These
late 16th and early 17th century wills have transcribed from Probate Register
copies held on microfilm at the Borthwick Institute in York.
Comments and words with an uncertain interpretation have been rendered in
italics.
Peter
Bateson’s Will - written on 13 August 1583; proved on 1 October 1584
In
the name of god Amen the xiiith daye of August Anno dm a thousand
five hundredth eighty thre, I Peter
Baytson
of Wyndall in this the countie of yorke sicke of bodie but of good and perfect
remembrance laud and prayse
be
given to almighty god do render and make this my last will and testament in
manner and forme followinge vizt: First
I
give my soule to almightie god etc. Item I give by legacie to Gyles my Base
begotten sonne five pounds. Item my
will
and mynd is that Christopher And Andrewe Baytsonne my sonnes shall have all my
right tytle and interest and terme
of
yeares of in and upon my farme hold in Wyndall. The said Christopher and
Andrewe Baytsonne bringinge upe honestlie
by
th meat drinke apparell and other necessaries my younger children vizt. Jane,
Leonard and Abraham Baytson ld untill
suche
tyme as they come to the age of sixtene years And further to have the tuicon
and goverment of the said
children
with their partes and porcions untill suche tyme as they come to the said
age of sixtene years And also my
will
is that Jane my wife shalbe a woman to wayshe and wringe and honestlie
to locke to my said children and heirs
above
named Jane, Leonard, and Abraham and to dress them meat drinke and other
necessarie at the costs and chargs
of
my above named children Christopher and Andrewe Baytsonne. And my said wyfe to
have lickewise meat and drinke
for
that paymt takinge duringe the terme of sixtene yeares or untill she marrie. And yf yt chance my said wyfe
to
marie then my will is she clearlie to awoide and not to have anything to doe
within my said house or anye parte
or
parcell of my farmehold also I give and bequethe to Jane my wife and to all the
rest of my children my whole
right
tytle and terme of yeares of in and upon my farmeholde or tenement in Skelbroughe.
And also my will is that
yf
yt please god to call me out of this transitorie world before this and
martynmas next Then I will and
desyer
my faithfull friende Thomas Cave of Wackefield and Willm Pickard of Menston to
make sartne of that
said
tenement for me and to the use of my wife and children equallie amongst
them. Item I will that all the
rest
of my goodes be divided unto thre equallie parts which of one part to Jane my
wyfe as the lawe of this realme
will
permytt Another parte to my children vizt: to John, Willm, Christopher,
Andrewe, Brydgett, Jane, Leonard and
Abrahame
Baytsone equallie to be divided Amongst them. The third and last parte to my selfe
to be honestlie brought
fourthe
accordinge to my vocacion at the daye of
my buriall. The remainder & the rest to Leonard, Jane and Abrahame
Baytsone
also my will and mynd so that all my dette be paid and discharged of my whole
goods also I do ordayne
and
make Christopher and Andrewe Baytsone my sonnes executors of this my last will
and testament. These
beinge
witnesses John Lillaie, Thomas Barnete John Swayne John Stevenson and
Hugh Yewdall
[5
lines of Latin conclude the Will, which appears to have been witnessed by
Christopher and Andrew Baytson:]
--------------------------
xpofer filio ------------------------ Andrew filio
-------------------------
Giles
Bateson’s Will - written on 12 January 1594; proved on 7 May 1595.
In
the name of god Amen the twelfthth daye of Januarie in the xxxvjth
yere
of the reigne of the Soveraigne Ladie Elixabeth by the grace of god, Queene of
England France and
Ireland
Defender of the faith &c : I Giles Bateson of Windle within the Countie of
Yorke clothier beinge
sicke
of bodie but yet of perfect remembrance praised to god, therfore, so ordayne
and make this my last will and
testament
in manner and forme followinge: First I give my soule to almightie god, my
maker and redeemer
by
whose bloodshedding I trust to be saved, and my bodie to be buried withein the
Churchyard of Calverley
And
for the goods of this world as Chattels and all other goods, which the
lord hath blessed me withall I give
them
whollie unto Alice Bateson my wife whom I do make Executor of this my last will
and testament
These
being witnesses Hugh Udall and George Swaine.
