FILM 91951 PCC 22 PETER

MARGARET KIRTON OF LONDON 1571

I Margaret Kirton of London, widow, and late wife to Stephan Kirton of London, Alderman, deceased, being in good and perfect memory praised be God therefore, and calling to my remembrance that I must depart out of this transitory life not knowing when, do make, ordain, constitute and appoint this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say,

First and principally I commend my soul to God the Father and to Jesus Christ his Son by the merits of whose bitter death and passion, is my only hope of remission of my sins and salvation of my soul, my body I will to be buried in Christian "sepulture" in the parish church of St Andrews Undershaft in London or else where it shall please God to call me to his mercy willing my executors and overseers here underwritten that all vain and superfluous charges may be omitted and chiefly to relieve the poor to whom I give and bequeath thirty gowns of russet or any other colour only "pewke" and black "accepted" [excepted] to 30 poor folk, men and women at the discretion of my Executors and overseers at the day of my burial.

Item I give and bequeath to the poor of Saint Andrews Undershaft aforesaid the sum of five pounds to be distributed to them at the discretion of my executors and overseers upon the day of my burial or within one week next after.

Item I give and bequeath to the poor houses of London that is to say, Christs church and St Thomas Spittle the sum of £40 equally £20 apiece to be divided amongst the poor there at the discretion of the Masters and overseers thereof and to be paid unto them within 6 months next after my decease

Item I give and bequeath to the prison houses to wit Newgate Ludgate Kingsbench Marshalseye and the poor houses of Bedlem, the sum of five pounds, that is to say 20s to every of them in bread and meat equally to be divided amongst them within six months next after my decease.

Item I give and bequeath to the town of Barnes 40s to be divided to the poor there at the discretion of my executors and overseers

Item I give and bequeath to the town of Throppe in Northamptonshire 40s to be distributed to the poor there at the discretion of my executors and overseers.

Item I give and bequeath to threescore poor maids the sum of twenty pounds, that is to say 6s 8d to every of them and the same to be paid to the poorest of them without favour at the discretion of my executors and overseers

Item I give towards the finding of twenty poor scholars twenty pounds, to wit 20s apiece to every of them and the same to be paid unto them at the discretion of my executors and overseers.

Item I give towards the redeeming of prisoners the sum of ten pounds the same to be paid unto them at the discretion of my executors and overseers.

Item I give to my sons and daughters to every of them a black gown.

Item I give and bequeath to my brethren and their wives, to wit Robert Offley and his wife, Thomas Offley and his wife, Richard Offley and his wife, William Offley and his wife, Hugh Offley and his wife, Giles Jacobbe and his wife, William Bowyer and his wife and my sister Isabel Hampcotte to every of them a black gown.

Item I give to old Mistress "Woodrowffe" a black gown

Item I give to my cousin Harry Offley and his wife to each of them a black gown.

Item I do remit and forgive my brother John Offley the sum of £30 which he oweth me by a bill of his own hand.

Item I give to my children's children, to every of them a black coat or a gown.

Item I give to my servants to every of them a coat of black or a cassock, also I give to every one of them being with me at the time of my death the sum of forty shillings

Item I give to Harry Bickner my godson a black gown and the sum of ten pounds if I do not give him the same myself before my decease

Item I give and bequeath my sister Katherine ........ell?? the sum of £20

Item I give to Francis Dorington my god daughter and daughter to John Dorington of Colman Street ? the sum of five marks to be paid unto her at the day of her marriage.

Item I give to goodwife Sharpulle, widow and late wife of Geffre Sharpulle the sum of 40s and a cassock

Item I give to my aforesaid sister Isabel Hampcotte my best cloth gown

Item I give to Grissell Dean my goddaughter the sum of £5

Item I give and bequeath to George Woodward my late apprentice the sum of £20

Item I give and bequeath to Elizabeth Tracye, widow, the sum of three pounds.

Item I give to Richard Gall and his wife, to either of them a black gown.

Item I give and bequeath to Ellen Dutton the daughter to Thomas Dutton of Sheerebourne in the county of Gloucester, Esquire, the sum of forty pounds to be paid unto her at the day of her marriage, if she so long shall live.

Item I give to Mary Offley the daughter to my brother John Offley the sum of twenty nobles.

Item I give and bequeath to the town of Stafford the sum of £13 6s 8d to be distributed to the poor there at the discretion of my cousin Mathew Cradock or for lack of him, my cousin George or William Cradock at two several payments within one year, the first payment to be made to the said poor within one month next after my decease.

Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Dutton a nest of white goblets of silver with my late husband's arms upon them

Item I give and bequeath to Margaret Whethill my god daughter the sum of one hundred marks to be paid unto her at the day of her marriage or age of 21 years whether first shall happen and if it fortune the said Margaret to die before that time then I give and bequeath the same one hundred marks to my daughter her mother Jane Dutton

Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Grissel Woodrouffe one of my basins and ewers of silver, also I give and bequeath to my said daughter Woodrofe the sum of one hundred pounds and further I will that my said daughter and her husband have the use and occupation [sic] of one hundred pounds more which I will and bequeath that my said daughter and her husband shall equally divide amongst their children at their full age of 21 years or day of their marriage whether first shall happen as my gift.

Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Ellen White a "lyverye" quart pot of silver being all gilt, also I give and bequeath to my said daughter Ellen White the sum of two hundred marks and also I will that she have the use and custody of one hundred marks more which I will and bequeath unto my god daughter Anne White to be paid unto her as my gift at the day of her marriage.

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughters all my apparel not before bequeathed equally to be divided amongst them saving that I will that my daughter Dutton have her choice for the best gown, my daughter Woodrofe for the second, my daughter White the third, and my daughter Kirton the fourth, the rest to be equally divided amongst them as is aforesaid.

Item I give and bequeath to my brother Robert Offley a standing cup of silver with my late husbands arms upon the same in consideration of his pains for that I make him one of my executors.

The residue of all and singular my goods, "cattells" and debts whatsoever there be and wheresoever they shall be found after my debts which I owe be truly answered and paid, my funerals done and the legacies in this my present last will and testament fulfilled, I fully and wholly give and bequeath to my well beloved son Thomas Kirton which said son Thomas Kirton and my well beloved brother Robert Offley of this my present last will and testament I make, ordain, constitute and appoint my full and sole executor and for the true execution and performance thereof I constitute and appoint my well beloved sons Nicholas Woodrofe & Richard White my overseers.

In witness whereof I the said Margaret Kirton to this my present last will and testament have set my hand and Seal given the day and year first above written. These being thereunto witnesses. Margaret Kirton, by me Christopher Thatcher, by me John Yate, by me James Alwood.

Probate was granted 5th day of June 1573.

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