FILM 91929 PCC 11 KETCHYN

WILL OF JOHN DANVERS OF CULWORTH 1556

In the name of the Everliving Lord God I John Danvers of Culworth in the
county of Northampton, gent, being whole of mind and body do make and ordain this my last
will and testament this twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord God a thousand five
hundred fifty and six, for the disposition of my lands and goods whensoever it shall fortune
me to depart this mortal life in such manner and form as hereafter followeth,
First after this transitory life I betake my soul to the immortal God, Father of Jesus Christ our
only Redeemer to rest with his elect saints appointed forever and my body to be buried in
Culworth Chancel if I depart this life within 12 miles thereof, if not then where my soul
forsaketh his ...... at which time I will shall be given to the needy poor in Culworth and
villages near adjoining 40s
Item I bequeath to my four daughters Temperance, Susan, Prudence and Fortune four hundred
pounds of lawful money that is to say, to each of them one hundred pounds apiece to [sic]
their marriage to be delivered them at their age of 18 years so that in their marriage they be
ruled by their mother and other friends especially those hereafter named, my overseers, and if
it fortune any of my said daughters to die before marriage or be not ruled in marriage as is
above written then that part or parts to enter on the others being left alive or were ruled as is
said
And if they all die before marriage or be not ruled thereon by those appointed that then all
the whole sum of four hundred pounds to remain to Daniel my second son to be delivered
him at the age of twenty four years
Item I give to my said son Daniel my lease of the farm of "Fulswycke" in "Wyltshere" after
old Raynolls lease now in George Worth's tenure's expired which shall be about the year of
the Incarnation of our Lord 1562
And the profits thereof from the said year of our Lord unto Danyell [at] his age of twenty and
two years to be employed to his maintenance at school and after at the Inns of Chancery or
Court and after he hath accomplished the age of 22 years then he the said Daniel to enter into
the said farm of "Fulswicke" to use at his own liberty
And if it fortune my said son Daniel to die without issue lawfully begotten before his age of
22 years and having no younger brother then alive that shall be "hoole" [whole] brother to
him then I will the said lease and farm of Fulswycke to remain to Thomas Danvers my
brother if he then be living, if not, then to remain to his lawful issue, if he the said Thomas
have none, then to remain to Sammuell my eldest son and his assigns.
Item I bequeath the said Daniel forty pounds of money at the said age of 22 years, to be
delivered him. If he die before the age having no younger brother of "hoole" blood to him,
then the forty pounds to be divided amongst my daughters. Also I will the said Daniell to
have my yearly annuity during his natural life of four pounds of money to begin at his 22
years age, to be paid yearly to him by Sammuell my eldest son and his heirs out of Culworth
which if the said Sammuell or his heirs refuse to do then I will the said Daniell to enter on
the profits of the ... half of the tithe corn of Culworth and to take "hit" to his own use until
such time as the said Sammuell or his heirs shall assure to him the said yearly annuity of four
pounds during Daniell's natural life
Item I will that my son Sammuell shall have delivered him at the age of twenty one years,
twenty pounds to ...... livery withall
Item at the age of 22 years to be delivered him I give half my plate with rings and brooches
and also then to have one hundred marks delivered him by my executors to buy him
household stuff withall, or else so much of my stock of household as shall amount to the
value by indifferent "praysers"
Item I bequeath to my brother Thomas Danvers ten pounds of money, all my apparel and one
gelding.
Item to my sister Mary towards her marriage forty pounds of money to be first paid after my
debts or charges.
Item to my sisters Dorothy Sacherevell and Ann Blount, either of them 40s
Item I make and ordain Sir William Raynsford, Knight, Sir Walter Hungerford, Knight,
Richard Fenys Esquire, my overseers of this my last will and testament
The residue of all my goods and cattles moveable and unmoveable whatsoever they be and
wheresoever they be found heretofore not given or bequeathed to any person or persons (my
debts paid) I freely give and bequeath to Dorothy now my wife whom I constitute ordain and
make by these presents my full and sole Executrix to execute and perform this my last will
and testament in manner and form above written according to the very intent and meaning of
the same
Provided always that within one month next after my departure [from] this life I will the said
Dorothy my Executrix to be bound by recognisance, obligation or otherwise to my said
overseers
