Roger MORE of Bicester

Will of Roger MORE of Bicester

Will 2 Aug 1549 Probate 3 Mar 1551/52

Source:	TNA no. PROB11/35
Contributed by:	Grantley Hutchens	Go to Translation	Go to Transcript

Summary.

...me Roger More servant of the Catery (Note A) to our sovereign Lord King Edward the Sixth ...
Name	Relationship	[Comments] or Major Bequests
Roger MORE		Bicester
Agnes MORE	Wife (Exec)
Thomas MORE	Son	[under 21]
Mary MORE	Daughter	[under 21]
Elizabeth MORE	Daughter	[under 21]
Robert MORE	Nephew	YKS Bewick in Holderness [Note D]
John MORE	Great-nephew	[s Robert]
John MORE	Nephew	OXF The More
Thomas MORE	Nephew	CAM Whaddon
William MORE	Great-nephew	[s Thomas of Whaddon}
Sir Edmond PEKHAM	Legatee Overseer
James SUTTON	Legatee Overseer
Thomas MARTEN	Mention	Bicester Deceased
Widow MERTEYN	Tenant
John DENTON	Tenant
John BEDYNTE	Tenant
Nicholas WHYTE	Tenant
Robert STEVYNS	Tenant
Benet WIGYN	Tenant

Probate 3 Mar 1551/52 London ... Agnes relict and Executrix ...

Transcriber's and Editor's Notes

Buried 20 Sep 1551 Bicester.
Certain legatees are called both "Cousin" and "Nephew" -- such are Summarised (and Indexed) as the latter, being more specific.
No witnesses are listed, but Probate seems to have been normal.
A: "The Catery" was presumably to do with "catering" -- he may have been a very senior servant since it seems that the King gave him land.
B: "Austin Friars" was an Augustinian friary until dissolved by Henry VIII -- you can Google it.
C: It is not entirely clear whether this is the house ex Austin Friars or a different one, also in London, but the ed thinks it's the former. What the testator may be doing is giving the house to his daughters (with a long string of default recipients) but letting his wife live in it for life, paying rent to the daughters. Users who care must read the Transcript and make up their own minds.
D: Beweyk/Bewyke in Holderness: Holderness is a coastal area of East Yorks -- there's a Bewick Hall, about a mile NNW of Aldbrough.
E: The ed doesn't understand this. The property has been given to a long string of possible inheritors "forever", yet now it is to be sold and the money spent on road-works.
The following details are believed to be true but should not be totally relied upon:
Much useful info appears on a plaque in Bicester church, summarised as follows:
Here lies Roger Moore, second son of OXF More de la More, and his wife Agnes [Actually buried elsewhere (Ed)].
Their children were Thomas, Mary and Elizabeth.
Thomas was one of Queen Elizabeth's Gentlemen Pensioners, killed on active service in Ireland 10 Mar 1574, leaving no issue.
Mary (elder dau) married Michael Bl[o]unt of OXF Mapledurham, having ch Richard, Thomas, Charles, Katheryne and Mary.
Elizabeth married Gabriel Fowler of BED Tyselworth, having ch Richard, Mary, Agnes, Elizabeth and James.
After Gabriel's death Elizabeth married John BROCKETT, having dau Frances.
Testator's wife Agnes, nee HUSYE, married three more times and appears in this Library as Agnes SAUNDERS (1588 qv).

Translated and paragraphed.
with some of the standard preamble and "legalese" removed.
Go to Glossary

...me Roger More servant of the Catery (Note A) to our sovereign Lord King Edward the Sixth ...

