PRO Ref: prob/11/135.
Will dated
Proved

In the name of God Amen for such as all men are mortal and it is requisite of every Christian man 
so to dispose of his temporal estate that after his decease strife nor Controversy do arise or grow 
for or concerning the same. In regard whereof and to avoid such strife and or contention that may 
hereafter there upon ensue I Ralphe COBBET of Weston in the parish of Weedon Pynkeney in 
the County of Northampton, gent, being something weak in body but yet of good and perfect 
memory (thanks be given to Almighty god) do make this my last will and testament in manner 
and form following.

First I bequeath my soul to Almighty god hoping to be saved by the merit, death and passion of 
Jesus Christ my alone Saviour and I bequeath my body to the earth from whence it came.

Secondly I give and bequeath to the parish church of Weedon and Weston aforesaid the sum of 
thirty shillings, and thirty shillings to the poor of the same parish.

Item/ I give and bequeath to my Brother in law Richard LOVE of Aynho in the County of 
Northampton, gent, Thomas HARE of the parish of St Giles in the Suburbs of the City of Oxford, 
gent, and John COBBETT of Staddam in the County of Oxon, gent, my natural brother, and to 
their heirs forever, All that my manor mansion house or capital messuage with the appurtenances 
situate, lying and being in Weston aforesaid; And also all the lands, tenements and hereditaments 
whatsoever with all and singular the appurtenances in Weedon and Weston aforesaid.: All which 
premises I lately purchased of one Thomas BETHAM and Richard BETHAM his son; And also 
all my messuage or tenement and four yard lands with the appurtenances thereto belonging 
commonly called or known by the name of Walkers, situate lying and being in Aston Rowant and 
Chawford in the County of Oxon: And also all that messuage or tenement with the appurtenances 
in Aston and Chawford aforesaid late in the tenure or occupation of one Thomas COWPER his 
assignee or assigns; And all that Cottage or Tenement with the appurtenances in Aston aforesaid 
now or late in the tenure or occupation of one [blank] LOVEDAYE with all other my Lands, 
Tenements and hereditaments whatsoever with all and singular their appurtenances in Aston and 
Chawford aforesaid; And also all the Rest of my lands, tenements and hereditaments with the 
appurtenances whatsoever within the Realm of England: To have and to hold to them the said 
Richard LOVE, Thomas HARE and John COBBETT and to their heirs and assigns for ever, that 
they may make sale of all those my said lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever to pay 
my debts and to raise portions for my wife and children unto whom I do repose an especial trust 
so to do.

Item/ I give and bequeath to the said Richard LOVE, Thomas HARE and John COBBETT all my 
goods and Cattle’s and Chattels whatsoever except my household stuff, towards the payment of 
my said debts and the raising portions for my said wife and children, for unto them the said 
Richard LOVE, Thomas HARE and John COBBETT I do therein also repose an especial trust so 
to do. 

I do give and bequeath to Elizabeth my said wife all my said household stuff to dispose of at her 
pleasure.

Item/ I give and bequeath and my will is that my said wife shall have four hundred pounds paid 
unto her for her own maintenance out of the money so to be raised by the sale of my Lands, 
Tenements, hereditaments, goods, Cattle and Chattels or some part of the same.

Item/ I give and bequeath and my will is that my eldest son shall have eight hundred pounds paid 
unto him when he shall accomplish the full age of one and twenty years, out of the money so to 
be raised by the said sale of my said Lands and tenements, conditional and upon this proviso, that 
my said eldest son so accomplishing the said full age of one and twenty years shall, at his said 
accomplishment of his said full age condescend to and allow of all such sale and sales as shall be 
made of my said Lands, tenements and hereditaments and every or any part or parcel thereof; 
And shall do, seal, exert and stiffen any act or acts whatsoever for the better assuring and 
conveying of the said Lands, tenements and hereditaments with their appurtenances and every or 
any part or parcel thereof to such person or persons as shall so purchase the same of the said 
Richard LOVE, Thomas HARE and John COBBETT or the heirs, he being by them or any of 
them reasonably required thereunto and not otherwise.

Item/ I give and bequeath and my will is that all the rest of my estate and all such money and 
monies and other estate whatsoever that shall be so raised by the sale of my said Lands, 
tenements, hereditaments, goods, Cattle and chattels whatsoever and every or any part or parcel 
thereof shall be equally divided amongst the rest of my children to be paid unto them in manner 
and form following, that is to say: To my sons when as they shall severally accomplish their 
several ages of two and twenty years. And to my daughters when they shall accomplish their 
several ages of eighteen years. And if it shall happen that any of my said younger children shall 
die and depart this world before he, she or they so deceasing shall accomplish the same age 
whereof they should receive his, her or their portion or portions as aforesaid: That then I bequeath 
and my will is that his, her or their portion or portions so deceasing shall be given and equally 
divided amongst the rest of my surviving younger children to be paid unto them as aforesaid.

Item/ I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth MESSINGER my servant the sum of sixteen pounds 
conditionally and upon this proviso that she shall be therewith contented and satisfied for all 
Reckonings between us. And give unto my Executors a general Release at the time that she shall 
receive the same: Which said sum of sixteen pounds my will is shall be paid unto her, she 
performing the said condition, within one year next after my decease.

And I do make and ordain the said Richard LOVE, Thomas HARE and John COBBETT my full 
and whole executors of this my last will and testament, hoping and confidently believing that 
they will perform the trust to them reposed.

And I make and ordain Xposer PITTES of Banbury, gent, Edward HANLT [HANLE] of 
Boddycott, yeoman, overseers of this my last will: Desiring them the best that within lyeth to see 
the same performed: And I give to them and either of them ten shillings apiece towards their 
pains in this behalf.

In witness hereof I confess this my will to be written and hereunto annexed my hand, subscribed 
the seven and twentieth day of March Anno Domini one thousand six hundred and twenty. And 
in the eighteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord James, now king of England etc.

Raphe COBBETT; Read, published and subscribed in the presence of Edward TRAVIS, William 
AVERYE, Edward HALL, John YOUNG his mark.

Proved at London 9th May 1620 by John COBBETT.


 Mr Raphe COBBETT was buried at Weedon Lois 28th March 1620.