[3
lines of Latin conclude the Will.]
Christopher
Bateson’s Will - written on 19 March 1595; proved on 24 May 1596
page
1
In
the name of God Amen the xivth daye of March in the yeare of our lord
god
a thousand five hundredth nynety five & in the yeare of the reigne of our
sovereigne ladie Elizabeth
by
the grace of god of England France & Scotland Queene defender of the faithe
&c the ?
I
Christopher Baitson of Wyndall in the county of yorke yeoman of whole &
perfect mynde &
memory
laud and prayse be unto almighty god be of sicke in body do constitute ordaine
&
make
this my last will and testament in writinge as followeth First I bequeathe my
soule
unto almightye god my maker and redeem’r and my body to be buried in the church
Yeard
of the parish church of Calverley Item I give demise and assign unto
Sybell
my wyfe all my lands tents medowes closes and pastures situate lying
and
being in Windall aforesaid and in Idle in the said county of yorke to have
and
to hould all the same unto the said Sibill from my death and decease untill
Andrewe
Baiteson
my sonne shall his full age of Twenty one yeares if he the said Andrew shall
fortune
so long to live Shee the said Sibill and such person as she shall fortune to
marye
herafter keepinge and bringinge upp my said sonne Andrewe at learninge &
with
sufficient meate drink and clothinge to the good contentment and likinge of
Andrewe
Bateson my brother and Roger Cowp als Culpan my brother in law or the
survivors of them utterlyie to dislike with
the said Sibill or such said
husband usuage
bringinge
upp kepeinge clotheinge and education of the said Andrew Bateson my
sonn
That then the foresaid bequest gift and devise unto her the said Sibell of my
foresaid
lands tenats and other the premisses shall stand and be utterly frustrate &
void
to all intents & purposes Item my will is that the said Sibill shall in
like
manner
duringe the like tearme or tyme well and honestly bring
upp my daughter
Isabell
Baiteson with sufficient meate drinke and apparell under the like condicon
That
if it fortune the said Andrew Bateson my said brother and the said Roger
Cowper
als Culpan or the survivors of them to
mislike with the government and
bringing
upp
of my said daughter that then the foresaid gift and bequest made to the said
Sibill
shall in like manner cease and be utterly void and I will that the said
Andrew
Bateson my said brother and the said Roger Cowper als Culpan shall freme thence
forth have
the tuicon keepinge and bringinge upp of my said sonne And so untill
he
shall accomplish his full age of xxi yeares if he live so longe And also the
tuicon
of
my said daughter And for and towards the maintenance of my said children
accordingly
I give and bequeath assigne & devise unto them the said Andrew
Bateson
my brother and the said Roger all and singuler those closes pastures
medowes
and grounds herafter named parcell of the premisses before by those partes
devised
bequeathed and Assigned unto the said Sibill That is to say the close called
Near
Hirst the Wood Hirst the High Ing & Carr To have and to hould to them from
the
tyme
of theyr of the survivor of them dislike with the keeping and bringinge of the
said
Andrew
or Isabell my children untill the full age of the said Andrew my son of
xxi
yeares if he live so long Item I give dispose devise will & assigne unto my
said
daughter
Isabell the Sume of thirtie poundes of lawfull english money towards her
preferment
in marriage to be issueinge & goinge out as well of all and singuler the
page
2
the foresaid closes, medowes, woods and pastures
above & particularie contained That is to say
The
Nearr Hirst, Wood Hirst, High Inge, Carr, als also one of my closes and grounds
called
the
Farr Fox Closes. The same to be parceyned and paied in manner and forme
followinge
that
is to pay ten pounds thereof within five yeares next after my said sonne Andrew
Baitson shall accommplish
his
full adge of xxj yeares or by computacon should or might accomplish his full
age
tenn
poundes when shee the said Isabell shall accomplish her full age of xxj yeares
and
ten
poundes the last payment therof with in seaven yeares then next followinge
provided
allwaies
that the said lands medowes closes and premisses last above is monitored
And
also
the person and personnes their heires and executors to whom the same shall come
or fall by