I own the following real properties:
- A mansion house with a garden and one adjoining tenement (recently built), near to and formerly belonging to the former house of the Austin Friars in London (Note B).
- Certain lands, tenements etc in Wretchwick and Bicester.
- The patronage and advowson of the vicarage of Bicester.
- My wife Agnes and I (and our heirs) jointly own the site and mansion house etc of the recently dissolved Priory of Bicester and various other lands, tenements etc in Bicester, also the Rectory of a parsonage of Bicester, as in the deeds etc of the purchase is more fully described.
[Every time that "heirs" are mentioned, insert "the lawful heirs of his/her/their body"]
I give the mansion house, garden and tenement etc in London to my two daughters Mary More and Elizabeth More and their heirs.
If either dies without lawful issue, her share goes to the survivor and her heirs.
For lack of such issue, to my son Thomas More and his heirs.
For lack of such issue, to my wife Agnes More for life.
My wife Agnes is to have my dwelling-house in London with the garden and the new house which I recently built (Note C), for life, paying Ł4 pa rent to my two daughters or their survivor or to my son Thomas if both die, she keeping the property in repair.
For lack of issue of my two daughters and my son Thomas [I give it to] my cousin Robert More of Bewick in Holderness (Note D) and his heirs.
For lack of such issue, to my cousin John More of The More [OXF] and his heirs.
For lack of such issue, to my cousin Thomas More of CAM Whaddon and his son William More and his heirs.
For lack of such issue, to my next heirs forever.
The same [Note E] is to be sold by my Executors (or their own Executors or Administrators) with the oversight of four honest men of Bicester, and the proceeds used for the repair and improvement of the highways about Bicester and Blackthorn, the vicars of Bicester and Ambrosden having oversight of the work and each having 20s for his pains and to pray for all Christian souls.
I give all my lands, tenements etc in Wretchwick and the above patronage and advowson, also the reversion of the lands, tenements, Rectory and parsonage of Bicester of which my wife has a life estate in jointure as above, to my son Thomas More and his heirs.
For lack of such issue to my two daughters Mary and Elizabeth More and their heirs.
If either dies without issue, her share goes to the survivor and her heirs.
If the survivor dies without issue, [the properties] are to be divided into two parts as follows:
- Part 1:
  - The Mansion and site of Bicester Priory with its houses, buildings, orchard, garden etc.
  - All the leasowes, pastures etc which my farmer Thomas Marten (deceased) leased from me at Ł46 13s 4d pa.
  - The parsonage and Rectory of Bicester with all its profits etc
  I give the above to my nephew Robert More of Bewick in Holderness and his heirs, he paying annually at Michaelmas Ł16 13s 4d rent to my nephew John More of The More and his heirs [permission to distrain if unpaid].
  For lack of such issue, to my nephew Thomas More and his heirs, paying rent as above.
  For lack of such issue, to John More, son of Robert More of Bewick in Holderness, and his heirs.
  For lack of such issue, to my right heirs forever.
- Part 2:
  - The farm house where my farmer the widow Merteyn now lives.
  - All the closes, pasture and ground which I had by purchase and gift of the King, now leased to Mr John Denton, John Bedynte, Nicholas Whyte, Robert Stevyns, Benet Wigyn and others for Ł26 13s 4d pa.
  I give the above with all profits, rents etc to my nephew John More of The More and his heirs.
  For lack of such issue, to my nephew John More, son of Robert More of Holderness and his heirs.
  For lack of such issue, to my cousin Thomas More of CAM Whaddon and his heirs.
  For lack of such issue, to my next heirs.
I give all my other freehold lands etc equally between my daughters Mary and Elizabeth for a term of 12 years after my decease, towards their preferment in marriage, my overseers receiving the profits during those years for that purpose.
If either dies during the 12 years, the survivor is to have it all (during the 12 years).
If both die before marriage, the lands are to go to the payment of my debts, and the residue to my son Thomas and his heirs.
[He doesn't say what should happen if one or both are alive but unmarried after 12 years.]
I give all my household stuff at Bicester to my wife and my son Thomas equally divided, my wife having first choice of everything and having custody of Thomas's half until he reaches age 22, or otherwise at her goodwill.
I give my house where widow Merteyn now lives to my son Thomas until he inherits my main house at Bicester (which my wife has for life).
At that time that house is to go to Mary, and in default of Mary to Elizabeth, forever. I give all my household stuff at my house at London (late Austin Friars) to Mary and Elizabeth, to be equally divided between them at the time of their marriages, or if either dies, to the survivor. My wife is to have custody of it until they reach the age of marriage. [Again, what if one or both remain unmarried?]
If both die I give [all of it] to my son Thomas and my wife Agnes, she having the choice of the best bed and apparel.
No vats, leads and standards of the brewhouse at Bicester are to be removed, but are to remain there.
I give all my kine, cart-horses and other horses, corn such as wheat and barley, malt and hay at Bicester at my decease to my wife Agnes to do with at her pleasure.
I also give her two feather beds, two bolsters, two pillows and two coverlets out of my household stuff at my house in London.
Any gift of any lands given to my children or otherwise which is not perfectly phrased may be amended by my Executrix and my Overseers, Sir Edmonde Pekham, knight, and my old and trusty friend Mr James Sutton, Clerk of the Green Cloth to the king. [Google it if interested]
I make my wife Agnes More my Executrix -- she is to give 50s to Sir Edmond Pekham and 40s to Mr James Sutton, to make rings of remembrance for their pains.
My body is to be buried in the place where I die.
I desire you, my good bed-fellow and loving wife, to be a good mother to my son and two daughters, as I mind nor doubt no less.
I have wrtten this will wholly with my own hand ...

