FILM 91930 PCC 45 WRESTLEY 1557

WILL OF RICHARD HUMFREY OF BARTON SEGRAVE 1557

In the name of God amen, the tenth Day of March in the third and fourth years
of the reigns of our Sovereign Lord and Lady Philipp and Mary by the grace of God, King
and Queen of England, Spain, France both Sicilys Irln... & Ireland, defenders of the Faith,
Archdukes of Austria, Dukes of Milan, Burgundy & Brabant, Counties of Hapsburg, Flanders
and Tyroll, and in the year of our Lord God 1557,
I Richard Humfrey of Barton Segrave in the county of Northampton, Esquire, being whole of
mind and of good and perfect remembrance, thanks be to Almighty God, do revoke all other
former wills by me heretofore made, and do constitute ordain and make this my last will and
testament in manner and form following, that is to say;
First I bequeath and commend my soul unto Almighty God. And my body to be buried in the
chancel of the parish church of Barton according to the discretion of mine executors
Also I give and bequeath to the high altar of Barton aforesaid for my tithes negligently
forgotten and not paid 3s 4d
Also I give and bequeath to the poor men's box in the said church 6s 8d
Also I will they be ... in ......among the poor people inhabiting in these towns hereafter named
in consideration that I would not have a great assembly nor that they should travel from their
dwelling places, viz., Pitchley 13s 4d, Kettering 20s, Warkton 6s 8d, Grafton 10s, Cranford
13s 4d, Burton 13s 4d, Isham 6s 8d, Addington Parva 6s 8d, Barton 20s and for the rest of
my charges of my funerals I refer to the discretion of my Executors
Item I give and bequeath to Richard Pagett my kinsman one annuity or yearly rent of 40s out
of my lands and tenements in Burton in the county of Northampton to have hold and perceive
the said annuity to the said Richard and his assigns during his life to be paid at the Feasts of
Saint Michael the Archangel and the annunciation of our Lady by even portions, and for lack
of payment it shall be lawful for the said Richard Pagett or his assignees upon the premises to
enter and distrain for the same with the arrearages if any be [hole here in document]
Also I will that the said Richard Pagett shall be a counsel as well with William Humfrey as
with John Humfrey if they desire him or else not.
Also I give and bequeath to Alice Manley one annuity or yearly rent of 40s out of my lands
and tenements in Burton in the county of Northampton
To have and to hold and perceive to the said Alice and to her assignees during her natural life
to be paid at the Feasts of the Annunciation of our Lady and Saint Michael the Archangel by
even portions
And for lack of non payment it shall be lawful for the said Alice or her assigns upon the
premises to enter and distrain for the same with the arrearages if any be
Also I give and bequeath to Richard Parcell my boy of my chamber a middle gelding or a
colt of three years of age and one annuity or yearly rent of 33s 4d out of my lands and
tenements in Burton in the county of Northampton
To have hold and perceive to the said Richard Parcell and to his assignees during his life to
be paid at the Feasts of St Michael the Archangel and the Annunciation of our Lady by even
portions
And for lack of non payment it shall be lawful for the said Richard Parcell or his assignees
upon the premises to enter and distrain for the same with the arrearages if any be.
Provided always that if the said Richard Parcell alienate, sell or otherwise put away the said
annuity to any person or persons, but only to his own use, then I will the said annuity to
cease and be no longer paid, any clause before mentioned to the contrary in anyways
notwithstanding
Also I give and bequeath to Richard Annable one annuity or yearly rent of 40s out of my
lands and tenements in Isham in the county of Northampton, to have and to hold and perceive
to the said Richard Annable and to his assignees during his life, to be paid, at the Feasts of
the Annunciation of our Lady and St. Michael the Archangel by even portions, and for lack
of non payment it shall be lawful for the said Richard Annable or his assignees upon the
premises to enter and distrain for the same with the arrearages if any be.
Provided always that if the said Richard Annable do alienate or otherwise put away the said
annuity to any person or persons but only to his own use, then I will the said annuity to cease
and be no longer paid, any clause to the contrary notwithstanding. Also I give and bequeath
to Elizabeth Wright 40s.
