Early Wills
These late 16th and early 17th Century wills are
included here, even though there is no conclusive evidence that their writers
belong to the Bateson family tree. General Remarks The wills follow a set of conventions that were used
by will writers of the period: [In
Peter’s Will, one property was divided
equally but the other property was given to only two of his sons. In all the Bateson wills, the wife got
one third of the assets, a statutory requirement.] Money and goods are distributed next. [All
the Bateson wills, apart from Giles’s, gave details of individual money
bequests, though none gave anything for charity. Finally, the testators ask that their debts and
expenses be paid. Peter
Bateson's Will The Will was written on 13 August 1583. Notes At a later date, however, John must have taken
possession of the Far Hirst Close - it was mentioned in his own Will. Hugh Yewdall shared Peter Baitson's Windhill
lands. Giles
Bateson's Will His Will was written on 12 January 1594. There was no direction to pay his debts and
expenses. Christopher
Bateson's Will His Will was written on 19 March 1595. Notes John
Bateson's Will His Will was written on 1 July 1617. Notes Isabel Mylner: Walter Milner married Isabel
Elliston in 1613. She would have been John's step-daughter from his wife's
first marriage to William Elliston. Isaac Elliston: John married Isabel Elliston née
Longe in 1592 after her first husband, William, died. It is presumed that Isaac
was related to her. Nicholas, Thomas and John Baiteson were probably
John's nephews. Nicholas and Thomas could have been the sons either of Abraham
or of Andrew. John, born in 1586, was a son of William. John Longe: he was probably John's
brother-in-law. In 1599 a John Longe bought 36 acres of land in Bingley.
While many wills from the period are fairly easy to read, these wills were rather
untidily written in places and have proved difficult to interpret as a result.
Summaries and Notes are presented on this page.
The full transcripts can be found here.
Scans of the original documents will progressively be made available here.
The opening lines praise the Monarch and the Almighty and go on to emphasise
that despite the weakness of his body, the testator’s mind is sound.
The testator, being keen to ensure that his soul will be directed to its proper
place, documents the funeral procedures to be followed.
The testator next distributes his property amongst his children and close
relatives. The general principle is that the distribution is fairly equitable,
though boys tend to get property whilst girls are more likely to get money for
dowries.
In Christopher’s Will, his son got preference, while his daughter was
bequeathed a sum of money in lieu.
John’s Will, on the other hand, gave his landed property to his daughter with
the proviso that his son could buy her out if he had the wherewithal.
Christopher’s was the only Will to give details of the chattels to be
distributed.]
[The Batesons were particularly keen to
ensure the continuity of their children’s upbringing:
Peter charges his elder sons and his wife with the task of raising his younger
children. However, he may be concerned that his property might pass out of the
family should his wife remarry, so he puts in a clause that effectively
disinherits her on remarriage.
Christopher writes that if his wife remarries, she and her new husband can
continue to bring up the kids, but under the supervision of his appointed
trustees. If the latter disapprove of the way the children are being brought
up, all bequests to his wife become void. In that circumstance, the trustees are
charged with bringing up the children themselves.]
Probate was granted on 1 October 1584 in York.
Peter's only cash legacy was £5 given to his illegitimate son Giles.
He left his Windhill holdings to his sons Christopher and Andrew.
Jane, his wife, and "all the rest of my children" were to have his
Skelbroughe property.
Thomas Cave of Wakefield, described as "my faithful friend" and
William Pickard of Menston were to arrange the conveyance of the latter
property.
Of his moveable property (ie "goods") one third was to go to his
wife.
One third was to be divided equally among his 8 children.
One third was assigned to his sons to pay his funeral expenses.
Anything remaining was to go to his youngest children: Jane, Leonard and
Abraham.
There was also provision for his debts to be discharged.
The executors were Christopher and Andrew Baytsone.
The Will was witnessed by John Lillaie, Thomas Barnete, John Swayne, John
Stevenson and Hugh Yewdall.
No occupation was given.
Peter's sons William and John were only mentioned as recipients of a share of
his moveable property.
William was mentioned in a 1696 Rent Book when William Denby was in possession
of "part of William Baitson's ancient land".