Probate 3 Mar 1551/52 London ... Agnes relict and Executrix ...

As transcribed from a copy of the original document.
Original line- and page-breaks are preserved as far as possible.

Tm Roger More

This ys the declarac'on of the laste will and testament of me

Roger More s’rvaunte of thaccatrye unto our sov’aigne Lorde Kinge Edwarde the Sixte
Made the secounde daye of August the third yere of his maiesties Reigne Concerning
thorderinge and disposicion of all the Landes and tenements and possessions whiche I have
within the Realme of Englande / ffirst where I the saide Roger More am seasid of an
estate in fee symple of and in a mancion howse with a garden and one ten’t adioyning
unto the same house Late newe buylded set lying and being nighe unto the late house
of the Austeyn ffryers in london and Late belonging unto the same house / And also of
and in certeyne Landes tenements and hereditaments in Wrechewyke and Byssitor in the
Countie of Oxforde of and in the p’tronage and advoyson of the vicarage of Byssitor
in the said Countie / And also where I the saide Roger More and Agnes my wief Are
Joyntlie seasyd to us and unto the heyres of me the said Roger More in fee symple of
and in the Cite and and mancion house w’t thappurten’ncs of the late dissolved priorie
of Byssitor otherwise called Burcestere in the said Countie of Oxford / and of and in dyv’s
other Landes ten’ts and hereditaments in the p’isshe of Byssitor aforesaide / And also of
and in the Rectorie of a p’sonage of Byssitor aforesaid as in the dedes and wrytings of the
purchasse and assuraunce of the premisses more playnlye dothe Appere / I give and
bequeathe unto my two doughters Marie More and Elizabeth More the said mansion
House garden and tenement with thappurten’ncs in london to have to them and to their
heyres of their two bodies Laufully begotten / And yf it happen any of them to dye withoute
Issue of her bodye Laufully comynge than I will that her p’te and porcion shall remayn
and be to the longer lyvinge of them and to theyres of her bodye laufully comyng / And
for lacke of suche yssue the Remaynder of all the same in london to Thomas More my
Sonne and to theyres of his bodye Laufully comynge and begotten / And for lacke of
suche yssue the remaynder of all the premisses in london to Angnes More my wief for
terme of her lyfe / Item my will and mynde ys that after my decease my said wief Agnes
More shall have my dwelling house in London with the gardeyn and the newe house
whiche I lately buylded during her lief yeldinge and payinge unto my said two
doughters Marye More and Elizabethe More and unto the lenger lyving of them or
unto my sonne Thomas More yf they fortune to decease the yerely rent of foure poundes
ster’ by the yere my saide wief to kepe all maner of Rep’ac'ons thereof during her lyfe / The
Remaynder therof for lacke of yssue of my saide two doughters and my sonne Thomas
More Than I woll that my Cosyn Robert More of Beweyk in Holdernes and to the