Also I will that John Humfrey my youngest son shall have all my lands, tenements and
hereditaments in Isham and the profits of the underwood in the park there except oak, willow,
elm and ash and witch. To have and to hold to him and to his assignees during his life.
The remainder over to the executors and assignees of the said John Humfrey until the Feast
of St Michael the Archangel next and immediately after the death of the said John and from
that the said Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel unto the end and term of two years from
thence next ensuing fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying therefore yearly to
William Humfrey my eldest son his heirs and assignees £7 at the Feast of St Michael the
Archangel and the Annunciation of our Lady by even portions
And to the aforesaid Richard Annable during his life, the foresaid annuity and annual rent of
40s and all other out rent due for the same
And if it shall fortune the said Richard Annable to die, "living" [leaving?] the said John
Humfrey, then I will that the said John Humfrey shall, from and after the death of the said
Richard Annable pay yearly to the said William Humfrey my eldest son and his heirs and
assignees £9 of lawful money of England at the said feasts of the Annunciation of Our Lady
and St Michael the Archangel by even portions.
Also I will that the said John Humfrey, his executors and assignees during his life & term
aforesaid shall maintain and uphold all my house and buildings within Isham aforesaid with
all manner of reparations except great rough timber which I will that the said William his
heirs and assignees shall find and deliver to the said John Humfrey within Isham aforesaid at
all times convenient during the said term. And if the said William Humfrey his heirs nor
assignees will not upon convenient request assign, appoint and deliver apt and necessary
timber for the said reparations .
Then I will that the said John Humfrey shall and may take such timber as is growing in the
park of Isham aforesaid for the amendment of the reparations of the said houses and other the
premises any exceptions before mentioned to the contrary not withstanding
Also I will that my executors shall find one honest priest to sing in the parish church of
Barton for and during the term of 6 years next and immediately after my decease and to pay
to the said priest yearly £6 for his stipend and wage to be paid at two usual terms of the year,
that is to say, at the Feast of the Annunciation of our Lady and St Michael the Archangel by
even portions
Also I give and bequeath to Richard Annable forty ewe hoggerels
Also I give and bequeath to the said John Humfrey all such goods and "cattalles" as are
expressed in one schedule to these presents annexed
Also I will that whereupon the Covenants of marriage made for my son amongst others, it
was covenanted that I might declare my last will & testament of the yearly rent £40 of my
lands for the term of 6 years which in the whole amounteth to the sum of £240 of the which
sum I will that my Executor do pay unto my son in law Thomas Babyngton the sum of one
hundred pounds to be paid unto him by twenty pounds a year for and during the term of five
years next and immediately ensuing after my death the which sum being to him so paid, I
will that he give the same amongst his children of my daughter Elianor's body begotten
equally to be divided amongst them and the hundred and £40 residue of the said sum of £240
I do give among my son William Humfrey's children in like manner equally to be divided
amongst them.
All the residue of my goods, leases and "catalls" except my household stuff, jewels, and plate
by this my last will and testament bequeathed, I do give and bequeath to the aforesaid
William Humfrey my eldest son whom I do make my sole and only executor towards the
payment of my debts and all my household stuff, jewels and plate before in this my last will
and testament not bequeathed which within one Inventory unto this my last will annexed, and
with my hand likewise subscribed are likewise contained.
I will that the said William Humfrey and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten shall have
the use and occupation of them
And if it shall fortune the said William to die his heir or heirs being within age, then I will
that the said John Humfrey my youngest son shall have the use occupation and custody of all
the said goods, jewells and plate during the noneage of the heir or heirs of the said William
Humfrey putting in sufficient sureties to the heirs of Thomas Lyne Esquire deceased, father
unto Jane Humfrey, wife of the said William Humfrey for the true and safe redelivery of the
same and after such times as the heir or heirs of the said William shall come to their full age
or ages, then I will that the said heir or heirs or the heirs of their bodies lawfully begotten
shall have the usage & occupation of the said goods, "cattalles", jewels and plate
And if it shall fortune the said William to die without issue of his body lawfully begotten
then I will that the said John and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten shall have the usage
and occupation of the said goods and "cattalles", jewels and plate
And as concerning the disposition of all and singular my Manors, lands, tenements and
hereditaments and leases, my full mind, intent will and purpose is in manner and form
following, that is to say,
Whereas I am seised of and in lands and tenements in Barton aforesaid to the yearly value
threescore thirteen pounds 21d, and of and in land and tenements in Isham aforesaid to the
yearly value £9 13s 4d.
