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Will of Elizabeth KEYTE of New Woodstock Will 28 Sep 1643   Admon 22 Apr 1648
Source: TNA no. PROB11/204 Contributed by: Pat Crutch Go to Translation Go to Transcript
Summary.
... I Elizabeth Keyte of New Woodstock ... widow ... in health of body ... Name Relationship [Comments] or Major Bequests Elizabeth KEYTE   New Woodstock Jerome KEYTE Husband Deceased Edward SAYE Son-in-law William SAYE Grandson [s Edward - under 18] Ann SAYE Granddaughter [d Edward - under 16] Robert SAYE Administrator [bro of Edward] John BIGNELL Mention Woodstock Elizabeth BIGNELL Kinswoman [w John - with ch legatees] unnamed Servants Thomas RAYER Legatee (Exec) Alderman of Woodstock Thomas WOODWARD Legatee (Exec) Alderman of Woodstock Margaret HITCH Witness Francis GREGORY Witness scribe Admon 22 Apr 1648 ... Robert Say, uncle and legally assigned guardian of William and Ann Saye, the grandchildren (via the daughter) of Elizabeth Keyte ... to administer her goods etc for their benefit during their minorities ... the named Executors having renounced [?] ...
Transcriber's and Editor's Notes
Admon was required because the named Executors (probably) renounced. It appears that Edward SAYE may have died, leaving his brother Robert to look after the children. Unless Edward's debts had rendered him unsuitable :-) The clause about childbed linen etc is rather odd, as though she is (or expects to be) pregnant. The editor has included the clause verbatim for users to make up their own minds. The following details are believed to be true but should not be totally relied upon: Testatrix: Wife of Jerome (1633 qv).
Translated and paragraphed. with some of the standard preamble and "legalese" removed. Go to Glossary
... I Elizabeth Keyte of New Woodstock ... widow ... in health of body ... My body is to be buried in the church of Woodstock. I give the church of Woodstock 20s, to be paid to the then churchwardens within three months after my decease. I give the poor of Woodstock 40s to be distributed at the discretion of the then Mayor within three months after my decease. Whereas at the time of making this will my son-in-law Edward Saye owes me 16½ years' rent of the Slapes, I forgive him [all of it]. I give my grandchild William Say, son of Edward, £20 to be paid out of the £261 arrears (at the time of making this will) of the £40 pa annuity given to me by the will of my late husband Jerome Keyte and due to me from Edward Say. I also give William £10 more in ready money. Both those sums are to be invested by my executors to increase until he reaches age 18, then paid to him. I give my grandchild Ann Saye, daughter of Edward, £200 to be paid out of the above £261 arrears. I also give her £30 in ready money. Both those sums are to be invested by my executors to increase until she reaches age 16, then paid to her. If either of my grandchildren die unmarried and without issue before reaching those ages, his/her legacy goes to the survivor. If both die unmarried and without issue before reaching those ages, both their legacies go to their father Edward Say for his own use. I give to Ann Saye all my plate, jewels, rings and such ornaments as I have at the time of my decease. I also give her all my childbed linen and woollen, and all other things belonging to a woman in childbed or to the child which I have at the time of my decease [see Note]. Whereas half the household stuff and implements of household in or about the house where I now dwell with Edward Saye belongs to me, I give [all of it] to him. I give my kinswoman Elizabeth Bignell, wife of John Bignell of Woodstock, baker, all my wearing apparel both woollen and linen, and to all her children living at my decease 40s equally divided, to be paid within three months after my decease. I give all my servants at the time of my decease and all those then serving my son-in-law Edward Saye 20s equally divided amongst them, to be paid within one month after my decease. I appoint £5 for my funeral expenses. I give to Thomas Rayer and Thomas Woodward, Aldermen of the Borough of Woodstock, 20s apiece and make them my executors. If any of the above £261 arrears remains after my legacies and funeral expenses are paid, I give the surplus to my executors. Witnesses Margaret X Hitch; Francis Gregory, scriptor Admon 22 Apr 1648 ... Robert Say, uncle and legally assigned guardian of William and Ann Saye, the grandchildren (via the daughter) of Elizabeth Keyte ... to administer her goods etc for their benefit during their minorities ... the named Executors having renounced [?] ...
As transcribed from a copy of the original document. Original line- and page-breaks are preserved as far as possible.