heyres of his bodie laufully begotten And for lacke of suche yssue unto my Cosyn John
More of the More in the Countie of Oxford and unto theyres of his bodye laufully
begotten And for lacke of suche yssue unto my cosyn Thomas More of Whaddon in the
Countie of Cambridge and unto my Cosyn William More his sonne and unto theyres of his
bodye Laufully begotten And for lacke of suche yssue unto my next heyres forever / Item
I will the same to be solde be myne Executours or thexecutours or administrators of myne
Executours w’t thoversight of foure of the honest men of Byssitor in the Countie of Oxford
And the money therof comynge to be ymployed and bestowed in and abowts ye rep’ac'ons
and admendement of the high wayes abowts Bissitor blacketho’ne & byssitor and the
vicar of byssitor for the tyme being to have the ov’sight of the same and the vicar of
Am’sden to be another overseer in lykewyse and either of them to have xx s apece for
their paynes and praye for all Cristen soules / Item I will and bequeathe all my
saide Landes tenements and hereditaments whiche I have in Wrechewyke in the Countie
of Oxford and the p’ronage and advoyson aforesaid to gether with the Reversion of
all and singuler the said landes ten’ts Rectorie and p’sonage of and in Byssitor aforsaid
wherof the said Angnes More hath an estate in Joyntor during her lyfe as ys aforesaid
unto Thomas More my sonne to hym and to theyres of his bodye Laufully begotten And
for lacke of suche yssue the Remaynder therof unto my two doughters Marye More and
Elizabeth More and to theyres of their two bodyes Laufully comyinge and begotten &
yf it shall fortune any of them to dye withoute yssue I will the parte and porcion of
Her that shall happen to dye to Remayne and be to the longer lyvinge of them and
unto the heyres of her bodye laufully begotten And if it shall fortune the Survivor to
Dye withoute yssue than my mynde and wyll ys that the same premisses before mencioned
and declaryd be devyded and apporcioned into two partes in maner & forme following
That is to saye thone p’te therof the Mancion place and Cite of byssitor aforesaid with
all the houses buyldings orchard gardeyn and com'odities ther unto belonging And also
all suche Lesues pastures and hereditaments whiche my fermor Thomas Marten deceased
had in lease of me for the yerely rent of ffourtie and Sixe poundes thirteyn shillings
and foure pence And also the p’sonnage and Rectorie of Byssitor aforesaid w’t all the
profytts and com'odities therunto belonging / I will and devyse by this my present will
and testament that my nephew Robert More of Bewyke in Holdernes shall have and
ynyoie to hym and unto theyres of his bodye laufully begotten the same Robert More
and his heyres beringe and yerely paying at the feast of seynt Michell tharchaungell
unto my nephew John More nowe dwelling in the More and to theyres of his bodye
Laufully begotten oute of the same a Rent charge of xvj li xiij s iiij d And for defaulte of
suche payment I will my Cosyn John More nowe of the More and his said heyres

