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Will of Gregory BELSON of Aston Rowant Will 19 May 1558   Probate 25 Jun 1558
Source: ORO no. 182.180 (& 183.214 see Note) Contributed by: Paul Irving Go to Translation Go to Transcript
Summary.
... I Gregorie Belson ... sick and feeble of body ... Name Relationship [Comments] or Major Bequests Gregory BELSON   Aston Rowant Thomas BELSON Brother (Exec) [with unnamed ch legatees] John BELSON Brother Stephen BELSON Brother Robert BELSON Brother [with unnamed ch legatees] - WASE Sister [see Note] Thomas WASE Brother-in-law [with unnamed ch legatees] John SALTER Witness vicar of Aston Rowant William BELSON Witness Thomas WYAT Witness Probate 25 Jun 1558 Oxford ... executor named ...
Transcriber's and Editor's Notes
For some reason there are two "probate" copies of this will (but no "original"), with different probate years (both have 25 June). Both seem to have been copied from the original, but the later one leaves out some of the introductory rhubarb. The legacies etc are identical. This is the earlier one. Since he was "sick" in May 1558, the editor inclines to believe June 1558 rather than 1559, but users should be aware of the discrepancy. He gives neither forename nor surname for his sister, but from the wording it seems fair to assume that she was married to Thomas WASE.
Translated and paragraphed. with some of the standard preamble and "legalese" removed. Go to Glossary
... I Gregorie Belson ... sick and feeble of body ... My body is to be buried in Aston church or churchyard. My debts are to be paid before all things. I give the high altar of Aston 8d for my tithes and oblations negligently forgotten or omitted. I give Thomas Wase's children 6s 8d equally divided. To my brother Thomas Belson's children 20s equally divided. To my brother Robert's children 6s 8d equally divided. I give my brother Robert my best coat, best hose, doublet, shirt and hat. I give my diaper tablecloth that is at my father-in-law's to the high altar of Aston. I give my 16-gallon pan, my skillet, two platters, a chafing-dish, a bill and a dressing knife, a coffer, a sack of __ eight bushels, a chair and a dozen Awkement(?) spoons, all of which are at my father's, equally divided between the church of Aston and my brothers Thomas, John, Stephen and Robert. My bottle to the church of Aston. My bequests to my brothers' and sister's children are to be paid by my brother Thomas out of my cow, my bullock, and other ready money that he is to have to pay for everything. I give all the rest of my goods to my brother Thomas Belson whom I make my sole executor. Witnesses John Salter, clerk; William Belson; Thomas Wyat and others Probate 25 Jun 1558 Oxford ... executor named ...
As transcribed from a copy of the original document. Original line- and page-breaks are preserved as far as possible.
Testamentu' Gregorij Belson de Aston Rowant In dei nom'e amen xix'mo die Maij Anno d'ni 1558 I gregorie belson hole and p'fyt of mynde and sycke and feble of bodie doo ordeyne and make this my last wyll and Testament in maner and forme followinge ffyrst I bequeth my sowle to my saviour and redemer Christ and to his blessed mother marie and to all the holly cumpanye of heaven and my body to be buryed in Aston churche or churche yarde Secondly I wyll my detts to be payed before all things It'm I bequeth to the highe alter of Aston for my tythes and oblac'ons negligently foregotten d_ or omytted viijd It'm I gyve and bequeth to Thomas Wases children to be equally devyded betwyxt theym vjs viijd It'm to my brother Thomas belsons children to be allso equally p'ted betwyxt theym xxs It'm to my brother Roberts children to be devyded amongest theym vjs viijd It'm I gyve and bequeth to my said brother Roberte my best cote my best hose dublet shurte and Hatte It'm I gyve my Diap' table cloth that is at my father in lawes to the high altare of Aston It'm I gyve and bequeth my panne off syxtene gallons my skelet and two platters a chafyngdysshe a byll & a dressyng knyffe a cofer a sacke of __ eight? busshells a chaire a dosen of A___ment spones all these things beyng at my fathers I wyll to be equally parted and devyded betwyxt the churche of Aston and my said brethern that is to saye Thomas John Stephen and Roberte And my botell to the churche of Aston my foresaid bequest to my brethern and syster children to be made to them by my brother Thomas of my cowe my bullocke and of other redy money that he shall have to discharge all things w'all All the rest of my goods not gyven nor bequeathed I gyve to my brother Thomas belson whom I doo ordeyne and make my onely executor Wytnesse hereunto called and requyred John Salter clercke Wyllyam belson Thomas Wyat & others moo Probatu' erat hoc Testamentum coram nobis [........................................] ..... apud oxon xxv'to die mensis Junij Anno d'ni 1558 ......................................... [.........................................] ......... executori in d'c'o Testamento no'i'at' .... ........................................