vertue of this my last will and testament shallbe discharged of so much
of
the said Sum of xxx£ as the part and porcon of the said Isabell after the
Rate
and valew of my goods in my inventory shall extend and amounte ?-
Item
I will that my said sonne Andrew Baitson shall
freme and after he shall acomplish
his
full age of xxj yeares have to him and his heirs for ever all the foresaid
lands,
medowes, closes, pastures, and woods whatsoever last above particularly named
as
well the same nevertheles as the said Andrew and his heires to be charged with
the
payment of the said summe of money unto the said Isabell my daughter
accordinge
to the bequest gift and Assignement last above menconed
under
the same proviso And if the said Sibell or such person as shee shall
fortune
hereafter to marrie will not accept the residew of my lands not
above
particularly named in full contentment and
?- of her dowry or thirds
of
my whole lands and hereditaments but demand or sue by writt of lawe
or
otherwise for her thirds or dowry of any of the premisses above particularly
named
as by the course of the lawes of this realme shee may do then I will
that asured my said sonne at his full age as the said Andrew
Bateson my
brother
and the said Roger Cowper als Culpan as they are to have by the plaine
meaninge
assignement and bequest in this my parte
last will and testament
Divers and sundre of the foresaid closes groundes medowes woods
& other the
premisses
above particularly named accordinge to the bequest and gifts or
assignments
to them herin above specified So likewise they for want
of
any parte therof by, or through the said Sibell or by or under her
right
of dowry or thirds thereunto shall have in liew therof somme of the residew
of
my lands tents and hereditaments not particulerly above named as
shall
amount to one full parte of all the same in three parts to be
demanded
to and for such Intents and purposes and for such tyme
and
tymes as the said lands and other premisses above particularly o
named
or any of them are in and by this my last will and testament bequeathed
limitted
or assigned unto them or any of them in such
sorte nature
and
condition as they or any of them are by the plaine meaninge therof to
have
the said lands and other the premisses above particularly named as
is
said And if the said Sibell my said wyfe shall after my death be more
desireous
and so better pleased to have five marks by yeare if issueinge out of
all
my said lands & hereditaments therof shee shalbe indowable & dureinge
her
lyfe
then to have claime or stand to her thirds or dowrye therof Then
I
will give and assigne to her, the said five marks yearely to be Issueinge
out
of all my said lands and to be parceined and paied yearely unto
her
dureing her lyfe naturall So that neither shee nor any pinder has
right
do at any tyme after such receipt of any such summe of five mks
demand
stand to or sue to have her dowage or thirds of any of my
said
lands or hereditaments And then I will that such parts of my said
lands
& hereditaments that shee either by the meaning of this my last
will
and testament or by the cource of the lawes of this realme is or
might
have for her dowre or thirde or in liew therof shallbe & shall remaine
unto
such person & persons as by the plaine meaninge of this my last will and
testament
should or ought to have the particular closes & groundes above
page
3
menconed
accordinge to the lymittacons tymes intents and to and for the suplie of such
changes
payments
and purposes as to above expense aforesd And if the said Andrew Bateson my
sonne fortune
to
dye whatever issue of his body lawfully begotten then I will
bequeathe, devise and give all my
foresaid
lands tents and hereditaments whatsoever unto the said Andrew Bateson, my
brother and
unto
the said Roger Cowper als Culpan To have and to hould to them and their heires
for and
The
same Neverthles to stand chardged with the foresaid payments of all and every
the foresaid
summes
of money afore lymitted appointed or bequeathed and with the bringinge upp of
my
said Daughter Isabell untill shee shall fortune to be married or accomplish her
full
age
of xxj yeares uppon this condicon that the said Andrew Bateson and Roger Cowper
als
Culpan or their heires shall within three yeares after they or any of them
shall or
lawfully
might be seised of the foresaid lands tents and hereditaments or of two parts
therof