And of and in lands and tenements in Swepston in the county of Leicester to the yearly value
of £26 13s 4d and of and in lands and tenements in Backsadle to the yearly value of £4
And of and in lands and tenements if Barton to the yearly value of £5 13s 3d, which said
lands and tenements in the whole amount to the yearly value of one hundred nineteen pounds
21d which said lands and tenements in Swepston aforesaid I have appointed and for the
jointure of the aforesaid Jane Humfrey wife of the said William Humfrey for term of her life,
and which said lands and tenements in Barton I have also appointed for the payment of
certain annuities before given
Also I will by this my present testament and last will that if is shall fortune the said William
Humfrey to die, his heir or heirs being within age, that then the said John Humfrey shall have
my principal house in Barton aforesaid and the "Scites" of my Manors of Barton Hauved and
Barton Segrave aforesaid with all houses, buildings, barns, stables, orchards, meadows,
meadowgrounds, and other closes and several grounds appertaining to the said "Scites" of the
said Manors and eight yards of arable land with the feeding pastures and commons to the
same belonging with the profit, commodities and advantage of all the mills standing and
being within the said Lordship of Barton with liberty of all the waters and fishings in Barton
aforesaid with profit of all the shred and lop of all the willows about the said Manors of
Barton or within the parish of Barton with all other my messuages, buildings, orchards,
gardens, arable lands, meadows, pastures, mills, commons of pasture and other hereditaments
in Barton aforesaid which at the time of the making of this my last will or in mine own
"manurannce" or occupation or that be accompted as part or parcel of the "demaynes" of my
Manor of Barton Hauved or of the Manor of Barton Segrave in Barton aforesaid.
And also my Manor of Backsadle alias Batsadle and all my lands and tenements there in the
said county of Northampton with all commodities to the same appertaining being or lying
within the parish or parishes of Pitcheley and Orlington in the said county of Northampton
which I late had of the gift and grant of Thomas Vaus, Knight, Lord Harrowden and William
Vaus, son and heir of the said Thomas, except all woods being about the age of twenty years
growing other than for the lop of the willows aforesaid.
To have and to hold all & singular the premises with the appurtenances except before
excepted unto the said John Humfrey from the day that the said William my eldest son or his
heirs shall fortune to die his heir or heirs being within age, for and during so long space and
time as the said heir or heirs of the said William shall be within age or in ward, yielding and
paying therefore yearly during the noneage and infancy of the said heir or heirs £5 of lawful
money of England at the Feasts of St. Michael the Archangel and the Annunciation of our
Lady by even portions which said yearly rent of £5 together with such lands and tenements as
are in the tenure and occupation of my "ffermors" [farmers] and tenants in Barton and Isham
aforesaid and are appointed by my mind and intent to descend in possession to the said heir
or heirs being within age or esteemed.
And I do esteem to extend to the third part and more of all the lands and tenements whereof I
am seised of estate of inheritance at the time of the making of these presents within the
Realm of England.
Also I will that the said John during the noneage of the heir or heirs of the said William,
shall with the issues and profits arising of the premises keep hospitality in the said principal
messuage of Barton and shall well and conveniently uphold, repair and maintain the said
principal messuage of Barton and Scite of the said Manor of Barton Hauved and all the
buildings, houses, walls, orchards and gardens in and about or appertaining to the same.
Also I will that the said John shall further pay unto the younger children of the said William
Humfrey if the said William have any more children then shall be his heirs to be indifferently
divided amongst the said youngest children within a year after such time as the heir ot heirs
of the said William Humfrey shall accomplish and come to his or their full age, £26 of good
and lawful money of England for every year that the said John or his assignees shall occupy
the premises if that any of the younger children shall then be of the age of 17 years or else
the portion of the said money to be paid to every of the said younger children as they shall
come to and accomplish the age of 17 years and not before.
