LAYFIELD Charles, Doctor of Divinity
PRO 11/547
Will written 10 Feb 1710
Proved circa 1715 – see end note

LAYFIELD Charles, DD, Prebend and Residentiary of Winchester in the County 
of Southampton being now in perfect health of mind do in serious consideration of 
human weakness and uncertainties hereby make ordain and declare this my Last 
Will and Testament in manner and form following And first with all devotion and 
humility I sincerely beg and implore God’s forgiveness and confession of all my 
sins (both of ommission and commission) for the sake and by by the Merits and 
Mediation of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in this hope and confidence 
I shall render up my soul with comfort unto the mercies of God the Father by the 
merits of God the Son and in the love of God the Holy Ghost and I most humbly 
beseech this ever blessed and adorable Trinity of Persons (but one God) to make 
me with contentment my submission to wait patiently untill my change comes and 
afterwards to receive me into that Rest and Happiness prepared for all who love 
and obey the Divine Revelation of God As to my belief I dye as I have lived in the 
sincere profession in the Church of England as by God’s favour and the Laws of 
the Land established I bequeath my Body to the Ground (Earth to Earth) in sure 
and certain hope of a joyfull Resurrection Amen. And for my burial I shall not 
insist upon the place or manner but refer it to the discretion of my Executors. 2.As 
to my worldly goods and temporal estate I leave it to be disposed by my Executors 
as I shall in this Will or any other direct and appoint And first I chuse and nominate 
Mr. JAMES BADGER of Oxford and Mr. BENJAMIN CULME of Chilbolton for 
my Executors and for their trouble I give to both one hundred pounds To my friend 
Mr. THOMAS CRANLEY of Winchester (whom I appoint overseer of this my 
Will) I give twenty guineas over and above all the charges he may expend in being 
serviceable to the fulfilling of it All those expenses of my Executors also (if any 
be) shall be deducted out of that Estate reall or personall which I shall leave behind 
me part of which I dispose as follows. 2. To my nephew JOHN LAYFIELD I give 
my farm at Kitling (Catlidge) in Cambridgeshire or twenty shillings to be paid him 
weekly during his life which of the two my Executors shall think fitt … being 
about to contract with his mother 8 h (hundred?) pounds? JUDITH LAYFIELD for 
to pay her an annuity of 30 pounds a year for her receipt of 200 pounds When I 
have received it I order her to be paid Quarterly during her Life (not received) 4. I 
bequeath to MARY BADGER the summe of six hundred pounds if I do not pay her 
Husband in my Life time as I think I shall, This is done. 5. To my nephew (by 
marriage) BENJAMIN CULME I bequeath the sum of five hundred pounds if I do 
not pay him 200 pounds in my life time if I do then he is to have 300 pounds as I 
am obliged by marriage. Articles 6. I bequeath to ELIZABETH LAYFIELD, 
ALBIN LAYFIELD and MARTHA LAYFIELD the sum of 300 each above the 
200 pounds apiece which I owe them. 7. If any of the Legatees shall endeavour to 
question or disturb my Executors in performing their office, he or she shall forfeit 
the respective legacy given to him or her. 8. As to my Impropriation of Old Cleeve 
in Somersetshire I leave it to the Church thus BENJAMIN CULME may keep it 
during his life and then I bequeath it to the Church he reserving the patronage to 
himself but if my Debts and Legacys cannot otherwise be paid then I order it to be 
sold to a Clergyman at an under Rate 9. As to my perpetuall … of Croston in 
Lancashire I order it to be sold to WILLIAM PILKINGTON my nephew for 1000 
pounds it being worth 1500 pounds at an easy Rate. 10. I give the fourth part of 
what my Executors shall clear after debts and legacys are paid and discharged, to 
the poor of Winchester Chilbolton Brotham in Kent Croston in Lancashire and 
Cowin in Hertfordshire where I was born. Lastly I shall annexe a schedule or 
Codicil containing the particulars of my Estate and Debts due from or unto me by 
which it will appear if I am justly dealt with all that my Executors will be sufficient 
gainers by my death and therefore I admonish and exhort them to be just kind and 
charitable to all persons concerned especially the poor. In this schedule or codicil I 
shall also dispose of my goods or furniture and the interest and the interest of my 
Estate or income if it pleases God I live for some time Amen. In witness whereof I 
have hereunto set my hand and seal the tenth day of February in the year of our 
Lord according to the computation of the Church of England 1710. Signed sealed 
published and declared by the said Charles Layfield D.D.as his Last Will and 
Testament and attested by us whose names are underwritten in his presence as 
witnesses thereto. CHARLES CRANLEY ~ THOMAS CRANLEY ~ BEN 
CULME

Note: Information on the proving of the Will is written in Latin, so has not been 
transcribed! However, from the Chilbolton Parish Registers: “Charles Layfield 
Prebendary of Winchester, buried at Winchester 1715.”