shall distrayne in the landes for the same Rent / And for dafaulte of Issue of the bodye of the
said Robert More I will the said Mansion place and Cite and other the premisses last
to hym lymyted and appoynted shall remayne and be to my nephew Thomas More &
to theyres of his bodye Laufully begotten they bering and paying the said Rent of xvj li
xiij s iiij d unto my Nephew John More nowe dwelling at the More and to theyres of his
bodye Laufully begotten / And for defaulte of suche yssue of the bodye of the same Thomas
More the Remaynder therof to John More sonne of Robert More of Bewick in Holdernes
and to theyres of his bodye lauffully begotten and for defaulte of suche yssue to my right
Heyres forev’ Thother parte of the premisses, that ys to saye, the ferme house or place
wherin nowe dwellithe the wedowe Merteyn my fermor with all suche Closses pasture
and grounde aforesaid whiche I had by purchasse and gyfte of the kings maiestie being
also in lease unto Mr John Denton John Bedynte Nicholas Whyte Robert Stevyns Benet
Wigyn and other for xxvj li xiij s iiij d of yerely Rent I give and devyse the same with all
the profytts Rentes and com'odities comyng and growing to my nephew John More nowe
of the More and to theyres of his bodye laufully begotten And for defaulte of suche yssue
the Remaynder therof to my nephew John More sonne and heyre of Robert More of Holder=
nes and to theyres of his bodye laufully begotten And for defaulte of suche yssue to my
Cosen Thomas More of Whadden in the Countie of Cambridge and to the heyres of his
bodye Laufully begotten and for default of suche Issue to my next heyres. Item my mynde
and will ys that two partes of all my other Landes and heredytaments wherof I am sole
seased in fee symple and before not willed shall Immediatly after my decease Remayn &
come unto my two doughters Marye More and Elizabeth More to have to them towards
their preferment of Mariage for the terme of twelve yeares next after my decease And
yf it fortune any of theym to dye before the said yeares Then I will thother Survyor to
have thole during the saide yeares And I will the overseers of this my last will and
testament shall receyve the profytts therof during the saide yeares to the said use and
intente / And yf bothe my saide doughters to decease before they be maryed then I will the
saide londes go to the payment of my debts And after unto my sonne Thomas More & his
heyres of his bodye laufully comying / Item I give and bequeathe unto Angnes More my
wief and unto my sonne Thomas More all my stuf of houshold at Byssitor egally to be
devyded betwene theym my said wief to have the custodie of his moite unto my sonne Thom’s
More come to the age of xxij yeares but other wayes of her good wylle / I do give my house
whiche wydowe Merteyn nowe dwellith in unto my sonne Thomas More unto suche tyme
as he shall entre into my hedd house at Byssitor whiche my wief hathe during her lyfe
Then I will the same house Remayne unto Marye More And for defaulte of Marye unto
Elizabeth More forever / Item I give and bequeathe unto Marye More and Elizabeth More
all my stufe of houshold being at my house at London w’tin the precynte of the late Austen
freyrs to be egally devyded betwene them at the tyme of their mariages And yf any of them do
dye to be to the survivor of theym And yf bothe they happen to decease than I give the same
hole to my sonne Thomas More And my wief Angnes More she to have the choyse of the best
bedd and apparell unto the same which she shall thinke best / Item I will that no maner of
stuf as ffatts Leades and standerds of the brewehouse at Byssitor shall not be Removed
but there to remayne still / I will my wief shall have the Custodye of all my stuf at
London unto my two doughters come to the age of mariage / Item I will that Angnes my
wief shall have the fyrst choise of all man’ of stuf of household at Byssitor whiche I have
given unto my said wief and unto my sonne Thomas More / I give and bequeathe unto Angnes
More my wief all my kyen Carte horses and all other horses. Corne as wheate barley
malte Haye whiche I have at Byssitor the daye of my decease to do with all at her pleas’r
Item my will and mynde ys that in any gyfte whiche I have here declared in this my last
will and testament of anny landes given by me unto my Children or other wayes whiche
ys not made p’fytt as my verie mynde and Intente ys that yt shalbe amendyd by myn
Executrice my wief Angnes More and by thov’seers of this my last will and testament
S’r Edmonde Pekham knight and Mr James Sutton my olde and trustie frend Clerk
of the greneclothe with the kings Ma’tie / Item I give unto Angnes More my wief two
fether bedds two bolsters two pillowes two Coverletts of my stuf of houshold whiche I have
at my howse at London / And will myne Executrice whome I do make my wyf Angnes
More to give unto S’r Edmond Pekham knight fyftie shillings to make a Ringe of
Remembrance and Mr James Sutton fourtie shillings to make a ringe of remembraunce
for their paynes takeyn of their goodnes of this my last will and testament / I will my
bodye to be buryed in suche place where yt shall please Almightie god that I shall
Dye / And this I woll des’re you good bedfelowe and my loving wyfe to be good mother
unto my sonne and my two dowghters as I mynde nor dought no lesse / In knowlege
therof I Roger More have wrytten this will hooly with myn owne hande this fifte
Daye of September in the thirde yere of the Reigne of our Soveraigne lord kinge
Edwarde the Sixte / Roger More Manu propria

Probatum fuit test’m coram d'no Cant' Archiep'o apud London tercio die mens’s

Marcij Anno d'ni mill'imo quingentesimo quinquagesimo primo Juramento Agnetis Relicti
et Executricis in h'mo'i testamento no'i'at' ............................................................................
[..................................................................................................................................................]

Oxfordshire Family History Society

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