in the partes to be devided by vertue and fortune
of this my last will and testament
content
satisfie under payment of the said lands and hereditaments unto the said
Issabell my daughter three score tenn poundes on
and besides the foresaid bequest
or legacie of thirtye poundes to her bequeathed as
is aforesaid The said payments to be
made in the porch of the parish church of
Calverley aforesaid And if they do not pay the same
accordingly then I will that my said daughter
Issabell and her heirs shall have all the said
lands provided allwaies that if the said Andrew
Baiteson my brother fortun to dye
living
the said Andrew Bateson my sonn That then and from
thenceforth after such death of the
said Andrew my brother all and only legacie gift
bequest and Assignment whatsoever
in this my last will and testament onely touchinge
and concerninge such and so much of
all and only the premisses whatsover as the said
Andrew my brother shall have, might should or
ought to have by vertue reason or force of this my
last will and testament if he had
lived shall cease and be utterly void and
frustrate And from thence forth I
will give
devise and Assigne all such and so many of all the
said premises to the said Andrew my
brother shall have should or ought to have if he
had lived unto Abraham Baitson my
other brother for and duringe such tyme &
tymes & to such payments & purposes to all
intents and reasonable constructions as the same
with other & amongst other lands was
before given bequeathed or assigned to the said
Andrew my brother And to the
said Roger And if the said Andrew Bateson my said
sonne fortune to survive
the said Andrew my brother and after die without
issue Then I will bequeathe give
devise and Assigne unto the said Abraham Baitson
my brother all such & so much of
the premises as was last bequeathed unto him the
said Abraham To have and to hould
unto
the said Abraham and his heirs for ever he the said Abraham & his heirs
after
he or they shalbe seised of the same paieinge theire moitie or halfe of all
such
chardges payments legacies and bequests and within such tyme and tymes and
to
such persone and persons and under such condicon and condicons as is before
menconed
bequeathed and assigned to be paied out of the premisses by the said
Andrew
Bateson and Roger Cowper als Culpan after they or their heirs shall
or
carefully might be seised of the same premisses or of such partes thereof by
vertue
this my last will and testament as is above said Item I will my
debts
shallbe paied of my whole goods moveable And then the Residew & remaine
of
all my said goodes I will shallbe devided into three equall partes allwaies
provided
that such particuler goods as is herafter bequeathed by speaciall legacy
shallbe
assigned and allotted in and to the third and last parte therof And the
first
equall part of all my said goods I bequeath unto the said Sibill my said
wyfe
and the second equall parte therof I give and bequeath unto the said
Andrew
Baiteson and Essabell Bateson my children equally to be devided
amongst
them Item I wille brought forth my funerall expencs discharged of the third
and
last part of my said goods And also of the same third and last parte I give
these
speciall legacies followinge That is to say unto my said sonne Andrew Baitson
the
Iron Range the Cubbord the Counter and the meate table in the house and a
paire
of bedstocks in the parlour And I give
unto the foresaid Abraham Baiteson my brother
a
paire of fezant-cullored hose and my best hatt Item I give unto Willm Bateson
one
other of my brethren a paire of lether hose
Item I give unto the said Andrew Bateson
page
4
my
brother my best cloake And to the said Roger Cowper als Culpan three yeards of
light
gray
carsey And the Residew and remaine of all the said third parte of my said goods
I
give unto my said wife and children equallie to be devided amongst them And I
Constitute
& make the said Andrew Baiteson my said brother & the said Roger Cwp
als
Culpan
my executors of this my last will & tstamt. And of the same last will &
tstamt.
I
make & appoint Rogr Cwp als Culpan my father in Law Supervisor to assist my executors
with
his good advice & by execution of this my last will & tstmt. & to
see the same
faithefullie
executed, These being Witnesses Christofer Mawd, Sibill Baitson Andrew
Baiteson
and Roger Cowper at xxivth
diem mense May Anno dui 1596.