Skelbroughe was a spelling sometimes used in the 16th Century for Skelbrook, a
chapelry in the parish of South Kirkby, near Pontefract. Nothing else has been
found to connect the Batesons with this place.
Thomas Cave, born in Burley in Wharfedale around 1551, was a cloth merchant
with properties in Wakefield, Farnley (near Otley) and other parts of
Yorkshire. However, there is no evidence
of any connection with the Skelbrook area. He died in 1603,
leaving £250 to establish Otley Grammar School.
William Pickard may have been the nephew of a William Pickard of Menston who
died around 1555. A William Pickard was also listed as a taxpayer on the 1545
Lay Subsidy Roll for Calverley.
John Swayne and John Stevenson held land in neighbouring Wrose.
Probate was granted on 7 May 1595 in York.
He gave Clothier as his occupation.
Giles' chattels and all other goods were bequeathed to his wife Alice who was
also the Executor.
The Will was witnessed by Hugh Udall and George Swaine.
Notes
No children were mentioned.
No land holdings were mentioned.
Probate was granted on 24 May 1596 in York.
He gave Yeoman as his occupation.
Christopher bequeathed the bulk of his holdings in Windhill, namely Near Hirst,
Wood Hirst, High Ing and the Carr to his wife Sibill, until their son Andrew
reached the age of 21.
At this point, she would get the statutory one third of her husband's property.
She was given the alternative of receiving an annual income of 5 marks (1 mark
= 13s 4d), paid out of the income from Christopher’s land holdings.
If Sibill were to die or remarry before Andrew reached the age of 21,
Christopher's brother Andrew and his brother-in-law Roger Cowper were to take care
of the above-mentioned closes of land, along with another called Far Fox Close,
until Andrew jnr reached the age of 21, at which point he would inherit
everything.
Christopher's daughter Isabel was given a dowry of £30.
When they reached the age of 21, Andrew jnr and Isabel were to receive legacies
of £10 each, paid out of the income from the land holdings.
Isabel was to get an additional £60 if Andrew jnr died and her uncle Andrew and
Roger Cowper inherited everything.
These payments were to be made in the porch of the parish church of Calverley.
If Andrew jnr were to outlive his uncle Andrew but die without issue, his uncle
Abraham was to inherit everything.
After debts and expenses were discharged, the remaining assets were to be
divided into three.
Christopher's son Andrew was to get his iron range, the cubbord, the counter
and the meate table in the house and a paire of bedstocks in the parlour.
His brother Abraham was to get a paire of fezant-coloured hose and his
"best hatt".
William, another brother, was to get a paire of leather hose.
His brother Andrew was to get his best cloak.
His brother-in-law Roger was to get three yards of light gray kersey.
Any moveable goods remaining were to be shared equally between his wife and
children.
The executors were Andrew Baiteson and Roger Cowper.
A Roger Cowper, "my father-in-law", was named as supervisor.
The Will was witnessed by Christopher Mawd, Sibill and Andrew Baiteson and
Roger Cowper.
Christopher's brother-in-law, Roger Cowper, was probably born in Bradley (near
Skipton) around 1573. His father, however, was called Johannes, not Roger, as
stated in the Will.
Christopher Mawd may have been a member of the landed Mawd family of Bingley.
He lived in Thwaites, near Keighley.
A supervisor was probably akin to a trustee.
Probate was granted on 23 April 1618 in York.
John bequeathed three closes of land in Windhill, collectively called the
Hirst, to his daughter Bridgett.
He wrote that if his son Samuel prospered he could pay his sister £10 a year
for 4 years and then inherit the property himself.
Bridgett was to receive an additional £40 paid in instalments "out of my
goods ".
Legacies of £20 each were to be paid to Sara Metcalfe, Isabel Mylner, Isaac
Elliston and to Nicholas, Thomas and John Baiteson.
John's sole executor was Samuel.
John Longe, Walter Milner, Andrew and Abraham Baitson were named as
supervisors.
The Will was witnessed by Isacke Elleston, Abraham Baitson and Walter Yedall.
No occupation was given.
Sara Metcalfe: his daughter Sara was noted in the Will as "wief of Ralph
Metcalfe my daughter".
Walter Yedall: he was the son of Hugh Yedall, who shared Peter Baitson's
Windhill lands.