PRO Ref: prob/11/70
Will dated 20th April 1587 (Eliz 29)
Probate 29th June 1587.

In the name of God Amen I Thomas WARDE of Weston in the parish of Weedon
Pinckney in the County of Northampton being sick in body but of good and perfect
memory thanks be unto God for it Do make and ordain this my Last will and testament in
manner and form following.

First, I give and bequeath my soul into the hands of the Almighty god my only maker and 
redeemer by whose mercy I hope to be saved, And my body to be buried in the church or 
churchyard of Weedon aforesaid whether it please my executor.

Item, I give unto John my son forty pounds, viz, twenty pounds within one year after my 
decease And twenty pounds within one year next after that.

Item, I give also to my said son John three of the best Ash trees growing in and upon my 
Acre close next the grove with free ingress egress and regress to fell fetch and carry away 
the same and also the bushes growing in and upon two yards in the East Mead shuting 
into Monkes mill.

Item, I give unto Robert my son thirty pounds, viz, fifteen pounds within one year after 
my decease And the other fifteen pounds within one year then next after that. Also I give 
to my said son Robert as much timber as shall seem to my overseers convenient for the 
building of two bays of housing like unto the building that is at this time in his house at 
Milithorpe in the parish of Weedon aforesaid.

Item, I give unto Richard my son twenty pounds to be paid unto him at the age of twenty 
and five years.

Item, I give and my will is that Jane my wife shall have yearly during her life the sum of 
four pennies of Lawful English money and two lands of corn yearly, the one of wheat the 
other of barley at the appointment of Thomas WILLS and John WILLS her brethren out 
of the crop of my son Nicholas for the Dowry or third part which she claimeth in any use 
of my lands, Provided always that if the said Jane my wife do refuse to take the same for 
her Dowry or third part and claim or challenge her Dowry or third part out of any Lands 
whereof I now am or heretofore was seised in fee simple or otherwise that then and from 
then forth the foresaid bequest made to my said wife shall cease And that the said 
Nicholas my son shall stand no longer charged for the payment of the said sum of four 
pennies and two lands aforesaid to my said wife.

Item, I give unto the said Jane my wife one bedstead with furniture sufficient and of the 
best for the same as she shall think best of.

Item, I give to the poor of the parish six shillings eight pence to be distributed
by my overseers at the day of my burial.

Item, I give to the repair of the church of Weedon aforesaid twelve pence to be paid 
within one month after the probate hereof Provided always that if I during my life do 
discharge any of the said portions before unto my said children bequeathed That then their 
part or portion for so much shall be discharged.

Item, The rest of all my goods and chattles unbequeathed I give to Nicholas my son 
whom I make my sole executor of this my Last will.

Item, I do make Thomas WILLS and John WILLS my brethren my overseers of this my 
Last will and testament unto to whom I give to either of them three shillings four pence. 
In witness whereof I have set my hand the twentieth day of April in the nine and twentieth 
year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth by the grace of god of England France 
and Ireland Queen defender of the faiths.
The mark of Thomas WARDE, Signed in the presence of us Pinchpoole LOVETT, John 
ADKINS, The mark of John HINTON, The mark of Roger BENBO.

Debts due to Thomas WARDE.
Imprimis, Rowland VARDAM of Banbury, ten pounds thirteen shillings four pence.
Item, BENSON of Plumpton, four pounds fifteen shillings.
Item, William MAGOT, thirty four shillings.
Item, George TAYLOR, fifty five shillings.

















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