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I Elizabeth Keyte of the Burrough of New Woodstock in the County of Oxon Widowe being in health of Bodie and of perfect mind and memory doe make this my last Will and Testament in manner and Forme folowing First I give and bequeath my Soule into the Hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping and surely trusting to inherit eternall life by the Merits Death and Passion of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer And my Body to bee buried in the Church of Woodstock aforesaid Also I give and bequeath unto the Church of Woodstock aforesaid the Somme of Twenty shillings to bee paid to the Churchwardens for that time being within three Months next after my decease Also I givev and bequeath unto the poore of the Towne of Woodstock aforesaid the Somme of Forty shillings to bee paid unto them by the discretion of the then Maior within Three Months next after my decease Also whereas there is Sixteene yeares and a halfe Rent of the Slapes due unto mee att the time of the making of this my last Will and Testament from my Sonn in Lawe Edward Saye Esq. I give and bequeath All the said Rent unto my Sonn in Lawe Edward Say Also I give and bequeath unto William Say sonn of the said Edward Say my grandchild the Som(m)e of Twenty Pounds to bee paid him out of Two Hundred Sixty and One Pounds being in areare of an Annuity of Forty Pounds p(er) annu(m) given mee by the last Will of Jerome Keyte my late husband and due to mee from the said Edward Say att the time of the making of this my last Will and Testament And also I give and bequeath unto the said William Saye my grandchild the Summe of Tenn Pounds more in rea- die money Both which Somes My Will is shall bee by my executors putt out for his use to encrease untill hee shall accomplish the Age of Eighteene yeares and then to bee paid unto him or his Assignes Also I give and bequeath unto Ann Saye Daughter of the said Edward Saye my grandchild the Somme of Two Hundred Pounds to bee paid unto her out of the said Two Hundred Sixty and One Pounds in areare as aforesaid And also I give and bequeath unto the said Ann Saye my said Grandchild the Somme of Thirty Pounds more in ready money Both which Sommes my Will is shall bee by my executors putt forth for her use to encrease un- till she shall accomplish the age of Sixteene yeares, and then to bee paid unto her or her Assignes Also if it shall happen That either of my said grandchil- dren shall die before hee or shee shall accomplish the severall Ages hereby sett downe for their Receipt of their severall legacies being unmaried and having no issue That then the Legacie of the deceased shall presently remayne unto the sur- vivor of them And if it shall happen both of my said Grandchildren to die be- fore they shall accomplish the severall Ages by these presents appointed for the Receipt of their severall Legacies being unmaried and having no issue then my Will is that both their severall Legacies shall remaine and bee unto their Father Edward Say aforesaid and for and unto his owne use Also I give and bequeath bequeath unto the said Ann Saye All my Plate Jewells Rings and such my Ornaments that I have att the time of my decease Also I give and bequeath unto the said Ann Saye All my Childbed Lynnen and Woollen, and all other things belonging to a Woman in Childbed or unto the Child which I have att the time of my decease Also whereas the halfe part of the household stuffe and ym- plements of household in or about the house wherein I now dwell with the said Edward Saye belongeth unto mee and are my propper goods I give and bequeath all the same unto the said Edward Saye my said Sonn in Lawe Also I give and be- queath unto Elizabeth Bignell the wife of John Bignell of Woodstock aforesaid Baker my kinswoman All my wearing aparrell both woollen and Lynnen of what kind soever And unto all her Children that shall bee living att the time of my decease Forty shillings to bee equally divided amongst them to bee paid unto them within Three Monthes next after my decease Also I give and bequeath unto all the servants that I shall have att the time of my de- cease and unto all that shalbe then dwelling and serve my said sonn in Lawe Edward Saye the Sum(m)e of Twenty shillings to bee equally divided amongst them to bee paid unto them within One Moneth next after my decease Also I appoint Five Pounds for my funerall expenses Also I give and bequeath unto Thomas Rayer and Thomas Woodward Aldermen of the Burrough aforesaid Twenty shillings a piece whome I make my executors of this my last will and Testament And if there shall bee anie Overplus of the said Two Hundred Threescore and One Pounds in areare aforesaid when all my Legacies that are hereby given are paid and discharged and funerall expences defrayed I give the said Overplus to my said executors whom I heartily desire as they tender the Cause of Orphans to bee carefull to their power to see this my Will truly performed In Wittness whereof I the said Elizabeth Keyte have hereunto sett my Hand and Seale The Eight and Twentith Daie of September in the Nyneteenth yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord King Charles over his Realmes of England Scotland Fraunce and Ireland Annoque Domini One Thousand Six Hundred Forty Three Elizabeth Keyte Wittnesses hereunto (The marke of) Margaret Hitch Francis Gregory Script(or) VICESIMO Secundo die Mensis Aprilis Anno Dmi Millesimo Sexcentesimo Quadragesimo Octavo emanavit Commissio Roberto Say avunculo et Curatori ad lites legitimo assignat' Willmo et Anna Saye nepotis et neptis ex filia Elizabethe Keyte nuper de Nove Woodstock in Com' Oxon vidua defuncti habent etc ad administrandi Bona Jura et Credita iuxta tenere Testamenti ipsius defuncti durant minor' etate et ad usum et commodium dicte William et Anne Saye minori de quod executores in huismodi Testament nominat ex certio Causis oneri executionis huismodi Testamenti expresse rennuntiaverint? et ex Actis Curia p(re)semius liquet et apparet de bene et fideliter administrand eadem Ad Sancta Dei Evangelia vigorum Commissionis Jurate