And if it shall happen that the said William Humfrey have no children but one son that then
the said John Humfrey shall of the issues and profits by him to be received of the premises
during the noneage of the said son pay and answer unto the said son within a year after that
he will come to his full age, £10 and no more, for every year that the said John or his
assignees shall hold and occupy the premises towards the setting up of the household of the
said son.
And if the said William Humfrey shall have no children but daughters, then I will that the
said John shall not pay nor answer anything the said daughters but to retain the issues and
profits of the premises by him to be received unto his own proper use without making any
accompt thereof to any person or persons
And if it shall fortune the said John Humfrey shall depart this present life during the noneage
of the heirs or heir of the said William or at any time before,
then I will that Richard Pagett my kinsman shall have, perceive and enjoy all and singular
such lands, tenements, hereditaments, commodities and profits during the noneage of the said
heir or heirs of the said William my son as the said John should or might have enjoyed or
perceived, keeping like hospitality upon the premises putting sufficient sureties to the heirs of
Thomas Lyne Esquire.
And doing, bearing and paying all such like rents, charges and sums of money to the children
of the said William and otherways in such manner and form as the said John should have
done and paid by force of this my present testament and last will.
And if the said William have no children but one son, that then the said Richard Pagett shall
of the issues and profits by him to be received of the premises during the noneage of the said
son, pay and answer unto the said son within a year after he shall come to full age, £20 for
every year that the said Richard Pagett shall hold and occupy the premises by force of these
presents towards the setting up of his household.
And if the said William shall have no children but daughters, then the said Richard Pagett
shall pay and answer unto the daughters indifferently divided amongst the said daughters
within a year after such time as every of the said daughters shall accomplish and come to the
age of 17 years, £20 or else the portion of money to be paid to every of the said daughters as
they shall accomplish the age of 17 years and not before.
Also I will that the said John Humfrey shall have the west part of the foresaid close called
"Batsadell" lying towards Walgrave town as it is now divided with the "busshey" close.
To have and to hold to him and to his assignees during his life; the Remainder over to the
executors and assignees of the said John until the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel next and
immediately after the death of the said John.
And so from that said Feast of St. Michael the Archangel until the end and term of two years
from thence next ensuing fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying therefore
yearly unto William Humfrey my eldest son and to his Executors and assignees at the Feast
of Saint Michael the Archangel and the Annunciation of our Lady by even portions 20s for
the said two closes.
Provided always that it shall not be lawful for the said John Humfrey to let nor set over or
otherwise put away my part or parcel of the said lands and tenements in Isham or Batsadle
aforesaid to any person or persons without the assent, consent and agreement of the said
William Humfrey, but it shall be lawful and I will that the said John shall let the tillage of
the same Manor of Isham to be tilled to "haulfes as I have letten my lande at Barton if the
same John so liste"
Also I will that such as be my servants at the time of my departure out of this present life,
that they and every of them shall not only have their wages to them and every of them then
due to be paid by my executor, but further to have the residue of their wages due at the Feast
of St Michael the Archangel after my death to be paid them, and then every of my said
servants to have 5s more.
Also I do constitute, ordain and make Frances Morgan, Sergeant at the law, Sir John Spencer,
Knight and Richard Pagett, gentleman, supervisors of this my present last will and testament.
And to every of them the said Frances Morgan, Sir John Spencer and Richard Pagett for their
pains in that behalf to be taken I do give 40s.
In witness whereof to this my last will and testament I the said Richard Humfrey have set my
seal and subscribed it with my hand the day and year above written.