Indented the "some" of my legacies at the least to pay, execute and perform all my debts,
legacies and bequests in such sort as in this my last will and testament is contained and
specified, which if she refuse to do, or do marry after my decease & before this will be
thoroughly fulfilled and kept then she to be clearly excluded from executrixship and only to
have her dower hereafter appointed and not to meddle with any of my goods and "cattals"
And the said Dorothy refusing so to be bound or do marry before all the legacies in this my
last will in all points performed and kept then I will that my said overseers shall be my
executors to perform this my last will and testament and to receive all my goods "cattalls"
and profits of my lands hereafter appointed to the use and declaration of this said testament
And for that end and purpose that this my last will and testament may be the better and more
surely performed, observed, fulfilled and kept by such as I have put in trust I will that the
profits of my Manor House of Culworth, orchard, gardens, ponds, closes adjoining to the said
house, that is to say, the "scyte" of the Manor with the woods, close adjoining thereto, also
the dry close, the lappe close, the close called Inlande, the pool "holins" & pools, the ancient
mill called the nether mill with the :"holins" thereto belonging, the new pasture now in the
tenure and occupation of Sir William Raynsford, Knight, and my many tenuretries in
Culworth as shall be leased when the King and Queens third part during the minority of my
heir shall be fully made, besides such tenements as shall be appointed for my wifes part,
which tenuretries with the closes and other the premises above mentioned I will shall be
employed by my Executors to choose, declaration and performance of this my last will and
testament and so to continue from the time of my departure this natural life unto the end and
term of 18 years then next immediately ensuing, keeping the reparations of the said Manor
house and not to commit any manner of waste,
which profits by my executors so received shall from time to time answer and pay all my
legacies and bequests in this my last will & testament given and bequeathed to my children,
after which years expired I will the said Manor house, ponds, closes, pastures, mills, lands
and tenements which said premises shall remain to my right heir by the law.
Item I will the King and Queens third part during the minority of my heir be appointed in
Sulgrave, all my lands and tenements there except my meadows now in my hands lying
abroad in the common fields of Culworth.
Also all the chief ...ats of the freeholders in Culworth with wardships, releases, herriots with
the other sor..yts and suits of the said freeholders vow of frankpledge court and perquisites of
court which profits as I suppose amounteth to the full third part of all my lands & if not then
the residue to be taken of the other tenements in Culworth to make up the full third part
during the minority aforesaid whereof these tenements hereafter appointed for my wife to be
none [sic]
Item I will my wife to have for her part in dower during her natural life (if she live sole and
unmarried and also commit no waste) the parcels following;
the tithe grains of Culworth (reserving unto my son and heir when he is full age his own tithe
corn of his "demaynes" and also the giving of the vicarage)
Item the meadows in Sulgrave now in my hands
Item the closes called 11 furlong, the meadow at Kightsound called the new pool with the
new mill there, Colen mill with all the appurtenances as well closes and "holins" as the yard
land and half bancroft, hencroft, Horowds house, with the appurtenances and Plants barn
there, Plants whole tenement, Traffords tenement, Woodwards tenements, ...ardens tenements.
Cyoldames? tenement, Wilsons house/ the bery close and dome house/ So that she commit no
waste nor marry, which if she do then my son and heir at the age of 24 years to enter upon
all her dower above named, secluding her from the possession of all my lands paying her
yearly during the natural life twenty pounds at convenient terms in the year
Item I will that if my son Daniel at the age of 22 years can quietly and peacably receive
yearly his said annuity of four score pounds during his life of his said brother Samuell and
their mother then occupying the tithe corn, he should enter in then half for none payment,
then I will the said Daniel for lack of payment of his four pounds Annuity abovesaid to enter
into bery meade lying after the west brook in the new pasture, and take it to his own use until
such time as the said Sammuell shall assure the said Danyell of the same Annuity during his
life.
these being witness Sir Walter Hungerford, Knight, Richard Fynes Esquire Mr [blank] Lucy
Esquire [blank] Baptist, Richard Tailor. Probate granted 17 day of August 1556

Back to Contents             Back to Index of Names       Back to Index of Place Names