[3
lines of Latin conclude the Will, which appears to have been witnessed by the
executors:]
------------Andrew
Bateson et
Roger Cowper executorem---------
John
Bateson’s Will - written 1 July 1617; proved 23 April 1618
In
the name of god Amen the first daye of Julio in the Fifteenth yeare of the
Reigne of our
Sovaigne
Lord James by the grace of god of England France and Ireland kinge defender of
the Faith &c and
of
Scotland the sixth and in the yeare of our Lord god after the Course and
Computacon of the church of England 1617
John
Baiteson of Wyndell in the parish of Calverley and Diocese of Yorke beinge
weake in body deceased with infirmities
and
not of perfect health but yet of sound and whole memorie praised be Almighty
god for the same
And
knowinge all men to be mortall and noethinge more certaine than death yet
noethinge more certaine
than
the tyme thereof to avoyde all controversy which may happen to arise after my
death for any my Lands
Tenements
goods and chattels I doe ordaine this my present testament declaireringe
therein my whole and Last will
manner
and forme followinge that is to saie Firste and primarallie I Commend my soule
to the mercifull goodness
of
Almighty god beseachinge him by and through the meritte of Jesus Christ his
onelie sonne and my onelie saviour
to
pardon and forgive all my offences and my bodie I yeilde to the earth to be
buried in place of Christian burial as my
friends
shall thinke fittinge And as touchinge my Lands tenemts goods and chattels I
will and bequeathe as followinge
First
I give unto Bridgett Baitson my daughter and her heires all those my three
closes of Land meadowe and
pasture
with the appurtenances in Wyndell aforesaid comonlie called the Hurste
to have and to hold to the said Bridget
hir heires and assignes to her and theire alone
uses for ever but yet neverthelesse and upon
condicon that if Samuel
Baiteson
my sonne doe well and truelie content satisfie and pay unto the said Bridgett
my said daughter
the
sum of Fortie pounds of Lawfull money of England in manner and forme followinge
that is to saie in four
veares
next after my death by the Rate of Tenne pounds money of the same fower yeares
that then the said
Hurste of the said three closes called the Hurste to cease
unto the said Bridget and her heirs and that
then
and after such paiement made as aforesaid my will and mynd is that the Far
Closes called the
Hurste
together with the guift of
my messuage Lands and tenemts shall Remaine and be unto the said
Samuel
Baitsan my sonne & to his heires and assignes for ever
And also I give and bequeath unto the
same
Bridgett my daughter the Sume of Fortie pounds out of my goods to be paid in
fower yeares after
my
death by even porcons Also I give and bequeathe unto Sara wief of
Ralph Metcalf my daughter x-s
Also
I give unto Isabell Mylner xxs Also I give unto Nicholas Baiteson xxs Also I give unto
Thomas
Baiteson xs And unto John Baitson pnd Also I give unto Isaace Ellison pnd
And I
make
and appointe Andrew Baitson and Abraham Baitson tutors and goverment of my said
two
children Samuel and Bridget deseringe them to take the same uppon them and to
doe it theire best
to
see them well instructed and prefered And for all the Rest of my goods not given
nor bequeathed
my
debts beinge first paid and funerall expences discharged I give and bequeath
unto the said Samuel
my
sonne whome I make sole executor of this my last will and testament And I make
John Longe
Walter
Milner Andrew Baitson & Abraham Baitson supervisors of this my Last will
and
testament
desiringe them to se the
same performed in further witneth whereof I have hereunto put my
hand
and seale the daie and yeare first above written These beinge witnessed by
Isacke Elleston, Abraham Baitson
and
Walter Yedall Et vicesimo tertio die April
Anno dm Millme sixcent Decimo octavem I Ellison C-
&
[3
lines of Latin conclude the Will. The last line includes:]
------
Sammoli Baiteson filio
--------------------------------------------------------