Witness Richard Humfrey, Richard Pagett, Thomas Mulsho, Richard Smyth, clerk. Thomas
Pickering and Edward Galle
"The Inventary of the goodes assigned
appoyneted and bequeathed to John Humfrey
Inprimis a trusse bed whiche standeth in the litill chamber wtin the Seylde with tester and
Curtaynes of redde and greene sarcenet one fetherbedde, three mattresses, three bolsters of
tike one payer of fusteanes twoo payer of wollen blannketts, a new Counterpoynete of tapistry
wourke twoo white Coverletts whome [home] made three fustyin pilloes out [one?] of them
of Sowne. Item also a shipchest and all the lynnen in the same. Item a dosenne of silver
spones and a gilte salte wt a Cover enamylled. Item a garnishe of pewter vessill. Item v
mares or geldings of twoo or three yeres olde Coltes or fyllys half an hundred ewes and xl
shere hoggs and twenty hoggrells to be taken ronnyng out of all my sheepe. Off thies
parcelles delivered twoo fetherbedds one matteras a pair of blannketts a Counterpoynte half a
garnishe of pewter vessell a bolster the v mares and geldings

An Inventary of suche goods jewelles
and plate entayled to theires off Willm Humfrye
Firste a basonne and an Ewer of silver parcell gilte. Item a gilte pece wt a Covr fasshioned
wt wreathes. Item a neste of gobletts wt a cover parcell gilt. Item a gilte goblett wt a Cover
and a rose graven in the toppe. Item a dosenne and a halfe of silver spones. Item three gilt
saltes twoo of them wt Covs and one wtout a Cover. Item a chafing pece of silver. Item a
litill challice that is in the churche. Item the bedding in the Chambr over the litill parlor viz. a
fetherbedde a bolster a parr of fusteans wt a Seler of blacke velvit and white clothe of
bawdekyn embrothered and my Curtaynes of white and blacke sarcenet paned wt the
bedsteade and hanging wt cubbourd Chair and Carpett and twoo pillowes and beeres for the
same. Item in the litill Chamber wtin the same a fetherbedde a bolster a pair of blannketts a
Counterpoynt wt a bedstede a cofer wt hangings and Seler ovr the bedde. In the greate
Chamber a Celer with the kings armes embrothered wt curtaynes wt blue and red sarcenet wt
fetherbed bolster and a pair of fusteans a Counterpoynt of arras wt carpetts wyndowe cloathes
cusshynnes chayers and cofers wtin the same Chambr. Item in the chambr wtin the same
chambr a fetherbedde a bolster a Counterpoynte a payer of blannketts the hanging in the same
chambr. My chambre there I lye myselfe... firste a Celer of redde and white counterfait
damaske with valannce and curtaynes. Item a fetherbedde a bolster a payer of fusteans a
Counterpoynte a Cubbourde with a Carpett a gowne coffer. The chamber wtin the same. Item
a fetherbedde a bolster a Coverlett and a pair of blannketts.The Chambr at the neether ende of
the haule. Item a bedsteade a fetherbedd a bolster a payer off blannketts a Counterpoynte wt
tester and valannce of blacke and redde dammaske wt Curtaynes and red sarcenet to the same
a matteras a bolster a Covrlett for the same wt hangings of redde and yellowe say paned. The
parlor. Item a joyned cubbord wt bourde formes and stooles as it is nowe. The hall. Item the
hym? bourde wt fourmes and stooles as it is now with all other bourds and standards as it is
nowe. The kechin. Item the greate potte the seconde pott, the thirde pott with three greate
spittes twoo paier of greate Cobyornes twoo lesse spittes the racks and the yron to hange
pottes. The larder. Item an ambry wt bourdes and other lumber as itt standeth. The brewe
house. the greate leade and a small a furnesse and iiij worte leads in a frame the masshe fatt
and a yealing vatte. The deyhouse. Item the Cestrons of leade a greate panne twoo chese
presses, three mylke leades in a frame. The boulting house. Item a greate Arke with other
lumber and all maner of beddesteades wtin the house. Item twentye score ewes and their
lambes xx kyne and a bull twoo teemys wt their geeres.thre yron bounde cartes and hay in the
barne or elles in the feeld, the croppe of my yerdes haye and corne I have customably had the
same;"

Probate was granted 8th day of November 1557

[NB I have used modern spelling for the will. The Inventory is copied as written to illustrate
the inconsistency of spelling

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