FILM 91949 PCC 39 HOLNEY 1571

WILL OF WILLIAM CROUGE OF BLAKESLEY 1571

In the name of God amen, the 26th day of the month of August, the year of our Lord God a thousand five hundred threescore and eleven

I William Crouge of the parish of Blakesley, gentleman, being of whole mind and good and perfect remembrance, laud and praise be unto Almighty God, make and ordain this my present testament concerning herein my last will in manner and form following that is to say,

First I commend my soul unto Almighty God my maker and redeemer and my body to be buried in the chancel of the parish church of Blakesly

And I bequeath to the church box of the aforesaid parish five pounds to this use for the relieving of the poor of that parish & that if any poor man of that parish have need of twenty or forty shillings at any time shall have it thereof putting sufficient sureties to the churchwardens for the repaying thereof at the time appointed of them and these five pounds to be paid of my executors within five years by equal portions, that is to say, twenty shillings yearly for the space of these five years next ensuing, and if any churchwardens or any other will ..... the said five pounds to any other use than is afore mentioned, that then my executor shall ask and recover the said five pounds to her own hands

Item I bequeath to Mistress Jane Stafferton the daughter of Mr Richard Stafferton all my lands in Devonshire called Pryto[?]

Item I bequeath to the foresaid Mistress Jane Stafferton all my title and interest of my lease in Bonounte Leaze ? in the county of Leicester

And I bequeath also to the foresaid Mistress Jane Stafferton nine pounds that Mr Richard Strangfellow servant unto Lord Threasover[?] oweth unto me

I make and ordain the foresaid Mistress Jane Stafferton my lawful executor to ask, require, levy, receive and recover all manner of debts due unto me as well real and personal

And to pay these debts following with such speed as may be possible which I do owe

First to Sir William Dormer threescore pounds and also threescore six pounds six shillings and eight pence to Mr Zacherie Smyth one of the clerks of the King's Bench

Item I owe to Sir Richard Knightly three pounds six shillings and eight pence

Item I owe to Mr Stile of Clements Inn in London three pounds in whose hands resteth a bond of Mr Rawlins? due unto me whose sum is one and twenty pounds, which bond is due to be delivered at Michaelmas term next, to one Mr Copstone of Devonshire, clothier.

Item I owe to Palmer the attorney, three and twenty shillings

Item I owe to Swinburne, servant to Mr Austo[Auston?] thirty shillings

Item I owe to Mr Jerain Fermour [Farmer] nine pounds due at Michaelmas next ensuing

Item I bequeath to Mr William Watts a short cloak garded in velvet and a pair of crimson velvet hose dresssed with leather and to his wife I bequeath my white nag

Item I bequeath to Mall Watts a silver spoon

Item I bequeath to Mistress Watts of Norton four yards of scarlet which lieth in my chest.

I bequeath to my sister Williams a ring value ten shillings

Item I bequeath to Mistress Parnell four yards of black cloth for her to make a gown

Item I bequeath to my sister Rose five pounds

Item I bequeath to Mistress Farmer my "quishon & my quisshione worckes"

Item I bequeath to Mr Stafferton a pair of black hose, a leather jerkin with long cutts and my best canvas doublet

Item I bequeath to Mr Thomas Watts of Norton my marble riding cloak and to Mr George Watts I bequeath a yellow satin doublet and a new felt hat which lieth in my chest

Item I bequeath to Mr William Saunders of Blakesly my night grograin gown

Item I bequeath to Lewes Bunney [?could be a dozen different names] a pair of leather hose dressed with yellow satin, a fustian doublet and a leather jerkin

The residue of all my "caste" apparel I bequeath to Thomas Gilges

I make and ordain Mistress Jane Stafferton my lawful executor as it is afore mentioned and if it chance that the said Mistress Jane Stafferton retain the said lease of Bencounte leaze unredeemed by Mr Thomas Watts of Blakesley as may appear by bill indented between him ...... and me and if it also be redeemed by the said Mr Thomas Watts and [if] the said Mistress Johanne [sic] Stafferton [happen] to decease before she be married that stock or lease then I bequeath to be equally divided between the children of Mr John Crouge, the children of Mr Thomas Crookes of London, the children of my sister Rose, and the children of my sister Williams I make and ordain the right worshipful Sir Richard Knightlie the overseer for the performance of this my last will and testament

In witness whereof that this is my last will and testament I have subscribed it with my own hand and set my seal in the presence of Mistress Parnell..... and Sir William Saunders, curate of Blakesly, by me William Cruge[sic], by me William Saunders, clerke, one of the witness of the sealing of this will

Probate granted 27 October 1571 Jane Stafferton executrix.

NB From the original parish records of Blakesly;

6 Feb 1539 John Crudge of the hall buried

24 Sept 1571 William Crudge was buried

1552 [didn't copy date] Elizabeth Crudge married Thomas Williams

Amphillis Crouch [Crudge] married Thomas WATTS of Blakesly. She was buried in Blakesly in 1569. Her husband Thomas WATTS was 82 years old when buried in Blakesly in 1593.

SEE also will of Dame Mary Farmor 1625. [Crouch, Crowch, Cruge, Crouge, Crudge are all varients on the name]

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