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Will of John GODFREE of Crawley (Witney) Will 29 Aug 1616   Probate 28 Sep 1616
Source: OHC no. W.I. 195.315; 25/4/32 Contributed by: Steve Bumstead Go to Translation Go to Transcript
Summary.
... I John Godfree of Crawley ... Witney ... sifyer ... sick in body ... Name Relationship [Comments] or Major Bequests John GODFREE   Crawley (Witney) John GODFREE Son (Exec) Margrett GODFREE Daughter [surname crossed out - see Note] Margerie GODFREE Daughter [no surname given] Jone GODFREE Daughter [no surname given] Ales GODFREE Daughter [under 20 - no surname given] Aimee GODFREE Daughter [under 20 - no surname given] Tabitha BUSSELL Legatee Goddaughter John HAMSHIER Overseer Richard BOX Overseer Walter COWELL Witness John SMITH Witness writer Probate 28 Sep 1616 Oxford ... Executor named ... Inventory £22 10s 2d
Transcriber's and Editor's Notes
This "Original" is chaotic, a mass of crossings-out and interlineations, some illegible. The scribe should probably have made a "fair copy" before it was signed, but it didn't happen. The crossing-out of daughter Margaret's surname could indicate her recent marriage -- but he crossed out his son's surname too. Phrases in square brackets taken from the Register copy. The following details are believed to be true but should not be totally relied upon: Testator: Father (or possibly grandfather, but no evidence of an intervening generation) of John (1670 qv)
Translated and paragraphed. with some of the standard preamble and "legalese" removed. Go to Glossary
... I John Godfree of Crawley ... Witney ... sifyer ... sick in body ... My body is to be buried in the churchyard of Witney. I give £3 to my daughter Margrett Godfree, to be paid within six months after my decease. I give £3 each to my daughters Margerie and Jone, to be paid within one year after my decease. I give £3 each to my daughters Ales and Aimee, to be paid at age 20. My son John Godfree, whom I make my Executor, is to keep my two younger daughters Ales and Amee with diet, clothing and other necessaries until they reach age 20. If any of my five daughters die before inheriting, their legacies are to be equally divided among the survivors. I also give my five daughters each one sheep, to be delivered [within one year after my decease (see Note)]. I give to my goddaughter Tabitha Bussell one bushel of barley, to be delivered [within six weeks after my decease (see Note)] My bequests and funeral expenses paid, I give all the rest of my goods to my son John Godfree whom I make my Executor. I appoint my two honest neighbours Mr John Hamshier and Rich: Box to be overseers, and I give them 12d each for their pains. Witnesses Walter X Cowell; John Smith, writer Probate 28 Sep 1616 Oxford ... Executor named ... Inventory £22 10s 2d
As transcribed from a copy of the original document. Original line- and page-breaks are preserved as far as possible.
John Godfree de Crawly In the name of god Ame' The xxixth of August in the yere of our lord god One thousand six hundred and sixteene I John Godfree of Crawley in the p[ar]ish of Witney in the Countie of Oxon sifyer being sicke in body but p(er)ect & good in remembrance laud & praise be geve' to almightie god Doe ordaine and make this my last will cont'ing herein my last Will & Testament in man'er & forme ffolowing, That is to say ffirst I comend my soule into the hands of almighty god the father of created it hoping that hee will receive it into his mercifull hands for his sonne Christ Jesus sake and my body to be buried in the p[ar]ish Church yard of Witney afforesaid in sure and certaine hope of the resurectio' at the last day Now conc'ing such goods as the lord hath lent in this transsitorie life I geive & bequeth as foloweth Item I geive & bequeth unto my daughter Margrett Godfree iij li of god & currant English money to be paid to her by my exec'r hereafter named w'thin one half yere next after my deceasse Ite' I geive & bequeth unto my daughter Margerie iij li of god & curant englishe money to bee paid to her by my exec'r afforesaid w'thin one whole yere next after my deceasse It' I guive & bequeth to my daughter Jone iij li of like englishe money as afforesaid to be paid to her w'thin one yere next after my deceasse It' I geive & bequ'th to my daughter Ales iij li of like currant mony as afforesaid to bee paide to her when shee come to the age of xx yeres It' I geive of like currant mony as aforesaid to my daughter Aimee iij li of like mony as afforesaid to be deliv'ed to her at the age afforesaide And my will is that my sone John Godfree w'ch I herein make my exec'r shall keepe my 2 younger daughters Viz. Ales & Amee w'th diett, clothing and other necessaryes untill such tyme as thei come to the xx yeres of xx age yeres y't payment of theis my foresaid bequethes be dew to them or ech of them, p[ro]vided alwaies y't if any of my v daughters afforenamed deceasse befor such tyme as theise my bequethes be dew to be paid to them the[n] the others survayving then living to have her or theire legasies departedceassed to be equaly devided amoing them __ __ It' I give & bequeth to my foresaid v daughters to each of them one sheep to be deliv'ed [to them w'thin one yeare next after my decease (see Note)] Ite' I geive unto my goddaughter Tabitha Bussell one bushell of barley to be deliv'ed to her w'th one month? [w'thin vj weekes after my decease (see Note)] __ ___ w'thin one yere next after my deceasse All the rest of my goods unbequethed in this my p[re]sent will & testament theise my xxxxxx and bequethes paide & fune'a' expences dischardged I leav to John Godfree my sonne whom I ordaine & make my whole exec'r of this my present Testament And I appoint & ordaine my to honest neighbours Mr John Hamshier & Rich Box to be ov'seers & for theire paines taking in yt bussines I geive each of the' xijd apeace In witnes hereof I the said John Godfree thelder have confirmed it w'th my Awne hand the day & yere above written in the p[rese]ns of theise here underwritten The mark of X John Godfree The marke of X Walter Cowell John Smith the wrighter hereof Probatu' Apud oxon xxviij'o die Septembris 1616'o coram d'c'ore Blincow &c in p[er]sona Executoris &c jurat &c salvo &c Inven Suma xxijli xs ijd