinge her lieffe
And for wannte of yssewe males of my afore named sonne xpofer Then I doe geeve and bequeathe my saied messuage or Tenemente afore named and all the houses buyldings orchards gardens and backsids lands arrable leas meadowes Closes unbequeathed pastures feedings Comons and Comon of pasture Eastements profittes and Advantages whatsoever to the saied messuage or Tenemente belonging or appurteyninge with all and Singler there appurtenances unto John Smythe my Sonne afore named and to the heires males of his bodie lawfullie to be begotten And for wante of suche yssue Then I doe geeve and bequeathe All my saied messuage or Tenement aforenamed And all the houses buyldings orchards gardens and backsids landes arrable Leaes meadowes Closes pastures feedings Comons and Comon of pasture Easements profits and advantages whatsoever to the saied messuage or Tenemente belonging or Appurteyninge with all and singler there appurtenances unto Luke Smythe one other of my sonnes afore named and to the heires of the bodie of the saied Luke lawfullie to be begotten And for deaulte of suche yssie then my saied messuage or Tenemente houses buyldings orchards gardens lands arrable leas meadowes Closes Comons and pastures and all other the above menconed premisses withe there appurtenances and everye parte thereof: to Remayne and be to the use and behoofe of the Right heires of me the saied Richarde Smythe forevermore
Item I doe geeve and bequeathe unto Richarde Smythe one other of my sonns Twentie shillings in full Contentacon of his Childs parte
Itm I doe geeve unto my Daughter Margrett Wyeffe of Thomas Cox on … fortie shillings in full Contentacon of her Childs parte
And I doe allso geeve unto Johan Smythe and Bridget Smythe my other two Daughters unto eiche of them An heaffer of two yeares olde
All the Residew of my goods and Cattell unbequeathed I doe geeve and bequeathe unto Elizabethe my wieffe whome I doe make full Executrixe of this my last will And I doe Renounce all former Willes and Testaments and soe reste in the mercyes of god abideinge his good pleasure
In wittenes whereof I have hereunto putt my hand and seale
Rychard Smythe
Willm Smythe
Thomas Smith
Am. Brett
Henrye Browne his marke
Francis Thorne
Probate 19 December 1613