Dear Anthea, I have really enjoyed reading this will, what wonderful words and terms. My hubby and I have just written our wills, and what dull things they are compared to this, I have been thinking of ways to enhance them, but we have just one child, and anyway saying To John the John Deere tractor, To Paul the Massey Ferguson does not have the same ring to it.!!!!!!!! Thank you. Best wishes, Chris. -----Original Message----- From: Anthea Greenaway [mailto:anthgreenaway@btopenworld.com] Sent: 25 August 2004 20:15 To: ENG-BANBURY-AREA-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [BAN] Wills & other papers Here is my favourite will so far of John CLARIDGE from Cropredy, dated 7th May 1609 To my son Richard CLARIDGE, four beasts named Burke, Joy Darby and young Burt. To my son Christopher, tow beasts, Browning and a black Hereford which is at Woodford. To John the son of Richard, a black heifer which is at Woodford. To Richard, two horses, Hob and Short. To Christopher, the mare. The colt shall be between them. To Richard, eight ewes and lambs. To Thomas, son of Richard, a hoggerell. To Richard, five sheep more, a theave and four hoggrells. To Mary, my daughter a theave. TO Elizabeth DENZY, the daughter of John DENZY (granddaughter), a theave. To Christopher, three sheep, one sow and one store pig and 'half the piglets when they be pigged at five weeks old.' To Richard, the other half at the same age, the best cart, the best plough. To Christopher, the other cart and plough. The rest of my plough timbers, harrows and the like to be shared between them. The firewood and the rest of the timber and wood about the ground between them also. Richard has the malt mill but Christopher has the use of it when needed and the leave, the oven and the kiln is to be shared. Richard and Christopher had to plough a 'quartern' of land for John DENZY and 'raise all manner of ramiges' for four years. And so the will goes on dividing up the household goods, beds, coffers, warming pans etc., all between the two sons. I wonder why his daughter only got a theave, which I believe is a plank of wood? The overseers were: Thomas Holloway (the vicar), Thomas WALLIS, George HOPKINS and George GORSTELOW. The witnesses were John CLERIDGE and John DENZY. Anthea. ______________________________ --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.742 / Virus Database: 495 - Release Date: 19/08/2004