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Will of Leonard BOWMAN of Oxford City Will 10 Dec 1665   Probate 25 Feb 1666/67
Source: TNA no. PROB11/323 Contributed by: Byron Bowman Go to Translation Go to Transcript
Summary.
... I Leonard Bowman, gent, one of the Aldermen of the City of Oxford ... weak of body ... Name Relationship [Comments] or Major Bequests Leonard BOWMAN   Oxford City Anne BOWMAN Wife Robert BOWMAN Son (Exec) Edward BOWMAN Son Leonard BOWMAN Son Judeth BOWMAN Daughter Rebecca EUSTACE Daughter Thomas EUSTACE Son-in-law Overseer Pyrton Elizabeth EUSTACE Granddaughter [d Rebecca] Elizabeth EUSTACE Granddaughter [see Note] Thomas EUSTACE Grandson Thomas BOWMAN Brother Witney Francis BOWMAN Brother Overseer Anne BOWMAN Sister-in-law [w Francis] Richard BOWMAN Nephew Godson [s Francis & Anne] E BOSTOCKE Witness Probate 25 Feb 1666/67 (PCC) ... Robert Bowman son and Executor ...
Transcriber's and Editor's Notes
It is odd that he leaves £5 to his granddaughter Elizabeth EUSTACE (daughter of his daughter Rebecca), then £5 each to his two grandchildren Elizabeth and Thomas EUSTACE (of Pyrton). It is just possible that there are two Elizabeths, but the editor is inclined to think it a lapse of concentration by a sick man. The following details are believed to be true but should not be totally relied upon: Testator: Son of Edward (1612 qv); Grandson of Robert (1599 qv).
Translated and paragraphed. with some of the standard preamble and "legalese" removed. Go to Glossary
... I Leonard Bowman, gent, one of the Aldermen of the City of Oxford ... weak of body ... I give my wife Anne Bowman (as well as the lands surrendered to her in Finstock) £100, my best diamond ring (which I estimate to be worth near £50), my best bed with its furniture, my silver tankard, two pairs of sheets, twelve napkins and two tablecloths But she is to release and convey all her title and interest in my houses, lands, tenements etc in Ramsden to my son Edward Bowman and his heirs, and also to deliver all my bonds, bills, accounts, shop books, debt books and other writings which are in her custody at my decease to my Executor, as soon as she is required to do so. If she will not do those things, every legacy given to her by this will is to be void, and I give [them] to my Executor. I give my son Edward Bowman 20s (as well as the estate which I have conveyed to him), and to his son Charles and daughter Mary £5 each. I give to my son Leonard Bowman £200. I give my daughter Judeth Bowman £200. I give my daughter Rebecca Eustace £50, and to her daughter Elizabeth Eustace, my grandchild, £5. I give my brother Thomas Bowman of Witney 40s. I give my two grandchildren Elizabeth and Thomas Eustace of Pyrton £5 apiece. I give my sister Anne Bowman, wife of my brother Francis Bowman, 40s, and to their son Richard Bowman, my godson, £5. I give all the rest of my goods and chattels (my debts, legacies and funeral expenses being paid) to my son Robert Bowman whom I appoint sole Executor. I appoint my loving brother Francis Bowman Esq and Thomas Eustace of Pirton, gent, as overseers, aqnd I give them £5 apiece ... I revoke all former wills. Witness E. Bostocke Probate 25 Feb 1666/67 (PCC) ... Robert Bowman son and Executor ...
As transcribed from a copy of the original document. Original line- and page-breaks are preserved as far as possible.
Leonard Bowman Aldermann Oxon In the name of God Amen the Tenth day of December one Thousand Six hundred Sixty ffive I Leonard Bowman gent One of the Aldermen of the Citty of Oxford being weake of body but yet of sound and perfect memory Thanks be given to Almighty God for the same Doe make and or= daine this my last will and Testament in manner and forme follow= ing (That is to say) ffirst I com'end my soule into the hands of Almighty God my maker hopeing assuredly through the onely meritts of Jesus Christ my saviour To be made partaker of life Ever lasting And I doe com'end my body to the Earth whereof it was made And as for my Temporall Estate I dispose and bequeath the same as followeth. First I give and bequeath to Anne Bowman my wife over and above the lands surrendered to her lyeing and being in ffinstocke in the Parish of Chalbury in the County of Oxon one Hundred pounds of good and lawfull money of England my best Dyamond Ring which I estimate to be worth neare ffifty pounds My best Bedd with the furniture thearof My Silver Tankard Two paire of Sheets Twelve Napkins and Two Table clothes Provided alwayes And my will and meaning is That shee release and convey unto my Sonne Edward Bowman and his heires as soone after my decease as shee shalbe thereunto required All her estate title and interest either in Law or equity of in or to all or any my houses lands Tenements and hereditaments situate in Ramsden in the County of Oxon And alsoe that she doe deliver to my Executor hereafter named All my Bonds Bills accompts Shop bookes debt bookes and other my writings which shalbe in her Custody att my decease when shee be thereunto required But in case my said wife shall not release and convey to my Sonne Edward as aforesaid or not deliver the said writings to my Executor Then my will is That all and every Legacy and bequest given to her by this my will shalbe void And I give The Same to my Executor for the better performance of my will I give and bequeath to my sonne Edward Bowman over and above the Estate which I have conveyed unto him Twenty Shillings And to his sonne Charles and Mary his daughter ffive pounds to Each I give and bequeath to my sonne Leonard Bowman Two Hundred pounds of good and lawfull money of England I give and bequeath to my daughter Judeth Bowman Two Hundred pounds I give and bequeath to my Daughter Rebecca Eustace ffifty pounds I give to her daughter Elizabeth Eustace my Grandchild ffive pounds I give to my brother Thomas Bowman of Witny fforty shillings To my Two Grandchildren Elizabeth and Thomas Eustace of Pirton in the County of Oxon ffive pounds a peece To my sister Anne Bowman wife of my brother ffrancis Bowman fforty shillings And to their sonne Richard Bowman my Godsonne ffive pounds Alsoe I give and bequeath unto my sonne Robert Bowman (my Debts Legacies and funerall expences being Discharged) All the rest of my goods and Chattells And doe hereby nominate and appoint and ordaine him the said Robert Bowman sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament Alsoe I doe nominate and appoint my loveing brother ffrancis Bowman Esquire and Thomas Eustace of Pirton in the County of Oxon gent overseers of this my last Will and Testament hopeing they will see the same duely performed And I give to my overseers ffive pounds a peece And Lastly I doe revoake All former Wills and Testam'ts by me heretofore made In Witnes whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seale the day and yeare before exprest Leo: Bowman Signed sealed and published in the presence of E. Bostocke Probatum fuit hu'mo'i Testamentum apud a'des Exon' scituat' in le Strand in Com' Midd: Coram ven'bli viro Johanne Clarke Legum Doctore Surrogato ven'b'ius viri Domini Gulielmi Mericke Militis Legum etiam Doctoris Curiae Prerogativae Cant' Mag'r Custod' sive Comissarij l'time Constitut' vicesimo Sexto die mensis ffebruarij Anno Domini (Stilo Angliae) Mill'imo Sexcen= tesimo Sexagesimo Sexto Juramento Roberti Bowman filij dicte defuncte et Executoris in hujusmodi Testamento nominat' Cui Com'issa fuit Administrac'o om'ium et singulor' bonorum Juriu' et Creditor' dicti defuncti de bene et fideliter Administrand' eadem Ad Sancta Dei Evangelia in debita juris forma Jurat'